Long Lost Friends

Barry was a slender man with gentle features and one of the big wooly bobble hats that it has become permissable to wear without torrents of ridicule ensuing. As he was shuffling his way through a crowd, walking tactically as not to thrust anyone into the dessert stand or knocking someone into a flamboyant waiter flapping through the large hall offering unbelievably small appetisers, a younger and heavy set man powerfully and deliberately crashed into the shoulder of Barry. One of Barry's knees buckled at the pressure and he stumbled to remain standing. Alarmed but seemingly unshaken, Barry addressed the man, who was now gloating over him grinning smugly.

Barry - "Hiya Trev. You old joker. How's life bruva?"
Trevor - (Changing his look from smug to disappointed) "Hmm. Well this conference ain't all that. I told them I could have ran it better. This place is too 'nice'. It's revolting."

Barry seemed to ignore this comment and glided swiftly towards an incoming waiter and thrust a gourmet salmon puff into Trevor's hand, before questioning him further.

Barry - "So, How's the new business since you left me?"
Trevor - "Haha. I left you so long ago now. Best thing I ever did. You're company is going down. You're all up in the clouds. Idiots!"
Barry - (Politely) "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it over there. I must say though. I wish you had never left us. I could have given you so much work by now."
Trevor - (Angrily) Are you mad? Working for you was awful. You're stuck in the dark ages. People don't want what you've got anymore. It's an Ideal, nothing more. In fact, it's not even a popular one either. Not since my recent Re-Launch. Hahaha. You're welcome." (Trevor mockingly bows low)
Barry - " You have got something people are buying from you. I have to admit that, you're becoming highly infectious. But there are a lot out there who still support me. I get regular letters and phone calls of how they are interested in what i offer still."
Trevor - (Smircking in full force by now) "Haha. i believe that. That is all you've been reduced to, fans, who scream yo...no whisper your name and then walk out the door and buy my product for the rest of the week and as you know very well. It's the figures that count, not compliments or feedback!
Barry - "Although that maybe true right now, it will not always be this way. One day it will change. I will never not be here. I will never give up. And if you ever change your mind, there will always be a seat waiting here for you."

Trevor grimaced but held out his hand, as Barry went to shake hands with Trevor, Trevor threw a powerful fist directly into the centre of Barry's chest, smashing him to the floor breathless and bewildered. Then Trevor, spat at him and strolled away while tugging on the lapelles of his top of the range suit as if he had just crawled under a bush.
Barry was left alone gazing up at the stunning celing with people frantically sharing ideas concerning how they could help him, but not one of them knelt down to help Barry Love.