New Year’s Entitlement: Claiming the Throne
New Year’s Eve, age 30—prime time for reinvention and resolutions. The party was a rooftop spectacle, complete with glittering lights, champagne towers, and an Instagram-perfect view of the city skyline. But for me, the main attraction wasn’t the fireworks or the countdown—it was an oversized, velvet armchair sitting squarely under a golden spotlight. Clearly, this was The Throne.
The problem? An elderly woman had already claimed it, perched comfortably with a glass of bubbly and a radiant smile that said, “I dare you.”
But I, fueled by a self-imposed resolution to start the year with a bang (and a touch of entitlement), wasn’t about to let a prime photo op slip away. The velvet throne needed me, and vice versa.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” I said, flashing my most disarming smile. “That seat looks absolutely perfect for me to ring in the new year. Mind if I take it off your hands?”
She arched an eyebrow, her amusement barely concealed. “Perfect for you, huh? And where exactly do you think I’ll sit?”
I gestured magnanimously to a nearby folding chair. “A throne is a state of mind. That seat over there? Just as regal.”
The surrounding partygoers had started to take notice, a mix of curiosity and suppressed laughter brewing in the air. Sensing an audience, I turned up the charm.
“It’s not just for me,” I explained theatrically. “It’s for the good of the party! Imagine the Instagram stories! The TikToks! Let’s make this moment legendary.”
The woman’s smile widened. She set her champagne down deliberately and stood. For a second, I thought I’d won. But then she pointed to the center of the dance floor and said, “If you want the throne, you’ve got to dance for it.”
The crowd erupted in cheers. Apparently, democracy was alive and well at this party, and the people had spoken: dance-off it was.
Never one to back down from a challenge (or a spotlight), I strutted to the floor. The music shifted to a bass-heavy beat, and I unleashed a flurry of moves that could best be described as ambitious. The crowd whooped and hollered, phone cameras capturing every spin, shimmy, and borderline acrobatic attempt.
But the woman wasn’t done. She joined in, proving that age was no barrier to absolute rhythm. Her moves had style, grace, and an undeniable charisma that the crowd adored.
The final verdict? A tie. But instead of declaring a winner, the woman extended her hand to me and said, “Let’s share the throne.”
So there we sat, side by side, sipping champagne as fireworks burst overhead. I leaned back, finally understanding the truth: entitlement might get you the spotlight, but collaboration makes the moment worth savoring.
Lesson Learned: Entitlement is fun, but teamwork steals the show—especially when a dance-off is involved. Here’s to a new year of shared victories and unexpected alliances.
