Sunday January 10, 1999

The atmosphere was electric. The excitement levels were off the charts. The number one seed Minnesota Vikings were minutes away from what every fan thought would be a run to the Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals were merely the first obstacle in what was sure to be a deep playoff run.

Eric Livingston settled into his seat on the 4th row of the upper deck and smiled. He was looking directly down at the 50 yard line. He had worked extra shifts at work between his classes at the University of Minnesota to afford the ticket for this game and the next and with luck the Super Bowl. The Vikings had been his passion since he had watched his first game at the age of three on bouncing on his father’s knee. Now he was going to take in everything as he attended his first game in person. One semester away from finishing his MBA he knew he would be a season ticket holder next season. In ten years he planned to have been successful enough to upgrade his season tickets into a private suite. Life was great and it was only going to get better.

Shawn Gladwell could not believe his luck. As he walked toward his seat his mind recalled the events of the night before. The perfect hand in a game of poker had won him tickets to the next two Vikings games. Nothing was better than playoff football and now thanks to an ace on the turn and then another ace on the river he would be watching in person. He was a young hard working mechanic but never gave much thought to his future. Everything was done impulsively and he lived in the moment.

Wearing a brand new Randall Cunningham jersey he found his seat on the fourth row of the upper deck at the 50 yard line. The sellout crowd was already rocking and rolling as he reached his seat just as the teams were lining up for the opening kickoff. As he reached his seat Eric Livingston looked at him and smiled as he said “you ready for this?”

“Oh yeah.”

For the next three and a half hours the young twenty something’s shared every Viking triumph with boastful cheers. During the lulls in action they chatted and formed an instant friendship. Following the 41-21 victory celebratory drinks at the closest bar were shared and the excitement for the following week only grew.

Sunday January 17, 1999

Eric and Shawn were amped up and excited for the NFC Championship game. The Vikings were one win against the Atlanta Falcons away from a trip to the Super Bowl. Things started out great and Vikings were holding a 20-7 lead late in the second quarter. It was inevitable, the Vikings were on their way to the Super Bowl. But then disaster struck. The Falcons stormed back and an overtime kick sent them to the Super Bowl.

Eric was ever the optimist. “Hey this is only the beginning. We are going to be back here next season and every season until the Vikings win the Super Bowl in these seats. Season ticket holders. Are you in?”

“You know it. Vikings for life.” Shawn responded.

The friendship blossomed over the coming years and they were even roommates for a year before Shawn met Sally and impulsively married her three months later. Eric followed Shawn’s lead and married Charity a year later. Their sons played T-ball one season together before Eric moved to the Kenwood neighborhood.

The one constant that remained was their season tickets to the Vikings games. Year after year they would meet up for each home game still waiting for that elusive trip to the Super Bowl.

Sunday January 4, 2026

As a disappointing season came to a close with a victory Shawn looked over at Eric and said. “It has been a good run, but I won’t be back again next year.”

“What why not?”

“It’s too expensive.”

“I’ll buy the tickets for you.”

“I don’t take handouts.”

“It’s not a handout.”

“Eric, no.”

“Well it won’t be the same without you.”

“It better not be.”

“We will have to stay in touch.”

“Yeah.”

“Vikings for life.” Eric said.

“Vikings for life,” Shawn replied with a hint of sadness.

September 26, 2026

Eric attended the second game of the season and for the first time since 1999 did not sit in the seat that had been his. Without Shawn attending the games he finally pulled the trigger and had a private suite. If everything fell his way in the 4th quarter of the year he would start 2027 as the newest member of the Forbes Billionaire list. He had lived a dream life. The only thing he couldn’t check off his bucket list was a Vikings Super Bowl victory. But at least he would now watch in comfort.

Shawn sat in the dingy bar filled with anger. For years he had been scrapping by. Now it was impossible. His wife had got sick and the medical bills drowned them. The constant bickering over the budget took its toll and the marriage had ended in divorce. Next his job gave him a pink slip. Now there was nothing left. For years he had become more and more disillusioned and frustrated with everything. He had vented his frustration through partisan politics.

Now he had reached the end of his rope. Sipping a beer and watching the Vikings get blown out did not improve his mood.

“It’s time to burn it all down.” He said to his closest partisans. They were fellow men who were disillusioned with life.

“What?”

“The system is rigged.”

“Yeah,” came shouts from those listening.

“It’s time we took back what should be ours.”

“What are you thinking?”

“It’s time for some wealth redistribution. Let’s burn Kenwood to the ground.”

“We can start with the lord of the manor.” A voice from the crowd shouted.

“What?”

“The new $50 million mega mansion they built last year. “

“Gather everyone we strike at dusk.” Shawn yelled.

Eric was sitting in his office pouring over the latest forex reports. He had a handful of trades he would execute once his trigger point hit. He queued up several million dollars worth of trades and anticipated making 5 million on these trades within the next hour. That would easily wash away the sting of the Vikings loss.

Suddenly he heard his wife scream. He looked up from his computer and out the window. There were hundreds of men pouring onto his property. Some had baseball bats. Some had torches. Some had rifles. He quickly dialed 911.

“Hello what is your emergency?”

“Hurry send everyone. There are hundreds of angry men storming my property.”

“Did you say hundreds?”

“Yes, send the army or the national guard. This is an invasion.”

“What is your address sir?”

“Number One Cunningham Pass. Please hurry they are breaking in now.”

The sounds of shattering glass and roars of approval from the mob were clearly heard by the dispatcher.

“Sir please stay on the line while we send help your way.”

“I can’t. I need to hide.” Eric left his phone in his desk drawer and ran out of the room to try and find his wife.

He didn’t make it far. There were several men coming down the hallway that led to the main portion of the house. Eric turned and ran the other direction. He needed to find a place to hide.

He ran in the direction of the garage. He turned a corner and ran into a man. He fell to the ground and looked up at the man who had entered his house. Instant recognition gave him a glimmer of hope.

“Shawn you have to save me.” Eric said pleadingly.

“What are you doing here Eric?” Shawn said sternly.

“This is my house.”

Shawn frowned as he slowly nodded his head as he processed this information.

“Shawn we are friends, you have to help me.”

“Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“The sound of justice.”

“I don’t know what you are saying?”

Just then a group of about 10 men rounded the corner and came to a stop when Shawn raised his fist into the air.

“I have found the lord of the manor.” Shawn stated in a calm voice. Then more animated he said “and he is asking for clemency. Should I grant his request?”

“No!” Came the roar of the crowd.

Pointing at two men randomly Shawn said “you two stay with me. The rest of you torch the place.”

“Why are you doing this?” Eric pleaded.

“You have brought this upon yourself. You exploit the poor and rig the system to keep us in chains. You are a capitalist oppressor and today we are breaking free from your chains.”

“Shawn you know me. You know that’s not true.”

“Your truth has no value here. Your magnificent display of wealth condemns you.”

“What happened to you?”

“You and people like you took everything from me.”

“I have always been your friend since the first day we met. I know you remember that Vikings game.”

“The world has changed.”

“No, you have!” Eric shouted at him. “You are no victim, your impulsive behavior has made you what you are.”

“And what am I?”

“You are my friend who is making a terrible mistake.”

“Your friend. Your friend, he says”turning to the two men with him while pointing at Eric.

“Don’t think your nihilistic rage will make you any better than you once were. Tomorrow you will wake up even angrier than you are now. Your only chance at happiness is to walk away now.”

“Stop talking. You don’t know anything.”

“We were roommates. I know a lot about you.”

“You are everything that is wrong in the world.”

“Do you honestly believe that?”

Shawn sniffed the air and the strong smell of smoke was winding its way towards him. The flames were starting to engulf the mansion.

“You are a criminal. Such wealth can only be acquired through theft of the working class. And now it is judgement day.”

“But we are friends!” And taking one last chance as the smell of smoke grew stronger Eric cried out “Vikings for life!”

Shawn smiled. “Vikings for life,” he said with a mocking laugh.

“Please…”

As the smoke started billowing in the room Shawn raised his hammer above his head poised to strike. With venom he yelled.

“You have always been my enemy. And my enemies must all die!”