I floated effortlessly to the nearest sausage stand, pulled out a fiver and ordered two of the sweet yellow elixirs. A large, gruff, bearded man barked back, "We don't have Mountain Dew."

Suddenly I was sitting up in my bed, in a dark bedroom. The fair, the bear and my dream woman were gone. I was very thirsty.

And it's all the county council's fault.

You see, about a year ago this newspaper announced (County council restricts soda choices in Volusia venues, 11/6/98) the council's deal with the Coca-Cola Company which gave the soft drink conglomerate exclusive rights to provide all of the soda consumed at county venues. Then, more recently, another story (Coke is it for Volusia County schools, 6/17/99) told of a similar monopolistic policy that was being forced on our children. Both articles espoused the monetary windfalls, but never once touched on the deeper issue: What are we lovers of Pepsi products supposed to drink?

I, for one, feel violated. I feel like a portion of my personal freedoms has been stolen away.

I was raised on Pepsi. We always had a cold 64 ounce bottle in the fridge, and several more standbys in the closet waiting to fill in at a moment's notice. While riding my bike home in the summertime, after a long day of swimming, playing games or just exploring, I could imagine that cool, caramel-colored concoction awaiting my return, promising refreshment, sustenance, and that little something extra.

As my adolescent tastes matured, I began to opt more and more for the tart orange juice and sugar blend known as Mountain Dew. This preference became more pronounced when I found out that Mountain Dew had one of the highest levels of that little something extra. I have since moved to the diet variety, which I now find more palatable than the original.

Yes, I have tried Coca-Cola, as well as both Mello Yello and Surge. They just don't do it for me. I also prefer Dr. Pepper to Mr. Pibb, though I seldom drink either. To me, there is an extra-syrupy aftertaste in Coca-Cola products that I find unpleasant. And I am not alone.

There are many more like me - hard-working Americans who pledge their cola allegiance to the red white and blue of the Pepsi can. A whole "generation" of people shares the same heritage, the same memories, and the same dedication. Why are we being discriminated against?

It's bad enough when we're out at a restaurant. We've heard the phrase "Will Coke be all right" so often that many of us have stopped trying to order our favorite cola. To have our own county council turn their backs on us in unfathomable.

Isn't our country built on the principle of providing the people with a choice? Did I miss a vote on this, or did they just bypass the concept of majority and sell our taste buds to the highest bidder? Isn't this a form of state-sponsored industry, and thus a step toward, dare I say it, communism?

OK, maybe that was a bit harsh. Not that communism is bad, or anything, if that happens to be your preferred form of social organization. But where does this stop? Is the next deal with, say, Nabisco, so only their snacks can be sold? Or perhaps a certain brand of cigarettes will become the preferred carcinogen of Volusia County.

Our county-run airport is trying desperately to compete with that big one to the southwest. So let's give air travelers one more reason to fly to Orlando: you can get a Pepsi there.

What's my point? It's that business and government don't mix. Government needs to keep its distance, try to facilitate a level playing field, and weed out those businesses that wish to endanger its citizens in the interest of increasing company profits.

And no, Coke will not be all right.