Solomon's Private File #228
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 26 in this story, in the Spring of 2052.
Solomon's Private File #228 "Candidate Problems"
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The Senator with the gay son asked to see me. I shifted there and
said, "You don't like me as much as you used to." He laughed, and said,
"That self reliant upstart!" I said, "And don't forget the Dems. Had a
good run." He said, "True. Think I would be acceptable as a Vice?" I
said, "Nobody runs for vice. Unless they're in Vagus." Chuckles. I
said, "I can't really advise on that. Depends on what the primary
winner is looking for, and their priorities. Might want a pit bull. Or
a demographic rep. Who knows? Way it's going now, vice isn't the
stepping stone it used to be." He said, "I noticed. I lose, I'll still
have my Senate seat." I said, "And don't discount that. And there is
the Cabinet to fill, if your side wins." He said, "I wouldn't mind
State." I said, "If I'm asked by the pres to do what I did for the
current admin, you would pass for that." He said, "Thanks." I said,
"Told your wife about er, us?" He said, "A little, mostly as an
approval. Can't risk going full public." I said, "I'm SO bad for your
image!" Chuckles. He said, "I'm thinking of going full out with support
of gun ownership." I said, "Could make some of your base like you, but
some of that depends on breaking gun news. Schools are a lot safer now,
though." He said, "Thank er, YOU!"
I said, "Did you almost say a no no?" He said, "Er, you know about
the new saying that's going around?" I said, "I have to say, in it's
implied substitution, that in all religions, it's blasphemy." He said,
"Maybe. But some Buddhists are praying to Stephen, too, now." I said,
"Similar, but not the same. There have been many Buddhas, and for that
state, if one is deserving of worship after they're dead, all are. He
dead. I aint!" Chuckles. I said, "And they'll get the same results all
prayers get. Nothing. God doesn't need to be prayed to, to know all. He
permits it because we need to do it, to relieve stress." He said, "Do
you pray?" I said, "For less embarrassment? Same result." He laughed.
He said, "I'm sorry, but I had to laugh." I said, "I'm SUCH a victim!"
We hugged with love.
My FEMA friend asked for a meeting. He said, "Virginia!" I said,
grinned and said, "Nope." I said, "When you want the approval
announced, tell me." He said, "I'm going to announce my candidacy
tomorrow. My party bosses like me and my chances. They seriously expect
thought." I said, "Right. Only." He said, "Still, could be a problem.
RNC chair is wondering if anybody will even run against me." I said,
"I'm not going to say if I had that thought." He said, "You don't have
to. What thought haven't you had?" I said, "Er, true." Chuckles. He
said, "The self reliant candidate. Chances?" I said, "You aren't the
only one who's asked. Inexperienced. New made visionary. A different
party Obama? Senate isn't going to switch. A divided house again. This
time paralysis might not be a bad thing." He said, "We'll just have to
see. Whoever, they'd better not get in your way." I said, "Don't you
After his announcement, I gave him an all out glowing approval. A lot
of other candidates of all kinds asked for my approval. One was running
for Ohio governor. I ported him to the Convention Center at Window
Rock. We shook hands. I said, "Are you a criminal?" He said, with some
anger, "What kind of question is that?" I said, "Er, mine, actually. I
just wanted to get that out of the way. Did you know your fingerprints
have a warrant attached to them in L.A.? Something about an assault
with a deadly weapon. No, don't leave. Sherif there is asking me to
make a citizen's arrest. He's sending a deputy to take you into
custody, pending the arrival of a Governor's Warrant." He said, "It's a
mistake! It's not me!" I said, "You touched the table. DNA from your
fingerprint matches what they have on file. You have a choice now. If
you want to waive extradition, and sign the form the deputy is
bringing, I'll port you to L.A., and you can deal with this issue right
away. Or you can wait a few weeks in our jail, which isn't exactly the
most comfortable in the world. And you might not like the lawyers we
have here. A tough bunch. So, when do you want me to publish the result
of your approval interview?"
He just stared at me. I said, "Hawk is laughing up storm." He had to
chuckle. He said, "What are my chances of fighting extradition?" I
said, "From your home state, you could delay it for months. Here, I
doubt it. Law here takes a very dim view of undesirable imports." He
said, "Good turn of phrase." I said, "Don't. You were about to tell me
something that would make me a witness." He said, "Pastoral care,
privileged?" I said, "In place. Monitors are reaction only." He said,
"I was young. I got into a fight. He had a knife. I took it away from
him. I could have run, but I stabbed him instead. I left the state in a
hurry, never looking back. I didn't know I was wanted." I said, "Been
haunting you all these years." He said, "Yes." He cried. I hugged him.
Back in my chair, I said, "Permission for time research? I do it
during this, you control what happens to it." He said, "Please." I
said, "Clearly you were attacked. You had a right to defend yourself.
Problem is, what you did after disarming him, could be considered
crossing the line. Hmm, How well could you fight then?" He said, "First
fight. Only a little wrestling and football. Out of shape then." I
said, "I noticed." I said, "He had a black belt. You were lucky to get
the knife away from him. Likely if you hadn't stabbed him, you wouldn't
be here. Actually, with that butterfly knife, you were lucky you could
even keep your grip on it." He said, "It did slip a little." I said,
"With a good lawyer, you might be able to beat this, if they accept my
time research. Statute of Limitations can be a little tricky with a
long term felony warrant. Fleeing is a problem, though. Fighting
extradition could make it worse. Ready for recommendations?" He said,
"Please."
I said, "Better use a lawyer in L.A., than here. Best option is to
waive extradition to show your good er, intentions. Going to happen,
anyway. Might as well. I give your lawyer all I have, including this
interview. He can use me to authenticate the time research if he needs
to. Your opponent has attacked other people, and has been in prison. If
you want, I can inform your family of what's happening, but better if
you do it. Just don't lie. I recommend you postpone your political
life. I'm not your lawyer, or your advocate, only your religious
counselor in this. You were wrong to run, but I do understand why you
did it. Catholic?" He said, "Yes." I said, "This acts like your
confession. In the name of God, I forgive you your sins. But you must
make all of it right, for full forgiveness. Saying any number of Hail
Mary's isn't going to make that happen. Only positive actions and true
remorse will." He said, "You really ARE a Priest!" I said, "Er, yes. A
bunch of them, actually. So, agree to the recommendations?" He said, "I
do. Can I call my wife now?" I said, "Yes. I won't hear you talk. There
will be a force wall between us." He nodded, and made the call. After
that, I said, "I'm not going to publish any approval results, or even
say you were here for that, unless it's required testimony. Ready for
the deputy?" He nodded.
I let the deputy in, and said, "He's ready to sign the form." He read
it and signed it. I said, "I'll be watching what happens to you. When
you get a lawyer, I'll contact him. You'll have to be cuffed before the
port. Sorry." He said, "I understand." The deputy put them on, after I
hugged him. I ported him to L.A.. I said to the deputy, "Here.
Replacement cuffs." He said, "Wow!" I said, "Why make something ugly?"
He said, "I couldn't agree more." We traded grins, and shook hands. He
left, and I let the next candidate in.
I said, after introductions, "You're already the Mayor of Chicago!"
He said, "Strong challengers." I said, "Your office has had something
of a bad rep with the law. Not squeaky clean, you can escape while you
can. No report." He stood, and said, "Thanks. What would have caused
you to take action?" I said, "Violence." He said, "Good. Nice to know.
I won't talk." I said, "Aren't you a politician?" He had to laugh. I
said, "One more thing, in case you were wondering why I'm not going to
do anything. I'm not anybody's nursemaid. People get the government
they deserve. A clerical warning, though. What goes around, comes
around. We all, sooner or later, suffer the consequences of our
actions." He said, "I really appreciate what you're doing. I'll do
better. I promise." I said, "That's not to me, you know." He said, "I
know." We shook hands, and I ported him back to his office.
Next candidate. She walked in. I said, "Reschedule for when you're
not drunk." She said, "I'm not drunk!" I said, "How much?" She said,
"One martini at a power lunch." I said, "Truth. Something's not right
here. May I do time research for this?" She said, "I do feel a little
off. Please." I said, "Permission to remove the er, effects from you?"
She said, "Oh yes!" I said, "Done. Was a conspiracy. Somebody paid a
waiter to spike your iced tea with vodka. Said it was a practical joke.
Your assistant campaign manager. He knew you were coming here this
here." She looked at me strangely, and chuckled. I said, "Security
cameras caught some of the action. Waiter could testify. Crime,
assault. Maybe conspiracy, if he's working for the opposition.
Personally, I want to nail him, but you rule in this. I do NOT like
that he tried to use me to discredit you!" She said, "Could you find
out if he's working for the other side?" I said, "If you file a
criminal complaint. As it is now, it's unclear if what he did would be
considered a crime in that jurisdiction, if only a practical joke." She
said, "I should do that. Support?"
I said, "In person. Let's port." We stood, and I ported us to in
front of the police HQ and Courthouse in her city. We were noticed. I
asked to see the Chief. We were led right into his office. We told him.
He said to her, "Got you drunk so you would fail the approval? There's
tried not to smile at that almost slip. He said, "Please excuse me
while I call the DA." He said to us, "We can't arrest him on a
complaint after the fact. Need a Grand Jury. Got one hearing cases.
Willing to testify now?" She said, "Absolutely!" We went. They indicted
him, and the security camera recordings were subpoenaed. Arrest warrant
was created. Our statements were taken for the official report. Back in
the Chief's office, he said, "You were noticed. Reporters are swarming
like flies on rotting meat." I said, "Just trying to imagine flies with
little cameras." Odd looks and chuckles. She said, "I'll have to make a
statement." I said, "And I shouldn't. Tainted jury and all that. Oh,
but not rotten!" She said, "Now we all know it's really you." Chuckles
to my growl.
She said, "Did he?" I said, "I can only say what I said to the Grand
Jury. He and one from the other side did meet. The rest will have to
come from lies, er, testimony, unless the court orders and accepts my
time research." Nods. I said, "But they will ask, and you can hint, I'm
sure." She did, broadly. I was next to her in front of the cameras.
After she said what she planned to, I was asked what my involvement
was. I said, "We were going to have a politician approval session. This
issue got in the way. We should go back and finish it now." She said to
me, "Let's" We ported back, leaving the reporters frustrated. She
grinned.
I said, "So, what else can you do besides drink and press charges?"
She said, "I can talk to reporters, too." I said, "Useful ability.
Where did you find that slimeball?" She chuckled, and said, "A friend
recommended him." I said, "I suspect an interesting conversation could
come from that." She said, "Yes. She could have been duped, though." I
said, "Yes. Interestingly, no candidate has ever asked me to approve
their campaign staff." She alerted strongly to that, and said, "Would
you?" I said, "Not in depth, but a little, remotely, yes, if asked."
She said, "Please." I said, "Excepting the slimeball, all good people.
Marsha needs more motivation than the others. Please don't reveal this.
Initiative is important." She smiled and said, "Thanks. Self reliance
isn't exclusive to one party." I said, "Actually, it's just a misused
platform talking point, and easy to turn around." She said, "You sure
demonstrated that!" We grinned at each other. I said, "When do you want
the results of this announced?" She said, "Your convenience." We stood
and hugged. I said, "Please be careful of what you drink." She said,
"Absolutely!" I ported her back. She was approved.
I ported the next candidate in. He was younger than usual, and very
nervous. I said, "I don't eat raw meat. So, unless you jump into a big
fire, you're safe." He stared at me, and then tried to smile. He said,
"Thanks." I said, "So, you want to be a mayor." He said, "I don't,
actually. But we need somebody who is willing to work to make things
better, and it hasn't been happening." I said, "Know why?" He said,
"Everybody is somebody's relative. They don't want to piss anybody off.
And some just don't care." I said, "One man alone, is just that. Got a
staff?" He said, "I do. They'll work hard." I said, "In the beginning,
yes. Will be tough to keep them when the frustration sets in." He said,
"Right. I thought of that. Motivation is important. Chief of police is
on my side. He's fed up with the current state of affairs." I said,
"Powerful." He said, "Tight leash, for sure. Threat of FBI, if he gets
too pushy. I have a friend who works there. Classmate." I said, "Your
chances aren't good for the election." He said, "I have to try."
I said, "How do you want the results of this to be announced?" He
said, "City paper and TV, please. Any time." I said, "This is extra.
I'll be watching the election. If you don't object." He said, "That
would be great!" I said, "Any irregularities, they WILL be reported."
He said, "You suspect?" I said, "Can't say. We'll just have to see.
Useful to have real cameras in the poling places." He said, "I'll see
what I can do. I have a lot of recent college grad friends there. Smart
phones are SO useful!" I said, "You make it, you get full Tibet
scholarship." He said, "Great perk. Took some courses there, all I
could afford." We stood, and hugged. I ported him home. He was
approved.
Galya said, "I like him. Can I help?" I said, "City is yours." She
said, "Alright if I help a little?" I said, "Yours, is yours. Can take
credit if you like." She said, "Thanks. I'll be careful." I said, "Be
Galya, too." She said, "Absolutely!" And she was.
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