Solomon's Private File #335
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 30 in this story, in the Winter of 2056-2057.
Solomon's Private File #335 "Election And Approvals"
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The President asked to speak with me. He said, "My son told me he
spoke with you. He said you were fair, and quite revealing about your
personal life, but he didn't give me any specifics. He obviously loves
you." I said, "In this country, of his generation, it would be a
smaller number who don't. And gays? Ha! I really don't want to know how
many posters of me are on their walls." Chuckles. He said, "Are any of
them clean?" I said, "Tell your son that one, and that I said, 'Eek!'"
He laughed.
He said, "My chances don't look good." I said, "As of now, things are
even. I don't need inaccurate polls to know that." He said, "If I win,
will she be next?" I said, "I don't know. She's older than you. A lot
would depend on what you do before then, and how strong the opposition
is. You would have lost, but for two people. The Dem disapproval
meltdown, and the GOP initiative show, and I knew that going into the
election. We haven't had those things this time. There was a chance,
but he recovered well." He grinned, and said, "I was VERY nervous about
that!" I said, "Your people are playing it smart, keeping a low
profile." He said, "I advised that." I said, "But that let her set the
message. It could have backfired. Good for you she hasn't questioned
that. No, I'm not going to tell her. She obviously has her own plans,
but nobody should be surprised about what any candidate does or says.
Even less, what an outsider does for them, that could be an unasked for
game changer."
He said, "That's been my biggest concern. We have some fanatics with
very big and loud mouths, even after you tamed the NRA." I said, "Ah,
yes. Two of them are about to give you cause to disavow them. What will
she say about that? Isn't this interesting?" He said, "To a
psychologist it must be fascinating. To me, well, the healings take
One Republican, of the Tea-party, said some bad things about the
President's spending. They might as well have a Democrat in the office.
It was obvious the President and his team didn't know how to respond
effectively to that. It's hard to refute the truth. Then one attacked
the Secretary as being a big spending Liberal. She said, "My State
Department, in the years I managed it, spent less money than under any
other Secretary of State of the past 70 years, and did it without any
outside help. I ran an efficient administration, and I will do it
again, even better. I stand by my record. I've proved I know how to
create and very effectively manage an efficient and well run
administration, and keep it under a tight and responsible budget. You
Republicans want that again, vote for me."
Mom said, "She's going to win." I said, "If intelligent people vote."
Galya said, "Oh, that's bad for her." Nods. More people picked up what
she said, and repeated it with more comments. It was obvious that some
Conservative commentators wanted to dispute that, but fact checkers got
in their way, and some commentators weren't nice about it. That made it
worse for them. One broke ranks and said, "It seems to me, their
parties are reversed. Our Republican President is more like a Democrat
in spending and loose management, and the Democratic challenger, is
more like a Republican, in tight fiscal management. We need a better
true Conservative!"
Head of DOT said to me, "If only I could have run for President this
time." I said, "You would have had a good chance. None, the first time,
though." He said, "Right. I wouldn't have made it the first time.
Under-qualified, and no important backers. But party loyalty stopped me
this time. I like this job, too." I said, "If she wins, want to stay
on?" He said, "I do. Or if not, another Cabinet position." I said,
"Staying in the same party?" He said, "Would I have to switch?" I said,
"Not at all. If your current boss had, he wouldn't be possibly losing."
He said, "I wondered about that. No plans to switch, if I don't have
to." I said, "Just so long as you stay rational. Your party doesn't so
much win national elections, but the other side makes themselves lose.
This time, it looks as if they are losing less." He said through his
grin, "Interesting way to put it. I agree she's tough, and I like that.
wins?" He said, "Full disclosure, in private to her. Measure her grin
for me?" We chuckled.
It was very close. No recounts were demanded in any of the races, but
for some for Congress it was so close it was automatic in some States.
Some of the Republicans that had been reluctant to work with me, won,
and some lost. The ones who lost, were because of that. Dems increased
their majorities in both houses, with a few new independents siding
with them, too. And Barbara Jandusky became Madam President. The former
President conceded the race gracefully. I said to his family, "It was
very close. Those last minute party er, poopers made the loss. You did
the best you could. Now I have to get used to new victims to bully."
Grins and chuckles. I said, "Changes of administration annoy me." He
said, "You wish we had won?" I said, "You know I can't say that, but I
do have to admit I had a lot of work invested in you and your people.
But that happens every time. But then, this time, well, I had a lot to
work with for my public er, observations." He had to laugh.
He said, "You did tell me that last minute hecklers of my own party
could sink us. You almost broke your rule, with that, because that's
what happened." I said, "Shhh!" Grins. I said, "Sometimes what I know,
comes to me on the sly, and I don't know it until I say it. Yes, it's
confusing!" Chuckles. I said, "They won. You lost, but you are NOT
losers! Almost half the population wanted you to stay. That means a
lot." We all hugged with love.
I met with the winner's family, for a few minutes when they had time.
I said, "It was close. You did well. Keep it up." Grins. I said,
"Before you announce your selections for posts, I assume you will want
some approvals, and more advice than you expect I'll give you." She
chuckled, and said, "Yes. DOT?" I said, "Wants to stay on. Here's a
"Going to give him the measure of my grin, like he asked?" I said,
"Sure. And I want FBI to stay, if he wants to." She said, "I knew that.
CIA, too. I'll get my selection team to give you the list." I said,
"Insert groan here." Laughter. We all hugged with love.
DOT was still up. I called and asked if he was available for a visit.
He was. I said, "8cm." His grin tried to match it. He said, "Had she
decided before?" I said, "If she did, I think she will want to tell you
that herself." Bigger grin. I said, "But if you have to ask, you don't
know her as you should. You better hope your face doesn't freeze like
that." His wife went almost hysterical with laughter. I said to her,
"Hawk would appreciate you." Chuckles. We hugged with love.
I said to the Director of the FBI, "Your plans?" He said, "I want to
stay." I said, "Alright. Done." He said, "That fast?" I said, "She
knows me. Since I was a baby, actually." He said, "So she'll have less
problems with you." I said, "Maybe not. She's set herself up to have
more to live up to." He said, "Oops!" Grins. I said, "She's been at
State her whole career. Being President is very different. She's boss
now, not a worker. It's all delegation and leadership. We'll just have
to see how she does it. And how many bandaids she'll have to hand out
to her victims." Grins.
I asked to see the Director of the CIA. I said, "If you want to stay,
you can." He said, "Oh. I had planned to retire. I'll have to do some
reconsidering. Did you ask?" I said, "She offered before I got the
chance to. Well, she knows me. Your predecessor is staying." He said,
"Good. That's a tough position for new people, with finding out what
you do there. Risk of exposure." I said, "Was close a few times with my
group before I started. We were actually kicked out a few times. Came
here then. That didn't last." Grins.
A man walked into my political approval office. I said, "Is this
going to be a regular thing?" He laughed, and said, "I hope not." I
said, "Well, let's do some tests." After that, I said, "You've changed.
Still the working chameleon, target of my museum rant, but with some
good ethics now. So, how did it happen?" He said, "I took what you said
to heart. I didn't like who you showed me I was. I did some work with
Scientology, and practiced being who I wanted to be, and I think it
stuck." I said, "It has. But under pressure?" He said, "I wish I could
promise it would be permanent, but that wouldn't be honest of me. I
can't know that." I said, "New President left a well tuned machine at
State. Past President gutted it. You would have to work to bring it
back into shape, and she might not have time to hold your hand for
that."
He said, "Any of her former close assistants available?" I said,
"Possible. A little more if she asked. But she might want them herself.
If you get the job, you would have to present your case to her VERY
well. Short and compelling. She will NOT be manipulated. And she won't
respect you if you use me. One more thing. This probably won't be a
stepping stone to the Presidency for you." He said, "I had already
accepted that. And that you won't tell me the results of this." I said,
"Because there isn't that kind of thing. Yes, it will have my comments,
but it's on a rating system. Points. Depends on compared to others for
the position. This is a real job interview, not a general approval." He
said, "You'll do it for regular hires on request?" I said, "Yes, and I
have. Mostly DOT." He nodded, and said, "He WOULD ask. Worked well,
too." We grinned.
A woman came in. I said, "Alright, you've got it." She laughed. I
said, "I know you. Great qualifications. DOJ should be yours. So your
stepping stone to the Supreme Court, turned out to be to DOJ.
Complain?" She said, "Absolutely not. You were right. I wasn't ready
for that. After this, maybe." I said, "Then I don't have to suggest
it." Grins. We hugged with love.
A man came in. I said, "I think I've seen you before." We grinned. He
said, "I didn't expect to do this again, and was surprised she asked.
Interior does sound interesting." I said, "It's not like being a
Presidential spare." He said, "Good!" Chuckles. He said, "Can I send
hires for approval?" I said, "Yes. Been doing that." He said, "I'll be
else is considered for the position, like any other real job interview.
But then, she isn't likely to send me a flake. Unlike all the others!"
He said, "I'm sorry for you, that you couldn't comment about those."
Grins. I said, "You know me too well. Did you know I have a supremely
important very amused audience for those?" He said, "Wow!" I said,
"Yes. He's said He likes how I handle things, including what people
find funny in them. That's part of the reason why He doesn't usually
give me clear specific instructions. The Creator WOULD love
creativity." He said, "I have to agree, and with Him. Priceless jabs."
I said, "Too bad I can't share most of them. Offplanet things would
take too much work to make sense of. And some actions wouldn't work
well here. People would be bound to apply the lessons in them
incorrectly." He said, "I understand. Some things are good in some
situations, and not in others. You don't want to leave the door open to
cherry picking." I said, "Absolutely! Extra points on the evaluation."
Grins. We hugged with love.
A woman walked in. I said, "So, you're a teacher. Secretary of
Education in your future?" She said, "I hope so." I said, "Let's do
some tests." We did, and I said, "Any vetting issues, you should tell
the committee. Oh, and I know what they are." She said, "Invasion of
privacy!" I said, "Do you accuse God of that?" She was confused. I
said, "I was given the very unasked for ability to know all for Earth,
as He does. I'm not invading anything. It invaded ME!" She said, "Oh! I
didn't understand that. But I'm not going to tell anybody, and you
can't either, if I withdraw my name." I said, "That's true. The crime
is beyond prosecution, but not beyond God's judgement. If you don't
work to to earn His forgiveness in this life, your next life might not
be as good as you would want."
She said, "I don't believe that. I'm a Christian." I said, "The past
Pope believed it enough to request to be reincarnated into my group. It
happened. Still, if you were a REAL Christian, which you most
definitely are not, you would know you would go to Hell for what you
did. You were lucky your children didn't die. Statute of Limitations
doesn't exist for murder." She said, "I'm not a Christian?" I said,
"Not at all. Your tortured your children! Twins. After you molested the
student who fathered them! Your husband doesn't know they aren't his,
and neither does your student victim, compounding your sins. NO
religion should claim you, until you make those sins right, and serve a
LOT of penance." She said, "But you can't tell!" I said, "Correct. And
I forbid my people to tell, which they do NOT like. But, when I tell
the President not to hire you, she will suspect something, knowing me.
She might want to do some investigating. You disgust me! Get out of
here!" Some outside my office heard that. She ran out, angry and
crying. At home, Galya hugged me, and cried with me.
On her application, I said, "Do NOT hire this monster, under any
circumstances!" Barb asked to see me. She said, "I know you can't
tell, or you would have. Can't prosecute?" I said, "Too much time
passed." She said, "Grade good to bad?" I said, "Of all I've ever done
for politics and Administration appointees, the absolute worst. She
isn't likely to repeat, but you know she's being watched. I actually
can't avoid that. The Curse of the Prophet strikes again." We shared
our tears in our hug.
Mom said, "I'm not feeling all that enlightened right now. Why did
she hurt her children?" I said, "Boy and girl. Unplanned for, and
resented. And, although she won't admit it, guilt for what she had
done, and deceiving her husband. The student father was willing, but
realized later that he was manipulated by a heartless bitch. That also
caused her anger, but by then he was out of the range of her desire for
revenge. The children weren't. He's married now, and with children. A
good life."
The monster called the Bureau for me. She said, "You told! I'm being
followed. Investigated!" I said, "I didn't tell. Doing some checking. A
Special Agent in the hallway heard me kick you out. You almost ran over
him. They respect me a lot. He started the investigation. I'd very much
like you to worry, but to be fair, I should tell you that even an
experienced Special Agent won't, can't, suspect how depraved you are. I
doubt they will find out, and even if they did, they can't prosecute.
And none of those are Federal crimes. So, you're probably safe. I hope
you don't believe me." She slammed down the phone. Broke it, actually.
I said in the air to her, "That doesn't really help. Have a bad day."
Mom gave me a strange look, and said, "That was different. Wait! That
anything. Just prompted to be there." She said, "Is her husband going
hard grins. She said, "People around her are going to be talking about
molestation and torture?" I said, "Again, if it can be managed well.
Too much, and she'll be sure I'm doing it. She complains, depending on
how it goes, I might mention that calls to the Bureau are recorded."
Very big hard grins.
I said, "She's still teaching High School, as a substitute on call.
She's going to be more supervised there than she was before." She said,
"She's going to crack, and you want a witness." I said, "We hope. Maybe
the Boss might lend a hand." She said, "We hope. Does that count as a
prayer?" I said, "I think it does." The monster did notice the comments
she was supposed to. She called me and said, "There have been comments
about like what I did. I heard them! I know you made them happen!" I
said, "Your, oh, I almost said guilty conscience, and you don't have a
conscience now. Monsters don't. Your worry over this has made you more
sensitive to casual conversation on topics you would have ignored
before. Seems like you would enjoy hearing about those horrible things
other people did. You sure enjoyed them while you were doing them,
yourself. One more thing. God really does work in mysterious ways. He's
done something like this before, interfering in my cases that he didn't
assign to me. Turned out to be very helpful. Not to the perp, though."
A man said, "Who are you? Why are you harassing my wife?" I said,
"I'm Solomon, and she's calling ME." He said, "I don't believe you." I
said, "Easy to prove. She's calling the FBI to get to me. They keep
records. She came to my temp office there for evaluation for a
government position. I asked her to leave before we finished." He said,
"Oh! Do you know why she's calling you?" I said, "I do. She thinks I
told the FBI to investigate her. I didn't." He said, "Are they, and do
you know for which possible crimes?" I said, "You know I can't tell you
that." He said, "Right. I should ask her." I said, "Don't do that in
the kitchen." He said, "Oh!" I said, "Would you accept my offer to
protect all the people of your household from intentional attacks?" He
said, "Yes, Solomon, I would accept that, with sincere gratitude, and
for all you do for humanity." I said, "Er, wow! Hmm, you know she's
still listening. Uncharacteristically silent. Strained breathing,
though." He tried not to chuckle. I said, "Please remember that I love
you. May God be with you, mysterious ways and all." I hung up.
Mom said, "Hurray!" I said, "Not really. She can't tell him. Going to
be a very strained family. Going to take a lot more work before she
cracks." She said, "But it's going to happen." I said, "We hope." It
did, and she did, in a screaming hysterical fit. Psych ward won't let
her out. Her family is grateful for that, and not just because they can
use knives in the kitchen again. Shrinks there heard her mumbling about
her crimes, and reported to the police, who contacted her husband. He
was even more surprised, and told his kids. Then he called the FBI to
reach me. He said, "I know now. I couldn't have imagined it in a
million years! Monster, is right. How you must have wanted to tell me!"
I said, "All my group knew, through monitoring me, and were in pain
over it." He said, "How did the FBI know?" I said, "They don't and
didn't, but an agent was in the hall when I kicked her out. I'm VERY
respected there." He said, "I understand. The mysterious ways you and
she mentioned." I said, "All too common around me. I think more than
half the er, militants I turned, weren't all on me." He said, "I
wouldn't be surprised. You're his best worker. He would be very
interested in what you do." I said, "Entertained, too. He's said so."
Chuckles.
He said, "I'm calling to ask for the address of the molested father."
I said, "Your children agree?" He said, "They do." I said, "I'll have
to ask him, first. If he says no, you need to accept that. His choice
to contact you." He said, "It would be difficult, and more on the kids,
but I understand and agree." I called the him, and said, "I'm Solomon.
I have something of a private nature to discuss with you. When and
where can we do that?" He said, "Can you port me?" I said, "Sure. Had
practice." He chuckled, and said, "Now, if you like. I'm standing." We
were then at the Navajo Convention Center, and I told him that. Then I
said, "One of your former teachers has had a breakdown, and is in a
psych ward. No, she hasn't developed a conscience. Her husband
overheard one of her harassing calls to me, and she eventually kind of
blew her top over that situation, and tried to attack her family, which
I prevented."
He said, "I know who it is. I put it all behind me." I said, "There's
more, that you don't know. Ready for a shock?" He said, "Alright." I
said, "She has two children. Twins. Boy and girl. They aren't her
husband's." He said, "Oh my God!" I nodded vigorously. He said,
"They're really mine?" I said, "You're the biological father. Nice
kids, despite living with that monster." He said, "Isn't that a little
strong?" I said, "I don't call her that for what she did to you, but
what she did to the very unwanted kids, that they were too young then,
to remember now. This know-all thing is NOT fun!" He said, "I didn't
realize how bad it would be for you!" I said, "We have to live with
what we have to live with. Here's the family's contact information.
Your choice what you do with it, which I told the husband. If you want
to make contact, I suggest you talk it over with your family before you
do it." He said, "I will. Thank you very much for your help." I said,
"You're welcome. Odd world we live in!" I ported him home. He did
contact them, and they are arranging to meet. Mom said, "Better ending
couldn't happen." I said, "Tough work, but necessary." We hugged with
love.
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Grant
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