Chapter 8-Meanwhile...
Disclaimer-I don't own the X-Men, but I have started a letter writing campaign asking for them for my birthday.
Well, I haven't exactly started said campaign, but I will at some point.
Oh forget it. I don't own them, and short of some act of God, gods, or lack thereof (whichever you prefer), I never will.
I should also state that I own Zander, Alex, and Nora McAllister, Anita and her family, and that no congressperson depicted in this story is based on an actual politician. I may hate a number of them enough to stick them in here and bash them relentlessly, but sadly, I don't know enough about any of them for it to be good, and it's so much more fun to make fun of someone when you actually know what they're talking about.
On with the story. ........
"Jeremy, Tania, y'all are next."
Mr. Biddle shuffled some papers and leaned back in his chair as Tania and Jeremy got up to give their report. This was our second assignment; November fourth was approaching, so each group had to discuss their candidate's campaign strategy. Lucky for me, the class had not guessed the obvious yet, but for all I knew, this could be their lucky day.
"As stated previously, Jeremy and I have been assigned Zander McAllister, a Democrat from central Washington. He's been out there campaigning since the beginning of October, and will probably stay there until election day."
"Uh, yeah." Jeremy added. I had a feeling he was not the most involved of project partners.
Tania kept going. "His opponent, Maryellen Hodges, a moderate Republican, has been a vocal critic of his policies since he was first elected to Congress eight years ago."
Vocal critic. That's a nice way of putting "psychotic stalker." She once led a protest outside of our house in Washington when my dad was running for county board of supervisors; under her leadership, they turned rowdy and bashed in the windows of our car. It was a county wide election for God's sake, not a presidential race.
"They're both pretty middle-of-the-road, so this isn't a campaign about issues; it's a popularity contest."
"Yeah, McAllister might as well be a Republican," added the ever-helpful Jeremy.
Tania gave a "see what I have to work with?" look to Mr. Biddle and kept going. "Hodges is trying to present herself as a fresh face in politics ("Damn straight," I thought. "She couldn't even get a leadership position on the PTA board.") and is attacking McAllister's voting record. His campaign consists mainly of stating all the good things he's done for the area over the bad, such as expanded irrigation and relaxed farm pollution standards, and showing that he'll be as tough in DC as he's ever been."
Jeremy was moving to get up the poster they'd made outlining the major campaign events when Mr. Biddle proposed a question.
"Now why is he not promoting a family issues campaign as he has in the past?"
I knew why. It's because his son's a mutie, that's why.
Fortunately for me, Jeremy and Tania didn't know the answer. Unfortunately, Mr. Biddle decided to help them along.
"He's got two kids, doesn't he? Where are they?"
Jeremy started looking through his book, and Tania was frantically flipping through her note cards. "Well, his daughter's in high school in DC, and his son."
I sank lower in my chair. Anita gave me a look of sympathy.
"Boards at a private institute in New York." Mr. Biddle so kindly finished for her. "That right, McAllister?" His loud, southern voice rang through the classroom.
The entire room turned to look at me. Had I gone any lower in my chair, I would have been in danger of falling out. A look of recognition dawned on everyone's face--even Jeremy's--as I meekly nodded. Whispers started around the room. I'm just glad I don't have extra-sensitive hearing like Rahne.
After class, Mr. Biddle took me aside.
"Sorry for bringing it up that way, kid. If I'd known you were a little McAllister when we started this project, I would've given his name to someone in another class."
"It's OK," I told him. Honestly, what else was I going to say?
"Well, then, I hope you don't mind that I don't cut y'all any slack. In fact, I expect an even more detailed project from you and Anita, since you probably know T. C. Soportski personally."
"Um...OK." I appeared to have lost my faculty for coherent speech.
I quickly gathered up my books and ran for the door.
................
Dad's always been a little obsessed with reelection, even in years he hasn't had any competition, so I was a bit worried about him this time around. Maryellen Hodges is a total bitch, and some of her negative campaigning has led to nasty letters and death threats for my father. He went out to Washington in early October, and he only comes home when there's a really important vote scheduled. Even when he's home, though, he's always on the phone with his campaign advisor. I think he's got his eye on the Senate when our current senators retire, so he's making the best out of every campaign opportunity he has.
After he's gone for awhile, it's really weird to have him around. Granted, I'm usually at school and then soccer practice, but to come home to him with his cell phone plastered to his face, saying things like, "I don't care what you say, Mitch. I'll kiss plenty of babies next week--I have to be here to vote!" was really weird.
Maybe I never really paid attention to him in election season before, but I think he's gotten much jumpier this time around. The creepy phone calls were still coming; they were always from the same guy, and though he never specified exactly what he "knew," I figured it was about Alex. Nothing else could put Dad on edge as much.
I think he's genuinely afraid of word getting out, especially right before the election. I know he's got some sort of backup plan in case it does get out, but I know he just wants the whole thing to go away.
Don't we all want it to go away? I mean, come on, I love Alex no matter what he is, but it would be so much easier if he weren't a mutant. It'd be so nice to have my big brother back at home, to never see my father start twitching at the sound of his name. Hell, I'd just be happy to stop dodging the questions at school. Seriously--his ex-girlfriend is on the soccer team with me, and she won't stop asking where he is.
I just want us to be together again.
...............
Sorry, folks. This is just a filler chapter. There were a few things I had to put in before the news breaks. I originally had them incorporated with the next chapter, but it was getting long and didn't flow nicely, so I hope you had a nice time with Alex and Nora, and you'll get more shortly.
I'll post the next chapter tomorrow, with review comments and such.
Auf Wiedersehen (lets hear it for German 105!)
hnh
Disclaimer-I don't own the X-Men, but I have started a letter writing campaign asking for them for my birthday.
Well, I haven't exactly started said campaign, but I will at some point.
Oh forget it. I don't own them, and short of some act of God, gods, or lack thereof (whichever you prefer), I never will.
I should also state that I own Zander, Alex, and Nora McAllister, Anita and her family, and that no congressperson depicted in this story is based on an actual politician. I may hate a number of them enough to stick them in here and bash them relentlessly, but sadly, I don't know enough about any of them for it to be good, and it's so much more fun to make fun of someone when you actually know what they're talking about.
On with the story. ........
"Jeremy, Tania, y'all are next."
Mr. Biddle shuffled some papers and leaned back in his chair as Tania and Jeremy got up to give their report. This was our second assignment; November fourth was approaching, so each group had to discuss their candidate's campaign strategy. Lucky for me, the class had not guessed the obvious yet, but for all I knew, this could be their lucky day.
"As stated previously, Jeremy and I have been assigned Zander McAllister, a Democrat from central Washington. He's been out there campaigning since the beginning of October, and will probably stay there until election day."
"Uh, yeah." Jeremy added. I had a feeling he was not the most involved of project partners.
Tania kept going. "His opponent, Maryellen Hodges, a moderate Republican, has been a vocal critic of his policies since he was first elected to Congress eight years ago."
Vocal critic. That's a nice way of putting "psychotic stalker." She once led a protest outside of our house in Washington when my dad was running for county board of supervisors; under her leadership, they turned rowdy and bashed in the windows of our car. It was a county wide election for God's sake, not a presidential race.
"They're both pretty middle-of-the-road, so this isn't a campaign about issues; it's a popularity contest."
"Yeah, McAllister might as well be a Republican," added the ever-helpful Jeremy.
Tania gave a "see what I have to work with?" look to Mr. Biddle and kept going. "Hodges is trying to present herself as a fresh face in politics ("Damn straight," I thought. "She couldn't even get a leadership position on the PTA board.") and is attacking McAllister's voting record. His campaign consists mainly of stating all the good things he's done for the area over the bad, such as expanded irrigation and relaxed farm pollution standards, and showing that he'll be as tough in DC as he's ever been."
Jeremy was moving to get up the poster they'd made outlining the major campaign events when Mr. Biddle proposed a question.
"Now why is he not promoting a family issues campaign as he has in the past?"
I knew why. It's because his son's a mutie, that's why.
Fortunately for me, Jeremy and Tania didn't know the answer. Unfortunately, Mr. Biddle decided to help them along.
"He's got two kids, doesn't he? Where are they?"
Jeremy started looking through his book, and Tania was frantically flipping through her note cards. "Well, his daughter's in high school in DC, and his son."
I sank lower in my chair. Anita gave me a look of sympathy.
"Boards at a private institute in New York." Mr. Biddle so kindly finished for her. "That right, McAllister?" His loud, southern voice rang through the classroom.
The entire room turned to look at me. Had I gone any lower in my chair, I would have been in danger of falling out. A look of recognition dawned on everyone's face--even Jeremy's--as I meekly nodded. Whispers started around the room. I'm just glad I don't have extra-sensitive hearing like Rahne.
After class, Mr. Biddle took me aside.
"Sorry for bringing it up that way, kid. If I'd known you were a little McAllister when we started this project, I would've given his name to someone in another class."
"It's OK," I told him. Honestly, what else was I going to say?
"Well, then, I hope you don't mind that I don't cut y'all any slack. In fact, I expect an even more detailed project from you and Anita, since you probably know T. C. Soportski personally."
"Um...OK." I appeared to have lost my faculty for coherent speech.
I quickly gathered up my books and ran for the door.
................
Dad's always been a little obsessed with reelection, even in years he hasn't had any competition, so I was a bit worried about him this time around. Maryellen Hodges is a total bitch, and some of her negative campaigning has led to nasty letters and death threats for my father. He went out to Washington in early October, and he only comes home when there's a really important vote scheduled. Even when he's home, though, he's always on the phone with his campaign advisor. I think he's got his eye on the Senate when our current senators retire, so he's making the best out of every campaign opportunity he has.
After he's gone for awhile, it's really weird to have him around. Granted, I'm usually at school and then soccer practice, but to come home to him with his cell phone plastered to his face, saying things like, "I don't care what you say, Mitch. I'll kiss plenty of babies next week--I have to be here to vote!" was really weird.
Maybe I never really paid attention to him in election season before, but I think he's gotten much jumpier this time around. The creepy phone calls were still coming; they were always from the same guy, and though he never specified exactly what he "knew," I figured it was about Alex. Nothing else could put Dad on edge as much.
I think he's genuinely afraid of word getting out, especially right before the election. I know he's got some sort of backup plan in case it does get out, but I know he just wants the whole thing to go away.
Don't we all want it to go away? I mean, come on, I love Alex no matter what he is, but it would be so much easier if he weren't a mutant. It'd be so nice to have my big brother back at home, to never see my father start twitching at the sound of his name. Hell, I'd just be happy to stop dodging the questions at school. Seriously--his ex-girlfriend is on the soccer team with me, and she won't stop asking where he is.
I just want us to be together again.
...............
Sorry, folks. This is just a filler chapter. There were a few things I had to put in before the news breaks. I originally had them incorporated with the next chapter, but it was getting long and didn't flow nicely, so I hope you had a nice time with Alex and Nora, and you'll get more shortly.
I'll post the next chapter tomorrow, with review comments and such.
Auf Wiedersehen (lets hear it for German 105!)
hnh