"Our last item is one of the hardest we have ever considered." began Rob Gamez, as the audience buzzed. Rick saw the sheen of perspiration on the sheriff's face, and knew it came from more then the broken air conditioning in the Cultural Center.
"One month ago we sent Chief Joseph on his last journey, but due to several issues before us in the coming months, we need to elect a new Tribal Elder to head our council earlier then we had planned." A snort sounded in the audience, drawing a reluctant smile from Rob.
"The people have given us several nominees to be considered, and we have spoken with each of them about this important job. I am proud to announce that our nominees are John Hill, Esther Twotrees, and Robert Simon."
An appreciative murmur broke out among the residents, and craning his neck, Rick saw that the crowd had spilled out the door into the corridor. A rapping sound got his attention, and he turned back to see Tom Moonwalk calling for order.
"We will have an election amongst the people in one week, here at the Center. There will be one vote per registered family, so please make your voice heard as to who you want to lead our council." He said, once the noise had died down. "A notice will go out in the mail tomorrow, as per tribal law. All votes will be counted by the officials of our neighbors in Rockhaven, and the results will be available two days after the election."
As he sat down, Peter Twotrees stood, a thin wiry man who helped run the library at the Center. Rick smiled as he asked earnestly, "What will the position of Elder entail, I mean, what would the duties be? We have young children and …."
His wife, Esther elbowed him none too gently. "Peter, hush. I can handle the position, don't embarrass me like this!"
To forestall any problems, Rob spoke up. "The duties of the Tribal Elder are no longer full time, Pete. The council handles a lot of the day-to-day work, but we do need someone to lead the way in deciding the direction we will proceed in business, as well as ceremonial and cultural affairs."
As other questions were asked, Laurie whispered in Rick's ear, "Darling, I wish Rob was one of the nominees instead of our son, he's such a natural at this."
Giving her hand a squeeze of agreement, he looked over at Robbie, sitting with Ramona and the children. Although she had a calm look about her, he knew his daughter-in-law was not happy with Robbie's nomination. At least the breakfast their family had shared together brought out some of the worries she had about the effect on the time devoted to work and the kids.
"Honey, I won't let it eat up all my time, the council can handle most of the ordinary stuff, it's just that I want to carry on what the Chief started." Robbie has explained, facing his wife's objections head on. Ramona had agreed to give it a try, earning Rick and Laurie's admiration for meeting Robbie halfway.
Rick's musings were interrupted by the closure of the meeting, and he and Laurie got up to see their friends and family in the lobby. Rick had her by the hand and was leading the way out when a commotion caught his ear. "Mother, what did you just say?"
"I told you he wouldn't be there for you and the children, now do you believe me?" Angelina Torres stood in the hallway of the auditorium, smirking at Ramona, who was glaring at her estranged mother. Rick hadn't seen her in several months, since her last visit to her grandchildren had only ended in tears and her daughter's refusal to have her come again.
"How dare you talk about my father like that?" Andy stepped forward, glaring at the garishly painted old woman. Angelina recoiled, then focused again on Ramona, who was white-faced with anger. .
"Well, I can sure see whose son he is, rude, mouthy, no respect…."
"That's enough, Angelina! You have no right to speak to any of us with your foul mouth!" Laurie pushed past her enraged husband and got in-between the children and Angelina. "You take your self-righteous self out of here before I throw you out!"
Shrinking back before Laurie's anger, the older woman turned and vanished out the door as Laurie turned and drew Ramona into her embrace. "It's all right, honey, she had no right to attack you like that."
Ramona returned her hug, then looked at her upset children. "I'm sorry, you guys, your grandmother had no business taking out her jealousy on you, especially you, Andy."
At that Robbie hugged each of their kids, then put his arms around his wife.
"Thank you, honey, for standing up for me. I'll always be there for you and the children, you are my priority, always."
At that Rick got Andy's attention. "Come on, son, let's get you kids a treat in the café."
Cheering up, the teenager helped herd his siblings out of the auditorium and over to the Center's coffee shop, where Rick bought them all ice cream sodas and Laurie a Root Beer float. After a few minutes a smiling Ramona and Robbie joined them, just in time to see Rick pluck a cherry off of Lala's treat and drop it in his wife's mouth.
"Aha, that's where they get it from!" Ramona pretended to get annoyed as Rick snickered. "What, honey?"
"Picking the fruit off their desserts and feeding each other." Robbie added, grinning as Lala shook her head. "We just like to share, daddy. I told Grandpa to give my cherry to Grandma."
"Well, I think it's cute." Laurie laughed, as Andy gave Katie the last spoonful of his ice cream. "In fact, why don't we have the children over Saturday so you two can have a night out."
Ramona lit up as Robbie smiled shyly. "That would be great, Mom. I did want to get tickets to that new movie Saturday night."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Rick leaned over and used his napkin on Katie's vanilla-covered mouth. "Go book your seats, the kids and I will have fun, right?"
Both Lala and Andy jumped in. "Right!"
Both Rick and Laurie had cause to remember the joy of that evening the following days, as reaction to their son's nomination seemed to erupt into controversy. First complaint calls, then calls of support, and finally eerie screams and cries and hang-ups plagued their phone.
Furious, Rick ordered tracers on their phone and that of Robbie and Ramona after Laurie and the children came in from their Saturday morning ride.
As Andy held the door for his grandmother, the phone rang, and instantly Laurie waved him off picking it up. As she picked up the receiver, she motioned for him to turn on the recorder.
"Hello, Simon residence."
A torrent of swear words followed, then an accented voice.
"Tell your son to vote the way we want, or he won't be around at all."
Click.
