Chapter 11: Leo's Great Idea

Place: Foreman Kitchen

(A month later)

The kitchen was dark and a little smoky. All the windows in the room were covered. There was one light on in the room over the dining table, and four shady men were sitting around the table.

Suddenly the driveway door opened, and a feminine voice said, "Oh Red, did you have to do this in dark?"

The lady ripped the construction paper off the door widows and turned on the lights, revealing the four gentlemen and chip cluttered table they were playing on.

"Kitty! It took us thirty minutes to set this up." Red said, while sitting in his normal chair.

"Come on Mrs. Foreman, your ruining our poker game!" Hyde said, while slamming his cards down on the table.

"Yeah, we just got it to feel like it does in those gang movies." Bob said, sitting to the right of Red.

"Whoa, man! I didn't know there were lights in this room!" Leo said in his hallucinogenic voice.

Kitty shook her head at the four men and said, "Well, I am sorry for ruining your poker game, but I will not have my kitchen be used like this."

Kitty walked over to Red and handed him a rolled up newspaper.

"Here Red, you forgot the newspaper." Kitty said, before walking into the living room.

Red opened up the paper and started reading the first page. The other three picked up there cards again.

"Awe damn, that dumbass Mayor Johnson raised taxes again!" Red said, throwing the paper on the ground.

"Are you serious? Didn't he raise them last month? Oh, I raise five." Hyde said, before throwing a red chip in the pile.

Red picked up his cards, threw a red chip in, and said, "He did, but this month he raised taxes by ten percent!"

Hyde looked at Red in disbelief and said, "TEN PERCENT? Damn! If it isn't already hard enough to pay the Grooves taxes."

Red looking at his cards, said, "I know! That damn, rich Johnson is practically driving me out of business."

Bob through in a red chip and said, "I remember nobody liked Johnson when he was on the council because he always bad mouthed Mayor Burkhart. Once Burkhart was thrown in jail, everybody immediately seemed to love Johnson. Now all he does is tax everybody, and puts the money in his pocket."

Leo through in a red chip and said, "I remember meeting Johnson, he seems to be everywhere man. I mean one day he was cash registering at the grocery store, then he was driving my bus, then he came into the store and bought a record, then he was a girl at a strip club. I think he is stalking me, man."

Hyde looked at Leo and said, "Leo, nobody's stalking you. Those are all different people but they just happen to have the last name Johnson."

Leo asked, "So are all these Johnsons related or something, man?"

Red shook his head and said, "How is this man, who can't even tell the difference between people name Johnson, be beating us in poker?"

Leo smiled and said, "I have always had beginner's luck, when I play new games."

Bob looked at Leo confused and said, "But weren't you here last Saturday when we played poker?"

Red annoyingly said, "He was here Bob, and he cleaned us out. He's cleaned us out the last four Saturdays!"

Leo happily surprised said, "So that's where all my money has been coming from!"

Hyde, who had enough of this random talk, said, "Look let's get back on topic. We need something done about Mayor Johnson, or else we'll all be out of business."

Red said, "What we need is a normal working class man with common sense and strong leadership to kick that greedy Johnson on his ass this November."

Leo looked like he got an idea and said, "Hey man! You're strong and you have a lot of sense. Why don't you run for mayor?"

Red started chuckling and said, "Now that is the funniest thing you have said all night. Me… run for mayor? What a joke."

Hyde started thinking and said, "Wait a minute, man. Maybe Leo has got something here."

Red looked a Hyde ridiculously and said, "You can't be seriously considering this? I could never run for mayor."

Bob looked at Red and said, "I don't know Red… that might be a good idea."

Red look at Bob the same way and said, "Not you too. I mean seriously… how could I be mayor? Scratch that, how could I beat Johnson?"

Hyde said, "Think about it Red, you are a successful working class man, you always say and do things that is basically common sense, and you are a strong man who makes his own decisions."

Red said, "But I've never truly been a part of politics."

Bob interjected saying, "I've been a part of politics when Burkhart was around."

Red quickly said, "Then why don't you run for mayor?"

Hyde stared at Red and said, "Red, think about what you just suggested."

Red realized what he suggested and said, "You're right dumb idea. No offence Bob."

Bob shrugged and said, "None taken, I was always a push over with those politicians."

Hyde said, "Come on, Red…"

Kitty walked in through the door living room door and said, "Hey, what are you guys talking about?"

Red looked at Kitty and said, "You'll never believe it. These three buffoons want me to run for mayor. It's such a stupid idea."

Kitty looked at Red and said, "That might not be a bad idea, Red. I mean you have always complained that you could run things better than those dumbasses, plus I've always thought it would be wonderful to be the wife of a mayor."

Hyde jumped in, saying, "Right, and what would be a better way to show that you could do a better job than becoming mayor."

Red sighed and said, "Okay, suppose that I were to run, I wouldn't have any clue how to run a campaign, and Mayor Johnson has enough money to outspend me in the election."

Hyde said, "Red, think about who you are sitting with. You are sitting with me, a guy who could get William Barnet to help fund your campaign. You are also sitting with Bob Pinciotti, a man who personally helped run Mayor Burkhart's elections, and was a part of President Ford's Wisconsin campaign."

Red thought about it and said, "Alright, but who would help me run this campaign and get support from all the different groups of people in this town?"

Just then Donna, Fez, and Kelso walked up the basement stairs.

Kelso excitedly said, "Hey, what's going on?"

Hyde looked at the three and said, "Guys if Red were to run for mayor would you support him?"

Donna nodded her head and said, "Yeah, I would."

Fez smiled and said, "Sure, I have always wanted to be a part of a these Amedican elections."

Kelso excitedly said, "You're running for mayor, Mr. Foreman? Cool! I would support you."

Hyde stood up and said, "Red, look at these three people who would help you run and support you in the election. Think what their support gives you."

Hyde stood next to Fez and said, "With Fez's support, you would get the racial group in town to support you."

Hyde then stood next to Donna and said, "With Donna's support, you could advertise your campaign over the radio."

Hyde then stood next to Kelso, and said, "I am pretty sure Kelso would be willing to sleep with a lot of the women in town and get their support."

Kelso smiled and said, "Hey, anything that would help you get into office Mr. Foreman."

Hyde sat back down in his chair and said, "You, Bob, and Leo are veterans and that would get you support of the veterans."

Kitty interjected saying, "Oh, I could get support of the church ladies, and do a bake sale to get people interested in supporting you."

Hyde said, "With Eric's support and Jackie's ability to spread awful rumors about Johnson, you would be able to win the election with ease."

Red smiled, shook his head, and said, "I guess the only question now would be 'what would be my campaign slogan?'"

Everybody thought for a moment, before Kelso shouted, "Oh, I know… 'Vote for Red, or else you will get a foot in your ass!'"

Everybody laughed at Kelso's remark.

Donna got an idea and said, "How about, 'It is time to put a foot in these taxes.'"

Kitty said, "That's perfect!"

Hyde looked at Red and said, "What do you think Red?"

Red smiled and said, "I like it!"

Everybody started to all get excited about Red's run for mayor, when Eric and Jackie came through the door with smiles on their faces.

Donna said, "Eric, Jackie, you'll never guess what happening."

Jackie said, "What?"

Kelso said, "Mr. Foreman is running for Mayor!"

Eric shook Red's hand and said, "That's cool, dad!"

Red smiled and said, "Thanks Eric."

Jackie excitedly said, "Oh, I can so make up a lot of bad rumors about Mayor Johnson and his family because his daughter, Shelly, is a huge skank-oid."

Red chuckled and said, "Every little bit counts."

Eric said, "Hey, I also have some great news too."

Everybody looked at Eric and Jackie.

Eric said, "Next fall, I am going to be a math teacher at the high school!"

Everybody was now all excited about everything that was going on.

But a voice broke through the commotion, "Hey man, I just got a royal flush that means I win!"

AN: Sorry again about the long wait. I was just lost some interest for a while. Plus, I have been rather busy.

Since the whole election thing is going on, I decided it would be a little fun doing something with election. This will also be a little helpful to the plot.

I hope to be done with the story soon.

Keep on reading, and please review.