Val Meets Mr. Squirrels goes to Washington
I don't own Girl Meets Word!
"Current events. Somebody tell me what's going on in the world." Cory started his class.
"Stuff happened in some country, some team won a game, and it's cold somewhere with a chance of I don't care. Am I all caught up?" Maya snarked.
"Yeah. Your education's complete. Anybody who's gonna turn out well got something to say?" Cory begged the rest of the class "Lucas."
"All the news is about the elections." The Texan sighed.
"So are all the commercials." Farkle shrugged.
"Why should we care about the elections when we don't get to vote?" Riley questioned.
"Who else feels that way?" Cory asked and the whole class except for Val and Annie raised their hands "Well, that's a shame, guys, because this world's gonna belong to you soon."
"The one you messed up?" Maya asked.
"Yeah, thanks anyway." Lucas scoffed.
"Oh, so you got problems with this planet you're inheriting?"
"When I read the news, it makes me feel like this isn't even a world I'd want to rule." Farkle sighed.
Val whipped her head around to look at the genius so fast she cricked her neck "What? Ow."
"Wow, Farkle. I've never heard you say anything like that before." Riley gasped, concern etched on her face.
"I'm a visionary, Riley." Farkle shrugged "I look ahead. You. Me. Mars. Let's do this thing."
"Have fun with the seven month flight." Annie giggled.
"Wait a minute. Wait a minute." Cory paused the discussion "You guys are supposed to be optimistic. Future leaders. You don't get cynical until high school."
"I think you mean depressed." Val and Annie intoned.
"Why don't you elect people who care enough to make things better?" Lucas asked.
"I like to think I do every time I vote. But the truth is, I'm not responsible for the quality of people running for office."
"How are these people even chosen?" Riley asked.
"Well, the parties choose the best candidates they can come up with." Cory explained.
The door to the classroom was flung open and Uncle Eric burst in. He stood there panting for a moment then clapped Cory on the back.
"I am running for senator of the grape state of New York." He huffed "And I need your votes."
"Hi Uncle Eric." Val grinned and waved.
"He's your Uncle?" Zay asked "I don't believe that."
"Hello Niche Valentine." Eric grinned.
"By the way, kids don't vote." Val said.
"Then uh-oh!" Uncle Eric shouted in her ear.
"Everybody close your books, it's the end of the world." Cory sighed.
"I'm really dizzy." Eric smiled "I've done this in every classroom." He slumped over Val's desk and started snoring.
"Oh, boy." Annie groaned.
They were all at Topanga's Bakery after school with Uncle Eric and the rest of the Matthews family plus Katy Hart.
"So they plucked me off the street and they hustled me into a limousine like I was fancy." Uncle Eric was explaining how he got nominated.
"I think you got kidnapped a little bit." Val told him.
"Who was in the limousine?" Riley asked.
"The bow-tie man with the big glasses." Eric said ominously "He was a whisperer, right? He was one of those whisperers."He moved in between Cory and Topanga "He came up to me he was like, 'Eric, you are the only one that has a chance to defeat Senator Jefferson Davis Graham in the primary!'" He shouted.
"That's not a whisper, Eric." Cory said, rubbing his ear.
"I also don't know what a primary is!"
"The primary is the first election where voters select each party's candidate." Lucas explained.
"Oh, that's wrong." Eric exclaimed.
"Then the winners of the primary run against each other in the general election to see who goes to Washington." Farkle told them.
Eric leaned down to look Farkle in the eyes "Are you a robot?" He asked suspiciously.
"I'm a real boy." Farkle said, uncertainty clouding his eyes "Aren't I?"
"Yes, Farkle, you're a real boy." Val smiled.
"Birth certificate?" Cory asked skeptically.
"Still looking."
"Eric, Davis Graham is a six-term senator." Cory said.
"Eric, you don't have enough money to run against him." Topanga pointed out.
"Eric, the bow-tie man said he would help me with all of that." Eric yelled, straightening up.
"Eric, you can't beat this guy." Cory told him.
"He's done bad things. People who do bad things shouldn't be in power. I wanna beat him."
Cory turned to his wife "I don't know how he does it, but tell me you're not on his side."
"Not." Topanga shook her head "Eric, you don't even have a campaign team. Who's your team?"
"Well, that's why I'm here. I want Riley and Val and their friends to run my campaign." Eric explained.
"Awesome!" Annie said, jumping up "I've always wanted to be involved in politics. Val remember when we ran for Diarchs last year?"
"Yep, I remember. Those outfits you made me wear looked ridiculous on me."
"I mean, tell me you're not on his side now." Cory begged Topanga.
"Not. Yet." Topanga held up her hand "Eric, they're kids. Do you really think this is a good idea?"
"Don't rain on my parade, Topanga!" Annie sighed.
Val opened her mouth but Annie stopped her.
"I heard it, I regretted saying it the moment I said it, but I heard it."
Val smirked and crossed her legs.
"It's a great idea." A man nearby said "The senator took money from schools and gave it to his rich friends."
"Why would he do that? Who are you?" Uncle Eric asked.
"Priorities, Uncle Eric." Val reminded him "But those are both good questions."
"Because his rich friends are the ones that got him elected." The man told them "I'm TJ. TJ Murphy."
"So he chose his own future over ours?" Riley asked.
"Beat the bad bad man, Eric." Maya ordered.
"I'm gonna do my best, Moesha."
Annie snorted "Moesha?"
Maya glared at her.
"How do you know so much about this?" Farkle stared at TJ.
"I'm the one that caught him. I have a website called 'Thorn in your side.' I'm the thorn." TJ said proudly.
"So letting the kids run Eric's campaign-" Topanga started connecting the dots.
"Would show that Eric would rather build schools." Lucas realized.
"Would show that he cares about our future as much as his." Farkle finished.
"What's your deal, man with the ideas?" Eric asked.
"I believe in you." TJ got up and walked over to the group "I'd like to help."
"Hmm." Eric hummed "I need to have a secret meeting with my team behind closed doors." Eric dashed out the door, slammed it, and shoved his face against the glass "What do you think?"
"It's a good idea!" Annie shouted back.
"Clearly, we need all the help we can get." Maya sighed.
Eric opened the door and gave TJ a thumbs up "Welcome aboard PK."
"As you're about to see, we've had our share of election surprises." Cory said the next day, as Janitor Harley wheeled a TV into the classroom "But America loves an underdog."
"Matthews," Harley interrupted "You mind if I stick around for this class?"
"Of course, Harley. You're interested in politics?" Cory asked.
"I'm interested in why school budgets are being cut. I'm interested in why they take away art and music."
"You like music?"
"Without music, I'd do something." Harley said.
"I know, Harley." Cory nodded "I know you would."
Eric came in "Hey, you guys. We don't need to be afraid. We can win this thing. We just need to remember the wise words of President F. Doctor Oosevelt, who said, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear'-" Eric turned around and say Harley "Wow! Ha ha! This looks just like Harley Keiner. Oh, Harley Keiner. Harley Keiner. If I could do my whole life over again, I would give that guy such a what-for. You do. You look a lot like Harley Keiner."
"Are you sure that's your Uncle?" Zay whispered to Val.
"Yep."
"You got like the whole Harley Keiner head. The Harley Keiner face. It says Harley on your shirt." Realization hit Eric like a ton of bricks "Oh, this is terrible."
"Uncle Eric is running for senator." Riley said, trying to defuse the situation "Can we count on your vote?"
"I don't know." Harley shrugged "What are you gonna do for the little guy?"
"I never really thought of you as a little guy, Harley." Eric joked "You know something? I'm sure this school is really well taken care of."
Eric moved forward and planted a kiss on Janitor Harley's cheek with a loud smack.
Val smacked one hand to her forehead and used the other to stifle her giggles.
"What are you doin'?" Harley asked.
"I'm supposed to." Eric tried to explain.
"Babies. You kiss babies, you maroon." Cory groaned.
But Harley said "Okay, Matthews. You kiss nice. You got my vote."
"Alright, well, hey, there's one!" Eric cheered "Now how many do we need, robot?"
"Three million." Farkle answered.
"And how many do we have, robot?"
"One."
"Now burn me with your laser eyes. No, don't. Okay, do it. Do it. Let's not. Let's not. Let's not. Okay. Okay. Phew. You know, we get along really well, don't we, robot?"
"Yes, because around you I feel really good about myself." Farkle smiled.
"Ha!" Eric laughed and they high fived.
"Okay, everybody, up here please." Cory said, drawing attention to the front of the room, he turned on the TV and on it there was a photo of President JFK "In the 1960 presidential election, a young senator from Massachusetts was not expected to beat Richard Nixon, the current vice-president. But then they held the very first televised debate. And John Kennedy, the underdog, became the 35th president of the United States. That's how powerful the media is."
Eric spilled popcorn all over himself and Val.
They were back at Topanga's that afternoon, working on Uncle Eric's campaign, when an older man wearing a suit and a second man wearing a bow-tie and glasses came in. Val immediately got a bad feeling about them.
"Senator Graham." Topanga greeted them politely.
"Oh, no." Val sighed.
"Topanga Matthews, isn't it?" The senator asked and Topanga crossed her arms "I never forget a face. Especially one that came out against me."
"My law firm opposed the senator's plan to charge admission to parks and recreational areas that were previously free." Topanga told the group "A dollar for kids to run around and play, wasn't it, Senator?"
"It's all about making money for the state." Senator Graham smiled widely.
"At the expense of our children?" Topanga asked.
"Well, we don't have enough money and there's so many children." Graham shook his head.
"That's enough." The second man said warningly.
"Okay." Graham put his hands up in surrender.
"Eric," Cory leaned over the counter "Is this bow-tie, big glasses, whisper man?"
"Um..." Eric walked over to the man and looked him up and down "Could you say something?"
"I believe we're here to discuss the finer points of the campaign."
"This is him." Eric confirmed.
"He works fo Graham!" Cory shouted.
"No." Eric scoffed "He likes me."
"Oh, I do like you." Bow-tie man said, reaching over to straighten Eric's tie.
"Keep your hands off my Uncle." Val said warningly.
He quickly removed his hand "Who's running your campaign?"
"The children." Eric told him.
"The children. Ha!" Senator Graham laughed.
"Interesting." Bow-tie man mused.
Graham cleared his that "Yes, interesting."
"I thought you'd like that." TJ said from the counter.
"Murphy." Bow-tie man ground out.
"Wolff." TJ raised his coffee cup to Wolff.
"I'm sorry. You guys know each other?" Eric asked.
"Another face that came out against me." Graham said "This guy's a little instigator who just won't go away."
"Three debates." TJ demanded.
"As many as you want." Graham declared.
"One debate." Wolff said.
"One debate." Graham copied.
"Are you sure he works for you?" Val asked "It really seems like you work for him."
"Quiet, little girl." The Senator commanded.
"Excuse me?" Val raised her eyebrow.
Annie grabbed her hand and pulled her back into her seat "Easy girl, he's not worth getting arrested for."
"We have held this office for three decades. We will dictate all terms." Wolff said.
"I'm sorry. You work for him?" Eric asked.
"Sure, let's go with that."
"But you picked me to run against him. You said I was the only one that had a chance." Eric protested.
"That's correct. You are the only one who has a chance to make the Senator look good again in the eyes of the public."
Graham looked like he wanted to say something but Wolff stopped him. Instead, Graham walked towards the door and stopped behind Riley and Maya.
"See ya at the debate, kids."
Wolff followed him out.
"They played me. I'm just supposed to lose." Eric said dejectedly.
"Supposed to." TJ nodded.
"Like Kennedy was." Riley agreed.
"To Nixen." Maya finished.
"Yeah, but those guys weren't real!" Eric shouted "I'm done. I'm going home." He looked at Lucas "I'm gonna miss you Scarecrow, Lion, Dorothy, Toto. Robot. I think I'm gonna miss you most of all." Eric left leaving the bakery in utter silence.
A little while later, Val was sitting at the counter, sipping some lemonade, when Lucas joined her.
"Hey." He greeted.
"Lucas, hi." Val suddenly felt very nervous "I know we haven't really had a chance to talk much since detention. I'm sorry."
"It's cool, you've been busy." Lucas assured her.
"I'm free now." Val offered "You wanna hang out?"
Lucas's face broke into a grin "I'd like that." He sat down next to her "How are you?"
"I'm doing okay, how about you?"
"I'm pretty good." Lucas paused "I think we need to talk-"
"About the elephant in the room?" Val finished "Yeah, we should."
"I really like you, Val." Lucas confessed "Like, like you like you. If you don't feel the same way I'll understand, I just don't want this to mess up our friendship. 'Cause I like hanging out with you and talking to you. You were the only person I told about my past and you kept it secret even though it could have hurt your relationship with Riley and I really appreciate that."
"Lucas, you're rambling." Val smiled.
"Sorry."
"No, don't be. It's kinda cute." She blushed.
"Thanks...wait, what?"
"I said, you're cute. And I think I might like you too."
"Really? You're serious?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah." Val nodded "Is that okay?"
"Totally!" Lucas laughed "I just, I've waited so long to tell you and after you turned me down last year I thought maybe you didn't feel the same way-"
"I know. I did it for Riley. She still likes you, you know." Val said softly.
"Yeah, I know."
"I was wrong to do that then, and I realize that making you go out with my sister wasn't the smartest move. I shouldn't have pushed you to go out with someone you didn't feel romantically inclined to. I'm sorry." Val sighed.
"You don't need to apologize." Lucas told her "I understand why you did it."
"That doesn't make it right."
"It doesn't need to be made right." Lucas smiled "I'm just glad we've talked now."
"Me too."
"So, what are we now?"
"We don't have to be anything yet." Val shook her head "In fact, I'm not quite ready for us to be anything yet. But I'm glad to know that you like me and you know that I like you. So for now, should we just leave it at that?"
"I'm okay with waiting for a while." Lucas nodded "I don't think I'm ready for a real relationship either. I mean, we're only in the eighth grade, there's no need to rush."
"Exactly." Val agreed "So for now, let's focus on getting Uncle Eric back in fighting form."
"Sounds like a plan." Lucas nodded.
"I'd better go, I promised to help Riley and Maya try to cheer up Uncle Eric." Val said, standing up and smiling "I'm really glad we talked, Lucas."
"Me too, Val."
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Val left, waving as she walked out the door.
The next day, Cory was in front of his class.
"Current events." He said "Somebody tell me what's going on."
Riley raised her hand "We should always have parks to play in."
"We should always look out for the little guy." Maya nodded.
"We should lower the voting age." Lucas smacked his hand on his desk.
"We need to treat this planet better." Farkle said "I don't wanna go to Mars. I wanna rule an Earth that has good air and good water. A good Earth for our children."
"Our children?" Riley and Maya asked.
"I want eleven. Split 'em up however you want."
Riley turned to Maya "How do you want-"
"You get eleven." Maya told her.
"So suddenly you guys are involved in your world." Cory said.
"It's the only one we've go, isn't it?" Lucas asked.
Cory pointed at him "That's true. So what can we do too make it better?"
"You have the vote." Maya shrugged.
"Why don't they let us vote?" Lucas questioned "They don't trust us?"
"I would vote to make sure everybody takes care of each other." Riley decided "Everybody should have food and shelter and a warm coat for the winter."
"I approve that message." Maya agreed.
"Well, I agree with you girls." Cory nodded "And, Lucas, you wanna lower the voting age? Show us you can be trusted. Find your issue. Find you passion. Because we don't have enough. In the last election, the voter turnout was the lowest in our history. Change that. Teach us to care."
"Well how do we do that if we can't vote?" Lucas asked.
"Find somebody you know who can."
"Our parents?"
"Yeah, your parents." Cory smiled "And we'll listen to you. You know why?"
"You love us." Riley nodded.
"Yeah, we do. You guys live in an age where you can send your messages with just one click. The media is even more powerful now. So have a message. Because it's your world too."
Riley, Maya, and Val all shared a smile. They knew exactly what they had to do.
Riley, Maya, and Val were in the kitchen of the Matthew's apartment. Maya was pouring chocolatey cereal into a big bowl. Riley was grabbing chocolate sauce and milk from the fridge. And Val was preparing towels for the mess she knew would be inevitable.
The trio walked over to where Uncle Eric was laying on the living room's bay window.
Riley was the first to speak "Uncle Eric, it's Riley. You've been sleeping here all day."
"Uncle Eric, it's Valentine. You need to get up." Val ordered.
"I'm sad." Uncle Eric grumbled.
"Eric, it's Moesha. We need you." Maya said.
"So sad." Eric moaned.
Riley knelt down next to him "Did the big bad political men scare you?" She asked.
"They made me sad."
"Oh, it'll be okay as soon as you get up and get back in the race." Val smiled "All you gotta do is put on a smile and kick their butts."
"Too sad."
"Well, get up. We need a voice!" Maya shouted.
"No, not getting up." Eric said stubbornly.
"Time to bring in the big guns?" Val asked, referencing Annie who was outside in case they needed backup.
"Not yet." Maya shook her head.
"There is nothing you could that's gonna make me possibly get-" Maya put the chocolatey bowl of cereal in front of his face "Oh! Oh. That's just a big chocolatey bowl of goodness, isn't it?" He lifted his head off his pillow.
Maya started o sing "Get back in the race, you can put this in your face."
"No, no, I will not be bought by your catchy jingle."
Riley elbowed Val.
"Not doin' it." She shook her head and her friends gave her a stern look "Okay, fine."
Together Val and Riley sang "Get back in the race, you can put this in your face."
"Oh, man, not that's gonna be in my head all day," Eric complained, sitting up "You mind witches. Give me that."
"Could be worse." Val shrugged "I've got about twelve full length songs in my head on a good day."
Maya passed him the bowl of cereal and Riley handed him the chocolate sauce and milk. Uncle Eric poured the chocolate into his mouth then guzzled some milk. He shook his head wildly to mix them together.
"Yuck." Val muttered.
"Oh, that's the stuff." Uncle Eric whispered.
"So you're in?" Maya asked.
"Hold. Hold. Hand." Eric passed Riley the chocolate sauce and Val the milk and Maya passed him the chocolate cereal and tried to give him a giant spoon "I won't be needing that."
Eric shoved his whole face in the bowl.
"Uhh..." Val groaned "Gross."
"Quiet, Valentina!" Eric said, his voice muffled by the chocolate.
He pulled his head out of the bowl, his face dripping with chocolate and several pieces of cereal stuck to his temple.
"You know they set us up to lose, Maya." Eric told the blonde.
Maya paused "You know my name?" She asked.
"Of course I know your name. I like you very much."
"Then help me grow up in a better world." Maya pleaded.
"How?" Eric scoffed.
"Win." Riley said.
"Wha-you think we can?"
"Yeah, we do." Val smiled.
"Why?"
"Because we completely believe in the impossible." Maya explained.
"We believe that we can change the world." Riley nodded.
"We believe in heroes." Val told her Uncle.
"Why?"
"Because we're kids." Maya smiled.
"Isn't that why you wanted our help?" Riley asked.
Eric slowly passed Riley the bowl of chocolate.
"Okay." Riley shrugged and shoved her face in the bowl with a scream.
"I'm so glad I got extra towels." Val sighed.
"Those are my Niches." Eric said proudly.
Val passed him and Riley towels "Please clean your faces. You look like chocolate monsters."
"Do you need me yet?" Annie asked, coming in.
"Nope, we got him." Val grinned.
It was debate night. Cory was asking the questions. Val had gotten Eric into a suit which was a relief as he'd wanted to wear his mayor of St. Upid town garb, and he was standing on the stage next to Senator Graham. The kids were all int he audience watching them.
"Okay." Cory began "First question to Senator Graham. Please identify yourself." He said, turning to the audience.
Janitor Harley stood up "Thank you. Harley Keiner, head custodian. I'm proud of my school and the environment I help create for my kids." The kids started to applaud, led by Val "Aw, really? Thank you, my kids. My question is, what are you gonna do for the little guy?"
"I have never believed there are little guys." Senator Graham said pompously "I've always believed that all voters are equal win stature."
"I already don't believe you." Harley told him.
"What about non-voters?" Lucas asked.
"This election isn't about them." The Senator waved Lucas off "They'll have elections of their own soon enough."
"Lucas, you're not allowed to interrupt." Cory told the boy "The Senator has one minute."
"Thank you." The Senator smiled.
"Time." Cory slapped his hand on the clock "Mayor Matthews, your response?"
"Of course this election is about them." Eric said "Every election is about them. We have children and we make our whole lives about them."
"I'm sorry. Hold on a minute. Did you just say you had children?" The Senator asked "Because you don't actually have any children of your own, do you, Matthews?"
"No, I don't. I have two niches and their brother who's my COUSIN AUGGIE!" Eric shrieked the last two words.
"I have come here to this fine school to stand in front of you children, even though you do not vote, because you're too young to understand what's important in this world." The Senator began condescendingly.
"Well, we understand that we want our chance to get to live in it." Farkle interrupted.
"And that's what should be enough to lower the voting age." Lucas agreed "Se we can get a chance to vote against people like you."
"To vote for whom? Him?" Senator Graham scoffed "This man-child who doesn't even have experience in his biggest issue? He has not raised children. Convince me you have the right to lead them, and I will concede the future to you and to them."
Eric hesitated "You're right. I don't have the experience that you have, but you've been doing this for a very long time, Senator, and we down see anything getting any better. And, no, I don't have kids yet, but I care about them very much."
"But you can't prove it."
Val tried to get up but Lucas and Annie pulled her back into her seat and Lucas put a hand over her mouth.
"But I can." TJ Murphy stood up in the front row.
"Excuse me?" The Senator asked.
"My name is TJ Murphy. Thomas Johnathan Murphy. Eric Matthews knew me once as-"
"Tommy?" Eric asked in amazement.
"Hi, Eric." Tommy smiled "The best thing Eric ever did for me was one of the hardest decisions he had to make. He gave me up to a wonderful family that raised me, but I've never forgotten what I learned from Eric, either. Kindness, honesty, and more respect for human beings than I've ever known anyone else to have. Eric Matthews sacrificed himself for the future of a child. You sacrifice the future of children for yourself, Senator. So here's my question: is there really any choice here?"
"Tommy." Eric whispered, he walked off the stage to hug the man "Man. Look at you. You grew up to be a really good person."
"Yeah, I learned from some really good people." Tommy nodded.
"And now you may applaud." Cory told the audience.
Everyone stood up and began to clap. Val smiled and wrapped her arm around her sister.
"I love you, Riles. You know that, right?"
"Of course I do." Riley hugged her back "I love you too."
"Well, maybe we don't have a vote, Lucas." Maya said.
"Did you just call me Lucas?" The cowboy asked, stunned.
"I've always known your name. I like us all very much." Maya grinned.
"Maybe we do have a voice." Farkle mused.
"So, what do you wanna say, robot?" Riley asked jokingly.
"You. Me. Earth. Let's do this thing."
They giggled and moved to hug Uncle Eric in congratulation.
Back at the Matthews apartment the kids were sitting on the couch.
"Eric, what's the first thing you're gonna do if you win?" Lucas asked.
"I'm going to adopt Tommy." Eric said immediately.
"Cant. But you can hire me." Tommy offered "I'd like to keep being part of the campaign, if it's okay with you."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Cory and Topanga dashed through, carrying suitcases.
"Guys, did you hear?" Riley asked "Uncle Eric could win. He could be one of our countries leaders."
"Yeah, we know." Cory nodded.
"So where are you going?" Val asked.
"Far." Topanga shouted.
"Far far away." Cory agreed.
"As far as we can go. Good luck to you." Topanga said.
"Bye!" Cory waved and they rushed out the door.
"I don't know if I'm offended or relived that they didn't take me with them." Val whispered to Lucas.
Lucas laughed out loud and Val grinned. She was really lucky.
Word count: 4622 words
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Love,
The Author