A Well Lived Life 2 Book 5 MichelleChapter 37 Christmas 1991
- 3 years ago
- 20
- 0
I got a call from Marty on Monday afternoon, late. “I need to have my head examined, but I’m in. If you still want me, let me know. I haven’t given any notice yet.”
“What about your law firm, Dewey Cheatem and Howe? Is this going to screw up any partnership bids? How does that work, anyway?”
Marty snorted. “That’s part of it. I have been weighed in the balance and found wanting. I nosed around some this morning, and there won’t be a partnership offer made to me. At least, not under current circumstances. If I were to make the appropriate investment, they might reconsider.”
“Ouch!”
“Right, so I might as well consider my other options.”
I shrugged to myself. There are lots of reasons not to make somebody a partner, and job performance wasn’t the only factor. Maybe Marty simply pissed off a senior partner. “Come over on Wednesday and we’ll talk some more.” We hung up on that.
I talked to Marty on Wednesday, and we confirmed he would come to work as my Chief of Staff. Thursday morning, I called Sherry, Babs, and Mindy into my office and gave them the word. They sat there and nodded in understanding, but I felt an undercurrent of relief. They were getting somebody to sort things out. Marty would start soon, not the next Monday, but the Monday after that. They would pass it along to everyone.
After Marty joined up, you could see everybody settling into a new scheme of things. The entire office tightened up some, in that there was a method to the madness, and some needed discipline. Marty would have a meeting every morning, with me, him, and the three top ladies, and we would plan out the day and review what needed to be done. At least once a week he met with Babs and the Constituent Support people, and with Sherry and the Legislative Support people. He also made a schedule to visit the District Office in Westminster on a regular basis. Even my own schedule began tightening up, as I began to meet with people I needed to see, and not just people who wanted to buy my soul.
After a few weeks, as things began to work together much more smoothly, I made a comment at our morning meeting that, “I think this new arrangement is going to work out.”
Marty laughed dryly. “That just means it’s all going to fall apart by lunchtime.”
He was right, of course. By the beginning of April, I found myself called on the carpet by Newt Gingrich. He had discovered, horror of horrors, that I was interested in co-sponsoring Al Gore’s Internet bill. I was ‘asked’ to meet with him in his office. It was a lot like being called into the Principal’s office. He sat behind his big desk, and I sat in a chair in front of him. “Carl, I understand you are interested in co-sponsoring HR656.”
“Yes, that’s correct,” I replied. I didn’t want to elaborate unless I had to. Newt Gingrich had the moral instincts of a shark looking for a wounded guppy. There was a reason he was the Minority Whip.
“I’m curious why you would do that. That’s Al Gore’s computer bill, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Basically. It’s the House version anyway. He had George Brown propose it. Sherry Boehlert is one of the co-sponsors.” Maybe I could deflect any wrath by throwing Sherry under the bus.
Newt looked like he was sucking a lemon as I said that, so maybe that wasn’t a great line of thought. “That’s really a Democratic bill, Carl. It would be best if you took your name off it.”
“It’s a bill that is going to pass, so maybe it would be good to get my name on it,” I countered.
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. You know that Minority Leader Michel and I are working to build a Republican majority, right? Neither of us thinks that successful Democratic legislation will be conducive to that. We’d rather wait until we returned to power to do these things.”
Well, that was blunt enough. The massive Congressional gridlock that characterized Washington from about 2008 on really got its start twenty years prior, under the Gingrich reign over the Republican Party. Strategy meant nothing; tactics meant everything. It was a beggar thy neighbor, scorched earth approach to legislation. Better that nothing gets done than that anything bipartisan might get accomplished. The only way this works, though is when one party has an unassailable hold on both houses and the Presidency. Under any other circumstances it just makes for not much action and bad blood.
I nodded in understanding, but countered, “Newt, this is an important bill, and it will have consequences that will benefit the Republican Party as well. We should be supporting this bill.”
“Explain how this will benefit us.”
“Are you aware of exactly what this bill does? In a nutshell, it opens up existing government computer networks and allows them to be expanded on. In effect it is privatizing the existing government networks. We’re in favor of privatizing. There will be a lot of money made from this.”
That made Newt wake up. He sat upright and looked at me hard. “Computer companies are going to buy this?”
“Probably not, but the phone companies will.”
“I’m not convinced,” he told me.
“Let me put it another way. Al Gore is taking to calling this thing the ‘Information Superhighway’, right? Have you ever heard of a highway that didn’t need construction? I would think you’d be interested in figuring out how to regulate and control that construction.” Regulate and control - in other words, get money from the companies building the highway so that the construction would be regulated and controlled the way they wanted.
Newt gave me a noncommittal grunt at that, and I could see the wheels whirling inside his head. I pushed in a different fashion. “Here’s another thing to think about. You don’t want Al Gore claiming he built the Information Superhighway, do you?”
“That’s why I’m meeting with you,” he said tersely.
“Well, you’ve heard that when somebody hands you lemons, make lemonade. This bill is going to pass, that’s a given. You can’t stop it. Make some lemonade. Remember, I’m a mathematician. I have a doctorate in applied mathematics and my thesis was on computer networking. If Al Gore starts saying he’s building the Information Superhighway, trot me out. I drew the blueprints!”
Gingrich’s eyes popped open at that. He grumbled some more at me but let me out. I don’t know if I was first on his list or last, but I knew he wouldn’t let it go. A couple of other Republicans were going to co-sponsor it as well, Steve Schiff of New Mexico, and my fellow Marylander, Wayne Gilchrest.
By the end of April, I was listed as a co-sponsor of the bill, which was reported out of the Science Committee mid-May. From there it had to go to the Senate to be sorted out with the joint committee, to make the wording match what was reported out of the Senate Commerce Committee. It was just a matter of time after that. The Democrats had a solid majority of both the House and the Senate, and this thing wouldn’t even be brought up to a counted vote. A voice vote would be good in both houses. It’s like I told Newt Gingrich, this thing was going to pass no matter what.
Also, by the end of April, most of the troops in the Gulf were coming home. I got a call from the USO, and Mindy set me up with a room down in Fayetteville. I flew down for a few days and helped host a ‘Welcome Back!’ party. No, I didn’t give any speeches, or at least not too many, but I did talk to the generals and colonels commanding the division and the brigades and attached battalions. I also left my business cards. Little Captain Buckman had left home and grown up. If the 82nd needed help in Washington, they now had their own pet Congressman.
There was one speech I gave, which I began using with lots of military groups in the future. I was asked to say some words to a group of senior non-coms who had seen their last war. The Army was still downsizing, and the Gulf War had been their last hurrah. I was expected to say fine things and thank them for their dedicated service, and I did that of course. Then I added an extra.
“Now I am going to close this by saying that your nation is not done with you. Some of you came into the Army as draftees. Others enlisted. All of you had chances to get out after doing a hitch, and all of you thought that your service to the nation was important. It still is. Now you are retiring, to start second careers, many of them in the private sector. However, your nation still needs you, now more than ever! I want everyone here to think about the sacrifices you have made and have been asked to make. I want all of you to consider a new sacrifice, the sacrifice of serving in political office. It’s not easy, but it is important. From now on, every time you complain about something dumb in government, I want you to think about what you could do to make it better. I want you to think about becoming part of the solution, and not just complaining about the problem. Republican, Democrat, or Independent - I don’t care! Just get involved! Run for alderman or county commissioner or the school board. Hell, run for dogcatcher! The skills that got you here today, the pride and dedication and courage and smarts, those are the skills your hometowns need! You’ve spent a lifetime serving your country. Now go home and serve there as well!”
At the end, as I was shaking hands, several commented to me that I had given them something to think about, and some of the senior officers told me the same thing. Later, while talking to some of the colonels and generals, I stated that for years, military service had been a requirement for holding political office, but that was going out of fashion. Maybe it should come back into fashion, and what better way than this? Maybe one of those non-coms would become an alderman, and then maybe leverage that upwards. It worked for a beat-up old battery commander, didn’t it? (Not me - Harry Truman!)
In May, the Queen of England visited and gave a speech to Congress. In preparation, I went home the night before and practiced waving to the peasants with Marilyn playing the role of peasant. She returned the favor, using a special wave involving the middle finger being extended. How very peasant-like!
One of the things that Marty forced us into was the role of host and hostess. It was one thing to buy a home large enough to do this, but another to do it. Still, Washington floats on a sea of shrimp cocktails and Swedish meatballs. Some of my colleagues had reputations as being very private homebodies, but more than a few had a quite different reputation. There were at least a half-dozen A-list parties every night somewhere in this town, some given by politicians, some given by lobbyists and think tanks (which had the advantage of being tax deductible), and some given by high-end reporters and pundits.
Marty gave me my marching orders. I had to pick a date and we would hold our first dinner, something small, for the Maryland contingent of Congress. That was nine Representatives and two Senators. If everybody came and brought a spouse/significant other/insignificant other/somebody-they’re-just-trying-to-get-in-the-pants-of that would be twenty-two. Not all would attend, and somebody would probably add an extra. Add in a few reporters, pundits, and hangers-on. Toss in an invitation to the Governor of Maryland, since Annapolis is only a half hour away. Figure about three dozen people. Marty checked out the name of the ‘party liaison’ and made a few calls.
“Don’t sweat it, you can afford it,” he told me. He had a particularly evil grin as he said this.
I just rolled my eyes at that. “You’re really getting off on ordering me around,” I told him.
“Damn straight! Marilyn told me to keep you on the straight and narrow.”
The dinner was on Friday, May 17. For the average Congressman, meeting your fellow Congressman on a Friday night isn’t so great since most of them are back in their district on a Friday night. Maryland was a little different, though, since it is right next door to Washington. Other than the Gilchrests from the Eastern Shore, everybody else could almost commute.
Marilyn brought the kids and Dum-Dum down right after school, and Sherry’s niece came over to babysit upstairs with them. That went well, but there were a few hitches. Charlie and his sisters were neatly dressed, and all three were at an age where they understood that “Behave or else!” involved an ‘or else!’ Our party coordinator brought in a chef and wait staff, and the chef used our fancy showroom kitchen to make some Maryland dishes, including soft shelled crabs and oyster soup. He also made up some Maryland fried chicken and did some drumsticks for the kids. We allowed them to troop through, grab some plates, and head back upstairs. At that point Dum-Dum snuck past them and zoomed down the stairs. Fortunately, I was able to snag her before she disrupted too much. I picked her up and calmed her down in my arms, and several people came over and got enthusiastically licked before I maneuvered her back up the stairs.
That elicited a discussion of child rearing techniques. Everybody commented that our children had been extremely well behaved, and I simply mentioned the ‘or else!’ method of child education. Since Marilyn and I were the youngest in the group, everybody else in the room thoroughly understood this time-tested technique and passed along how they had raised their children and how they had been raised. None of us believed all that touchy-feely New Age no spanking bullshit.
In general, it went well. We didn’t really discuss anything important. Everybody thought the kids were adorable (which had Marilyn and me scratching our heads) and Dum-Dum was a real scamp. I made sure I told the others, all of whom, other than Wayne Gilchrest, had more experience in Washington, that whatever I could do to help Maryland, to let me know. Governor Schaefer immediately asked me for a campaign donation, saying how that would be good for Maryland. That got a loud round of laughter, since he was a Democrat, so I countered by saying, “Don, I already married a Democrat,” and pointed to Marilyn. “Just how much more can I do for you guys?” That got even more laughter and the Governor shook my hand, saying that was sufficient. The photographer Marty had ordered up took several group pictures.
I did earn Brownie points when, over dinner and joking about Schaefer’s comment about helping him out, Wayne Gilchrest commented, “Maybe you can donate to some of my volunteer fire departments like you do your own?”
I glanced over at Marilyn, and she shrugged at me, so I shrugged back. I looked over at Wayne and said, ‘Okay.”
Beverly Byron, who represented the Maryland Sixth, the Appalachian counties, joked, “Can the Democrats get in on the action, too?”
I looked across the table and said, “Sure. I hear even Democrats have fires.”
She gave me an odd look. “Are you being serious?”
“Yes. Are you?”
There was a level of consternation around the table. Governor Schaefer, who was sitting a few seats down, asked, “Carl, are you serious about donating money to other districts’ charities, even the Democrats’?”
I glanced over at my wife, who smiled and nodded. “Governor, unless you can guarantee me that all the bad things that happen to people in the state of Maryland will only happen to Republicans, then yes, I am serious,” I looked around the room. “Look, I’ve heard the stories, I know what’s been said. I bought the election by throwing my money around to charities. I’ll admit I’ve given a lot of money to fire departments and emergency squads and police departments in my district, but it’s because that’s where I live. If you have some charities in your districts you’d like to see helped, then let me know. Or let Marilyn know. She’s the head of the Buckman Foundation. Just be prepared for the consequences.”
“Such as,” asked Steny Hoyer.
I shrugged at him and smiled. Steny was a leading Democrat. “Such as my smiling face handing over the check while the cameras are clicking. What’s more important, that the charity get the money, or that a Republican not get credit? Hmmm? Something to think about, isn’t it?”
There was considerable murmuring about that! However, it wasn’t all bad. Kweisi Mfume, who represented one of the poorest inner-city districts in Baltimore, said, “I don’t care if your face is on the check! The people in my district need money for health care and clinics, and they don’t care where it comes from. Are you serious?” He had a rebellious look on his face, and I recalled that he and Schaefer had their differences about this.
I looked him in the eye and said, “Yes. How much are we talking about?”
“How about twenty thousand for a clinic in Pimlico?”
“Fifteen,” I countered, “but it is in matching funds. You scrape up fifteen elsewhere, anywhere, and I’ll cough up another fifteen. Deal?”
“Make it twenty, and you get to stand there and cut the ribbon,” he pushed.
“Only if the Sun and the television stations cover it,” I replied.
“Deal!”
You could see wheels whirling in people’s heads about this. I knew some wouldn’t want it, if I were attached, and some either wouldn’t care, or would be happy to see me (mostly the other Republicans.) Over the next ten minutes, I got requests for quite a bit more, again, all for various clinics and fire/emergency units.
“Just how much are you planning on donating?” asked the Governor.
I thought about it for a moment. “I’ve been giving about two hundred grand to various charities around my district for years, simply because it’s where I live. If we expand that same amount to the rest of the state ... maybe $2 million. Seem fair?”
“Every year?” asked an incredulous Steny Hoyer.
“Well, as long as the economy holds up, so maybe you Democrats should vote Republican and help us with the economy,” I said, smiling.
That earned me a few laughs, and a lot of thoughtful looks from the others. More than a few people asked me about things, and then said, “I’ll hold you to that!” which I replied to in kind.
By the end of the dinner, we were invited to several dinner parties by the others, including one at the Governor’s Mansion in Annapolis. We politely accepted that one and promised to check our schedules on all the others. It is entirely possible to spend damn near every lunch and dinner eating somewhere on someone else’s’ dime, although how much you will accomplish is debatable at best. You’d better be a sparkling conversationalist at the least! As for Governor Schaefer, well, Don Schaefer was the Maryland politician of our generation, and it didn’t matter that he was a Democrat; if you wanted to do something political in Maryland you made sure you played nice with Don Schaefer, and at the least didn’t piss the man off.
Otherwise, however, 1991 passed along without much excitement. Unfortunately for George Bush, the economy began swirling around the bowl. In the early spring, following the American victory in the Gulf (okay, Coalition victory, but really, who cares?) the President had approval ratings in the ninety percent range. Unfortunately, this proved the high point of his presidency. By the summer, the economy was beginning to tank seriously. A combination of higher oil prices due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, massive government deficits, and a general decline in the housing market combined to really slow the economy.
To a certain extent my holdings in the Buckman Group weren’t affected. When I had been elected, I had to place my financial assets into a ‘blind trust’, a trust where the trustee had full control of the assets and I had no legal ability to modify the investments. In theory, this prohibited me from changing my investments to benefit from any knowledge of what I was doing in my public life. I was not to communicate with the trustee other than to learn how the cumulative investment was doing.
In practice, the blind trust is one of the weakest methods of insuring fiscal independence. The trustee must be somebody known and trusted by the owner of the trust. My trustee was hired by John Steiner, my longtime friend and lawyer. Since I was such good friends with John it was not unexpected that we would talk frequently. As knowledgeable men of the world, with interests in politics and economics, it would be expected that we would have frequent conversations over market trends. However, since nothing we ever said in these private and unrecorded conversations could be construed to be trading instructions, neither of us was in breach of our fiduciary duties. Likewise, while I never talked to the trustee, it was not out of the realm of possibility that John would talk to him, since they probably did other business together as well.
Realistically, I wouldn’t have given him any trading instructions in any case. My assets were in the form of Buckman Group stock. If, however, John was to pass along any of my comments and insights to other friends, such as those involved in the management of the Buckman Group, that was to be expected. It wasn’t even a case of insider trading.
The practical effect was that the Buckman Group focused even more closely on computer and networking companies, as the ‘Information Superhighway’ began to be built. On the rest of the market, we began betting on a recession-based economy. I just reminded them of my trading philosophy that there was just as much money to be made on the downside as there was on the upside. Jake Junior and Missy took the bit in their teeth and ran with it.
This was an amazing part of being a Congressman. If I were still with the Buckman Group and pulled this shit, I’d be doing time at Club Fed for insider trading. As a Congressman, the rules simply didn’t apply to me. At least I kept up the semblance of innocence; when LBJ had been President, he’d had a phone in a desk drawer with a direct line to his stockbroker.
On my weekends home I made a deal with Marilyn to spend at least one day with her and the kids as just a regular dad. I would also usually do a pancake breakfast or chicken-and-biscuit dinner somewhere in the district. It kept my face out there and allowed me to make an appropriate charitable donation to the local firehouse or ambulance squad. I wasn’t buying votes, at least not technically. My donations weren’t out of line with what I had been giving before I got into politics, however, they were a lot higher profile. I even had a big fake check made up out of plastic, like a white board, where I could write an amount and a name on it and pose for pictures. Afterwards, I would stick the fake check back in the car and give them a real check.
Farty Jimbo answered the phone. “Hello” said Farty Jimbo “Hello, this is Tuesday” said the voice on the phone “No,” said Farty Jimbo “This is Sunday. I know for a fact.” “No, I mean this is Tuesday Wells. I don’t know what day it is there. It may very well be Sunday.” “Well it is Sunday, and I don’t know any Tuesday Wells.” Said Farty Jimbo “Well I guess we haven’t met yet, but we will. It was hard getting a hold of you.” Said Tuesday Wells. “I know this all must sound...
It was still early on Sunday night and I had the urge to talk to Marcie. She was comically critical of my commitment to get Smyth laid. "What made you volunteer for such an enormous feat, Sammy?" "I don't know." I did know, but I wasn't ready to admit to Marcie that I had heard Shirley tell me to turn the tables on Smyth for spying on me and my guests. "How do you plan to carry it out?" "I don't know." I really didn't know, but my sub-conscience was working on a plan. "Who...
World Civics in the Twenty-Third Century- fifth ed.Chapter 1: A Fresh StartYou and your classmates have grown up in an age of prosperity. The average world citizen can expect to live a long, happy life. Our leaders are honest and hard working, and our governments are good members of the world community. Large-scale v******e is a thing of the past. In fact, there have been no wars anywhere on Earth for over two-hundred years, but it might surprise you to learn that the world wasn't always so...
Twenty years go by. Silkie Greene had to give up her dream of singing opera roles on stage and has been singing jazz for many years. She is headlining at Club Crocodil in Paris. Her sister Rachel, an internationally famous pianist, is on stage with her. Her friend and lover Denis DeRuhe is at the club to see both of them. All three of them have been lovers for and wth each other, for may years:Two months before this evening,Silkie had learned that her friend and lover, Denis, was HIV positive....
It was the Fourth of July, 1991, and I was washing Holly's car when Sandy came out her front door, obviously dressed for a party. "Do you have someplace to go today, Sammy?" she asked when she reached her car. "Yes, I'm going to a cookout." Her smile was one of relief, probably because she wouldn't feel obligated to ask me to tag along with her. "I hope you have a good time." "Thanks, Sandy. Are you ready for your trip?" "I've packed everything, but I'll probably have to...
The next day Lee called a Wizards Meeting. Lee also invited Michella, Hador and the leads of the other main clans that were now in town. “Okay people, I had a bit of discussion with Kyle and Sean and other select wizards, now I wish to include all of you.” She had gotten Kyle to erect a big 3D screen in the community hall that she had commandeered. She flashed up a map of Utopia. “As many of you now know, I could end up controlling four decads of wizards. The way things stand now is that...
A scout emerged from the trees and motioned for the column to stop. Genrico raised his hand over his head and the men on the march came to a halt. “There is a ship on the horizon,” the scout confided. Joseph had walked up to join the conversation, causing the scout no end to consternation. “Coming or going?” the king asked. “I can’t tell,” the man answered. “The sun is reflecting off the water and the ship is well away from shore. If I had to offer a guess, I would say it sailed with the...
I got my job at Sixth Street Capital when I was fresh out of graduate school. Working for the world’s most successful hedge fund (relative to size) was rare, to say the least, though it does help if your research mentor who wrote your recommendation worked there once himself. As soon as I was notified that I had got the job, I packed my things and booked a one-way flight to Chicago. The secrets of Sixth Street Capital, also known as SSC, have bamboozled investors for years. Sure, they had...
With all responsibility to the guild well and truly shirked, James now had the free time to ... well if being honest, not much changed for the first few weeks. For starters, James had long since shirked his responsibility to the city. He had given all of those duties to other people, namely Jessy and Jasmine. It also didn’t help that he was still affected by Skay’s death. The first few weeks were spent flipping between brainstorming for his future flying Headquarters and meditating alone. By...
110 Louise’s First encounter. Louise, looked out of the car window, rain tricked down the glass, as they waited the lights, a dreary Devon day. She was going to stay with her aunt and uncle again, mum and dad having to go off on another business trip. Luckily it was just across town so she could still continue at the school she loved and with her friends, but she hated leaving her room and all her treasured possessions, 14 going on 15 now, puberty just upon her, she valued the little room and...
This wasn’t the first New Year’s Eve party we’d attended at our friend’s house but it was the most memorable one. When we got there the party was in full swing, probably about 60 people mostly couples but there were quite a few single people. I was chatting up a divorced woman, Lucy, she was 47 and had been ‘single’ for seven years. Donna had had a few lagers and was on the whisky, we met up in the kitchen when she said “Anyone here you fancy?” “Yes her over there” pointing at Lucy, “You” I...
(author's note): Silkie, now thirty-eight, is telling her lover Denis, about things that happened in her life before she was eighteen. I don't know if her anecdote violates guidelines for this site or not. Can fictional adults in a piece of fiction talk about events in their past? Silkie might even be making some of this up for Denis' pleasure, which adds yet another layer of fiction to the story, I don't know the answer, so I'll just put it out there and see what happens. Thanks!...
Denis went to his hotel.Silkie had to run a few errands. She went to his room two hours later. Denis had already finished most of a bottle of wine."You know I'm the kind of man who has a hard time getting hard after I've been drinking, Silkie...""Denis, I love you hard or soft, lover. I 'm going to take off my clothes for you. No, I don't have a body like I did when I was eighteen.....................do you like to see it? Do you?""The sight of you nude haunts me, Silkie. Your neck, your back...
"Julian, we would like some more wine and that hashish you and I had the other night............yes, that night, dear...........is any of that left?.............but before you go............ "Rachel what do you prefer, men or women?" "Silkie, you are messing with me..........I like............ummmmm...what shall I say?.............I like to have my face between a woman's thighs while I feel a man do me from behind..........oh..I like that a lot.....Julian, I packed Sylvia's ass with...
This wasn’t the first New Year’s Eve party we’d attended at our friend’s house but it was the most memorable one. When we got there the party was in full swing, probably about 60 people mostly couples but there were quite a few single people. I was chatting up a divorced woman, Lucy, she was 47 and had been ‘single’ for seven years.Donna had had a few lagers and was on the whisky, we met up in the kitchen when she said “Anyone here you fancy?” “Yes her over there” pointing at Lucy, “You” I...
Thinking it over - Home and Hearth "You were great last night, you sexy devil!" His-fresh shaved face nuzzled my ear and I smiled without opening my eyes. "I gave them their cereal, so you can sleep in for half an hour." David lingered and fondled my bare breasts while he nuzzled my neck. "Thanks. I'm almost awake," I said. "You're a brute. Just look at the state you left me in." He laughed with self-congratulating pleasure. "I gotta go, see you tonight!" I sat up and then...
Work on Monday got off to a horrendous start when Neill rejected a load of concrete. The driver became enraged and for a minute I thought he and Neill were going to come to blows. I overheard Neill speaking to the concrete company on the phone, telling them the consistency was not up to spec and what they could do with the load. Sending the driver away with a truckload of concrete threw the schedule into turmoil and the mood of everyone at the construction site into the dumpster. Tradesmen...
The ringing telephone disturbed my sleep and before I even picked it up a thought entered my clouded mind; I'd slept like a baby. The dream was gone. Cassie, realizing that she had awakened me, apologized before delivering the good news. She and her family would accept my invitation to use Holly's pool. "What time should we come?" she wanted to know and I told her any time would be fine. She must have handed the phone to Doris, who said they would leave their house about four P.M. It...
We stopped at a market and while Patti was shopping, saying she preferred to shop alone because my tagging along would distract her, I killed time at the drugstore next door. I found what I was looking for, Dining out in Atlanta, the magazine Smyth had boasted his articles appeared in. I picked up the July and August issues of the magazine and on my way to the cash register I spotted the condom display, my favorite section in the store. How could I not stop and admire the colorful packages?...
Admittedly, we were late getting to the airport, but finding Wanda barricaded inside a telephone booth, crying because I didn't answer the phone at Holly's house was ridiculous. We had to pry the door open because she had dragged both pieces of luggage inside with her. (Yes, two pieces of luggage for a one week stay.) "Wanda, this is Patti, Patti, Wanda," I introduced them. Wanda wiped her eyes and half-heartedly shook Patti's hand. Patti wrapped her arm around Wanda's shoulder and...
It may have been the lack of sleep, but I attributed my bad mood to Wanda. When she didn't respond to my knock on her bedroom door I burst into the room. "Wake up and get ready if you're going with me," I shouted. The lump in the center of the bed made a slight movement. "Wanda, are you awake?" The lump wiggled its ass. "Be ready in thirty minutes," I said, and as I turned to leave the room the lump rolled over and Wanda's head appeared, grinning. "Don't grin at me," I...
The first thing I did when Wanda and I got home on Tuesday afternoon was to place a call to Marcie. Mrs. Cochran said she hadn't arrived home from work yet, but she would have Marcie call me. I went upstairs to change clothes and open my mail. "Dear Sammy, Jessica's still in the same apartment although she's living alone now. She'll be thrilled to hear from you, as will I, hint! Thank you for remembering our birthdays, hint, hint! It's hard to believe I'll soon be on this earth...
Mission accomplished; Howard and Sara Carpenter agreed to retract their lies about Patti being promiscuous and, in the process, I fulfilled my commitment to get Smyth laid. Actually, I had very little to do with either feat; everything just fell into place. It's funny what motivates people. Howard's objective was to get a shot at the ceiling work at the Oldham building and he was willing to have his wife 'do anything' in exchange. Sara wanted the same as Howard, but she also wanted to...
As the summer progressed, Sandy Santeria became a frequent visitor to Holly's pool and I saw less of Patti. She said it was because of her increased workload, which was a valid excuse, but I believe she was preparing herself for my departure because our time together was drawing to a close. During my last four weeks in Atlanta our schedule became predictable and repetitive. Patti came to Holly's house on Friday night and left early on Sunday morning. She preferred to do our shopping while...
Eddie and Joe tied one on at the wake. Joe’s wives too, and almost everyone else there. Joanne stopped for an hour, but by the time they closed the bar, she was wasted too. But Eddie would have the dubious honor of being the most shit faced. And Joe did notice him going off a couple times, usually with members of other local bands who somehow found out about the wake. And his sniffing and hopping and more extreme lunacy suggested cocaine rather than cannabis. He seemed to making up time for...
Two days later, and Cheryl and Joe sat around in Joanne’s living room, the house otherwise deserted. Both Ella and Charlie were in school. Joanne was at work, still supporting local artists. The couple were doing what they had done ten years before. Both working on their writing. Cheryl somehow responding to Joe’s questions while finishing a memorial article honoring Nigella for Rolling Stone. Still staff, but with an ideal contract and better pay. Complete rights of refusal. When an editor...
When Cheryl and Joe got home to their Upper Westside townhouse, he knew where he needed to go immediately. Top floor. The floor for their offices. To Moe. Who stewed in her anger. Probably had been for a while. “He’s fucking here, Joe,” she said. He opened his arms. She filled them. “What’s he doing here?” she asked. “I don’t know. I’ll find out.” “He wants another chance to fuck all your women.” “I hope not. But I don’t think so.” “Then why?” “Maybe he needs a friend.” “But he hates...
Joe got up late for him. 10 am. Whatever he did prior to awakening, or in its act, farting, shifting, making some vocal noise or other, awoke Cheryl. They smiled at each other and she snuggled against him, her head resting between shoulder and chest, her fingers exploring his sparse chest hair. “Eddie wants me in the band again,” he told her. “How is that going to work?” “I think his regrouping is regressing.” “Which means?” “We didn’t go out in the world for months. Just rehearsed. A...
Very early the next morning, Rachel woke up Joe and his wives. “Where is he, Joe?” she growled. “Where is that little cocksucker?” He couldn’t help laughing. Appropriate word choice. But then he got serious. “Be quiet, Rachel. Let’s go downstairs.” “I don’t want to be quiet.” “Shut the fuck up, bitch,” said Moe. “You better not wake the kids.” “Fuck you. What are you going to do?” “Beat the bitch out of you?” Moe growled, getting out of bed, dressed like Cheryl and Joe, in t shirt and...
Joe woke alone in bed, hearing giggles and splashes from the bathroom. A glance at the clock informed him he’d slept for a couple hours. Walking naked to the source of the sounds, he saw two very different women share a bath. One tall and lean, dark hair, her skin the color of coffee and cream, her smallish round breasts hovering above the suds of the bubble bath. The other pale, reddish blonde, her much fuller breasts on a thicker body, shorter body resting on those suds, the pink nipples...
Joe awoke with a start, but the beautiful body before him quickly calmed him. The covers had lowered so he could look at her soft skin and her gentle curves. He kissed her shoulder. “Mmm,” Essie reacted, turning to him. “Hey,” he smiled. “Been awake?” “Just a few minutes. I enjoyed having you behind me and especially that amazing cock pressed between my thighs. “Morning wood,” he explained. “I know.” “I figured you would, smart ass.” “You seem to like my ass, smart or not.” “I love...
“Nice,” said Liang about the townhouse. It had been built originally in the late eighteen hundreds, but refurbished and changed in the 20s, including the art noveau entrance. The open, shaped metal slat elevator also reflected that soft, decadent style. Definitely attractants. “We like it,” said Joe, unlocking the door. Joe and Cheryl greeted their kids with kisses on cheeks, and their wife with kisses on mouth and a hug. “This is Liang,” Joe introduced her to his family. “Hi,” the kids...
When Joe exited the padded room in the morning and passed the studio, Rachel called to him from there. “Is she up?” she asked him. “In a hurry?” Joe chuckled. “I’ve wanted this for a while.” “She’s up. How about we have breakfast and then we’ll meet in Cheryl’s office. I’ll get Joanne and then get Cheryl.” “For the contracts.” “Yes.” “I’ll go make coffee.” “Thanks. See you in a minute.” He sighed he when returned to the padded room and sat on the bed. “Rachel’s ready to meet,” he told...
The threesome in the padded room awoke making love. That is, Joanne woke Liang, both giggling like girls, Joanne a far greater distance from it than Liang, and they worked together again to harden Joe’s cock and wake him with their sucking. “Go ahead,” said Joanne. “Fuck that beautiful thing.” “But you’re leaving,” Liang pointed out. “She’ll get hers too,” Joe chuckled, then moaned as Liang practically flung her cunt onto his cock. “Slow down,” he warned, catching her hips. She winced...
Marisol happily attended the wedding. The parents of the groom had not been invited. Phil's choice of bride would never have been accepted. Though less than a quarter black and from affluence, Missy would have enough impure blood to be rejected by Phil's parents. At first meeting, Phil intimidated the Taylors, including Missy. His largeness, what with the horrible encounter with Marisol's ex-husband, made them uneasy. The elegance of his attire and grooming gave them thoughts of him...
The master bathroom had been redone when both Joe and Cheryl had bestsellers a couple years before. A bigger tub with whirlpool jets. Room for four there and in the enclosed shower that had water spraying from all kinds of different angles. There for the first time Joe and his three wives showered together. It had been a whirlwind romance times four to be sure for Liang since Friday afternoon. Joe and his wives. Essie. As many she had been loved by, that’s how many times better the sex had...
Pynchon proved a bear to speed read. ““Glean what you can,” Joe advised. “We’re just a third of the way through.” “I figured,” said Liang. “You missed a week.” “Yeah. I’ll probably have to just have one week for Vineland.” “Or you could start the class a half hour earlier. And have the other class last a half hour longer.” “First, we’re talking about college students.” “With you, I bet they don’t mind.” “I’ll ask. And the afternoon class actually tends to go on longer.” “I’m not...
The Thursday evening date went surprisingly well. Joe managed to get a table at a new French bistro, romantically dark. The heavy food, magnificently prepared, chased down the palate by a delicious rosé got danced away later. But while eating it, the five enjoyed a lively conversation, completely inclusive. Rachel even encouraged Trevor’s inclusion. It was clear at the beginning that he treaded carefully around her, used to her angry glares. Except for the first one when Eddie climbed into...
When Liang asked her auntie about any recommendations for a rather large contingent for dining, Auntie Li thought she and her ladies of her exclusive women’s society could throw something together. The meeting place had a kitchen where the ladies could exchange recipes. It was highly unusual to have men present in the space, but since it wasn’t an official meeting of the ladies, and the members were fond of Liang, and the dinner would include her new lovers and new friends, curiosity as much...
By Thanksgiving, not a lot had been done turning the duplex houses into a single townhouse compared to the immense amount that needed to be done. Tony and his helpers, Cheryl having gotten him a contractor license, had been focusing on Eddie’s basement studio and apartment as a priority during work hours. In the evenings he and Laura had worked on their own space. He had also built a huge bed, and found a mattress place that could create one custom sized and have sheets for it. It remained in...
Joe survived Black Friday, although he wasn’t sure about his right hand. They had stayed open past 2 am. A lot of the later customers he actually recognized. His rock and roll friends. Boxes and boxes of his book had been sold. A lot them signed by him personally in front of the customer. More he had signed earlier in the day. All day. Yes, it was a wonder his hand survived. Advertising had been intense. In dailies and weeklies. Nationally. Television too. Using the image of the friends on...
The Cube, as Eddie’s working vacation home had been appropriately dubbed, was designed by a mad genius with a sense of humor. A Barbadian, as were all who worked on it, whose design process had included smoking excessive amounts of ganja with Eddie. An impressively large cube had been the result, made of concrete, glass and steel. But it had a façade that pretended to be an English Colonial mansion. Being that Barbados had been an English colony, and had gained its independence as a part of...
Joe and Liana entered a large room on the main floor, a huge bed at the back where his wives waved to him, still naked. “Hi Leo,” Cheryl said. “Do you mind if our man gives us a morning hug?” “Uhm, no,” Liana blushed. Joe took off his clothes and joined them. “Liana wants to meet with us this morning, Cheryl. And Moira,” he said as he lay on his back, his wives all around him, with Liang on top. “And we’ll need to get Rachel.” “I think she just wanted some time with Eddie this morning,”...
In the morning, Anna made everyone eggs and sausage. Only Jonny looked worse for wear from the night before, the rest crested on a night of satiation. “A bit of the dog that bit you, Jonny?” Anna asked. “Yes please,” Jonny murmured. She put together a bloody mary for him that seemed to hit the spot, even though Joe noticed she put very little liquor in. A psychosomatic cure. She winked at Joe. After the recovery, Jonny remembered a part of the conversation from the night before. “You said...
It rained the next day. Off and on. Making it cooler than usual, but being near the equator, that was relative. A balmy seventies. But it kept people indoors, mostly. It also revealed a missing aspect of the Cube. It wasn’t exactly designed for kids. So Anna and the Barbadian family matriarch brought out some cards and a couple cribbage boards and taught the kids how to play. Victoria, Essie and Liang decided to brave the weather and spent the day tooling around the island on the motorbikes....
As Joe promised, he spent the day with Victoria. They woke early and went to the naughty room to collect his wives and Essie. After showering and Victoria reporting to them her soreness but otherwise having a wonderful deflowering, they dressed and headed to the kitchen for a Continental breakfast of pastries and coffee. The Barbadian matron arrived midway through and offered something more substantial, but they passed. “Any place for exercising? A workout room?” Joe asked the older...
Everyone, including Julian and Liv, returned to the Cube. Those two only stayed through dinner, deliciously created by Maria. Surprisingly, Anna went with them back to their ship. She said she needed to do some cleaning. But Joe noticed Liv flirting with her. He thought that a good thing. Anna and Julian loved each other. But sex seemed to have petered out between them. He hoped adding Liv might restore their sex lives. He decided to wait to talk to Victoria and Charlie until after dinner,...
After Joe and his wives finally got up, enjoyed the large shower together and got dressed, Joe opened the blinds to the studio and saw Cynthia sitting with Rachel with Eddie playing his guitar between them. Joe fetched Cynthia and discovered how stoned she was. “Uhm, you okay working on the script?” he asked her. “Uh-hunh,” she giggled. He shook his head and chuckled. He went to the kitchen where his wives sat and the matron was making waffles. Maria, as she often was, was there as well....
It became a noisy place early near the garage entrance to the Cube. First thing in the morning the equipment for filming the tour/ad/orgy arrived. Two 35mm film cameras, one with steadycam to be held. Two top notch video cameras. A large wide format video tape recorder which would also be used for sound for the film. Lights. Cables. Mics. Experts for each of those things, though most would leave when Jonny demonstrated his knowledge of the cameras and lights and Eddie showed that he could...
Joe woke up early, kissing Liana awake. “I need to check on Chandi,” he told her. “Yes Joseph,” she smiled tiredly and rolled away from him to return to sleep. Realizing his nakedness, he borrowed Liana’s longest robe and slipped out of her room. He ended up waking up Cheryl in the naughty room. “Do you know where Chandi went?” he asked. “I believe Eddie and Rachel ended up sharing her last night.” “Good,” he smiled. “Essie wants you,” Cheryl murmured, edging back to sleep. Joe crawled...
The five lovers awoke remarkably comfortable with their adjacency and their nakedness. Quick kisses avoiding morning breath, only the two males and brother and sister not kissing, and they dressed in yesterday’s clothing before gathering in the gathering cabin where Anna provided eggs, sausage, toast, juice and coffee. Victoria and Charlie headed back to duty on the ship, raising the anchor and heading home, while Essie, Joe and Liang sat together on the couch, watching the others join them,...
As mentioned before, aside from spending the penultimate night of his vacation with Liana, Joe slept with his wives and companions. But sex wasn’t exclusive to where he slept and he who he slept with. A couple mornings, for instance, he and Liang snuck into Joanne’s bed, Joe waking her up and commanding her to giving and getting several orgasms for all concerned. And during daytime, he and Cynthia would take a break from writing Jonny’s script to fuck. It felt like a needed relief from...
More sad goodbyes happened almost exactly a week later in New York. Joe and Cheryl to their wives and kids and Essie, who was sort of both. Joe and Cheryl had business to take care of before they headed to Minnesota. For Joe, one thing had to do with school, completing the grading and conferring with students who either challenged his grades or wanted to know what would make the grades better in future classes. He also needed to deal with his publisher, discussing plans for moms and for any...
During the flight, Eddie changed seats with Cheryl to sit with Joe, putting her beside Rachel. Though things had thawed greatly compared to their cold and fractious relationship before, the two women still hadn’t got all that close. And when Rachel joined her in the large bed, they no longer made love directly. Even so, both intelligent women, they managed to enjoy their travelling together, often amusing each other with an anecdote or a memory. “What’s up?” Joe asked Eddie. “You’re still...
With his last spark of energy, Eddie brought Rhonda’s tape to the Record Plant Tuesday morning, where they’d print the vinyl and the CD. Packaging would have to wait, hopefully for not too long. Belle dropped off Eddie at Joanne’s, where he collapsed into the bed, only briefly waking up Rachel. “Done?” she asked. “Yep.” He quickly joined her in sleep. His didn’t last long. In fact only Rachel got much sleep, since everyone else had gotten up early. Joe wanted to see Joanne before she went...
It became a hectic winter for Joe. Even the rural calm of the mansion wasn’t all that calming, being the center of so much work. Getting the play together. Getting the script together. Finishing up moms. Rehearsing the band. Sexually as well for Joe. Constance and Caroline. Cheryl, Cynthia and Joanne. Always a threesome or foursome for them. Joanne being the fourth. Visits from Essie. From Victoria and Liang. From Moe and Chandi. Also threesomes and foursomes. And another night with Freddy...
When Joe returned to his bed after months away, he almost wished he didn’t have to be away from it soon enough. At least he’d have a couple weeks before heading off for his book/rock tour. hers was being released at the end of the week, and like No Contest, he’d be at the original Barnes and Noble for a lengthy reading and signing that evening. Meanwhile MIRE featuring Rhonda would play clubs in and around the city. Despite being with them just a couple nights before, Sunday, after the wrap...
Joe had never experienced such success. Best sellers. Well received productions. Nothing compared to the dual phenomena of hers and Rhonda. It didn’t surprise Joe that hers caused controversy. But the controversy, as well as the near across the board praise it received from reviewers and fans, made it a blockbuster. Far eclipsing everything else on the best seller list. And it generated more sales of his older books. And the book signings ended up being events in themselves. Even the ones for...