The Circle Game

By Jaye Viner

Kale Fauche Jr. believes in the American Dream. He’s devoted to helping improve the lives of others, including his girlfriend Laura, a minimum wage worker with otherwise little hope of getting ahead.

But when his ex, Carolyn, attends one of his rallies, memories of Kale’s old life resurface. Carolyn draws him back to the days when he railed against the empty promises and false hopes of an economic system designed to do exactly the opposite of what he now proclaims. As his faith falters, Kale must decide which of his two lives serves the truth. And what his decision will cost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaye Viner
• Release date: Sep 9, 2013

Jaye Viner

Born in Kobe Japan, Jaye was destined for a life of wandering both physically and mentally. She can only remain home two to three months at a time before wanderlust takes over. It has yet to be discovered how fully this habit has influenced her writing.

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The Circle Game

By

Jaye Viner

Copyright Jaye Viner, 2013.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Acknowledgements

Author's Note

Chapter 1

The write-up in the newspaper the following morning would report him a superb success. But the quieter article on an independent web site would question his potential and suggest he reevaluate his intentions. That he read neither article but heard the summary from his assistant demonstrated something, distraction perhaps, distraction to the point of crisis. Indeed, as he stood in the wings watching the spotlights sweep through the arena, building anticipation for his appearance, William Kale Fauche Jr. was working hard to forget what his boss had just told him: You’ve got to get this one, Kale. We’re not doing well. That means you’re not doing well. Make them believe again. If you don’t, everything you’ve ever known will vanish.

With those words ringing in his ears, Kale thought the applause of the audience quieter than before. Even last year they had been louder than this. Kale pulled at the bottom of his suit. He had to wear his old one, there had been a miscommunication at the tailor and the new one hadn’t fit. This suit he had worn for many years and many such presentations. It fit a little too tight; it pinched his skin at the seams. His blue-starred tie had once been flashy. Some critics had called it ostentatious. Then he had considered it idealistic. Now it felt like he was trying too hard. Something quieter would have been better. If he’d been smart he’d have gone by the mall and found something cheap. Too late for that.

His assistant, Joaquin, adjusted the red line of handkerchief in Kale’s breast pocket. You should have taken my advice about the suit, he said.

Kale shrugged off Joaquin’s adjusting hands. Then I’d look like you… He paused to accentuate the movement of his eyes rolling over Joaquin’s clothes—flowery, handmade by someone he knew—one of many lovers, Kale liked to think, …and I’m not that desperate.

Joaquin smiled at the joke. He was good natured and he knew Kale well. He knew Kale much better than Kale knew him, but Joaquin knew that would change someday. Good luck.

Kale stepped out on stage. He walked straight along the back. At center, he pivoted and walked to the lectern. Music played, the spotlights continued to swing over the heads of the crowd. A single beam shone on him. It flickered when it turned on then stabilized.

The crowd rose to its feet clapping in time with the music. From Kale’s perspective, their only human attribute was their sound. All he could see was an ocean of undulating black, spattered with the illumination of the roving lights. He knew them as an item on his checklist of key statistics.

1,500 seats.

Full capacity. Some came because they knew him. Some came because they were curious, others because they were angry.

Goal: Remind them you exist and they want you.

Cost: All or nothing.

Kale smiled. The clapping became a wave of roaring cheers. Not as loud as they used to be, he thought. I’ll fix it.

Someone yelled, Poser! A few people laughed. Others booed. Commotion erupted as security men with flashlights found the agitator and silenced him.

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, said Kale. It’s wonderful to be here with you tonight.

The audience took their seats. Kale couldn’t see them but he heard the movement, disembodied but familiar, as though the sound itself had a shape. He took confidence from it. He’d convince them before the night was over.

Then he saw the woman who had not taken her seat with the others. She sat a few rows from the front. He saw only the dim reflection of the stage light illuminating her, a soft figure. At first breath he imagined she was the only other person in the room. She looked at him and he felt warm. The warmth became overwhelming. He was sweating. He could feel it inside him; his pounding heart rising to warning. That woman was dangerous.

All women are, he thought.

Not like this woman.

Most of you know me. Some of you remember when I was younger. Maybe some of you even went to see me play back in the day. Kale renewed his smile. "I’m not going to ask you to raise hands, but I bet some of you even cheered for the other team when it looked like I wasn’t going to pull through.

As much as you enjoyed those days, so did I. And like you, being at this point in my life and not being in as good of shape as I should be…well, there’s been a lot to adjust to in middle age. I’m not like I used to be."

That’s for sure! someone yelled.

Another voice echoed back, Get rid of the paunch!

Kale smiled. He set his hand against the strained buttons of his suit jacket. I’ve been cutting back. It’s getting there. Those Big Macs…

The audience laughed at this, but Kale could feel the underlining of something less than acceptance. They expected more from him. Strained jokes would not soothe their disappointment, especially not after this year.

We all know these are uncertain times. They are times of change the likes of which have not been seen since Taft and Roosevelt. In five years the aura of these great men and achievements may be obsolete. Consider technology. Will your children know who Edison was? Or Ford? Could we ever have imagined that their genius would eventually become resigned to the pages of history? What energy will replace electricity? What vehicle will transport our children’s children to school? We don’t know yet, but I want to be a part of it. And I can’t unless you are with me.

Kale paused to take a drink of water. The audience applauded. And he felt there was more substance in the sound than when he had begun. As he drank, his gaze again found the woman in the third row. She did not look at all convinced of his substance.

She doesn’t want me, thought Kale. Does she have someone else?

She can’t.

I’m the one who promised her everything.

Kale’s hand trembled a little when he set down his water. His pulse heavy. He recognized her now.

Carolyn.

"Aging gracefully is not something I’ve done well. I’ll admit that. But it’s a hard thing. All of us know someone who has become stuck in the past. My mother’s mother for example,