An Unintended Presidency

By Michael Zebrower

Follow David as his attempt to speak out for his autistic son at a Town Hall meeting leads him on the adventure of a lifetime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Feb 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483417622

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Us

CHAPTER ONE

THE LAST DEBATE

The moderator looked at the huge audience in the hall before speaking, We’ve had a very lively debate. Our candidates have given their opinions on the major issues facing this country. These include the growing inequality between the rich and the poor; the growing water crisis occurring in this country and the rest of the world; the problem of global warming; the stagnation of the American economy; and the problem of whether we are preparing our children for the challenges of the future. It is now time to end this debate. The order of closing statements was decided before the debate. Senator Ellis will go first and have five minutes. Mr. Perleman will follow and will also have five minutes for his closing statement. Senator if you please.

Senator Conrad Ellis, a former college football player, stood an imposing 6'4". Though well into his 50s, he was still a very powerful looking man. His well-tailored black suit did nothing to hide the musculature of his physique. His face, though somewhat pudgy was still handsome, highlighted by brown eyes and crowned by salt and pepper hair. His appearance was of one who felt very comfortable as a leader and expected to always be in that position. He smiled broadly as he spent a few seconds looking out over the audience and then began.

Before starting I would like to thank everyone involved in this debate for their hard work in making this event possible. I truly am honored to be here and to express my opinions before all of you. I would also like to thank the moderator for his professionalism and impartiality of questions during our debate.

He gazed down for a moment at his wife Joanne, his two sons and three daughters, their spouses, all seated in the front, and smiled before continuing. Wish me luck, he thought to himself.

"I believe that the Unites States is at a very important crossroad. We have lost the tough pioneer spirit that made this country the envy of the world. Though we remain the world’s greatest power I am afraid that we are losing our competitive edge. We continue to grow only at a slow to moderate rate because we have become an entitled nation encumbered by an extraordinary degree of over-regulation that is sapping the initiative of our people. We have run excessive deficits over decades that have decreased our economic strength. I have proposed a four-step program during our debates and our campaign that will increase the growth rate of our economy, release the dynamic entrepreneurial spirit of our great people and close our deficits.

"First I would ask for a modest decrease in the rate of annual increase in Social Security and Medicare combined with means testing. I was a reasonably successful businessman and am fortunate that I don’t need my salary or any benefits provided to me either now or in the future by the US government. This country has been kind to me and many others. It would not hurt me, or others who would be considered rich, if the growth of those entitlements were reduced or means tested. I wish to once again assure everyone listening that my program would not hurt those who are truly needy. This modest change would have the added benefit of slowly decreasing our deficits over time and freeing capital for business expansion.

"This would be followed by a series of tax cuts that will reverse the growth inhibiting tax increases imposed by the previous so called Practical Progressive administrations. It is of great interest to me that many other nations of the world are reducing their tax burdens while we are increasing ours. This trend needs to be reversed! If people have more of their own income to spend, their decisions will reinvigorate our great economy. I firmly believe in the wisdom of the American people over that of bureaucrats in Washington.

"Next, we would release the dynamism of our businesses by reducing their regulatory burden. Mr. Perleman would increase their problems as well as their taxes. How can we expect small businessmen to expand employment when all they are doing is spending countless hours attending to all the various rules that are imposed upon them by the US government? How much more productive could they be if we reduced our requirements to the absolute minimum that is needed to insure public safety? How many more jobs would they create without these additional burdens?

"Lastly, I would revitalize our educational system by allowing a school vouchers system that would enable parents to take their children out of any public school they wish and place them in a charter school. The US government would then partially subsidize this expense.

"I truly believe that the public school system is failing our youth and needs a healthy dose of private competition to shake it out of its union-induced lethargy. This is the minimum I feel is necessary to secure the future educational success of our children. My program would in fact have the added benefit of actually saving the public educational system by forcing them to improve their quality or lose funding due to decreased enrollment.

"I promise that if I am given the great privilege of leading this country, the program we are proposing will increase the growth rate of our economy by 25%, decrease unemployment by at least 1% and reduce our deficits by a third within the first four years of the new administration. My policies will lead to the creation of at least 9 million new jobs over the first four years and will result in a higher standard of living for all Americans. I ask for your vote so that together we can give everyone the chance to live the American dream!

Once again I would like to thank everyone involved in this debate for allowing me to present my views. May God bless these United States of America!

The audience, quiet during Senator Ellis’s speech, remained quiet as they waited for Mr. Perleman to continue.

David Perleman who spent the last five minutes regarding Senator Ellis while he spoke, now looked out from the podium at the people in the audience. At 5'9" he had a lean athletic build that belied his 60 plus years. His face was relatively unlined and angular. What was most startling about his features were his blue eyes and white hair. There was an aura of serenity around him that hid the tension he must have felt. Running his right hand through his hair, he looked down at the notes of his concluding remarks. He quickly gazed at his wife Anne and for a moment his serene demeanor broke. I love you so much for putting up with me all these years he thought to himself. His sons were seated next to her. The younger son brought his wife. The older son, seated next to his brother, was not married. A slight frown momentarily crossed Mr. Perleman’s face. He took a deep breath and began.

"I too would like to thank PBS and the League of Women Voters for sponsoring this debate.

"As you know, I am not a professional politician. I am only a retired high school science teacher. This stage I stand on and where I ask for your vote in the coming election is just the latest step in a surreal journey that began with a debate I started about economic, educational and housing policies with my local congressman at a town meeting a little over two years ago, a debate that I hadn’t decided to go to until that afternoon. The events surrounding that debate and its aftermath are well known and now I am here.

"I know I am not as polished a speaker as my friend across the stage. Though I lack his experience in the public arena, I do feel that I am just as knowledgeable about those issues that I believe are most important to the American people. Further, I consider myself a lifelong learner capable of adjusting my decisions to changing circumstances.

"Like my friend Senator Ellis, I believe our great country is at a crossroad. However, the reason we are at this point is because of the rising rate of income and wealth inequality. The top 1% of earners account for over 25% of our total annual national income! They own well over 60% of our national wealth. A certain amount of inequality is a fact of life and I believe is necessary to insure that all people have the drive to try to better their lives. However when the degree of inequality reaches a level where those at the bottom no longer believe in the probability of advancement, we as a nation have to take action! Unlike Senator Ellis I do not believe that cutting taxes is the answer. Our total national tax rate is well under any other developed nation on earth. I am ashamed to say that our average life expectancy and standard of living are below many other nations. We can and must do better! Cutting taxes on the very rich and on large businesses is not the answer. The rich already have all their basic needs and more satisfied. Any additional income derived by lower taxes will be unspent or used to buy up assets that aren’t immediately needed. Businesses, no matter what my friend might say to the contrary, will simply hoard their funds if they don’t see any increase in demand. They will not create a single job! If there is a demand for their products from which profit can be made, then they will create jobs regardless of any tax incentives.

"The people having the greatest degree of unmet demand in our nation are those in the bottom part of economic strata. I have proposed in this debate and throughout our campaign a series of targeted investments and small tax increases amongst those who over the previous decades have had their taxes decreased under the mistaken belief that faster job growth and economic growth would follow. This has not happened and will not happen no matter how many times it is attempted. All we have succeeded in doing is to increase our income inequality to a degree greater than any other developed nation on earth! If we help the poor and the struggling middle class, the rich and very rich will do just fine.

"The tax increases that we will propose will fund investments with the goal of transitioning our economy to run totally on renewable sources of energy. This goal may not be completed while I am in office but I intend to push it as much as possible. Hardening our infrastructure to withstand the inevitable changes in our climate caused by global warming will be funded in an efficient and productive fashion. We will invest in science and education so that our children can fulfill their potential. The amount we spend on science and k-12 education nationally has fallen as a percentage of our wealth steadily over the last twenty years. This must stop. Until we reverse this trend, we risk our leadership in science, education, and of the world. I want the most important discoveries of the future to happen right here in our great country!

"In order to facilitate this, for education I would propose an increase in the length of the school year along with an commensurate increase in the pay of those who devote their lives to the education of our children, the teachers. This would attract more of our best and brightest. Though Senator Ellis has spoken words of the high esteem he has for teachers, many in his campaign have disparaged their efforts and competence and his program would hurt public education. Yet he wants to fund charter schools with watered down teacher standards and no accountability with regard to what they spend! We will give the public educational system from kindergarten through college all the tools necessary to fully develop the potential of our children.

"For science, we will increase investment in basic research 40% over four years. This will make up for the decreases we have seen in basic research over the last ten years.

"None of the proposals that I have outlined will increase our deficit. To the contrary, I believe our policies will eliminate our deficit and increase our economic growth rate at the same time without any undue burden on those who can afford it least. All our citizens will prosper in a fair and balanced fashion.

I ask you once again for your vote. I would like to thank all of you for your time. God bless our great nation.

There was a slight pause and then the audience broke out in applause for both candidates. Senator Ellis and Mr. Perleman walked from their respective podiums toward each other with their hands extended. They shook each other’s hand. Senator Ellis tried to squeeze Mr. Perleman’s hand with a little extra strength than normal. There was no flinch in the expression of Mr. Perleman or weakness in his returning grip.

Well David, for a non politician you seem to be a natural orator. I have thoroughly enjoyed our debates. I apologize for the excessive zeal on the part of my campaign in describing your policies these past months. For one who is so new to politics, you have handled it remarkably well. Please know that none of it was meant to be personal. I wish you all the best when you return to your classroom in New Jersey.

David, who had left teaching over two years ago, replied, I try not to take too many things personally these days. I know that this is all politics and I want to tell you now that these last few months will not prevent me from enjoying your company on Capitol Hill and even perhaps inviting you to dinner at the White House as a senator of the great state of Oklahoma.

Senator Ellis turned toward the audience to wave and walked toward his wife Joanne who had left her seat to join him at the podium. Their children and spouses were also waiting. Senator Ellis put his arm around his wife and smiled. His daughters tried to hug him all at once. His sons just patted him on the back. To all of the viewers watching the debate, they gave the impression of being the perfect all American family.

Mr. Perleman walked toward his wife Anne and his sons. While he embraced her he turned to his younger son and smiled. How did I do? he asked. You were great, Dad! his younger son answered. The older son stood quietly next to his brother and sister-in-law, seemingly unaware of his surroundings and of the uniqueness of this moment. David then turned to his older son and gave him a big hug and a kiss on his forehead.

At a TV studio a few miles away, two commentators, Jim Stewart and Robert Kaufman, both reporters for Public Television, quickly summarized their thoughts on paper in preparation for the millions of people who would shortly be listening to them. Another reporter, Stan Wellington, said, We’ll be on the air in about thirty seconds.

People viewing the debate were switched from watching the candidates as they walked away from the stage to the studio where they would be listening to commentary.

Stan, Jim and Robert were all seated at a small table. Stan turned to Jim and said, Well, who won the debate? Jim Stewart, a short dark haired man, answered, Neither candidate delivered, in their closing remarks, what I would consider a knockout punch. Both statements were very measured, designed to reassure their political bases. The real excitement came earlier in the debate when the candidates during their responses took their gloves off and attempted to disparage the other’s major talking points. Senator Ellis implying that Mr. Perleman is a naïve environmental radical who would destroy the American economy with over regulation trying to remedy a situation whose significance is either unproven or exaggerated. Mr. Perleman, in turn, didn’t imply anything. He accused Senator Ellis of being in the pocket of industrialists having vested interests in maintaining the status quo, in order to protect their profit margins and who could care less about the future of their country or planet. Why don’t we replay that part of the debate?

The audience could now see Senator Ellis standing behind his podium. He was not smiling as he had during much of the debate. He had a look of steely determination, a look of one who had an unpleasant job to do but was determined to do it.

My friend Mr. Perleman, as knowledgeable as he may be on many topics, is not intimately familiar with the workings of industry or of government as I am, never having worked in either. The regulations he has proposed throughout his campaign, requiring the expansion of medium and large businesses to filing an environmental impact statement would absolutely stifle innovation. Increasing penalties on companies for failure to comply with environmental regulations would only compound the problem. I would predict that these actions would destroy all initiative on the part of businesses to create either new products or new jobs. I feel his proposals are unnecessary as there already are state, local, and federal laws on the books that if enforced could accomplish the same goal. Simplifying the laws already on the books, eliminating those that hinder job creation, and proving that the conditions under which these laws were created actually do exist would seem an easier and more laudable goal. Finally, I would say that we should not be creating another governmental bureaucracy that will only weaken our economy at a time that we should be attempting to create more jobs. Most people would agree that the fewer tasks we ask our government to undertake, the less chance the government has to foul up. In almost all instances, the Federal government cannot perform as efficiently as private industry in providing services. My opponent’s program, including his ill advised belief that raising taxes and spending the proceeds can actually increase employment, would in fact halt job creation, explode our deficits, and plunge the US into a deep recession.

The camera turned to Mr. Perleman. He had been pacing behind his podium during the beginning of Senator Ellis’s response. He was standing quietly now with a big smile across his face.

"With regard to policies designed to enhance job creation and reduce our deficit, Senator Ellis has either forgotten relatively recent history or is overtly choosing to lie. His party represents those who use fear to obtain their objectives. I am certain that he is well aware of a certain president who raised nominal tax rates at a time when numerous members of his party piously proclaimed that this act would bring doom and depression to the American people. It didn’t happen. In fact this president’s policies brought about a boom that erased the deficits caused by the previous president, a member of Senator Ellis’s party while creating more jobs during his administration than any other administration. A more recent president, a member of Senator Ellis’s party, has the honor of having the worst economic record on job creation. My inexperience in government or in industry does not hinder my ability to learn to do what I believe is right for our people. In my humble opinion, having experience in conducting policies, either in industry or government, that are detrimental to the future of the American people, is much worse than having no experience at all!

The modest regulatory changes that I have proposed along with the investments in environmental hardening of our infrastructure I believe would increase overall employment and protect our country to a certain degree from future environmental changes. Senator Ellis represents interests that want to stifle technologies and industries that will create the well paying jobs of the future. Senator Ellis represents industrialists whose interests are only to their own bottom line. He wants to be president for these people. I want to be president of all Americans, from the poorest to the richest.

At this point the screen shifted back to Stewart and Kaufman. Stewart spoke first. Well Robert, during that exchange the gloves definitely came off. Though both candidates maintained a calm and respectful demeanor during this debate, in this segment their emotions were on full display. Senator Ellis periodically pointed aggressively at Mr. Perleman to emphasize his ideas. His usual happy expression changed to a stern almost angry demeanor. He sounded like a professor lecturing a dull undergraduate political science student. Mr. Perleman, while listening to Senator Ellis, was observed by the cameras to pace behind his podium while taking deep breaths as if he was trying to calm himself. He definitely did not look pleased as Senator Ellis attacked his program. On the other hand, when given the chance Mr. Perleman gave as good as he got. As he spoke, one could hear the sarcasm dripping from his words. He wasn’t about to let Senator Ellis belittle his lack of experience. In the many years that I have covered presidential campaigns, I have never heard one candidate actually call another candidate a liar as he called Senator Ellis tonight. He implied that Senator Ellis was just another corrupt politician in the pocket of unsavory corporate interests. To conclude, I felt that Mr. Perleman more than adequately defended all of his positions and showed that he is up to holding the office of the presidency.

Kaufman paused a moment before his commentary. "Politics as played in this country is a blood sport. The real question the American people have to ask is whether they are willing to trust the leadership of our country to a novice who has never held elective office. Do they truly believe that his more activist form of governing is what this country needs? Is Mr. Perleman tough enough to handle the nastiness that accompanies the office of the presidency? Will he be able to lead his party and at the same time control or compromise with the Cautious Party? How will he respond if his program does not work? There are many interest groups in addition to the Cautious Party who will try to hurt the economy as a means of hindering the goals of a President Perleman.

I am not just worried about Mr. Perleman’s handling of domestic concerns. I am also concerned with international problems. While during the campaign it appears that Mr. Perleman has learned a great deal about foreign affairs, there are still those who believe he is woefully unprepared for the international arena. Our relations with many of the other great powers, such as China, Russia and to a lesser extent our European allies, are tense at best. The situation in the Middle East is a tinderbox. Will Mr. Perleman be strong enough to defend our interests? For example, his environmental ideas would have drastic international ramifications and I am afraid that we would find ourselves isolated if he pressed them too hard. While I agree with you that he held his own during this debate there are still a great many unanswered questions regarding Mr. Perleman becoming our next president.

Jim Stewart who had been watching Mr. Kaufman now turned toward the TV audience. These are questions that only the American public can answer in two weeks on Election Day. For all of us at this station, we hope you have enjoyed these debates. Be sure to vote! Good night.

CHAPTER TWO

HOW DOES A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER BECOME INVOLVED IN NATIONAL POLITICS?

David sat reading the New York Times in the kitchen of his modest home in New Jersey. It was early Thursday morning in late September. He had retired this past June after thirty three years of being a high school teacher. This was his first September in more years than he could remember where he didn’t have anything to do. It was at once a gratifying and disturbing feeling. He had spent the past summer taking care of all the household projects that he had put off because he was too cheap to hire someone else to do it and too busy teaching summer school to complete. After so many years of not being a morning person, his body was finally used to getting up early. David’s wife Anne, whose brilliant green eyes, lustrous brown hair, and loving smile that always warmed his very core, was about to leave for work. Anne was a history teacher at the local high school and had decided to work a few more years in order to pad their retirement accounts, pay for some much needed improvement around the house, and to save for trips to Europe. David, after all those years in the classroom, was fortunate enough to have a secure pension, that when added to their savings, would make up for most of his pre-retirement income. He was happy to retire.

David, with nothing but time on his hands spent most of it thinking about his children, Chris and Jacob. Chris, his oldest was autistic and had a profound communication disability. He had just entered an adult home a few months ago. Both Anne and David worried incessantly about Chris and whether they did the right thing in sending him away. When the spot in his adult home opened up, they almost refused it. It was Anne who convinced David that it wouldn’t be right to wait until they were both dead to have Chris sent to a home with strangers that they wouldn’t be in a position to judge. He would be too set in his ways and the transition would be too difficult. Jacob, on the other hand was married, a totally independent, strong willed young man starting his third year in medical school. Even though Chris was only a ten minute drive away and he visited two, sometimes three times a week, David missed him terribly and was never far from his thoughts. Anne’s voice broke David out of his day dreaming.

Are you going to visit Chris today?

"First, I’m going to finish taking the wallpaper off the walls upstairs. Then, I have a class at the dojo. When that’s done, I’ll drive over. I’ll give the staff the new jeans we bought for him this weekend.

What’s going on in school for you today?

Anne sipped the last bit of coffee, looked at her I-phone and saw that she was late. I’ve got a couple of tests to give today and a faculty meeting after school. I got to run. Give me a kiss.

They embraced for a moment. After over thirty years of marriage, he still felt a wave of ecstasy pour through him. He said, I love you to which Anne replied, I love you too before leaving the house.

David took out a two gallon bucket, filled it almost to the top with wall paper stripping solution, and went upstairs. The hardest part of the job was keeping their cats and dogs away from him while working.

After finishing, David showered, changed into fresh clothes, and prepared to leave. David was always fascinated by Japanese martial arts and had taken up kendo back in July. His first weeks were difficult as his muscles rebelled against the highly stylized and repetitive movements necessary for this art. He threw his gi into the back of his car and drove off to the ju-jitsu dojo where he was a member. Ju-jitsu was an art that he had learned in his early twenties while in chemisry graduate school. He was only a few months from obtaining his black belt when he left. He smiled reminiscing as he drove.

Upon entering the dojo David bowed to the picture of the school’s founder, the father of the current sensei, Sensei Tony Taneto who was stretching before the beginning of class. Sensei Taneto nodded to him and David respectfully nodded back before entering the lockers behind the main room. In the lockers, he made small talk with the other members of the class. It was a relatively small group of eight men and three women. All were in there fifties and sixties.

Each member of the class lined up in their assigned spots in front of their sensei. After ten minutes of mild calisthenics, they were ready to go through their routine. In a class such as this, everyone knew what they were supposed to do. A group of wooden samurai swords with covers were in a rack in the front of the class. Everyone took one and then slowly and precisely practiced removing the sword from its casing and placing it back. Tony walked between students commenting on their hand and foot movement and the motion they used. Upon finishing their preliminary exercises, they were ready to practice basic attacks and defenses. The students practiced over head strikes, being careful to keep their attack absolutely perpendicular to their shoulders, side to side strikes, being sure to keep the blade exactly parallel to a line across their chest and slanting attacks. These moves were performed simultaneously by the class. It almost seemed like they were rehearsing for a show. This part of the class lasted ninety minutes with only a five minute break for water. By the end of the session, everyone was drenched. David felt as if his arms would fall off. It’s amazing how heavy a wooden sword would seem after a class of this nature. The sensei then clapped his hands and everyone returned the swords and cases to the front and took their assigned spots on the mat. The class meditated in silence in a cross legged position for ten minutes. The sensei then clapped twice and everyone looked at the sensei, nodded to him, and then went to their lockers.

David quickly changed and left the locker room. Other students were already talking to Sensei Taneto. Upon seeing David the sensei turned to talk with him.

You had a very good class today. Foot, arm position and motion were excellent. Vertical and horizontal strokes were perfect. If it weren’t for your eye shape I would wonder if there wasn’t some Japanese blood in your ancestry.

David smiled and responded, You flatter me but I’m mainly East European with a little Russian thrown in. I’ve got to go now to see my son. See you on Thursday. Sensei Taneto, in spite of his serious demeanor during class was a very sociable person. He was genuinely interested in the lives of his students outside of class and if given the chance would spend hours talking with his students. David nodded again and left the dojo. He had never mentioned to anyone in the dojo that he was once a student of ju-jitsu though he suspected that his sensei knew it from the way he moved. He practiced his basic katas at home. Only his family was aware of his training though even they didn’t know the extent of it or how he had received it.

The drive from the dojo to Chris’s adult home complex took only five minutes. As always, David’s thoughts drifted to whether he and his wife had made the right choice for Chris by sending him away. They had spent a great deal of time agonizing over this decision but after viewing the home and seeing how kind the staff was, their misgivings faded.

The home was located in a heavily wooded area. There were five buildings in the complex. Four of the buildings were for the residents of the adult community. Three were for men and one was for women. These buildings contained six individual sized bedrooms, a commons room, and a small kitchen. Each bedroom had a closed circuit TV camera in it along with a microphone. This was to monitor the adults at night in case of emergency. The commons room had a TV set in it, along with a ping pong table, and a pool table. The kitchen was there in case any of the adults became hungry in the middle of the night.

The main building was located in the middle of the four residential buildings. This building contained numerous activity rooms where the members of the community could engage in various arts and crafts, and physical activities. Chris and the other residents took their meals in a central dining area. There were also two one bedroom living suites where the administrators of the complex slept at night. Six other aides helped run the complex but they left after dinner. The two administrators who remained had the data obtained from the closed circuit TVs monitoring the residential buildings fed into a central computer in their suites. Special software analyzed the noises and visual data. If anything unusual occurred or if any of the adults tried to leave their buildings after hours, the administrators would be notified via a special device they wore at all times on their wrist.

David arrived at lunchtime and went straight to the cafeteria. Upon entering he ran into Jocelyn, one of the administrators of the complex.

Hi Jocelyn, I brought these jeans for Chris. How is he doing today?

Jocelyn, a native of South Korea, smiled at Mr. Perleman. Her calm demeanor and air of efficiency was accentuated by her dark shiny hair which she always wore in a neat bun on her head. In the three months since Chris had joined the community, Mr. Perleman and his wife had become constant visitors. Jocelyn learned early on to pay special attention to Chris so she could answer all their questions. This was not too difficult as Chris had one of the sweetest personalities in the community and it wasn’t difficult to be with him.

Chris as usual is fine. He was in arts and crafts room before lunch. They were having an open session where they could make anything they wanted out of the different colored clays they were given. They’ll finish their work tomorrow. After lunch ends, he will be joining a group that will be pulling up weeds from the pumpkin patch we have in the back. We have high hopes for that patch. By the end of October we should have enough pumpkins to make gallons of pumpkin soup and maybe a hundred breads! Chris will be taught to make breads with us. We’ll have a sale in town. Last year we made over $600! We received thank you notes till Christmas on how good our soup and breads were!

You guys are too much.

Dave turned around and scanned the cafeteria. As in previous visits, he marveled at the beauty of the paintings the residents had made to decorate the walls. As the room wasn’t very big, it didn’t take long for him to find the table where Chris was sitting with two other men. He joined them and watched as Chris and his friends ate their lunch which consisted of beef stew, a salad and an apple. David was amazed at how neat Chris had become while eating. When he was living at home, a lot of his food ended up on the floor where their dogs would eat it.

Hi Chris.

Hi Dad.

"I’ve missed you this last week. How are you doing today? Are you having fun?

Before Chris could answer, a short heavy set man sitting to his right, said, Hi, I’m George. I’m one of Chris’s friends. Can I be your friend also?

David smiled broadly. He remembered George from his last visit. David and Anne arrived late in the evening when everyone was in their rooms. George had been playing pool in the building’s common area while Chris was watching TV alone in his room. They had introduced themselves to George but apparently he had forgotten.

I would be honored to have you as a friend. Are you going to the pumpkin patch with Chris after lunch?

We all are. George motioned to the other man sitting at the table. I can hardly wait. I love working on the garden!

David turned to the third man at the table and asked, What is your name?

The third men, who seemed to be all arms and legs answered, I’m Jonathan. Are you going to come to the garden and help us in the pumpkin patch?

I’d love to, if that’s ok.

Jonathan and George turned to Chris. John asked Chris, "Can your dad come with us?

Chris just giggled and said, Where’s Vic the Slick? For some reason that was impossible to know, Chris associated his mother with Vic the Slick from the old TV show Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?

David answered, Vic the Slick is at school teaching. She’ll come this weekend to visit.

Chris giggled more and wiggled his fingers on both hands. Those mannerisms always indicated that he was happy.

The four of them went to the gardening area behind the main building where the pumpkin patch was. George, Jonathan and Chris got down on their hands and knees and independently started pulling out weeds that were growing among the pumpkins. David watched intently as they worked. All three of them seemed engrossed in their work. David was so impressed with how much Chris had seemed to learn in the few months that he had been in the home. Anne and David were never able to interest Chris in doing yard work when he was living at home but somehow, in this adult home, Chris seemed to be totally enjoying himself! At this point, Maria, one of the aide’s of the home, walked over to check up on the group.

Hello Mr. Perleman, how are you today?

I’m fine. I was just admiring how well Chris and his friends are doing weeding the pumpkin patch. Who taught them to do this?

I demonstrated how it is done to George and Jonathan last June. When Chris came in July, they took it upon themselves to teach him this skill. Both George and Jonathan have rooms in the same building as Chris and they have sort of become a team. I’m surprised you haven’t seen them together working.

My wife and I usually come later in the day after dinner when most of the activities are finished. I love how well they work together and can’t tell you how happy this makes me!

That’s so kind of you to say. You may be interested in this. Our local congressman is holding a town meeting in the area later today. He has not been very supportive of a proposal to expand housing grants for adults with disabilities along with other proposals that would improve the lives of these adults. If you could drop by and speak with him regarding how well these adult homes work, it would be a great help to us.

David, whose smile disappeared as Maria spoke, replied with a touch of anger in his voice, You can bet on it. I’ll bring it up along with some other beliefs I’ve read our dear congressman has that I dislike.

Maria smiled. Thank you. At this point, her phone went off. She turned slightly to the side and answered it. All David heard was, I’ll be there in a second. She turned back to David and said, Please excuse me, I have something to attend to.

David nodded as Maria hurried away.

After thirty minutes of watching his son and the others work, David decided to go. His eyes watered as he kissed Chris goodbye and said goodbye to Jonathan and George.

David’s thoughts driving away were always the same. Even though Chris seemed happy and appeared to be making major strides in learning to have friends, because he