So, You Want to Live Past Next Tuesday

by Billy Bob Richardson

  “She said, ‘Fine, tonight at the social I will stand on the stage and make my declaration to the whole family.’ There was little I could do at that point. So I started calling council members. Unfortunately when Jack got here things got out of hand,” said Roy.

  “As chair person I am officially convening a council meeting. To business. Anyone but Jack want to say anything? Yes, Billy?”

  “I think we need to start by letting Susie speak her piece.”

  “Fine. Susie, are you still determined to declare for Madd?”

  “Yes sir, very much so.”

  “Have you ever talked to Madd about this?”

  “No sir. I approached his girl and asked her to present my desire to enter his household, but that is all.”

  “I see, well that is an accepted first step,” Roy had to agree.

  “Did she give you any encouragement or lead you to believe that Madd was open to the idea?” asked Billy.

  “No sir. She told me that it wasn’t a possibility.”

  “Then I am confused,” said Roy. “How did you decide to come to me today?”

  “I felt that Itsy and I were friends,” said Susie. “I was fairly sure she was interested in me joining the household. Every chance I got, I made it clear that I was very interested in joining Madd’s household. When I heard that an official announcement was to be made tonight, I was excited for her. Then I heard that permission to speak to the Hotchins girls was asked for and granted, I couldn’t understand that. I went by Madd’s house a little while ago and asked Itsy about it.

  “I am prettier than they are, and better connected,” said Susie. “Not only that, I am better educated and have skills they don’t possess.

  “I’m no fool, I know that for a man like Madd looks and connections would be secondary or even tertiary issues. Still, I found it hard to believe he wouldn’t even consider me. I pressed Itsy for some type of explanation. She didn’t want to say, but because of our friendship she finally told me why there was no chance.”

  “What did she say, Susie?” asked Roy.

  “Itsy told me that it had nothing to do with me! I just mentioned I was connected. Well, that was the reason. Madd wouldn’t consider me because of who my grandfather is. I couldn’t even have a chance to win his heart because he knew my grandfather had someone else in mind for me. He was unwilling to make an enemy of a council member and an Uncle.

  “That is why I came forward. I will never allow my grandfather to use me for his personal agenda,” she said loudly. “Before I came here I went home and told my father what was going on. It made him as mad as I have ever seen him. He told me, ‘I will never agree that you go to anyone that s.o.b would choose’. Tell Madd if he wants you he can have you. That will stop the old fart!’”

  Jack stood up so quickly his chair went flying backward.

  “You ungrateful little snot, you will do what you are told and toe any line I say. I will place you in a goat herder’s house if it pleases me.”

  Turning to Madd with his face as red as a beet, Jack started shouting again.

  “You are a liar, you orchestrated this travesty,” he accused. With every pronouncement he slammed his hand onto the table top.

  “You are a coward and a liar, you have been trying to unseat me from the council for years, and I will see you thrown off the council and out of the fam”… suddenly his face lost all color and he staggered back. Clutching his chest he started gasping for breath, then fell straight back onto the floor.

  Roy was shouting. “Quick, call Doc Shultz and 911.” Then he quickly started CPR on Jack.

  It didn’t take Doc Shultz long to get there. Even so, by the time he did, it was obvious it wasn’t any use. Jack was stone cold dead. By the time the county rescue squad got all the way out to the farm Jack was getting cool to the touch.

  The people in the room were a study in contrasts. Susie had a slight smile on her face. The cousins didn’t seem that upset. Real had been heard to say early on, “Just let him die, it will be better for everyone.”

  Madd had a troubled expression. Roy was highly upset.

  When the body was gone and the room cleaned up Roy was more composed.

  “This was a tragic loss and I am very sorry if I had anything to do with his passing,” said Madd.

  Doc Shultz said, “You didn’t do it, Madd. He was in his late 70s and I have been warning him for years to get bypass surgery. Fortunately the younger generation like you guys will have no heart worries. You are genetically much different than Jack and some of the others. He didn’t have the benefits of a well-planned genetics program.”

  It hit Doc that no truer words had ever been spoken. No one but the doctors and scientists involved knew what had gone on. Not even the council knew how different this youngest generation was. For good or bad, Doc and the others had meddled in the genetics of the family. They had all sworn to take their manipulations to the grave.

  “Thanks Doc, for making me feel better,” said Madd.

  “Just the plain truth, Madd.”

  Roy stood up and said, “We should adjourn out of respect for Jack.”

  “NO,” shouted Susie.

  “What are you saying, girl?” stammered Roy.

  “You can’t adjourn the meeting, Uncle Roy. There are enough members here to hear my declaration and I intend to be heard.”

  “Uncle Roy.”

  “Yes, Ivan?”

  “I think she’s right. It’s tragic, but we are running out of time. The guys and I have three more days and any business that needs to be taken care of needs to happen ASAP. With a death like this clouding things, we can’t just leave her hanging in the wind. Her problem isn’t the only one facing us, so let’s get it out of the way.”

  “Alright, fine. Sit down everyone, and let’s get this over with,” said Roy.

  All the fight had gone out of him when Jack died and lay stone cold dead on his floor.

  “The meeting is still in session. Let us deal with Susie and then get on to any other business we might have. Since Susie has expressed her desires and Madd is already present, we can cut to the chase,” said Billy.

  “Do you honestly have any interest in this girl?” Billy asked Madd.

  “Frankly, Itsy and I have discussed her at some length, but I never gave it serious consideration because of the circumstances. I do know that Itsy approves of her. To be brutally honest Itsy wants her and I would have seriously pursued her under different circumstances. With what just happened here tonight I would not have said anything if Susie had taken a more moderate view and Billy hadn’t insisted on an honest answer. While I don’t like it, some decision must be made. I would much prefer to wait until I return. This was a bad business and will affect a lot of people negatively if this whole episode isn’t brought to an end. I suppose with all that has happened tonight it would cause more uproar in the family if I waited.”

  Madd wasn’t happy about it but he had told them the unvarnished truth.

  “Waiting might make it appear as if there were some irregularity attached to what happened. After tonight there will be finger pointing and gossip anyway. Ordinarily gossip is a rare thing in the family but tonight’s fiasco might just cause there to be an exception to that rule. If she is left hanging,” Ivan pointed out, “it will be worse. No telling how distorted it would become in close to a year.”

  “I don’t like to tell you something you probably don’t want to hear Madd, but I am afraid you need to make a firm decision. It will be in the best interest of the family if you accept her and make it formal as soon as possible. That effectively will squash wagging tongues.” Ivan said it, but he had a hard time looking at one of the few men he truly respected and looked up to.

  “I don’t suppose the best course for her reputation is to say she is under consideration. That we need to wait until I get back to see how well she would fit in the family. Since we have known each other for our whole lives people would get the wrong message from a decision li
ke that. I don’t like it, but it will cause the least amount of problems if she is safely out of circulation.” Madd had made a hard decision; it being for the best didn’t make it any easier to say.

  Looking at the cousins Madd silently polled them for their opinions. He got nods of agreement from them all. Real mouthed the words, “It’s for the best.” One glance at Billy got the same response.

  “I will have to confirm with your father, but if you want to definitely join my household you may do so as long as your father gives his permission. But only if Itsy and Annie agree. Considering what just happened here you will be required to prove yourself more than any normal relationship might call for. You have to maintain an exemplary reputation in all things.

  “Now go speak to your father and tell him exactly what happened here. Then go talk to Itsy and Annie. It might be a good idea for you to stay out of my sight for a few hours as well.

  “Now get out of here, you have caused me enough trouble for a whole lifetime in one night.” Madd was totally correct in his wording but a blind person could tell he was having mixed emotions about the death of a family member, even one he didn’t particularly like.

  “Yes sir, thank you sir,” said Susie.

  With that she was across the room and out the door in the blink of an eye. She virtually flew out of the room.

  “Ivan, did you have any other business to discuss besides Susie?”

  “Yes Uncle Roy, the seat left vacant by Jack.”

  With a sigh, Roy said, “I thought as much. Your nominee, Ivan?”

  “I officially call for a vote on Hey.”

  “Of course you do.”

  “I second that,” said Madd.

  “Let me get the box and stones. Everyone take a stone and place it in the box.”

  When Roy counted the stones, Hey was a council member.

  Alex, the last long time council member, cleared his throat to get their attention.

  “When Madd managed to get voted onto the council I was a little concerned. Jack had always said he could easily block any new member he didn’t approve of. Seems he was wrong on that one. When Ivan was put forward as a member I knew Jack was pleased; we both thought that he would act as a break on Madd.

  “When Tinker was voted in that same night I began to see which way the wind was blowing. I was surprised when Madd didn’t claim that world conditions called for a War Chief to take over control of the council and family.”

  “I don’t understand?” said Uncle Roy.

  “Think about it, Roy,” Alex said. “The emergency powers granted a War Chief. In the back of the rule book. Had Madd made the claim world conditions called for a War Chief, he could have removed anyone he wished from the council, with four votes.”

  “I remember that provision. It was for extraordinary times. Madd couldn’t have been certain he could get four votes though,” said Roy.

  “Stop and think about that provision. True, it granted the War Chief the power to take over with four votes. Who was the one that could declare that extraordinary times had come? The War Chief, and that is Madd. As for getting four votes, he already had them. The only way Madd got onto the council is by having someone cast a vote for him we knew nothing about. It didn’t take me long after Tinker to figure out it had to be Billy. Now gentlemen, I think I will give my resignation; I have no desire to be led by a mere boy. I assume you will accept it, Madd?”

  “What are you saying? I am the chairperson, your resignation comes to me,” said Roy.

  “My old friend, you may have the title, but Madd has the power.”

  Roy didn’t know what to make of that.

  “Uncle Roy is still in charge, so give him your resignation,” said Madd.

  “Then I formally present it to you, Roy.

  “To all of the cousins here, I say, well played, very well played indeed. Jack used to brag that while Roy had the title he had the power to influence any vote he chose. He was never worried about the young men coming along, he always said he could control them; after all, they were just children. He had always controlled the council by force of personality and votes.

  “In the end I believe he had that fit because the truth finally dawned on him. The full council of elders with years of experience and wisdom had been outsmarted by teenagers.”

  “I call for a vote on the seat left vacant by Alex, that seat to be filled by Real,” said Ivan.

  “I second,” said Hey. “A vote having been called, we will proceed.”

  Votes were counted. Real was now a member.

  “Madd, what he said about the War Chief powers, is it true?” asked Roy.

  “Uncle Roy, it is true the rule is there, but his idea that I was going to use it to remove council members before I left is silly. I promise you I had no intention of using it as he claimed.”

  Roy was much relieved.

  To himself, Ivan thought, Unless they pushed you, cousin; unless they pushed you. Not even Ivan knew for sure how long Madd had been planning the takeover of the council. When Madd was around nine and prepping was being taken seriously, there had been a revamp of the council bylaws. He was pretty sure it was Madd who had suggested that the War Chief needed real power.

  “Uncle Roy. Before we leave we will give you a list of our proxies while we are gone. If there is anything that they can’t handle we will schedule a long distance meeting.

  “It’s time we got going so we can get to the social. We had a tragic death, but we will have to tough it out. I would prefer to cancel it and hold the festivities later but there just isn’t any time. If we called off the ceremonies scheduled for tonight it would be a disaster. We want people to think Susie was always under consideration and that her declaration here tonight was merely an affirmation of what had already been my family’s intention all along, and that Jack’s death was one of life’s tragic events and not the result of an altercation involving Susie. We need to play this off as if Jack suffered some type of breakdown and started accusing Susie and myself because he was having delusions. Postponing might give folks too much time to think. Besides, it would break Itsy’s and all the girls’ hearts if we did.”

  Everyone agreed that it was just something that had to be worked through.

  Outside of Roy’s house, Madd stopped and looked up at the darkening sky. The cousins gathered ‘round. The first faint star was barely showing.

  “Well my brothers, we won control of the council, but at what cost? I’m afraid we have sown the whirlwind this night. What will our harvest be in the future?”

  In the briefest flicker of time, each man standing there had the same thought. What bill would they be asked to pay for what they had done?

  Back at Madd’s he sat Itsy and Annie down. He gave them the whole ugly story from start to finish, leaving no ugly fact out. Both girls had heard almost the exact same story from Susie.

  “That is what Susie told us as well. She is upstairs waiting for our decision,” Itsy told him.

  “I don’t know what I should be feeling,” said Annie.

  “I somehow feel that I contributed to this by telling Susie the truth,” said Itsy.

  “There is no time for recriminations. None of us can shoulder any blame. He was a grown man with his own agendas. He brought it on himself.

  “Knowing what you know I need you to either accept Susie or deny her. If we are going to have her in the family we will have to make moves tonight at the social. I would prefer not to, but I can’t see a way out for us.”

  “I always thought she was a good addition. I would have voted for her before this mess so there doesn’t seem to be a reason to not accept her now. I agree, if we want to keep her reputation intact we need to move forward as if this had always been the plan and Jack went crazy at the last minute. I vote yes, bring her into the family.” Itsy said the last part with conviction.

  When Madd looked at Annie, all she said was, “Agreed, she is a valuable person and I want her in the family.”

  “
Then it is settled. Now finish getting dressed, this is our night and I won’t let Jack steal our joy.”

  Chapter 9

  Family community center. A little after 7pm.

  Roy felt a deep sadness over the loss of Jack. It was hard for him, but life had to go on. It would be best to let the party warm up a while longer before the ceremonies began. Let the family show their joy at the coming festivities.

  “Attention folks, attention. I know you have all heard about Jack by now. It was a tragic occurrence and I am deeply saddened by it. I know some of you felt Jack was somewhat unapproachable, even unpleasant at times. Let me assure you, he always did his best for the family as he saw it. The usual arrangements will be made in town and anyone wishing to go to the viewing will be told the time as soon as I have it.

  “This may seem like poor timing, but it can’t be avoided. As you know several of our young men must leave us in the next few days. Unfortunately that doesn’t allow us the time to reschedule this happy occasion. Our original reason for this gathering was to celebrate the official joining of several of our young families. Let us be happy for them and mourn our lost brother tomorrow.

  “Each of you should have a glass by now, so raise them along with me and toast the happy family groups created here tonight. May they live long and happy lives!” Murmured agreement could be heard from all assembled.

  The room was beautifully decorated and the tables literally groaned with the food and drink placed on them. The room was full to bursting. Fortunately it was a warm evening and the sliding glass doors that ran down one side were opened wide to the patio. The patio was festively decorated with banners and hanging lanterns. The lightning bugs glimmered and glowed, teasing the young children to come catch them.

  So many had come for the festivities that the patio was almost as crowded as the main room. Even though it was short notice the ladies of the family had outdone themselves with all the food and preparations. It was the custom in the family for the girls to dress up in their finest. Looks and smiles were exchanged between the young people there. Speculative looks passed between some. New alliances would come out of the interactions during the festivities. The dais at one end was large and flowers were everywhere along its boarders.