Solomon's Private File #57
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 15 in this story, in the Summer of 2041.
Solomon's Private File #57 "Legal Yale"
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I had a meeting with Cardinal Paolo. I said, "How are your people
taking er, what happened." He said, "You don't know?" I said, "I don't
care much about what they do, as long as they don't use violence
against you. Would be nicer watching paint dry, if I had to watch
them." He grinned and said, "Sometimes I feel the same." I said, "One
thing I know. You were magnificent! A true leader. Wise, and forceful
when it was needed. They HAVE to respect you for that." He radiated
pleased humility. He said, "A correct assessment. It amused them that I
hadn't realized that I had been that way." I said, "And that sealed
your fate." He said, "I think so." I said, "So, not only did we help
you to survive and prosper, and to manipulate to preeminence, we have
helped you to become the man who SHOULD be so. But it couldn't have
succeeded if you hadn't had it in you. We all have done well, I think.
Mutual pats on the back, later." He chuckled. I said, "A Buddha and a
Rabbi helped make a Pope. Not even a fantasy writer would attempt
that." We grinned at each other. He said, "If I had had to chose, I
couldn't have done better." I said, "Doesn't it make you wonder, how
the one after you will be?" He said, "I hope not!" We hugged with love.
The Mormon Apostle from the show asked for a meeting. After polite
things, he said, "I have to say, I have more respect for Cardinal Paolo
than I thought possible." I said, "Same for the other Cardinals.
They're going to make him Pope, when the old one kicks off." He looked
thoughtful, and said, "He's known your group for a long time. Surely
they must have suspected him of, at the least, contamination." I said,
"My father gave him some er, Machiavellian type on the job training,
just so he could survive. Yes, they play for keeps there. Still Romans.
Paolo carried that further, after he became skilled. Well, that game
can be addictive, and he wanted to protect the Pope, which was actually
needed. He was positioned to be the next Pope, even though he didn't
really want the post, but his performance on the show made it
practically a certainty, which they have hinted to him. He wants
reform, but we don't know how much he can accomplish that won't be
overturned after he goes. Oh, and we won't let him be killed. One thing
I don't get. Why do people have to kiss the ring? Who needs to collect
lip prints?" He grinned and said, "I don't know. Reverence to the
jeweler?"
He said, "I didn't expect you to bring up the not telling the truth
to convert, or to even know about it. Our serious mistake there." I
said, "Don't expect me to be sorry. Not when I gave you a serious
reprieve on the Native American issue. We REALLY don't like that." He
said, "I can imagine, but we can't change that." I said, "I know, which
is why I didn't make a big deal of it. It's harmless, anyway. It
doesn't bother me TOO much if people think you're nuts on that issue.
Nobody's perfect." He chuckled and said, "I think people might have
thought I was being two strong in saying you're unpredictable. I really
wasn't." I said, "If it'll help, you can tell people that often, not
even my own mother can predict what I'll do or say, and she is one of
the most intelligent people in the galaxy. I can't even do it. We do
kinda like the results, though." He said, "Thank you. I WILL use it." I
said with a grin, "You're welcome."
He said, "We are seriously considering forbidding our members from
holding political office." I said, "There is good and bad in that. Your
people are VERY capable, and that's valuable in government. And unusual
in an elected official. Ha! I don't dislike at all in surprising you."
He chuckled. I said, "And if they are like your most known politician,
well, the opposition would really miss their best er, helper." He
laughed. I said "For such a smart man, why in the world can't he
control his mouth in public? I've never known anybody else like that,
who frequently contradicts himself in the same sentence!" He laughed
really well. I said, "A really unique skill that nobody would want to
possess." More laughter. He said, "We have discussed that, with some
consternation, and not a little helping of humor, ourselves." I said,
"It would help you to have somebody of you of quality, to be in the
public eye, but I think not many want to be that person." He said,
"That's true." I said, "I think you should try to have that. The public
knows more about your good values than ever before, and that's because
of him, and the few like him. It would be good if that could continue.
Unless you want to concede the field to the Catholics."
He said, "That's a foul blow." I said, "If you say so. Not so good as
a deflection, though." He chuckled. I said, "Calling yourselves
Apostles, doesn't come off as very humble." He said, "We are aware of
that. Unfortunately, we aren't in a position to change that." I said,
"I would like to, but you know I can't come out in support of one
religion over another." He said, "Your list of Christian religions
didn't show us as badly as it did the Catholics." I said, "And I was
being generous, too. Not enough room in the show to tell all. Just did
the major things for each. I didn't mention the Mennonites, for
instance, but I did have to mention the Shakers, for the slight comic
relief I needed to add at the end to soften the blow." He said, "I saw
that. I think many people don't realize the skill with which you speak
in these situations." I said, "Good. Works better that way. Although
ignorance isn't a good condition. How many know the Quakers, except
from cereal boxes?" He nodded. I said, "The only faith in which all, as
far as the military is concerned, are real conscientious objectors. And
that they're called, 'The Society of Friends'. Or even that they still
exist. Yes, they do. Quaking is not a loud activity." He said, "Do they
actually do that?" I said, "Yes they do. It's not really as strange as
it may seem. Many religions and denominations incorporate a repetitive
physical activity in their prayers. Fingering beads is the most popular
of them. Orthodox Jews rock while praying. Chanting can be labeled as
one. Rhythm enhances concentration, and encourages the release of
endorphins in the brain, which heightens the religious feeling. So does
music." He said, "I hadn't considered most of that. Speaking with you
is a real education. May I have a recording of this conversation? I
said, "For internal use only. But don't chew." He chuckled. I stood,
and we hugged. I ported a crystal and a memory card to the table, and
ported away.
At their invitation, I ported to the law department of Yale
University. I said, "You asked to meet with me. Here I am. Legally?"
Some smiles. The department chair, or the actual person in it, said,
"We would like to do for you what we did for your father, and offer you
a Juris Doctorate." I said, "Why?" He said, "Er, we think you would
more than qualify." I said, "That is the known and loudly expressed
opinion of a whole lot of people now. Why you, why now, and why would I
want one? Have you seen my office? Severely lacking in wall space."
Chuckles. He said, "Why us, is because your father favored us in many
of his activities, and we were very pleased when he allowed us to award
him his law degree." I said, "Very pleased? Are lawyers allowed to use
understatements?" He chuckled and said, "Yes, but it's mostly uncommon
for us to do that. Why now, is because we know enough about you now,
that we didn't before, that causes us to think you would qualify." I
said, "I meant, now, as opposed to later. I'm only 15 in this life. I
wouldn't even be allowed to take a Bar exam, let alone be allowed to
practice law in any Court, being a er, half pint." Most got the pun and
smiled. He said, "Yes, we know that. We wanted to have you consider our
offer first. As to why you would want one, anything I would say to that
would be self serving." I said with a smile, "Why stop?" He had to
laugh. So did some others.
He said, "It's not just your knowledge alone that would qualify you.
It's your intelligence and your facility with communication." I said,
"My father never used his degree. Do you know why?" There was some
interest. He said, "No. Please tell us why." I said, "In this
adversarial legal system, to argue a case, one must say things in favor
of it that may not be what one believes is true, and argue against what
one may know to be true. We are unable to lie." He said, "Oh. I see.
That would be a problem. But it wouldn't prevent the awarding of the
degree." I said, "I have a lot of degrees. If I may be more truthful
than modest without offense, they took relatively little effort to
earn. I only allowed myself to be awarded them, because they convey
some useful respected authority in those subjects that can aid me in my
work. I now already have that in regard to the law, by demonstration,
which I actually don't need. I'm here only out of politeness, so you
wouldn't feel I have insulted you by ignoring you, after you had
honored my father before me." He said, "The word wow comes to mind. So
you don't wish to have a law degree from us, or any other institution?"
I said, "That is correct. It would be dishonest of me to accept such an
honor I don't value for me, that I have no use for. Please don't
misunderstand me, because I know it is a high and valuable honor in
itself, and I really appreciate the offer, and I thank you very much
for judging me worthy of it."
He said, "I now feel you are even more worthy of it, and that it is
we who are unworthy of YOU." There were nods of agreement. I said, "So
in revenge, you must embarrass me this way." Chuckles. He said, "We
will keep the offer open, for if you change your mind." I said, "Thank
you. But there IS something you could do. Something similar. I am not
the only graduate of my school. Some others of us may someday desire a
law degree for some purpose." He said, "Would they be as you are?" I
said, "Similar, yes. At present, I am the er, most of us. As a teacher,
I'm trying my hardest to make me not so prominent." He said, "As
teachers ourselves, we understand. But don't those others in your group
require anonymity?" I said, "Yes. So that would be an issue you would
have to consider. At present, I don't know of any who desire what you
would offer, but it doesn't hurt as much to be prepared, as it does
when not prepared." He said, "That is wise." I said, "Right. Be
prepared isn't good just for bees." They had odd grins. He said, "If we
didn't know who you were before, we do now!" I said morosely, "I get
that a lot." Chuckles. I gave them my love, with our farewells, and I
ported to the waiting education meeting.
Ivanna said, "You handled that well. I didn't consider the side offer
possibility." I said, "Why waste an opportunity? Also, it made them
feel better, after I refused them, to think I think they are the best,
that we would send our people to them, and not to another university."
George said, "I think I should take them up on that possible offer.
Good ties help, and having a lawyer in the group could be useful
someday." Pete said, "Good idea, if we can make it fit our security
requirements." I said, "I already thought of a way around that, but it
didn't feel right to present it at that time. We could say that we
sometimes sponsor specially qualified geniuses, and ask for an
expedited degree for them in the open. That way we could have some of
us available in the open, with a possible second identity educated in
Tibet, but known only as friends of our group, and not as powerful
Adepts. It worked with Chad." Pete stared at me. Then he said, "Why
didn't we think of that?" I said, "Don't expect me to help you kick
yourself." George laughed the loudest.
I had an idea. I shared it with somebody. I said to Pete, "We already
have somebody who really thinks it's a good idea to have an active
lawyer among us. Him. Want to discuss it with him?" He said, "You did
something. Alright. Invite him." Hawk ported in. Ivanna said, "Another
'why didn't I think of it' moment." Hawk said, "I don't know. Why?"
Laughter. He said, "Alright, I didn't think of it either, but a lawyer
for the group in the open, is too good to pass up, and one of the
Navajo? I couldn't kick myself hard enough to justify ignoring that
opportunity." He said to me, "Thank you SO much!" Then he kissed and
hugged me all over. I ported a big box to the floor, and said, "There.
Crystals. Get to work!" He grinned and bowed, and said, "Yes, Second
Master Teacher. I bowed in return and said, "I'll show you the whip
later, if I feel like it." More hugs and kisses, and he ported away
with the box. I said, "Whew!" Laughter, and hugs and kisses with love.
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Grant
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