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Subject: +*+*+*+ Solomon's Private File #97 "Candidates React" +*+*+*+
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2015 18:47:50 -0400
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Solomon's Private File #97
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 17 in this story, in the Fall of 2043.
Solomon's Private File #97 "Candidates React"
START Page
A presidential candidate was speaking nothing meaningful to an
outdoor crowd. Some Secret Service agents were converging on a suspect,
not knowing he was expected to be noticed and caught. They got him
before he could raise his gun. That action signaled the five other
gunmen to act. I immobilized them with my images, weapons pointing into
the air. I said on the agents' radio frequency, "Good work getting the
decoy, but now could you please take the real assassins off my hands,
arms, and legs?" They obviously recognized my style, and said, "Right,
Solomon. Thanks. As soon as we can. All under control?" I said,
"Assassins, yes. Good speech writing, no. Good delivery, REALLY no."
They tried not to laugh, but some coughs and choking sounds could be
heard. At each of my positions, the agents came to take the prisoners.
Some had to double up, because there weren't enough agents available
for that. I said to the leader of the team, "Big plot. I did some time
research on them while I was waiting. Here's the files." He said, "Know
why?" I said, "They don't want him to be President. Beat's me why they
care. Neither of them are worth their time." He tried not to laugh. I
said, "Good effort." He did laugh then. I said, "People are going to
ask. I'll tell them it's not your fault. It's impossible to provide
complete protection under these conditions. Think what an RPG would
do." He said, "Thanks. Doubt the public would believe or accept that."
I said, "I know. Part of the job, but I for one know how good and
dedicated you are, when not in hotel rooms." He almost choked. I said
with a grin, "Everything must balance." He nodded, with his own grin.
The candidate noticed some of the action, and broke off his speech to
ask an agent what was going on. What he heard made him shake, and
actually wet his pants. Then he fainted. He was carried away. I ported
to the stage, and addressed the crowd. I said, "Hello. I'm Solomon. An
assassination attempt was intercepted here today, which is why I'm
here. When your candidate was told about it, and, well, he had
problems. You are in no danger, aside from possible indigestion and
maybe some confusion from the speech. Anybody who thinks they can
explain it, well, the mic's free. Have a nice day." I ported away, to
some chuckles.
The next day, the candidate wanted to see me. I ported to his office.
He immediately said, "Why did you say what you did!" I said, "You
crapped out. There was nobody at the helm, and the crowd was noticing
things. They were ready to panic, and people could have been injured
and killed. Think about that first, instead of your selfish seriously
unjustified pride, and then we'll go on." He took it like a slap in the
face, and then became thoughtful. Then he said, "I was wrong. Very
wrong. I apologize. You handled that superbly! I see it now. People
WOULD have been injured, and it would have been my fault. I don't know
how to thank you enough." I said, "Then I'll tell you. Work hard to be
the leader for ALL. Be honorable. Be generous. REALLY get some lessons
in how to present a speech!" He said, "That bad?" I said, "Well, I
think I saw some people almost nodding off on their feet." He chuckled,
and said, "Pride again. I thought I didn't need lessons." I said, "And
you might want to find a speech writer who is an actual professional.
Cronyism is necessary in politics, but within good reason. Pragmatism
works better, when you need real work." He said, "I understand. Thank
you for your advice." We said our farewells.
News wanted my comments. I gave a small interview to CNN. I said, "My
danger watch on the candidate triggered a mental alarm. I looked and
noticed weapons, and people attached to them. I saw the Secret Service
notice one of them and take him. He was there specifically to draw
their attention. I used my personal images and immobilized the other
five gunmen, until the agents could come and get them. They did. The
candidate had to leave the stage without saying anything. I took his
place and said what needed to be said to keep the crowd, who had
noticed things, from panicking and causing injuries. Then I left." Greg
said, "So what you said was for that purpose only?" I said, "Yes. Same
as in all the other times I saved a politician in public. Crowd
control." He said, "So you didn't mean what you said?" I said, "I am
unable to lie." He said, "Then you could have said a lot more he
wouldn't have liked?" I said, "To ALL of them, OH YES!" He laughed.
I said, "I should say something. I was involved because the Secret
Service was outmanned in that very unusual situation. The attackers
were professionals, acting together. It's just not possible to
completely protect ANYBODY in an exposed public environment in a free
society. There is always a risk. The Secret Service is a very competent
and professional agency. They do their best under the situations and
circumstances in which they operate. Those who would willingly give
their lives to protect the people in their charge, deserve our utmost
admiration and respect." He said, "Yes, I think we can all agree with
that. Let's go to break." I said off air, "And off record, they
appreciate my sense of humor. Got to be good people." He chuckled. Back
on air, he said, "Have you done an investigation into the cause of the
crime?" I said, "Any more information about what happened should come
from the Secret Service as they authorize it, so it won't interfere
with their work." He said, "Right. Thanks. Have you spoken with the
Governor since the incident?" I said, "That asking and possible
answering should be with the Governor." He said, "We've asked, and have
received no response." I said, "With almost all politicians, hearing
nothing, is often best for all." He laughed well. That ended the
interview.
His opponent made half serious fun of the man I rescued, for what
happened. I said in the air with the image of my head and shoulders in
the big room he was in for fund raising, "That is morally
objectionable! I am Solomon. I saved his life, so I have a connection
with what is said about the situation. Until YOU have faced six
professional hitmen in public, and so come very close to certain death,
you and we have NO idea how YOU will react. Which is not related to
thought or character, but to preconscious nervous system responses that
are beyond the control of almost everybody. Your comments are seriously
unfair, unkind, and undeservedly hurtful to ALL who have been in such
situations! And completely out of place in political discourse. I
apologize for the interruption, and thank you for your attention. Have
a nice day." I stopped my projection. There was dead silence. Then the
candidate said, "Thank you Solomon, for bringing this to my attention.
I was wrong, very wrong. I extend my personal apology to the Governor,
and to all who I thoughtlessly hurt by my comment. This is an important
learning moment I'll never forget. Well, who could?" Some laughter.
Then it was business as usual.
I was in my office at the Bureau with an applicant, during that.
After he left, I went out to reception, and they were getting that on
the news and sharing it. They all looked at me. I said, "He sure
sounded angry. Good thing he has good ethics." They all nodded. A sec
said, carefully, because there were still applicants in the Department,
"That was a new situation for him. Interrupting a campaign dinner to
tell off a candidate." I said, "Think he shouldn't have?" She said, "I
don't know, but I liked it." They all agreed. An applicant said, "I
like it that time, because I think he had good justification, but I
think he shouldn't do that often. His group has always been careful not
to interfere in politics unasked. And even when asked." I said, "Well
thought and expressed. Oh, don't look at me like that. All the time
you're here, you're being evaluated. That's what we do." She smiled and
nodded. She was my next client, and so walked back into my office with
me.
She said, after handing me her file and sitting down, "Do you often
do that?" I said, "More than I like, yes. Serious fans here. Sometimes
causes unprofessional behavior. I try to head it off when I can, with a
discussion." I said, after looking in her file, "So, you know some
psychology." She said, "I think everybody should. Who couldn't use help
in understanding people?" I said, "Those who need the most help with
that, are the least willing to seek it, and when it's thrust on them,
the least able to accept it. But with a little bit here, and a little
buttered up this side, shall I turn for you to do the same to the
other?" She laughed.
We did the tests, and she was approved. The next applicant came in.
He was distracted. I said, "When is the rest of you coming?" I could
hear Galya laughing in my mind. The applicant said, "Huh?" I said,
"I'll rephrase that. When are you going to pay attention?" He said,
"Oh! Sorry. Solomon again. This time interfering in politics." I said,
"You mean saving the life of that candidate? That sure did interfere
with politics!" He said, "That's not what I meant, but I see your
point. He can't do anything in public without interfering in something.
gives them better food." He grinned, and said, "You've been to some?" I
said, "I'll pass on that. Except to say, that, on top of unpalatable
rhetoric, is enough to cause even the most hardy of shrinks to want to
throw up." He laughed. He said, "You don't like politics?" I said, "A
necessary evil is still evil." He said, "I hear you!" We did the
interview and he was approved. As he left, he said, "Ever thought of
running for office?" I said with hand motions, "Get out! Go! Leave!" He
laughed, and left.
A woman came in. She said right away, "As a psychologist, what do you
think of him?" I said, "First, as a psychologist, I think of everything
as a psychologist. And second, who?" She said, "Oh. Solomon." I said,
"It's not safe for a shrink to criticize a person a client is in love
with." She said, "Oh! It's that obvious?" I said, "Obviously. Also
obvious, you aren't thinking right now as well as you usually do.
Perhaps you should come back another day." She said, "I'm sorry. I
didn't realize it. Please, let's do this now." We did the tests. I
said, "I don't usually discuss the results with applicants, but I
recommend, SERIOUSLY, that we disregard this day, and you come back
another time. You did NOT pass, but I think your problem could be
temporary. If you agree, please ask the receptionist to make another
appointment for you." She said, "Thank you, I will." She left, but
forgot to reschedule.
The next applicant came in. I looked at his file. I said, "We almost
don't deserve you." He looked surprised, and said, "Thank you sir!" I
said, "I have to admit I really enjoy giving deserved surprise
compliments." He relaxed and grinned, and said, "I understand." I said,
"I apologize for the unprofessional behavior of my staff. Serious
Solomon fans." He said, "No problem, but I have to disagree with some
of them. He's right about how people react to having their lives
threatened. I would have felt angry hearing that Senator's comment, if
Solomon hadn't responded. I stand by my record, but the first time that
happened to me, I froze, and then had the shakes for a week, despite
all the training I had. It never happened again, but he's right. The
first time, you do NOT know how you will react. I didn't, and I was
really ashamed, but my friends and sergeant talked me out of it. They
had been through it themselves." I said, "You became a better man
because of it. Er, obviously." He said with a slight smile, "I think
so. Something else. I know you've faced life threatening danger
yourself. I can see it in you." I said, "That's interesting. I didn't
know it showed. Wrong soap, maybe." He just grinned. We did the tests.
I said, "Why do you want to change?" He said, "I've gone as far as I
can go on the force. I can feel it. I'm getting bored. Here would be a
new challenge, and more varied assignments." I said, "I agree. You're
much more than a police officer." He almost had a tear. I said, after
writing in his file, "Please take this back with you to Personnel. One
more thing. It's not even a request, but if you would tell them out
there what you told me about the facing death thing, I would be very
pleased." He said, "Yes sir, I think I should do that. Thank you." And
that's what he did.
I called Personnel and told them about him. They were waiting for him
when he arrived. He was offered a position right away. The next day he
came to see me. He said, "You arranged this?" I said, "Actually, not
exactly. You did. I just told them about you, only a little more than
they already knew, while you were talking out there. So, blame
yourself. Right. It's all your fault. How you can live with that, well,
you'll just have to cope." He had some unusual expressions chasing each
other all over his face. He caught me studying them, and had to
chuckle. He said, "You're more than just a psychologist." I said very
seriously, "We are all more than we are." He nodded. We shook hands,
and he left, thinking good things about his new future.
END Page
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Grant
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