Bill of Human Wrongs

Bill felt smug about his accomplishments for the day when he arrived at the office of Senator Clancy Alexander. Standing in his doorway, Bill could breathe the air of power coming from the Senator. It stimulated him, thrilled him to be a member of the Franchise Four.

Clancy was behind his desk, his head down. He appeared to be in deep thought over the papers on his desk so without looking up, he said, “Shut the door and sit down. You had better have something for me, Bill.” Then he considered the young man’s presence, with his size adding to his daunting physique. “This is going to make you someone on the hill if you don’t screw it up.”

Bill felt secure with his report, and taking the chair across from the large man, he began to give him the fine points of his plot. “I have a date tonight with the Senator. That may not sound like much, but I know what I can do with the ladies. I’ll have a lot to tell you after tonight.”

Clancy stared at the Senator for what seemed a few minutes, the silence was forbidding. Bill knew what he was trying to do. Intimidate him. He’d seen the man do it successfully many times before. Clancy would use this skill to get the upper hand during sessions with Senators and other colleagues. Bill sensed him prying into his mind, quietly sizing up the message, the arrogant plan Bill had just laid out. He knew he was in the man’s mental grasp and recognized that he must be transparent with Clancy or he’d be seen as a traitor. And that wouldn’t do for Bill. He had high aspirations to someday be the powerful Senator sitting across from the weak ones. Of course, he would keep his looks, vanity was one of his precious tools. No, he would hold on to his features at all cost. Never would he allow himself to become a lard face like the powerful man sitting across from him.

Clancy slowly smiled, an evil smirk of an expression that nearly shook Bill’s confidence. “Ok, Hotshot.” The eye contact continued to penetrate through the young Senator. “You’ll have lots to talk about with her, I’m releasing SB 1257 in a few hours.”

The words made Bill choke, but it was only a split second where he lost his composure. Confidence, arrogance, self-esteem must be present at all times around this fat man. Collecting himself, he responded, “I’m surprised, Senator. I didn’t think it would happen until next week.” Then he laughed. “Of course, it’s Friday night. This is how we do it, isn’t it? You know the press will eat us alive for our clandestine methods. Get it out just before the weekend. Memorial Day, no less.” Bill was elated, “You are the master, Senator. Glad I’m learning from a legend such as yourself.”

Clancy took his eyes off Bill and went back to studying his papers. Bill could tell that the man was above his adolescent schmoozing and made a mental reminder to himself to cool it in his future meetings with the bastard.