A Short Story Excerpt
A Short Story by Dianne Winters Foreword Monumental changes were at work not only in the United States and therefore, the world, but in Sylvia and Eddie Chance’s lives. Did they recognize the changes? How would they cope with a government and governing system that made no sense to them? This is their story and undoubtedly your story, for you to recognize. What does the following definition mean? Memory-- a device or a component of a device in which information especially for a computer can be inserted and stored and from which it may be extracted when wanted. It is the capacity for storing information.“Stop screaming at me, Sylvia,” Eddie Chance said to his wife, “and for crying out loud, stop moaning!” He grasped the steering wheel with both hands and tried to keep the car headed forward. “I don’t know how many times we have to argue about this Sylvia. I know you’re uncomfortable carrying twins, but please don’t do it. I want to be a father. I’ll be a good...” “No, Eddie. You don’t know the half of bearing a child, let alone two children at the same time and please, please, keep your eyes on the road. It’s covered with ice, and there we go again, sliding, sliding...” Sylvia shivered. Eddie thought Sylvia’s winter coat didn’t keep her warm. He said, “If you would be quiet instead of trying to drive this car and...” Sylvia pressed back against her seat. She clenched her jaws. She saw oncoming headlights and shrieked. She knew the headlights were on a large truck. They were high above the slick highway and were like two menacing eyes staring directly at her and bearing directly toward her. She shouted, “Eddie! It’s a truck and it’s in our lane! Coming right at us!” Eddie tapped the break pedal and continued to tap it, but the rear of their car swerved sideways, first left then right. Eddie’s heart beat in his throat. The truck horn sounded. Eddie had never heard as loud or menacing a sound. It seemed to surround their car. Eddie pushed his body backward as if trying to avoid the huge truck, and Sylvia screamed and put her hands over her face as the truck lights engulfed their car. He sniffed the air and smelled antiseptic as he frowned and listened to the faint buzzing in his head. His eyes were closed tightly. He knew he was in a bed and covered by one sheet. Warm air surrounded him and he saw the large bright, white headlights again in his mind. What are those? he thought. He moved his hands over his body. He had a top on but no bottom. He was naked from his waist down. Why? He opened his eyes his eyes, slowly, cautiously, and opened them wider to look at the room. A room. I’m in a strange room. Where? Looks like a house. A residence. Whose residence? Not mine. He coughed and soon heard footsteps getting louder. I’m in a large bedroom. That’s what it looks like. That’s.... A slim woman, dark eyes, light brown hair, smiled as she entered the room. He enjoyed looking at her small waist and curves, her rosebud mouth and wondered if she were a nurse. Am I in a hospital? He frowned thinking about his thoughts. They were strange to him. “My darling,” Sylvia said. “You’re awake again.” “Again?” Eddie asked. He pulled his sheet up higher, closer to his neck. “Who are you and who am I and where am I?” “If I were you, darling, I wouldn’t concern myself with those trivialities. You don’t need to know all of those details just at this time.” “Who are you?” he asked. “Don’t sound exasperated, sir. I’m your wife, darling...” “My wife? What? My wife?” He lowered his voice. I can’t be married. She is pretty though, he thought. I wonder how old I am? What a nightmare! He looked directly at Sylvia. “What is your name?” “My name is Sylvia, darling.” She spread her hand over the covers but didn’t touch Eddie. She blushed again. “And my name is?” “Your name is Eddie, my love.” “What’s our last name?” “Chance. You are Eddie Chance and I am Sylvia Chance. Eddie looked at Sylvia. She looked at him and smiled. She waited for him to speak. She remained seated on the edge of his bed. After a moment he spoke slowly as if in a dream. “It bothers me that nothing seems real,” he said. “I don’t recognize anything. I don’t know or recognize my name.” “Your doctor said you probably wouldn’t for some time. You got a bump on your headsy,” she said as though speaking to a child, but nothing is broken and believe me, nothing is broken. You must have had some exciting dreams. Do you remember? They don’t know whether people dream in comas or what. If and when people come out of comas they remember anything.” She smiled and looked at his chest. “Sometimes when they came in to bathe you...well, it was quite a show you put on.” She giggled and a shade of pink covered her face again.. She puckered her lips and glanced sideways at him. Very fetching! This little lady is quite attractive, he thought. “What are you talking about?” he asked. “Don’t you realize you’re talking to me as though I know what you’re talking about and I don’t. I really don’t!” he said raising his voice. “I wish I did.” If I could, I would cry. “Now Eddie! Please listen! Your doctor told me to call the medic right after you held your first conversation, and that’s what I must do.” She kissed his forehead, touched his chest, got off the bed and stepped backward moving slow toward the wide door. “Where am I? Where are we, I guess I should say? I’m getting or I have a headache.” “We’re in our new house. Well, it was new about nine years ago, but...” “What?” He raised up on one elbow and frowned. “What are you?” “That’s a good sign, the doctor said. Go ahead and get mad. He said we would know you were better when you got cranky! He also advised me that you would know some things, you’d be able to hold a conversation, remember many things, I think he called it lateral memory or something that sounded that profound...” Eddie turned sideways and fluffed his pillows. He scooted backward to sit up and shook his head in dismay as Sylvia vanished. He looked at her figure and wiggle as she moved out of sight. Nice, he thought. Nice, indeed! Lateral memory? What is lateral memory? What was all that blabber about? Could I be married to a dip? She seemed to be comfortable with me. I wonder how bright I am? Who am I? My last name doesn’t even come to mind. She’s condescending, and I hate this room. The room looks clean but it smells funny. Wonder what the house looks like? What do I remember? I think I remember some things but not other things. How old am I? How badly was I hurt? The important thought occurred to him. He looked at the double door entrance to his room, and slowly moved his hand down his chest and onto his belly as he spread his legs. Hm! Feels OK! Oh yes, it’s OK! He smiled then laughed as Sylvia moved back into the room carrying a tray. “Did they have to fix this?” he asked as she set the tray on a night stand. “I’ll sit up!” Sylvia saw where his hand was under the top sheet. She smiled. “No. It didn’t need fixing. I’m glad you want to sit up.” He pulled his legs up but didn’t cover his body. Thoughts began to flood through him. He enjoyed not wearing pajama bottoms; only the jacket. He wondered why. He knew he had a strong physical body and didn’t understand why he knew that. He was glad he didn’t have pain. She glanced at him and smiled. “How fortunate you weren’t more seriously hurt than you were. It was never a matter of you not coming back...” She moved the night stand closer to him and pressed it up against his knees. He enjoyed having her view him. He guessed she enjoyed looking at him too. “It was always just a matter of time. Those medics didn’t know why, but I think they were guessing most of the time about when you come back and how much of you would return.” She paused and looked at Eddie. “ So much has happened since the accident.” He sipped the coffee and nodded approval. “This stuff is marvelous,” he said. “Did you make this for me?” She nodded and smiled as she moved close to him. He sniffed the aroma from his cup. “That’s coffee, right?” he asked. He wondered if she would ask him to cover himself. He began to feel warmer throughout his body. “That’s coffee, Eddie,” she said. “Well the next best thing to it. We really haven’t had good coffee for some time now...” “How is that?” he asked. He picked up a piece of buttered toast. “Toast?” he asked, holding it up. “Toast, indeed,” she said. “Oh I guess it’s what you used to call quality control.” “I used to call quality control?” “Yes. You’re an engineer. A System Engineer; although I never understood...” “Ah,” he said. “They don’t make anything like they used to, but for your own good. Eddie Chance, do not complain,” she said. “Do not!” He frowned and enjoyed the scrambled eggs with his toast. “Who would I complain to? And, Sylvia, why don’t you sit down here?” he said, patting the bed. “Here. Next to me.” “To authorities, of course. But you don’t know anything about the changes that have been going on...” He reached for her hand and pulled her toward him. “Are we in love?” he asked. He liked the question. He wasn’t certain why he liked the sound of the word love. She blushed. “Yes, darling. We are very much in love.” “What happened? What do the bright lights mean? They’re so bright that they give me a headache.” She sat next to him and spoke deliberately and in great detail about the accident, how he had swerved enough to save their lives, how she was thrown from the car into a snowbank. He was unconscious and they were rushed to an emergency hospital, and both of them remained under close care for nearly a month. She talked about the national elections and how she wasn’t happy with the results. She was told by the medics he was comatose, and after about a week, when she could walk again, she visited him. They were in the same hospital but their rooms were on different floors. He was in intensive care and she, of course, was on the maternity floor. She stayed for about a month. He was hospitalized for almost a year. He swallowed his eggs with coffee, smacked his lips, and asked, “Hey, Sylvia! That’s right! Weren’t you pregnant? Weren’t we gonna have twins?” “Yes, and I did have twins: a boy and a girl.” “Hey! I do remember something! You didn’t want them or did you?” She sighed. “I was selfish, but after the elections, the new administration awarded you a bravery medal for missing that truck _ apparently it had a precious cargo, something secret, possibly dangerous, and gave us this large, new house...” “All of that because I missed that semi? The driver had to be drunk, I would say...” “No, darling. One would believe that if the cargo were important, he would have had another driver, like a co-pilot with him. There was no mention of another driver in that cab.” Eddie sipped his coffee. “Well, Sylvia, I would think that he just lost control on that icy highway.” “You could be right. They play down mistakes these days.” Eddie chuckled and needed his hand to help him swallow another gulp of coffee. “They what?” “That’s what I meant before when I said, ’don’t complain.’” “I guess in time I will be able to add two and two together...” “And come out with five,” she said. She blushed. He didn’t understand her response. “Yeah. I suppose so.” He frowned and looked at her face. She’s pretty up close. He inhaled her cologne. He looked at her dark brown eyes. And come out with five? he thought. Eddie took on a realization. She actually believes what she just said. Five? She wasn’t joking. What happened to four? “You mean four don’t you, Sylvia?” He set his cup on the tray. “No. Now don’t say that. Don’t be...” She looked around the room as though someone might be listening. “I won’t,” he said, as he pulled her toward him. He kissed her. He didn’t want to stop. “The medic will be here any minute now. Behave yourself. You probably should cover yourself after you’ve finished your lunch. Oh! You have finished.” “This is lunch?” “Breakfast and lunch,” she said. She picked up the tray. “Good?” “Very good,” he said. He wanted to see through her sheer dress. She enjoyed the way he looked at her. He’s getting back to his old self, she thought. “Sylvia,” he said as she turned to walk out of the room. “What?” she said turning to face him. “Is this our home now?” “Yes.” “How large is it? Is it a large residence?” “Yes. Very large. Too large actually. Five bedrooms, four baths, a diningroom, front room, library, family room, three-car garage, large swimming pool.... Let me see, a Jacuzzi, two tennis courts and oh yes, they gave us four new cars, one for you and one for me and one each for the kids when they’re old enough...” “Wow!” All this for missing the semi? “How long was I out?” “Almost ten years.” Eddie screamed. “What? Ten years?” “Can you believe it? But you’re back now.” “And the kids. How old are they?” “Ten, of course. They’re smart too. Understand the new math perfectly. At least I think they do. I never question them too closely. Don’t want to be critical.” “Have I walked? My legs feel and look strong.” “No, but they have been exercising your body as best they can. Muscle reflex and electrical shock to the muscle therapy is the way the medics explained it to me.” “Well, they, whoever they are, must be doing something right because I feel that I could run. I want to run. I want to run right out of this house, strip off this top, and swim buck naked in the pool.” She blushed and rolled her eyes. “Well, let’s wait until the medic gets here. You may need some help. We’ll see.” She turned and vanished. Eddie had to know if he could stand. He pushed the night stand aside, braced himself with his hands and rose. He stood, felt uncertain, but he didn’t feel weak in his legs or body. Strange, I guess I don’t feel weak, he thought. He took a few steps and was exhilarated that he could walk and not stumble. I don’t get it, he thought again. I don’t get it. Everything is too much. Too baffling. He placed his hands on his buttocks, pushed his hips forward and stretched his shoulders backwards. “Ah, that feels good. He turned and faced the bed. A door chime sounded. Must be the medic. This meeting should be interesting. He set what sounded more like an empty doctor’s black bag on the night stand, threw off my covers, noted my pale body, didn’t blink, looked at my legs, slapped them, kneaded the muscles, noticed my frontal appearance several times, nodded his head but didn’t smile, helped me turn over, slapped me several times on my back and butt and legs and finally paddled the bottoms of my feet, somewhat vigorously. Eddie laughed thinking about this procedure, void of conversation with him, but with side remarks made to Sylvia. He was beginning to enjoy the attention and fantasized about better treatment that involved only Sylvia and him alone and deep massages. “Well?” The medic raised his eyebrows. That must be his way of saying, “What?” Eddie thought. “ Am I back?” Eddie asked. The medic nodded. “Of course, you’re back,” Sylvia said. She moved closer to the bed. “The medic has done a marvelous exam job, and we must thank him.” Eddie looked at Sylvia. He noted a hesitancy in her voice. The medic, even though he couldn’t have been past thirty, seemed stoic. Eddie wondered if he could speak. “I don’t need to examine the implant?” “No. Not again today,” Sylvia said. She moved closer to Eddie as if to protect him. She folded her arms across her chest. Eddie looked down past his chest and stomach, down his body. If I didn’t feel so good I would swear I was dreaming again. Can’t be dreaming again though. What is going on here is too real, scary, and sure doesn’t make any sense to me. The medic bowed to Eddie. This action took Eddie by surprise. What am I a king? He wondered about the bow as Sylvia followed the medic out of the room. Eddie ran his hand slowly over his stomach and thought, That medic definitely needs a tailor. He felt himself lower, spread his legs, and stiffened his thighs. He knew he was strong. He knew he had been strong most of life, but instead of being twenty-four, I’m now thirty-four? He rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed again. He opened the top drawer and pulled out a mirror. He looked at his reflection. He didn’t recognize his face, but enjoyed looking at it. You are handsome, you handsome...” “Oh good, Eddie,” Sylvia said as she entered the room again. “The kids won’t be home for a few hours.” She unbuttoned her blouse. He set the mirror down and enjoyed his feelings: his anticipation. “It’s time to do this,” she said. “I guess,” Eddie said and pulled off his pajama top over his head. “Well, the medic seemed to be pleased with your progress...” “How could you tell? Did he tell you? Did he say anything to you?” “In a way, he did tell me.” She dropped her skirt and turned to Eddie to unsnap her bra. “Why did he bow to me? Or was it a bow?” “He bowed. Oh, you’re somewhat of a hero. Actually, a big hero.” “What?” he shouted, as she sat next to him. “Well, I don’t know what was in that big trailer truck but it had something to do with national security and you helped avoid a national disaster of some sort...” “Unbelievable,” he said. “This nightmare gets better all the time.” “Don’t call this a nightmare, darling,” she said as she touched his chest. “That’s too explicit.” He pulled her close to him and began kissing her. Her aroma enveloped him. “This is the way I want to be explicit,” he said. He lowered her backward and couldn’t stop kissing her. He didn’t want to stop. For the next few weeks, Eddie learned not to be inquisitive with any person he came in contact with, pretended to believe not only that two plus two were five but accepted the new math table definitions, which he knew were ridiculous and would make even ancient scientists believe the modern world had gone mad. He had learned to control his frown when he knew the correct answer to two plus two. “And what’s wrong with twenty-two plus twenty-two equaling fifty-five?” David had asked as he and his father skinny-dipped in the large pool. “Nothing,” Eddie replied as they stroked from one end to the other. He didn’t want to get into an argument with David until he knew he could win. David had proven to be an intellectual and superb using the new math tables. “Well, of course not,” David said. “Nothing is the right answer, Dad.” Eddie had come to believe that David really thought he was more intelligent than his father. Eddie didn’t press the situation and thought it better to let David believe what he would believe. Then suddenly, one day, he realized that David had become protective. They had finished swimming and pulled themselves out of the pool. Eddie stood dripping and he swiped himself down. David took a heavy towel and began patting Eddie’s back and when he told Eddie to turn around, Eddie realized that his son loved him with great feeling. He smiled at his son, thanked him, knelt down and hugged him, and said, “I must learn to do this for myself, son.” “That is a truism,” David said, as he backed away, picked up his terry robe and put it on. “Put on your robe, Dad. Here comes Dana.” Eddie watched David put on his terry robe and saw that David’s body was a smaller duplicate of his own body. Like they say, he thought, a chip off the old block. He glanced toward the house as his daughter strolled toward the pool. He quickly put on his large terry robe. “Hello Dana, my pretty one,” he said. She walked to Eddie, he leaned down to her, they kissed and she put on her swim cap. “I’m a little late. I did some work at the school library. More new books came in. A lot of them had to do with math, calculations and all that stuff.” She dove into the pool and began a leisurely swim. She hummed as she swam. “We’re really getting tan, Dad,” David said. He pointed his father in the direction of the house. “Shall we?” Eddie smiled at his son, appreciated the boy’s attitude, and put his arm around David’s shoulder. He held him close as they walked. I wish I had been here when you were little, son,” Eddie said. “Did you know that I used to come and see you when I was little. Mom, would take Dana and me to see you in your room, starting, I guess, when we were about six years old. There are memories before when I was six...” “Really?” “Yeah. And when I got older, I used to come in by myself and sit and read to you. The medics said you could probably hear me.” “I thank you for that,” Eddie said. “That’s OK, Dad.” He hugged his father and held him tighter. They enjoyed the feeling of the grass on their feet. Eddie was troubled and gave thought to something in the environment he couldn’t define. It was sitting there, but he couldn’t explain what it was. It didn’t work for him, whatever, the problem was. He knew something was terribly wrong in the world he lived in. He would find it and change it. “The other world?” she said, the first time Eddie mentioned the phrase. “Before the crash, and, I guess, before the elections and before anything else that has changed the way we live. And by the way, where are all my engineering textbooks? I searched in the library, the other day, and couldn’t find any of them. Did you move them into this house from the other place?” Eddie learned from Sylvia that the new government had confiscated most serious authentic, scientific and all political books. He listened to her words and recalled that somewhere he had heard of this happening before in countries that became despotic. He wasn’t certain what he could do about the situation because his memory wasn’t clear. She told him that FedGovs were coming to designate him as a National Hero. “What?” he said and laughed. “Isn’t that marvelous?” she said. “I suppose.” Eddie turned serious again. He knew he would use his status as National Hero, whatever that was, to make changes. He was determined to make changes. He left Sylvia and wandered into the library. I think I did all my studying and research in a room like this. The sun beamed in through the wide, tall windows, he walked around the large oak desk, spun the globe and watched the United States map spin around several times. You’re in a spin, old girl, he thought. My country is in trouble. We’ll take care of that some way. He sat at his desk, rocked slowly and gently, looked at the bare top when he noticed an official looking Federal Government car drive up and park in front of the house. Without rising, he watched it squeak to a halt, heard brakes that needed replacing screech, tin rubbing metal, and noticed the front license plate hung loosely by one bolt. He chuckled wondering what those clowns had come to tell him and stifled a guffaw when they told him he had been designated a National Hero. It took seven minutes for the two men to make it out their FedGov automobile, walk up the front sidewalk, enter the house and move slowly to the library. They stood facing Eddie. Sylvia introduced them. Their expressions were quizzical but mostly blank. He was tempted to ask, “What took you so long? I crashed my car, laid comatose for ten years, my wife almost aborted my two children, as the accident almost threw her out of the car, you know.” They nodded but didn’t speak. Good thing she probably wasn’t wearing seatbelts, he thought. But he didn’t speak his mind; he asked, “What does this mean to me and my family? Is two and two equal to five?” They came alive and smiled approval. The shorter man, whose suit needed pressing, remarked about the computer chip in Eddie’s brain, a chip Eddie knew he didn’t have. Both seemed pleased that Eddie expounded on the result of adding two to two. They almost screamed, “Five!” They didn’t high- five anymore. David had made certain Eddie understood that the gesture didn’t haul it anymore and was never to be seen. But Eddie felt the men’s pleasure and satisfaction with his response. Eddie arched his eyebrows and knew the new math had changed his way of thinking. If only I could laugh at these guys. He pressed hard against his stomach muscles and he chuckled. He stopped laughing. “But if we may continue. What does a National Hero do?” The tall man spoke. “Everyone listens to the National Hero. It is really quite an exalted position and I don’t know how else to say it, but, it is an honor and...” “Would it be possible for me to know your names?” Eddie asked. He said to himself, In ordinary times I would have asked, ’What’s your name, fella.’ Yeah, that’s right. You with the dirty shoes. And, oh, a shoestring untied. When was the last time you bathed or showered? “John Barlow, sir,” the taller man said. “He’s Jamie and I’m Johnnie.” “Would that be Jamie and Johnnie to your friends?” “Yes, one could say that and to other FedGovs.” There’s that word again, Eddie thought. “I thought basically that would be so,” he said speaking to both of the men. Eddie knew his own appearance was one of near sincerity and almost poignancy. He was trying to be approximately everything. He didn’t want to believe he wasn’t sloppy enough in appearance, but he knew that the bottom line, if one could exist in this society, was that the young men were somewhat honored to be in the presence of an approximated National Hero. And, he now understood that the new society had come to accept words such as almost, approximately, basically, essentially, fundamentally, near, nearly and a host of other similar words as complete thoughts. Unbelievable, he thought. They never finish anything. They never cross the finish line. They can’t be complete. Wow! He looked up at the men. “Johnnie. And the next step will be?” “Oh yes sir,” John said. “The Fed Gov...” That would be Federal Government, Eddie said to himself. He arched his eyebrows. “...will send a long limousine...” “A near stretch limo, is it?” “Oh yes sir. Oh, yes sir. A near stretch limousine, almost. I remember that old term from somewhere. It’s not used anymore. Too definitive.” Eddie nodded. “I agree.” “And what happens in this nearly longest of automobiles?” Eddie now understood why nothing seemed to get finished by the Government. This conversation should have been over, done, finished some time ago. You are transported to The Center...” “The Center?” Eddie asked. “Yes,” John said. “The Center For Enlightened Progress. That’s where you will be somewhat listened to by perhaps some students, new quasi faculty and government officials of all near levels. It’s apparently important. It is the near center for new thought, actually.” He hollowed his cheeks and puckered his lips. “I know there is a nearly acceptable rationale for this honor, but tell me once more, why near me?” Eddie looked up, flared his nares, and did his near best to maintain decorum. He saw Sylvia standing in the wide double door entrance to the library. She leaned against one side of the jamb, arched an eyebrow and Eddie knew he talked on the dangerous edge to these FedGov types, independent of their youth. He counted on them being not near stupid but completely dumb, dense, impressionable and usable. Both men frowned trying to understand Eddie’s meaning and suddenly put it off to a humor that only a National Hero would have or could use. “He’s out there somewhere,” Jamie said looking up to John, hiding his mouth with his hand. “Most definitely, but then...” “The rationale,” John said, slouching more. He was trying to be nearly as tall as the Jamie. Eddie was annoyed by John’s tie. It was skewed to the left and looked as though it were going to fly away from its owner. “...is that you mentioned strange events while you were away...” “Somewhere in approximate comatose?” Eddie asked. Sylvia shook her head and rolled her eyes. John read her lips. “You know better. You are playing with not near but close fire, sir. You better listen to me.” “You mentioned things of change that had to happen and we believe that somehow it may be that your inner resources tapped fruitful wells of knowledge because you started with goodness when you avoided the crash with that huge truck...” “Oh, you know all about that near event?” “Almost everyone nearly knows about that approximity event. It was a primary talking point in the elections...” Approximity isn’t even a word, Eddie thought. He cleared his throat and asked, “The elections?” “The elections that the Lessers used to solidify their majority both in Congress and the White House.” “All because of me?” “Well almost.” “Near, of course.” Eddie yawned as he began to rock in his swivel chair. “You haven’t come for me today, have you?” He coughed. “I don’t see a stretched car out there.” “Oh, no sir. Not for the Center. No. No. Well.” “Well, that’s good.” Eddie pushed his swivel chair back and walked around the desk and approached the young men. “I think we better consider taking the so-called close bull by the near horns and get this approximate oval ball rolling, what do you say?” “Did you hear the way he said that?” Jamie whispered to John. “I think he’s inventing a new lexicon. Perhaps we should try to nearly emulate it.” John nodded to Jamie as Eddie stepped between them, turned them around and walked with his arms across their shoulders. As he talked, John repeatedly stated he approached a state of honor to be this close and even touching The National Hero. Jamie was silenced by Eddie’s nearness and remained enraptured. Eddie thought that the term dumbfounded was well founded as he walked them to the front door. “Of course, gentlemen,” he said as he reached down and turned the doorknob. He stepped back and allowed the door to swing open. “We don’t even have to pressure the door to be almost open,” Eddie said. “Send the stretch-mobile for me tomorrow at somewhere about maybe ten a.m. He stepped into the doorway. “How long does it take to get to where we believe we need to go to, to talk?” “Oh! Probably a half-hour tops,” John said. Eddie pushed the men out the front door. “Then I’ll expect the auto, the stretch, near that time.” He shut the door, turned, took a deep breath, and walked toward Sylvia. “With fire, sir. You are playing with fire to your own detriment” “I feel that I’m losing my mind,” Sylvia. “I can’t believe the state of this country.” “Hmm.” “They are unbelievably dumb, Sylvia. Who are they? I know I should know, but who are they?” “They, sir, are high FedGov officials and they are very high in the Lesser Party...” “The Lesser Party is the dominant political party, now?” “Yes.” “You seem resigned to that fact,” Eddie said. He put his arm around her waist and kissed her neck. He inhaled her aroma. His ears grew warm as his body came alive. He felt his heart beat in his neck. “What other choice do we have?” She put her arm around his waist. “I missed feeling you this way,” she said, “holding you. You are so hard, so muscular.” “What happened to your near lexicon?” “Near hard and almost muscular,” she said and smiled. They laughed and walked into the large kitchen. Eddie pulled out a chair from the large round kitchen table and saw David and his buddies, Dana and her girlfriends playing in the pool. Sylvia said she wasn’t used to fixing dinner. “What do you mean?” Eddie asked, as he watched the boys dive, sometimes splash the girls and dive deeper into the pool. Some things never change, he thought. Boys teasing girls will never change. Well, let’s hope not anyway. “You haven’t met Mavilla. She’s here five days a week and she will be here tomorrow. She’s a dear and has taken a lot off my hands. She’s from Germany and not fluent in English, but she’s a darling with the kids. They love her, and she cooks as well as any restaurant chef. Well,” Sylvia said, “that wouldn’t be hard to do these days, but Mavilla is an exception. She’s a gem in this desert society we live in.” “What are you fixing now?” Eddie asked. He yawned and rubbed his head first then his eyes. “I’m just going to warm up some stew. It’s Mavilla’s German specialty and it is heaven. Smooth, and it feels brown when it goes down. Brown and velvet.” “Where did that expression come from?” “What?” “Brown.” “The kids. All the kids use it. It means good.” “Or does it mean almost good. We don’t want to be committal, do we?” “Eddie my darling,” Sylvia said as she walked to him and stood behind his chair. She placed her hands on his shoulder and massaged slowly. “I’m telling you that you don’t know much of what has happened while your were comatose. You have no appreciation for the changes that have happened not only here in the States but, other countries in the world. Something that is not likeable or even sensible is in progress.” She stopped rubbing. “Do you know how hard it is to memorize another set of math tables? Two and two are five. Twenty plus twenty is fifty. My mind became numb when I stayed awake nights to make certain they thought I believed.” “Hey! You don’t have an implant either, do you?” Eddie asked. “No.” “Do you know why?” “Well,” Sylvia giggled. “While they are the Lessers, I get the impression that they’re really not too bright. I think they just forgot about me when the accident was causing so much commotion. Because of the notoriety of the accident, the birth of the twins and you lolling in comatose land, they probably just forgot.” She laughed aloud as she walked back to the range, checked the burners, and turned the flame down. “I know they think I’m plugged.” “Plugged?” “That’s what the kids call it when a chip is placed in your brain.” “Are our kids plugged?” “Yes. You haven’t noticed?” “I hate the idea.” “The kids think it helps them work in the new math system. It doesn’t hurt them.” “But I hate the thought of it,” Eddie said. “Help me set the table and call the kids in. The boys are spending the night in David’s room and the girls are going to have dinner and then leave for Jan’s house.” “Jan?” “Yes. She’s another friend of Dana.” “You’re right. I have a lot to learn.” He went to the door and whistled to David and Dana. “Dinnertime, gang!” he yelled and motioned them to come into the house. He heard them shout back that they had heard him as he walked back to the table and sat. “I’ve got some nervy ideas for tomorrow,” he said. “You mean near nervy, darling.” “I mean nervy, Sylvia.” He nodded. “I’ve got a government to modify.” “I’m gonna’ go up and say goodnight to the kids, honey. I’m really sitting here nodding. Don’t know why I’m so tired, but I am...” “I’ll be up in a few minutes. How about a short alcohol rub?” “Sounds great,” Eddie said as he swung himself onto the stairs and proceeded slowly. He walked into David’s room. David lay stretched out reading. “Hi Dad,” David said. “How are you doing?” Eddie sat on David’s bed. “Where is the transplant?” “You mean where was the transplant, don’t you Dad?” Eddie frowned. David reached down and opened the drawer of his night stand. “It’s in this old pencil box that I don’t use anymore. He took out the small chip and handed it to Eddie. “I don’t understand. Your Mother thinks that you have this chip somehow, somewhere in your brain.” David smiled knowingly. “Dad, you don’t know my friends, but Carvey is a good friend of mine.” “Was Carvey here tonight. I don’t remember the name.” “No, Dad. But anyway, one time we were playing rough basketball. You know. You can tackle the guy who’s dribbling the ball. It gets rough. But it’s fun.” Eddie smiled. “Sounds like near fun.” “You don’t have to talk like that with me, Dad.” Eddie frowned as he listened. He needed to understand his son’s mind. “Well, we were playing and Carvey was getting rougher and he was dribbling this ball and I tackled him and tripped him. He slammed against the backboard post and his chip came out. I thought I had killed him. We all knew what the chip looked like. A few of the guys screamed but Carvey just stood there and blinked.” David paused. “Then after a few minutes he shook the cobwebs out of his head and blinked a few more times. I asked him if he was OK. He nodded and told me I played real dirty.” David laughed. “We all laughed then and he said if he didn’t have his chip then the rest of the guys had to have their’s removed too.” “Wasn’t that dangerous?” Eddie asked. “Well, no. We all let Carvey pull the chip out. He said it felt just like removing a memory chip from a computer motherboard. It slid out easily.” “And you didn’t feel pain or anything like that?” “Nope.” David sat up in bed. “Then when I got home I removed Dana’s chip.” “Why didn’t you tell your Mother?” “She would have worried. You were still comatose. She had too much to contend with.” “David, I’m proud of you. Tell me. What was the biggest change in mental ability after the chip was removed?” “We all laughed when someone shouted, ’How much is two plus two?’” “So you really don’t believe the new math?” “No, Dad. We have math classes outside of school. We know the real math and how to use it.” “David, my son, my man. You’ll never understand how proud I am of you, your Mother and Dana. It took a lot of courage for you and your buddies to take those chips out.” “Actually, Dad, I don’t know of many kids my age who still wear the chips. It’s considered silly and childish.” Eddie laughed stood up and bent over. He kissed David’s forehead. “Rest well my son,” he said. “I’ve got to say good-night to Dana, now.” “Give it to them tomorrow, Dad. I know you will.” Eddie winked as he closed David’s bedroom door. He walked a few steps down the hall and knocked on Dana’s door. “Come in,” she said. “Oh hi Daddy.” Sylvia beamed as Eddie strode with pomp up the four stairs of the large Center Meeting Hall. She lowered her head and giggled. She hoped nobody knew she was laughing. I’m laughing and maybe I should be crying. He’s walking into a death trap and I’m laughing, she thought. He’s really going to do it. What guts he has. He sure looks like a National Hero to me. God protect him! She saw few empty seats. She quessed that probably everyone who was nearly important in the FedGov Apparat was present. She recalled the time Eddie had spent during the past week engaged in strategy sessions with himself and she was almost convinced he would bring the society known as the United States back to a semblance of sanity. I’m nearly convinced, she thought again and again and again. He wouldn’t let her hear his strategy or speech but finally told her he was ready to perform. “Call those idiots!” he shouted. “Let them know that The National Hero is not nearly ready, willing and able, but completely ready, willing and able.” She didn’t convey his message using those words. As she spoke on the telephone to a commissioner, she tried to keep her hand from trembling. You’re really scared, lady, she thought. She couldn’t believe the commissioner’s listing in the FedGov section of the telephone book. The listing indicated: Almost Commissioner Fellows. “Tragic,” she said as she dialed his telephone number and told them the news of The National Hero. “Almost perfect,” Commissioner Fellows said. “Please!” he said finally, and he hung up. Eddie had mentioned, ’casting pearls before swine,’ several times on the way to the airport. He had made what Sylvia judged to be probably a near relevant point when he first stepped into the limousine and swiped the side door of the stretch-mobile, checking it for dirt, while holding up his finger for the driver to see. He shook his head to the driver, held up his finger, and mouthed, “That is definitely a no- no!” The driver frowned and Eddie frowned more. Sylvia had stopped trying to keep Eddie on the near straight and narrow societal beliefs of the majority political party: The Lesser Party. It didn’t matter to Eddie that the party produced and provided the leaders of a powerful nation, his country. He considered most politicians to be absolute hacks and stupid hacks to be more absolutely correct. He had begun to think in absolute terms. Vagueness was slowly leaving his word stock. At times when Sylvia had tiptoed up to the library doors and listened, she had heard Eddie practicing another speech and heard him using words like near and far, almost and not, nearly and never, not quite and exactly, but never heard how he approached the idea of the decrement. “Tell me, Eddie! Tell me!” she had begged several times in the past few days. “Listen my darling. I want you to hear my speech at the same time the world hears it. I want your honest response to your National Hero, well your National Hero and of course, nearly mine. Yuk!” They laughed. Sylvia recalled that nearly every time Eddie mentioned National Hero he would giggle, chuckle or laugh aloud. His eyes twinkled, and he showed his dimples when he shook his head and muttered, “the nightmare must end.” She caught sight of him when he practiced speaking, watched his body movements, and for the first time in what she thought could almost be termed, a long, long time, realized that her husband possessed a stunning physique. Wonder why I never noticed that before? I think his slacks are too tight though. Although... In a brief welcoming ceremony, The Lesser Center Committee had provided Sylvia with a bouquet of garden roses, and she thanked them not mentioning but noticing two broken stems. They hung menacingly out of the bouquet of nine roses. Twelve, she thought, used to be a bouquet. A bouquet used to be twelve roses. How did they get to nine using two plus two is five? She laughed aloud and drew quizzical and puzzled looks from her escorts, who listened and bowed to her. She pricked her finger on a dangling stem and another thorn tore her dress in the area of her hip. After short time of dripping blood, a Jaimie type FedGov handed her a soiled band-aid. It was partially open. Nobody has a Kleenex, handkerchief or rag to nearly stop the bleeding. Eddie noticed the challenge and asked her if she were comfortable. “Nearly,” she answered. He chuckled. Her escorts guided her toward the dais, she stepped up as the two young escorts pointed her in the direction of a leaning chair that bore scars on each arm. She noted dust on the back of the chair as she sat. She guessed her tilt to be approximately ten degrees. Eddie remained standing and Sylvia enjoyed looking at her husband’s backside. His slacks are tight enough. He waited to be introduced. She liked her husband’s appearance in the white linen suit she had bought soon after they were married. It’s amazing, she thought. He wears that suit better today than he did ten years ago. She was proud of Eddie as he stood next to the lectern, his legs spread wide forming an impressive V. Eddie appeared scholarly, professorial and physically attractive. Commission Fellows introduced Eddie. Eddie turned and threw Sylvia a kiss with his lips. He said, “hear we go.” He began. “As you must nearly know. I have been somewhat away for the past ten years.” They laughed agreement, applauded and stopped abruptly as if on cue. “I don’t know where I ventured to, but it was almost everywhere.” They applauded. “I must have talked while I was comatose, although I don’t know how that could have happened. The medics say they don’t believe a comatose patient is able to speak.” Mumbling and murmurs spread throughout the large hall. A voice from audience said rhetorically, “Where’s he going with this thought?” Another person said, “We should try to listen!” Sylvia’s mind wandered and she gazed up at the first and second balconies and began counting heads. She took attendance as she thought about her husband’s body, watching him swim in the backyard swimming pool, their evenings together since he came back, the fear that his belief in a free society would be their doom, the terrible and long hours she spent by his bedside and she finally thought about the fact that Eddie never spoke while he was comatose, but she spoke to him. She heard Eddie say, “So let me tell you this very slowly and you must listen. He turned from facing the audience and smiled at her. He continued speaking. “Someone undoubtedly took the idea of the Increment from me, somehow, when I was nearly away.” Murmurs got louder in the hall. “I don’t remember much about my mental or mind travels during my comatose state, but I do remember hearing about it, and I don’t know where the voices came from, The Increment-Decrement.” Eddie heard a voice, “What’s he talking about somewhat eloquently?” He also heard, “We only know about The Increment! Just the Increment! Only the Increment!” he said pounding the lectern. What’s the decrement? Do you know?” He stepped back and waited. He finally smiled, moved away from behind the lectern and began to move slowly in a stride Sylvia had never seen before. He made that walk up, she thought. You clever rascal, Eddie. He walked a short distance and stopped suddenly. He walked again and used his hands to convey meaning. His words flowed like rivulets of velvet thought. Sylvia listened and watched FedGovs closest to the dais. She guessed two or three were ready to swoon. I didn’t know he could do this, she thought. He’s rather convincing. Well, convincing to a nearly FedGov type anyway. Most of the women present were on the edge of their chairs, leaning forward. One fell to the floor as a chair leg snapped. She remained on the floor listening. Another woman nearly passed out. Those next to her almost fanned her face. Eddie turned his microphone off and laughed then quickly continued. “You see, gang,” he said. “He called us gang? We’re part of him. We’re part of The National Hero!” “Oh listen! Oh listen!” a woman screamed. “There was never an Increment all by itself conveying that two plus two is five or twenty plus twenty is fifty or even that two-hundred plus two-hundred is five hundred. That cannot be. The new books are woefully incorrect. What was absolutely never conveyed to the people of this great country is that there is not increment without a decrement...” “Makes sense,” Commissioner Fellows said and began to clap his hands. He needed to be first at anything. The hall filled quickly with polite applause. A few heads nodded. Frowns of not understanding began to disappear. “There must always be, an increment followed immediately by a decrement. It’s akin to for every action there is a reaction.” “I love it!” a voice said. “More! More!” the shouting started. “Oh, National Hero a young man begged, “please tell us. We know you were enlightened when you were away.” “Indeed, I was away, not nearly away or almost away, but absolutely away.” “Oh yes! Oh yes!” Shouts came from every section of the hall. “Tell us about the decrement. Yes, the decrement!” the chorus chanted. Eddie smiled. “One cannot talk absolutely about the decrement without discussing the increment.” “We agree, we agree,” three young women shouted as they clasped hands and continued jumping up and down. Some approached the dais and applauded loudly. “Thank you,” Eddie said nodding toward the young women. “So let me explain.” He motioned for Sylvia to join him at the lectern. She stood, dropped her wilting roses onto the seat of her chair and walked comfortably to the podium. “Darling,” she said. She kissed her husband and whispered, “Are we going to be shot or what?” “It has to be what not shot, my precious. It is definitely, what!” “The Increment-Decrement” by Dianne Winters for $5.00. Californians please add state sales tax: $0.42. Make check or money order payable to agent: Richard L Swift 514 West Front Street Covina, CA 91722. The entire story will be downloaded to your email address. You won't believe the ending. |
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