Single Male - SM4

The lake is long and the breeze light so you’re not moving fast and there is never quick action.  You and your dad settle back for slow drift leaning back to pick up what sun you can in the early spring day.

“So how are things in Washington, son,” says your former Senator father.

“Just as corrupt as ever, dad,” you reply.

“That will never change, son.  It’s all money and power.  The only cure is to give them one term.  That cuts off all the fund raising if you are not going to get re-elected.”

“Why doesn’t that happen, dad?”

“The people can’t seem to get organized.  It escapes me,” he says.

“The Tea Party came close,” you note.

“Close is not good enough, son.”

Nothing is said for while.  The swell slaps the boat once every six seconds like a clock.  The sun is rising and warming things a bit. It is becoming more comfortable.  You feel like you could live forever, but that is not going to happen and you really feel an obligation to tell your father what is happening.  He was a Senator, after all.

“Dad,” you begin and in five minutes you have played back to him the whole scene in the Cabinet Room of the White House.  You are amazed at his aplomb, but remember that here is a man who for 30 years heard of and dealt with the crises of the nation.

“Son,” he begins, “it may not be true, but for the sake of reason let us say we will believe it.  Your mother needs to know and there are things we have to say. She and I are all we have.  I’m only sorry you do not have someone to love, share with and help through this.  There must be many single women out there that are going to be alone when this happens.  That is wrong, son, wrong.”  

Once again you dad manages to flog you because you didn’t marry one of those girls from high school that he thought were so great just because they were well born.  How many times have you tried to tell him that to you they were like sisters.  “They're like kissing your sister.”

“We have to go back to the cottage and tell your mother.  There are things to do.”  You can understand his wanting to get back to her, but what the Hell is there to do?  What the Hell is there that you can do?

Continue.