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Governor Bruce Calahan knew that he would
miss Susie Brock alot- in fact, it really saddened him when she had
to leave for Harvard, but he knew intellectually that it was best
for both of them. She needed to get a Harvard degree, and he needed
to get busy on his re-election campaign. He knew that the other
party was going to put up a tough candidate this time- one who would
be much harder to beat. He would have to spend more time on the
campaign trail, which would have left little time for him to spend
with his sweet Susie.
He was musing about this as he prepared to meet with his new
campaign manager today- the one that his party's chairman had
recommended to him. She came with much of a reputation for being a
"killer"- a really ruthless staffer out to do what it took to get
her man elected. Calahan had to replace his last manager because the
man had been caught using cocaine after the 1st year of his term. He
wondered about this replacement. Would she live up to her "nasty"
reputation?
If so, would there be friction and tension in the campaign offices?
"Hello, Governor Calahan? I am Elizabeth Chancery, your new campaign
manager.", a short, petite, seemingly non-threatening woman with
horn-rimmed glasses announced.
"Yes, I've heard a great degree about you, Ms. Chancery. Well, are
you ready to begin working on your first day of this campaign?"
"Certainly, but please call me 'Liz'. I like being called that
better than 'Ms.'- that's an old joke of mine!"
"Not the ultra-feminist type, eh?"
"No, but I throw people off by dressing like one sometimes- it keeps
them guessing."
"Ah, so you make yourself enigmatic- mysterious, as a kind of
psychological warfare."
"Yes, my shortness helps me be less threatening to men, but my
clothes confuse the sisters as to my agenda. I like having fun at
their expense."
"I see. Well, enough about that; we have work to do. Tell me, first
of all, what kind of theme should we go for, to start out best in
the voters' minds? Should we go positive, emphasing the
accomplishments of my administration, or start targeting the
potential opponents, before any of them wins the primary this year?"
"Well, positive sir, for now, because we don't really know who our
opponent will be, and attacking someone who isn't nominated would
just stir up trouble and waste our time. I do think that we should
go visceral, somewhat, if you get my drift."
"Visceral- do you mean that I should try to appeal to their guts, as
it were? Get a kind of credibility advantage, to make them
instinctively side with me?"
"Exactly- especially with women, because you have advantages there
already, and you should exploit those to get female votes."
"What sort of advantages?"
"Well, first of all, you're handsome, relatively young, charming,
and a bachelor, so they are able to kind of view you sexually and
even indulge any crushes they might already have on you, sir."
"Crushes? Well, I knew that I was somewhat sexy, but you're talking
of me in the same way that people used to speak of JFK, RFK, or Bill
Clinton. Won't that backfire with some girls? I know that many will
be drawn to vote for a man they find appealing, but what about the
fact that I am known as a rake- won't that image reinforce my
reputation, and make the more old-fashioned ladies suspicious of
me?"
"Well, it didn't stop girls from voting for Clinton, did it? For
some, your reputation will be helpful, because despite their
protests to the contrary, a lot of women are drawn to a womanizer-
must be, or the womanizer wouldn't succeed. Many of women feel that
a womanizer is an 'alpha male', though they'll never admit, of
course. In the voting booth, no one will pressure or know for sure
how or why they voted. It's just down to them, and their feelings
about you."
"A cogent point, but am I really that appealing to that many girls?
I mean, what age bracket are we talking about?"
"Several. I'm 34, for instance, and I find you attractive."
"Really, I thought you were a lesbian- that's what I'd heard."
"I am bisexual, sir, so I did have a girlfriend once, which no doubt
contributed to the rumor."
"Oh, I see. Well, we'll have to watch ourselves, won't we?"
"Why's that? I'm not the type to kiss and tell, or throw silly
sexual harassment charges at you later. I wouldn't be opposed to
dating you, sir, if you were interested."
"That's nice to hear. Just remember that my reputation as a
skirt-chaser is accurate. I've only been faithful to one woman in my
life, and then only for a semester. That's about how long I figure
that I can last with only one girl."
"That's fine, sir, but I'm not the jealous type. I want to be free
to sleep with both men and women, and I'm not going to give my
partner any excuse to monopolize me or resent my flings."
"Very well. I think that us dating may be alright then, especially
as it would give you extra motivation to work hard for me."
"True, now about the rest of your immediate campaign themes..."
The 2 of them got back to work, but the ice was now broken, as they
had admitted their interest in each other. There was some sexual
tension in the air, now, however, and they would have to act on
their interest soon, or it would just build. Both of them knew that,
and as they wrapped up the first day of working together, Governor
Calahan decided to take the initiative and propose their first date.
"So, how about my place, at 9:00 pm tonight?"
"What's for dinner?"
"Prime rib, asparagus, and baked potatoes."
"Sounds splendid. I'll be there on time, sir, and I don't think that
anyone from your Mansion staff will be surprised to see a campaign
worker at the Governor's residence."
"That's certainly true, but you don't need to call me 'sir',
anymore. If we're dating, even casually, you can me 'Bruce' in
private. In front of the others, of course, you should just call me
'Chief'- everyone does, and they'll know whom you're talking about."
"Chief, as in a Celtic chieftain?"
"Exactly, it's an Irish thing."
"Alright, that's cool. I'll do that, Chief."
When she arrived, Liz saw everything ready as Governor Calahan had
indicated, and she also saw that he was talking on the phone to
someone.
"Well, that's very good, Susie. I really miss you, as well, but you
know that we have to be apart, for both of our sakes. Yes, I intend
to e-mail you frequently, because I always love what you have to
say, and how you say it. I really will call you now and then too.
Phone sex? Yes, I think that will be nice, because you have such a
sexy accent, you know. How's Harvard? Very well, it sounds like your
studies are doing well, but don't forget to make friends too. Yes, I
think that you could attract a lot of men. The dean of women? Well,
just be careful- she may not appreciate it if you ever decide to
break it off. Bye, bye, dear. Have fun- get good grades, alright,
for Daddy?" |
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