Chapter 9
Hi Julie!
Dad said you’re up 8 points but we shouldn’t get excited about it cause it’s only
name recognition from the stunt you pulled in Rochester. What was the stunt? And if
it got you an 8 point bump, can you do it again?
Jacob’s birthday is in two weeks and Mom says I have to spend my own money to
buy him something. That totally sucks. Nobody else has to pay for their own present.
I came up with 3 REALLY good reasons not to pay for it myself, but Mom wouldn’t
even listen to me. She’s been really crabby all week.
School’s okay, but I think I need a break. Maybe someplace cold with a really
huge indoor mall??? Jimmy Breyer got in BIG trouble today for flooding the boy’s
bathroom. He got this rubber thing and wedged it behind the handle and it just kept
shooting more and more water up until it was everywhere! Two first graders went
crying to their teacher right away and told, otherwise it might’ve flooded the whole
school and we’d get a day off. I told Jimmy a smart guy would pick a bathroom in the
4th grade hallway next time where nobody would run and tell.
Dad said Billy was troubleshooting in Illinois now so he’s not working with you
right now. That’s too bad. Billy makes me laugh SO hard. Brian is nice too. So is
Holly. Senator Stackhouse called and said he was really glad you’re running. He
really likes you. Lots of people really like you.
Write back if you feel like it.
Benjamin Lyman
Dear Ben,
Of course I feel like writing back. It’s always nice to hear from you.
I’d be happy to have you come visit here, but that’s really not my decision. Sorry,
champ.
Your “friend” Jimmy sounds like quite the character. Maybe you should find
someone else to buddy up with. He may be very busy with detention for awhile
anyway. And what was that comment about a plan for next time? Are you
encouraging someone to vandalize your school, Benjamin? As a candidate for
Congress, I can’t hang out with people who associate themselves with felons. Keep
that in mind.
I think it’s lovely that you would spend your own money on your brother’s
birthday. Being the oldest isn’t just about getting to do things first. It’s also about
setting an example and being a leader to your brother and sisters. I don’t know your
mom very well, but she doesn’t seem like a crabby person to me. Maybe she isn’t
feeling ell or she’s just having a really bad week. We all have them, right? Mine was
just this week and involved the stunt your dad was talking about. It happened like
this:
“You want me to interrupt his event?” I asked incredulously.
“Well, it won’t have much impact if you wait until he’s done.” Brian reasoned.
“Then you mention that you’re looking forward to a debate, to which he will reply that
he is too.” Billy ran through it again while I downed Motrin like M&M’s. “That’s when
you pin him down on a date.”
“The problem with you political advisors is that you advise some pretty crazy stuff
knowing full well you aren’t the one who has to carry it out. Are you sure this isn’t
some kind of hazing? You two get me to do all this, then you call back to your field
office and laugh with your colleagues about what you got the political novice in
Minnesota to do?”
“No, we do the competition thing once a year at our office Holiday party. There are
awards and everything. You might be a contender.” Billy suggested. Despite the
internal protests I do what they tell me. When we get to Rochester, we easily spot
Taylor and his group meeting the people. It’s a Norman Rockwell moment. Ugh.
When I got close enough to talk to anyone, I forgot what my opening line was
supposed to be. I admit it, I panicked a little. So I did what I’ve been doing night and
day for the last week straight.
“Hello, I’m Julie Peterson. I’m running for Congress.” I start shaking hands and
introducing myself to the people in the crowd in the middle of Taylor’s monologue
about Federal Judges. Does he really think the average Minnesotan has Federal
Judges listed anywhere on their top ten concerns? You’re right Ben, the guy is a tool.
“Excuse, me.” Taylor interrupts my introductions, which is really quite rude when you
think about it. We ARE out on a public street. He doesn’t own the venue or anything.
“Yes?” I ask innocently.
“What are you doing?” He asks me.
“I’m introducing myself to the voters; campaigning. You should probably do this too.”
I turn back to the people nearest me. “Hi, I’m Julie Peterson-“
“I’m trying to campaign but you’re interrupting me.” Taylor rolls his eyes at me. “I was
explaining about judicial appointments.”
“Judicial appointments?” I ask pretending to be puzzled. “Did someone ask about
judicial appointments?” I look around the crowd but they all shake their head. “Yeah,
I didn’t think so; can’t think of anything more boring than judicial appointments.
Health care! Health care would be a much more interesting topic. We’re just blocks
from the Mayo Clinic you know.”
“Yes, I know.” Taylor tells me between clenched teeth.
“Oh, of course you do. I’m sure you’ve studied the landscape. That’s what
professional politicians do. Me, I grew up here…well, in Red Wing and that’s just a
quick trip from here. We came to Rochester for Christmas shopping and special
dinners out. Later, we came to the Mayo when my mom got sick. They took excellent
care of her, but the diagnosis just came too late. We’re still paying off the treatment
the health insurance didn’t cover. You know I never understood that. If you’re
covered by health insurance, you should be completely covered, but they had pages
and pages of exceptions in 6 point font and-“
“That happened to us too.” An older woman next to Julie exclaimed. “We paid our
premiums, on time mind you, for 23 years but when my husband needed a bone
marrow transplant they said it was elective surgery and would only cover 20%.”
“20%? That’s awful! What did you do?” I prodded while Taylor’s face turned purple.
“Went into debt is what we did. We almost lost our home.”
“That’s insane. You should be able to sue your insurance company for those proven
medical treatments. That’s what I’m going to fight for when I get to Washington.”
“Really? You can do that there?” The woman asks me.
“Excuse me!” Taylor practically yelled just as the local news crew joins us. “I’d like to
get back to my topic, please.”
“Of course; I completely apologize.” I tell the woman next to me in a loud whisper,
“We can talk more about that when he’s done.” Then I turn back to Taylor. “Please
continue. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss health care at the debate.”
“We aren’t having a debate.” Taylor shook his head and laughed humorlessly.
“We need to have a debate. Otherwise, how will the voters be able to compare the
candidates?”
“There will be a debate, Ms. Peterson, but with all due respect you will not be
included since you’ve yet to meet the threshold of 15% support.” Taylor explains with
a nasty smirk.
“If I’m trailing so far behind you and Mr. Porter, why would you care if I was included?
Certainly you have nothing to worry about from me, right?”
“It wasn’t MY decision.” Taylor states.
“Oh, then you’re fine with including me?” I push and see the moment Taylor sees he’
s backed into a corner.
“I…” He stammers.
“There’s only 3 of us running. Surely there’s room for all of us on the debate stage.”
I look around me at the audience that has gathered and I see the TV crew is taping
away. “I think the fair thing to do is to include everyone. I mean, that’s how we
usually do things in Minnesota, though I hear it’s not always that way in D.C.”
“That would be the fair thing, don’t you think?” The woman I befriended during the
health care topic pipes up again.
“Sure, but Mr. Porter may have objections. I can’t speak for him.” Taylor decides.
“No, my staff already spoke to him and he agreed to include me if you agreed too.” I
announce. “Now that you’ve agreed, we’re all set. I look forward to sharing the stage
with you, Mr. Taylor. I’m glad we’re all starting off on the right foot with this
campaign.”
“Ms. Peterson?” Brian interrupted on cue. “I’m sorry, but we need to leave now or we’
ll be late for our next stop.”
“Sorry, Brian, we’ve all been having such a great conversation. Thanks again for
your consent to include me, Mr. Taylor.” I reach out and take his hand for a brief
shake then get in the car with Brian.
“You went a little off script there, Julie Anne.” He teases me. No way am I going to
admit to him that I panicked.
“I saw a way to improve the delivery and I went with it. It got the job done.” I say
defiantly.
“Yes.” Brian nods smiling. “Yes, you did. Now let’s get some food.”
Then we had a lovely dinner courtesy of the Wendy's
drive-through. Ben, I don't care what anyone tells you. Running for
office is NOT glamorous in any way.
That's the story; straight from the source. Now get your
homework done, listen to your mom and dad, and write again soon!
Julie