smiled.
Pug nodded. “Thank you, Mr. President. I’ve got a few sisters-in-law on the same wavelength. I dodge them all the time.”
“I understand.” The president laughed. “Helen is just like them, I’m sure. They can’t stand to see a good man stay single.”
By the time President William Snow arrived at the First Family residential quarters, the First Lady, Helen Snow, had everyone seated around the dinner table. Scott and Megan Connor, their three children, Alicia, fourteen, Morgan, eight and baby Bill, named after his presidential grandfather. Also in attendance were Pug Connor and Han Chou Lee, President and CEO of Teak Wood Products, a large Taiwanese furniture export company headquartered in Kaohsiung. Seated directly across from Pug sat Senator Rachel McKenzie, looking radiant in a burnt orange pantsuit, and a creme-colored blouse.
The meal was just about to be served when the president arrived. He circled the table, kissing his wife on the cheek, ruffling young Ted’s hair and also kissing his daughter, Megan, and his granddaughter, Alicia.
“I offer my apologies to everyone. Lee, nee how,” he said in Mandarin Chinese, “thank you for coming on such short notice, but when I heard you were going to be in town and leaving so quickly, tonight was my only opportunity to invite you.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. I’m honored to be in your home, especially with your family,” the elderly Chinese man said.
President Snow took his seat at the head of the table and unfolded his napkin, then the waiter began to serve the first course. “For those of you who don’t know Lee, he’s the president and founder of an international furniture export company in Taiwan. Our association dates from the late seventies when I represented his firm on their purchase of a large warehousing facility in Phoenix. After we closed the deal, he invited me to vacation with him in Kaohsiung, in southern Taiwan. It’s a beautiful country. We’ve maintained contact ever since. He’s here at the direction of the Taiwanese government on business with the State Department. I’m honored to have him here tonight. Unfortunately, he has to leave directly after dinner to catch a flight back to Taiwan. Lee, you need to let me know a bit sooner the next time you’re coming to Washington. You’re the only one I would be willing to practice my Mandarin on without feeling foolish.”
“Once again, I am honored, Mr. President,” Lee replied. The elderly Chinese man spoke excellent English, but with a slight British accent.
The president turned his attention to his other guest. “Rachel, very nice of you to come also. Is the Senate keeping you busy?”
“As a freshman senator, they keep me confused and busy, Mr. President,” she responded.
“Get used to it.” He laughed. “Lee, do you remember the Chen family? They owned the small electronics store in Tsoying and contracted with the American military servicemen to buy their appliances when they rotated back to the states?’
“Yes, of course. Wonderful people. They still live in Kaohsiung.”
“I feel sort of like them now,” President Snow said. “I’m the guy who lives above the shop.”
Lee chuckled and nodded his head, pausing to take a drink of water. “I suppose that’s right, Mr. President. An honorable Chinese tradition.”
President Snow shook his head from side to side. “Does everyone think that just for dinner, they could call me Bill? I’d be very grateful for just a moment to be out of the office and above the shop.”
“Can I still call you Grandpa?” Alicia asked, a glint in her eye, confirming she’d been paying attention to the grown-up talk.
“My little darling, you can call me anything you want, as long as you sit in my lap and hug my neck every time you come to visit. I know you’re fourteen, but you’ll never be too old to sit in my lap,” he said, smiling at his granddaughter.
After the dessert round of coconut custard had been served and consumed, Helen Snow stood and moved toward the doorway. “Grandma is headed for the theater downstairs, where, as I am told, the pre-release version of Far World: Fire Keep is just waiting for some children to come and see it. I also understand that we have the choice of snow cones or popcorn, or both. Do I have any takers?”
Both children jumped up immediately and ran to join Grandma as she walked toward the door. “Oh, Grandma, my school friends will be so jealous. Fire Keep’s not even in the movies yet. I can’t believe it,” Alicia cried.
“Count me in too, Mom,” Megan said, “I have a feeling Dad is going to bore Pug and Rachel to death with more business. If it’s a question of watching Scott Savage’s creatures save the universe, or Dad’s political discussion, well, just count me in the movie group. Dad may have joked about being the “man above the shop,” but he meant every word of it. When he’s awake, the shop is open. Scott,” she said to her husband, “movies or politics?”
“Movies for me too, Megan. My contribution to politics was fulfilled when I voted for your father. Good luck, Pug,” he said to his brother.
The president said his goodbyes to Lee as the elderly gentleman left with a Secret Service escort to drive him to the airport. Then President Snow, Pug, and Rachel moved into the living area and took seats around the fireplace, which in the advent of warmer weather had been filled with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
“I asked Helen to take the kids downstairs so we could have a bit of time to discuss a few things. Not a strategy session, of course, but the three of us are going to become increasingly involved in the decisions about how to proceed. I also wanted to ask you, Rachel, about the proposal that has come before your intelligence sub- committee, specifically Domestic Tranquility. The SI proposal to beef up our private security options throughout America. Pug, have you had a chance to read that proposal?”
“Yes, sir. General Austin was given a copy by Senator Culpepper the day we visited in his office. Absolutely astonishing, especially the measures suggested if we need to reach Phase III. Basically, it calls for the suspension of habeas corpus, elimination of a citizens’ right to an attorney for anyone whom they see fit to detain, without criminal charge, for seven days. For all intents and purposes, they’re proposing a police state.”
“Exactly. That’s my understanding as well. Rachel, how does the committee see it?”
“Mr. President-”
“Nope, it’s Bill for this evening, Rachel.”
She smiled briefly and nodded. “Not part of my protocol training, Bill. How does my committee see it, you ask? I’m sorry to report that this piece of Gestapo legislation has garnered more support than I would have thought. There are many who feel it’s justified in light of the attacks on our people in public places. Oh, they voice concern about suspension of rights, constitutional privileges, etcetera, but they end up affirming support, certainly for the early phases which are not quite so restrictive.”
“ How do you see it, Rachel?”
Senator McKenzie was quiet for several moments, looking for some seconds toward Pug and then turning back to the president. “Sir, I’ve not been very popular in my opposition. I fear that if I’m too vocal, I’ll lose credibility, and be of no use to you or those who oppose this police state action.”
“I understand that, Rachel, but if everyone who opposes it takes that cautionary position, it will simply slip through. Who are the major proponents?”
“Senator Culpepper for one, although I sometimes think he is playing a devil’s advocate role, trying to extract the thinking of the others.”
Pug interjected. “Rachel, when General Austin and I met with Senator Culpepper in his office the day we appeared before your committee, he was much more negative about the SI proposal. That was why he gave it to the general to review. He voiced skepticism, but said he needed to take a supportive position publicly to ensure he was approachable by the SI principals. Either way, he can talk to people from both sides of the argument. And of course, sir, the message he had me deliver to you the other day reveals his thinking.”
“Maybe it does, Pug, maybe not. It wouldn’t be beyond him to try to stand me against this so he had an adversary to challenge. And avoiding publicly revealing his position is his standard political ploy, rd polits? the president said. “Senator Culpepper is a master at playing his cards close to the chest. I don’t think we’ll know where he truly stands until the proposal is brought to a vote. Maybe not even then. If he’s certain it will pass the full Senate, then he would probably vote for it just to shield his opposition and curry favors from the other supporters.”
