So This is How It Goes (Preview)

It had been three days since Bob had gone to the city hall administration building.  He had given his phone number to the city clerk, Barbara, so that a meeting could be arranged with the President of the City Council, Charlie Hughes.

“I don’t understand why a meeting like this is necessary,” Bob moaned.  He was feeling discouraged because things had not gone smoothly, like he wanted.  “Especially since I haven’t even filed the paperwork, yet.”

“Now, honey,” Dixie said sweetly, “I know that it is frustrating you, but I know you very well.  You have this small seed of doubt that this is not something for you.  You believe this delay is a sign that maybe you ought to give up, right now.  Am I, right?”

Bob let out an exasperated breath.  Still holding his morning cup of coffee while sitting with Dixie at the breakfast table, he felt the day was already controlling him.

“She knows me well, maybe, too well,” thought Bob.

Dixie smiled at him with that look that let him know that she was pleased with herself.

“Now, Bob, you need to see this delay as a benefit to you.  How long did you say you had to get your paperwork in to get on the ballot?  I mean, this just gives you more time to get it done without rushing.  This meeting will not change your decision, will it?  There is nothing that legally requires you to be interviewed before announcing yourself as a candidate, is there?”

“She sure likes to fire off a bunch of questions at one time.  I am just going to wait and see her answer most of her own questions,” Bob thought as he tried to remain stoic.

“You said you had about two weeks, now, minus a couple of days.  You and I have looked over the paperwork and filled out just about everything, so far.  It has been something extra to do, but we have been able to stop whenever we want.  It won’t take much to finish.

“You are firmly committed to doing this.  We have talked a lot about it and how it could change our lives.  We have looked at it from many different viewpoints.  Together, we have examined the advantages and disadvantages and agree that the good far outweighs the bad.

“No matter whether you talk to the President of the City Council before you file your paperwork or after, you are still going to be on the ballot.  Both of us have looked over the requirements to qualify to be on the ballot and we are absolutely certain, there is no doubt, whatsoever, that you qualify.  Heck, I even qualify, to be on the ballot.”

Bob decided it was time to cut her off.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that,” Bob wagged his right forefinger at her.  “If both of us are qualified and we both put our names on the ballot, I could never win the election,” he lifted both hands, palms upward and raised his shoulders.  “One look at you,” he pointed at her, “and then at me,” he now pointed at himself, “and you would win in a landslide.  It would be a Beauty and the Beast success story for you, the Beauty!” he waved his hands outward from his body with the palms face down.

Bob was now smiling as Dixie was looking down blushing.

“Oh, Bob,” were the only words she could say.

Gloating over his ability to handle Dixie, Bob reached for his cell phone.  Normally, he would have chosen to let it go to voice mail, since he did not recognize the caller id, but he was feeling good about himself and his life.

“Hi, this is Bob,” he answered the phone with positivity.

“Mr. Griffith,” a gravelly voice replied with formality, “this is Charlie Hughes.  I am the President of the Hilliard City Council.”

Bob ignored the formal attitude but carefully chose his words.  He did not want to appear to be disrespectful to this man he did not yet know.

“Mr. Hughes,” Bob spoke with an upbeat tone, “I have been expecting your call.  Thank you for taking the time.”

“It is our practice here in Hilliard, that anyone wanting to run for office, especially for mayor, meet with the President of the City Council.”

Hughes paused at this point.  It seemed to Bob that Hughes might be trying to size him up.

“Maybe,” Bob considered, “he might be hoping to intimidate me.  I have seen union reps use this strategy.”

“Let me be plain with you, Mr. Griffith.  The purpose of our meeting will be to ascertain if you meet the qualifications to be on the election ballot.”

With a measure of boldness, Bob cut in, “Oh, I have already reviewed those requirements and I meet them all.”

Charlie let out an exhale as if he had heard this type of response before.

“Nevertheless, Mr. Griffith, we will still meet and I will make the determination.”

Wanting to maintain a measure of an upper hand, Bob countered, “I have even had my wife review the qualifications and she is satisfied that I meet them all.”

Bob, immediately, heard another loud exhale from Charlie.

“I am sure that your wife is intelligent enough to read and understand the qualifications.  However, she does lack the experience and background to be familiar with the legal challenges and nature of them.”

Again, Hughes paused.  Bob was certain that the man was attempting to be melodramatic to discourage him.

“When is a good time to meet with you, Mr. Hughes?”

Bob had already grown weary of the inability to garner any support or agreement from Charlie.  He decided to redirect towards the reason for the call.

“I understand that you work at the fencing company and are in middle management.  How much control do you have over your schedule?  Are you limited to meeting during your lunch time?”

Bob felt challenged.

“No, I am not limited when I can meet you,” Bob could not hide a measure of indignation.