Left/Right

In the halls of power, the act of doing wrong flourished. The Senate and the House of Representatives sought reconciliation. They got together on issues like God and guns to be upheld by the left and for the right to further shoot down wokeness and nature environmentalism. Actually both sides agreed already on the latter.

“I have come to you today,”

Senate Majority Leader Velora Jacobs, “to say that the political factions now have been laid out and exchanged one for the other.” She was fair skinned but had a short Afro. Senate pages scrambled after this statement. One page, nineteen-year-old Aaron Mays, the color of redwood and sported waves around his head, jotted down notes and handed them to his Democratic Senator Beyer Minton. He was eighty-four years old and could barely hear out of his right ear. Still he looked over the notes with his bifocals.

“Mmhmm,” he said and handed the pieces of paper back to Mays.

On the other side of the aisle, Eighteen-year-old Lila Simkins ran through the aisles to her Republican Senator Nina Cormac. They both had skin the color of sweet cream. Her hair looked like fresh flaxen and her eyes resembled the oceans just off Caribbean islands.

“Did you do all these figures?” Nina asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Impressive.” Then the page was back on her feet trying to type up reports and transmit them to Nina.

“We’ve even agreed on what people call ‘third rail politics.’ Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will all be phased out over the next thirty years. For those who are already receiving these programs, they will keep them. In time, as generations grow, a percentage will be taken away by the decades until all of these issues are eliminated.”

The Senate clapped for this, surprisingly. Was it because they agreed or was it because both parties agreed on something that moved the chains of freedom up the field.

Lila and Aaron locked eyes. They smiled and kept hustling.

“We’ve agreed on the wokeism and environmentalism debates. We have chosen to relinquish the woke and the environment that isn’t human. We will devise ways for private property to reign over the country and promote land owners to preserve fauna and flora on their own terms.”

More applause registered in the room. Cormac continued. “We’re going to remove all controls and regulations from ‘big business’ ‘small business’ all business.”

At that the room erupted in applause.

The two pages couldn’t get the notes to their senators fast enough. As the majority leader continued her address, she made room for more changes. Mays was running but he thought. Something evil is coming. When the left and right agree on something or somethings, it usually meant that nothing good could arise from such a bond. He ran with papers in his hands. He looked at Lila who was in hot pursuit herself, shuffling papers. She didn’t look distressed, though. A look of persistence painted her facial features. Yes, she was stressed but she didn’t show it. Mays’ face looked similar, he showed a straight razor look, severe and serious. Then he caught Lila and cracked a smirk. She smiled back.

“We’re going to end ninety percent of the government programs not just making the government smaller but limiting its scope. We’re going to reinstate the abortion bill. I know that the Supreme Court voted against it, but we’re going to ensure that this legislation is featured in this new bill about the left and the right’s conciliatory actions.”

Lila looked whiter than usual as the Majority Leader kept going. Blood rushed from her face and her heart slammed inside her breast.

“This is just the beginning. We’re going to continue to work together in a full bipartisan way.” She banged the gavel. The two pages ceased their work as they headed towards the exits for lunch. They sat together in the cafeteria. He had a salad and water. She ate a cheeseburger with bread made from cauliflower.

“I thought I was going to hear jets flying over or signals to escape to a fallout shelter,” Lila admitted.

“I know. There’s something afoot here. The titles of conservative and liberal are too good for these people. And most of them are ready to sit on a dock and fish. Look at Minton. He naps during most sessions.”

Lila giggled. It was a light laugh that favored her soft features. Then her face returned to seriousness again.

“Cormac is in her fifties but she acts like she’s seventy.”

“We have to endure another session of this.”

“I don’t trust them,” Lila admitted.

“Who does?”

“We’re supposed to, though.”

“I am here because I’m trying to learn how this whole pageantry functions. We’re receptive to new ideas because most of them have calcified their thoughts over the decades.”

“I still think we should be able to influence them.”

“That’s the challenge. We’re here to run information to the various statesmen and women. That’s primarily it. Whether we influence them or not is another issue entirely.”

After lunch, they returned to the Senate floor.

Majority Leader Velora Jacobs kept the momentum going again as if they didn’t break.

“Both parties are going to fuse into one and allow other parties a platform to be more prominent.” This seemed like a misstep.

“We will still be selfish in a deportment as we know that with the left and right together, we can steamroll over the competition.”

Applause arose.

Lila and Mays exchanged glances. They shared something like telepathy. Mays wondered if all of thus rhetoric would actually play out in reality. Lila thought there had to be some kind of catch to all of this talk.

“What we are most proud of is the fact that we won’t be living in a Marxist class system anymore. We will look at people as individuals. We will not count thr masses, or the ‘American people.’ Instead, we will say that there is enough individual Americans in this great land to extinguish thr musty air of collectivism. Also, as a side note, we will not mark this nation as beautiful because of its natural grandeur. Sure, parts of this country boast awe-inspiring views but that is not what makes this country noble. Our founding documents are what make this country what it is today. The scientists, technologists, engineers, artists, and mathematicians built this country and continue to make it the best in all of the world.”

Lila and Mays finally had a chance to sit down and listen to the rest of the speech.

“Concludingly, I must say that with this rigt/left union, we will be able to see a new day in America where agendas won’t be at the forefront of politics. Once we see that shining day where one party does the right thing only for the individuals of America this country. We are servants not slaves drivers. We must exhibit this fact in order to secure a future not for our great-great grandchildren but for ourselves.”

Later at Lila’s apartment, they laid in bed, Mays hand around her waist.

“That was a lot of talk.” Mays rolled over and pecked Lila’s chest and neck.

“Let’s anticpate thatk it’s as little action as possible. These are the parties that are doing too many awful things getting together.”

“I’ll remember,” Lila kissed him.