/ WELCOMETOTHERESISTANCE /

CHAPTER ONE

Lily

I’m exhausted and it’s cold here. There’s snow on the ground; too much snow for November. My joints ache, the cold settled into them. These reminders I’m getting old aren’t necessary. It snuck up on me. In my mind I’m still in my forties, can’t be sixty-seven. Suppose I earned each year though. Worked hard for every wrinkle, every laugh line. Lived hard and loved harder. Isn’t that something the kids would say? I’ve been working on being more relatable to the younger generations. I’m on all the social media platforms, taking selfies, snapchatting, tweeting. The technology nowadays is astounding, and we waste it on such trivial endeavors.

There’s a sketch show on Saturday nights and a comedienne does a hilarious impression of me. They asked me to be a part of a sketch. I never realized how animated I am when I talk, or how much I sound and look like Katharine Hepburn. The gal was doing one of her skits, and I came in and interrupted her. We had a little moment; it was one of the most terrifying things I’ve done in my life. I’m not much for being in the spotlight like that. My running mate, John, appeared a few weeks ago, and it’s one of the most watched clips in the shows long history.

John’s known for being eccentric. He shops at thrift stores, donates most of the money he makes to charity, he and his wife live in a small cabin that’s off the grid. John’s one of my oldest friends, and I don’t think I would do this if it wasn’t for his support and persistence. If we get the right people into office with us, we’ll be unstoppable. We’ll be able to do so much for this country.

I’m trying not to focus on my disdain for wasting another night like this. I want to be wearing sweats and watching reruns of the hilarious new Tina Fey show with a Scotch, or reading to my grandkids. Heck, I’d even take another colonoscopy over this. Instead, here I am: it’s the final debate in what’s turned out to be a tight presidential race. I still can’t figure out how that is.

Well, racism, sexism, and bigotry are playing a part. I have decades of experience, and I’m running against a businessman with none. Somehow he got the Republican bid. It goes to show what’s become of the Republican Party; I guess. Daniel’s a skinny, greasy, tech bro; he inherited billions from his family, made more with some shady business dealings. He’s a terrible human being, and I’m positive he will not just destroy America, but he’ll take the world down, too. I served at the city, state, and national level. This man makes a mockery of everything I believe in. The rest of the world is beside themselves. The last three debates he talks over me, belittles me, and hasn’t said a single useful thing.

He has his loyal followers and they make things difficult. There are folks that wanted to see my running mate, John, with the Presidential bid instead of me. I hoped that serving with him would be enough. Some of his people are calling him a traitor though. I’m not progressive enough for some of his base.

There were some devastating hacks by black hats. From the hacks there were some forged and faked documents, some actually thought they were genuine. We believe they were created by the GOP, or a foreign body, because they don’t like an outspoken woman and I don’t let them get away with anything. So there are the angry folks that are voting out of spite, the crazy folks that are voting because their racist jerks, and the sane folks desperate to keep the country from falling to pieces.

I am one of the desperate ones.

People may not like me or my policies, but I love this country, our country, and I will not sit by while it’s destroyed.

"Candidates, it’s time for the coin toss. Madam Speaker, it’s your turn to call," a young man says. His hands shake as he tosses the coin.

I still think it’s odd when people get worked up being around me, or the blowhard I’m running against.

"Heads," I call out.

The boy catches the coin and revels its tails. Darn it, I hate losing to Daniel, he always rubs it in, like it’s a sign he will win the election.

"Mr. Thomas, you’ll go first," he says to Daniel.

The sneer Daniel gives me makes me want to punch him. I am not a violent woman, I try to be a pacifist, but he knows how to push my buttons. He glares at me with a disgusting look plastered to his face. He leans into me and drops his voice, "When I win you can be my house whore."

I ball my fists. You do not talk to any woman in my vicinity like that.

"Show a little respect, young man." I growl at him.

He runs a hand over his dark gelled hair, "You should be grateful someone like me offered!"

There’s something about the tone he uses that has me raising my fists. Starting a fist fight may hurt my numbers, it may help them. I don’t care, I will beat a little sense into this boy, and damn the consequences.

Three stage hands start toward us. One yells out, "Candidates, please take your places! You need to take your places!"

If I lose, I will pop Daniel one right across the mouth. Then retire to Canada, or Sweden. I liked visiting Sweden, they’re lovely people.

The stagehands walk with us. I think they realize that there is still a real chance I’ll hit Daniel. He’s taunting me, doing that thing the kids do where they hold up their fingers in a peace sign and stick their tongue between it. He is deplorable.

We stand on the stage, at our podiums. I think it’s because of the tension between Daniel and I at the last debate. They’ll introduce each of us to the audience, the people watching at home. There will be questions from the audience on a wide range of topics.

"Hello, and welcome to Crimson College, home of the final presidential debate of the 2016 election. I am Sally Filkov. With me are Daniel Thomas, Republican candidate, and Lily VonHelm, Democratic candidate. We took questions from Twitter, Facebook, and the audience. Questions were selected at random. In the coin toss backstage Daniel Thomas won, so the first question will be for you. This question comes from the audience. Don Sorel asks, ’Your views on a lot of big topics are hard to pin down, Mr. Thomas. For those of us that are undecided, what are the first three things you would like to do if elected?’"

My first thought is to strip civil rights, human rights, and run this country into the ground. I try to listen to what he has to say. Maybe I can figure out why anyone would vote for him.

"Hello Sally, Ms. VonHelm. Thank you for the question, Don. My intentions are clear, I want to make this country thrive again. To keep the terrorists and illegals from destroying our country. My current plan is to continue to focus on securing the borders. The Daniel Thomas foundation is funding walls along our borders with both Mexico and Canada. We employ tens of thousands of individuals and the projects jump started many small communities and economies along the borders. I made it a point to hire as many veterans as I could. We also hired those who are out of work due to the current administrations motto of, "Help everyone else before we help the American people." So, American jobs, American security, and American freedoms are the three things I would focus on. When I found Christ, he helped show me the way, the way toward a more perfect America, and I want your help to make that happen."

He uses the Good Lord to excuse a lot of terrible behavior. His record from his twenties and thirties is a hodgepodge of illegal activity. We had enough to take him down. Instead, he took it and spun it into a story of a man troubled by demons that found Christ, and became an upstanding citizen. He made donations to a couple charities and somehow made the evidence go away. There was a brief dip in his ratings but then the radical Christians were rallying behind him. The fanatics got on board and he surged ahead. I do not understand how anyone can buy his crap.

"Thank you, Daniel. Madam Secretary, same question."

"Thank you, Sally. Thank you for your question, Mr. Sorel. There are many issues I want to address. America is being held hostage by political games and corporate interests for decades now."

Daniel leans over his podium and shouts, "Corporate interests you fund! You’re the--"

Sally is a dear she tries to stop him. "Please refrain from interrupting, Mr. Thomas."

"You can’t silence me! Silence the American people!"

"Mr. Thomas."

"This terrorist here, trying to--"

"Mr. Thomas! Let Ms. VonHelm speak!"

He looks as though he will launch at me, maybe at Sally. He does a weird head bow and raises his hand, like he’s giving me permission to continue.

"Thank you, Sally. I mean Congress just voted yet again to give themselves a pay raise. However, they strike down anything that the President promised in his campaign eight years ago. They strike down healthcare reform, they strike down education reform, they strike down campaign reform, they struck down a bill that could help themselves, because it was something the President endorses. We need to change that, we need to work together, instead of against each other. I’ve been doing this a long time, over thirty years in politics. There are friends on both sides of the aisle and I would use those friendships to help the American people. We need healthcare reform, education reform, national security, women’s issues, civil rights issues. With the enormity of what needs done narrowing it down to three things is difficult--"

Daniel sniffles and laughs, "Dodge the questions much? This is what I expect from someone like you!"

Sally rolls her eyes and glares at Daniel. "Mr. Thomas, please refrain from interrupting."

"I’m just speaking the truth. We need --"

"Mr. Thomas, you will get the opportunity for a rebuttal. Let Ms. VonHelm speak." Sally states. I can tell she wants to smack Daniel, too. Her look causes him to set his mouth in a firm line and nod. Again as if he’s giving me permission to speak. I need no one’s permission to do anything.

He does not get to rile me up. I won’t give him any power over me. "Thank you, Sally. What I would focus on though is continuing the current efforts to lower unemployment, which is at a twenty year low, build up the middle class, and reform our education system so young people aren’t facing crippling debt just to receive a higher education."

"Thank you, Madam Secretary. Along those same lines, our next question comes from Twitter. ’I got a masters because they say you need it. I may declare bankruptcy, I live in my parents basement, and work for minimum wage. Will you help?’"

"It’s sad that this is the state of affairs. My kids all have degrees, four with masters, one has their PH.D. There are four grandkids that are college age, one is in vocational school, one in culinary school, and the other two are hoping to become doctors. So I understand how hard it is. I myself finished paying off my student loans from when I went back for my PH.D. I sent my last payment in yesterday as a matter of fact. Aside from my final mortgage payment, I have never been happier to write a check before in my life. I understand how frustrating it is. Even with the paycheck I get and the money I make, I’m helping not just with my student loans but with my children and grandchildren’s. I had promised them that if they chose to go to college, I would help pay for it. We need to fix the education system, we need to divert money going to corporate subsidiaries back into education, into helping the next generation. We can’t let the next genius slip through the cracks because they couldn’t afford tuition. On my website I detail a four point system--"

"To hand the country to terrorists and Muslims and destroy this good Christian nation!" Daniel interrupts.

I try to ignore him and keep talking. "I want to put into place that will fund--"

"Taking American lives, and American jobs!" He states.

Just keep ignoring him Lily, don’t give him a reaction, I remind myself.

"The first two years of college for every college aged person. That would happen. Within the next five years, we could have a system in place that would ensure everyone that’s old enough to go to college can do so for almost nothing."

"Mr. Thomas, your response?"

"All I heard was propaganda. I am out there, reinforcing our borders, trying to keep this country safe from the terrorists that Lily VonHelm is so supportive of! I want--"

Sally stops the tirade. The man wasn’t even paying attention. I bet he’s thinking of mutilating puppies or something. There is something inherently evil about him. He makes my spidey sense tingle. He stops the diatribe and answers the question.

Daniel can’t stay on topic and he has to bring up his plan to privatize the roads and how that will somehow help fund the education system. He’s already started with privatization. If he controlled all the major roads, with the walls he’s building, he could isolate entire sections of the country from one another. The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I had tried to research the process, find the students he’s always speaking of, and I cannot find anything. "I’m sorry where are these three hundred students? All I can find is one of your companies raking in profits," I ask, as soon as he’s done speaking.

"Just another liberal lie!" he throws back at me. I see a flash of something sinister cross his face.

"Back to the format, our next question is for you Mr. Thomas. It comes from Twitter. ’You dodge the issues for women’s rights. What will you or won’t you do to combat the war on women?’"

The look on his face, another quick one, chills me to the bone. It is clear he has no regard for women or our rights.

"Madam Speaker, your time," Sally says.

My focus had been on his wife. I see my youngest standing up with her daughter. My grandbaby waves at me.

"Gammie! Gammie, I’m going poop in the potty! You keep talking, ’kay!" she screams at me.

She’s three and still has to announce every time she goes. I laugh, how can you not when you’re live on national television? The audience laughs, and I think it helps to break the tension I can feel on stage.

"Good job listening to your body, darling!" I call back to her before turning my attention to the question. "Thank you, Sally. What we heard from my opponent is what I expect to hear from a white man raised with a certain amount of prosperity and privilege. Ladies, if I can speak to you, and to our male allies, this is a topic that some men just can’t understand. This is a topic that doesn’t affect them nearly the same way it affects us. I will do everything in my power to protect women’s rights. Stronger jail terms for domestic abusers. An end to the rape culture. Proper sentences for rapists. If you rape someone you will go to jail for a long time. I understand how serious and scary it can be to be a woman. I needed extra security while in Alabama because a group of white supremacists threatened to rape me to death for being a loud-mouthed whore, excuse my language -- their words, not mine. I am objectified, ridiculed, and not taken seriously. Just backstage, Mr. Thomas made some rather inappropriate comments trying to degrade me. He uses terms like "traditional man," but that doesn’t give him the right to treat me, his wife, or any other woman with less respect than he would treat a male counterpart. Women deserve respect, ownership over their bodies, and equal pay," Women’s rights meant a great deal for as long as I’d been in politics.

There are cheers. He hasn’t been paying attention.

"Do you have a response?" Sally asks him, bringing him back out of his own thoughts.

He smiles. It’s dismissive, his tone condescending. "I don’t feel I should dignify what is being said with a response. The Speaker is allowed her -- opinions. She should leave this business to men though. We’re better equipped to handle it."

It’s time for our closing statements. I look out and find his wife. She’s not sitting far from my grandbabies and kids in the audience. I can’t listen to his words, they cut too deep with their insincerity. He will say and do anything necessary to win. I can’t play like that; I’m a terrible liar and awful at hiding my feelings. If I don’t like you, you’ll know it.

He is what is wrong with America, what is wrong with humanity. His supporters cheer for him. He finishes spouting his lies, and it’s my turn.

"Thank you, Sally. Thank you all for tuning in. I was born in a small apartment in Connecticut. Mom and Dad had been at a friend’s for dinner, the wife was a nurse -- she helped deliver me on the floor of the bathroom. My parents had fled Germany just as Hitler was rising to power. Dad was Catholic, my mother was Jewish. They thought if they stayed, it would be bad for them. They were not Nazis, I am not a Nazi. I was raised to be proud of who I am, proud of where I come from. We worked hard, I studied hard, I was given every chance my parents could. I was a combat nurse in Vietnam. I chose to get involved in politics starting with city council, mayor, state representative, until I was elected to the senate. I held my seat until I was asked by the current President to serve in his cabinet. I have decades of experience that I will use to help better America. There is a comprehensive plan you can view on my website www dot Lily VonHelm dot com. I want to build this country up through healthcare reform, education reform, equal pay for equal work, and to continue to build up our civil rights. No one should be treated differently because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. This is America. We are tough, we grab life and we make the most of it. Everyone should have a shot at the American Dream. I will do my best to ensure that happens. Thank you, and good night!"

There are cheers from my supporters, some unkind words from his.

"That concludes the final debate for the presidential nominees of the 2016 election. Don’t forget to get out and rock the vote Tuesday, November 8th."

I smile and wave; he does the same. My family rushes the stage, his wife obediently rushes to him. I watch her face and his. She trembles. I can see the tears at the corner of her eyes. They’re talking quietly, and whatever he says causes her to tremble a little more. I see her catch a tear. She waves, smiling.

"Ma! You did great, Madam President. You okay?"

"Yeah, yes just ready to pour myself into a Scotch," I answer, trying not to focus on Daniel and his wife.

He gets his aide’s attention.

"Get the chopper. We’re going to the country house," he says. The reaction that statement gets from his wife makes me cringe.

"Oh, we don’t -- we can--" she starts, her voice taking on a desperate tone.

He walks away talking to his aide about calling the staff. His wife becomes a little more unhinged. Her body trembles, her hands are shaking, I’m surprised I’m the only one seeing anything. She comes to a stop in front of the bathrooms.

"I need to hit the little girl’s room. Call and get us a reservation somewhere, don’t care where."

Nora! That’s his wife’s name. Nora moves into the bathroom and I’m just behind her. Daniel steps in front of me.

"My wife is in there. You can wait," he growls.

"There are three stalls, and you have zero say about where I go and what I do."

I step around him and walk into the bathroom.

She’s sitting in the furthest stall, sobbing as she pees. They are sobs I’ve heard before, but never in a setting like this. She must hear me because she goes silent and stops peeing. It’s as if she’s frozen.

"Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you," I say as I move into a stall and do my business.

"Is he here?" she whimpers.

"No, just the two of us."

Nora lets herself sob and pee again. She sits there for a moment, crying, after she’s finished. Nora takes deep breaths and regains her composure. I stand at the sink. I’ve washed my hands but I can’t leave yet. She pushes out of the stall and I see how broken she is. "Let’s walk out of here together. I can help you,"

"I -- I hadn’t -- I, he’s--" Nora can’t get the words out. She’s flustered and cries again. Nora takes a deep breath, pushing the tears back down. She gets a wet paper towel and wipes at her eyes, fixing her make up.

"Take my hand, my entire family is here, I will protect you. We can get you somewhere safe," I say again.

I reach my hand out, she lets me touch her hand before she pulls away.

She shoots me a defeated look in the mirror and shakes her head. "He’s my husband, I have a duty as his wife."

Nora takes a deep breath and walks out of the bathroom. I am just behind her. He grabs her around the shoulders and she cringes at his touch. They walk off swiftly. I turn to my family.

My son is just hanging up his cellphone. "They can get us in at Chili’s! They have a whole section in the back, semi-private so we can eat in peace."

;>;;>;;>;;