History of the Trap: March Coup Part 2

2

"Three!  Two!  One!  Open Camera One!"  Sammy Holland, our director in training, pointed at Phil Irman, who operated Camera One.  Phil's Camera light came on, and he focused on Ronald Housely, who gave his usual opening shtick, "Hey, everybody!  It's time for the Lookouts!  The Loren High Variety Hour of Power starring the incredible Bob Short, and featuring interviews with Council leaders Wilbur James and Loren's very own superstar track champion, Mark Granite!  Then we have some incredible live music performed by The Huron Mountain Boys Trio!  And we wrap up with a pivotal, not to be missed episode of The Sands of Loren!"  He paused for the applause track.  We didn't have the room for a live audience.  "And now, here comes.....the Bob!"

Switch to Camera Two, operated by Jason Wagner.  This was he camera that been operated by Randy Fitch, before he was crushed in the horrible tunnel collapse.  Jason, after months, was now almost as efficient as Randy was.

"Good to be back on the air, everyone!  It's been a long week as we have fine tuned and repaired our equipment"  Soon we would have to face that we were running out of the basic supplies, bulbs and such, to keep going, but we had not quite got there yet.  Bob Short smiled broadly at the camera.  He was back together close to his girlfriend, Pamela Kordowski, and everyone was betting they would be first in line to apply for a marriage license.  "We have a great show lined up.  Let's get right into it, shall we?"

Bob brought on Wilbur James and Mark Granite, and they began talking about the changes to the council, and the proposed changes as to how it governed.  Wilbur talked fairly eloquently about the changes, and how it would help the whole school operate better.  He talked so pretty, that when he was finished, I wanted to say to him, "James, you're crazy!", like he did to me after my campaign spiel.  But I was a better person than that.  Or just more cowardly.

Bob didn't seem to but all of it.  "Well, Wilbur, I'm grateful that students will be able to marry, at least to be able to apply for it, but I am unsure of this cutting back of Mr. Martin's authority."

Wilbur shook his head.  "Oh no, Bob!  You misunderstand!  This is simply to shore up his authority, give it the confirmation he needs.  It's all about checks and balances, you know.  You have to remember, there is no school board anymore, at least one we can access.   So it's just restoring some checks and balances, is all."

Wilbur turned to Mark Granite for confirmation.  Mark looked bored and just nodded his head a bit.  "Yeah.  What he said."

"I understand, yeah.  But I'm one who believes Mr. Martin has done an outstanding job of leading us.  Yes, there have been some disasters, but he has always been there to pull us through.  He has always encouraged the best in us.  I see him as more of a Captain of the ship, rather than a politician.  Somebody has to be in charge, particularly in an emergency.  And I can't think of a better person than Mr.  Martin."  A couple of crew members clapped at that, including Phil Irman and Franny Cranfield.   To my shame, I did not.  Mr. Resart quickly shushed them.  He did not approve of such expressions of opinion from his crew.

Mark looked a little disturbed at the way the conversation was going and I though he was going to offer a biting retort.  Instead he just changed the subject.  "You know, Bob, I am very excited to report that we are going to have a spectacular track and field meet in just a few weeks.  We'll have teams from the Graduates, Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and get this, even the faculty!"

All three laughed.  "Yeah, we may have to give that last group a break, let them start on the fifty yard line!" Bob chortled.

The conversation never did go back to Council politics.  When I saw Artie later, he was grateful for Bob's furtive defense, but though it would have been way better had they brought him or another pro-Martin Council member on.  I understood why he thought that way, but I don't think it would have made any difference.

The Huron Mountain Boys Trio came on next.  The name was a bit of a goof, as Huron is as flat as the rest of Eastern Michigan, and the group also contained one girl.  They were composed of a guitar, a bass, and a violinist.  The violinist was the girl, Maria Guevera, a talented girl of Hispanic descent.  They played together beautifully, with wonderful harmonies and rhythms.  The singing was pretty good too, led by Danny Hassan, whose mother was the choral teacher.  Their catchiest song, New Farmer's Rag, was an ode to the joys of having discovered the cows and goats, and a celebration of our more bountiful fresh food.

Then it was time for The Sands of Loren.  I had a more time than usual to prepare for it, and it was going to be a doozy.  Always dangerous to piss off the man with the pen.