The Cultmaster

Chapter 3: Meeting Part One

The Garden State Turnpike was not as packed today as one might have expected it to be, probably because it was colder than normal and no families wanted to spend a day in the city in freezing cold weather. As Jacob stared at the cloudy, miserable sky from the passenger seat, he could not help but wonder if it would snow today. It would be an early snowfall if it did, as it was still only November. He sat in his seat, holding his head in his hand, looking out towards the sky, as if he were waiting for something more to come. Something better than this. Something that would make him more complete. Happiness. Eventually, he conveyed his idea as to how to achieve this happiness to Anthony.
"Perhaps I should move to Florida." Anthony stared at Jacob with a perplexed look, almost as if he were internally questioning where such a statement had come from.
"Well, that was random," said he, "I guess you're not a fan of cold weather, then." Jacob sat up now and removed his hand from his head.
"I like not having to freeze my ass off for four months straight." Anthony laughed in response.
"Sorry, bud, but it looks like we're shoveling snow again this winter. May be a white Christmas for once."
"Wonderful. That's just what I wanted, you know?"
"It ain't no Indian summer, tell you that much!" Anthony laughed again.
"Yeah, no shit." Jacob then gave him a more serious look, his deep brown eyes almost piercing Anthony's.
"What's that for?" Anthony asked, trying to keep his eyes on the road.
"Do you ever think," Jacob began, searching for the right words, "that your life is meaningless? That God just placed you on this Earth to suffer?" Anthony stared at him and give him a look as though the answer was blatantly obvious.
"No," said he, "I don't believe that. After all, my job is to help people." Jacob looked unconvinced. "You're sure it's not because of the money? Because that's what you told the rest of us the night you were accepted to college, 15 years ago." Anthony appeared offended by this statement.
"I was drunk that night! You can't hold that against me! Besides, I was a different person then. I've changed, matured. People change, you know? People can be better." Jacob could read right through Anthony's lies.
"Yeah, I'm sure you, you of all people, have changed. You couldn't leave alcohol alone if Jesus himself asked you to."
"Jesus was a man, just like us," Anthony responded, "he was flawed, just like you and I. If you went to church with the rest of your family, you might actually understand that. Besides, you shouldn't bring Jesus into this!" Jacob went back to his sad self, head in hand, staring out the window, deep in thought.
"I just wonder if there's something else. The world is going to shit." As he said this, a billboard above an exit caught his attention. It read: GOT AIDS? WEAR A CONDOM! The image below it was that of a finger pointing at a hand with fingers making the shape of a circle.
"It appears," said Jacob in disapproval, "that my point has been proven." As they neared the city, the buildings became more visible and distinct, even as the industrial factory smoke wafting in from Hackensack obscured the view. Jacob watched the Statue of Liberty come and go as they neared the Lincoln Tunnel in Weehawken. Before they were able to pass, a hefty toll was required, which was one of the main reasons not too many people went to the city anymore. As Jacob stared at the tall cliffsides next to the road which rose so forbodingly above the Hudson, Anthony griped and groaned.
"5 bucks this time?! Jesus fucking Christ, they raised it! The goddamn state of New York just loves stealing from us hardworking Jersey folk, don't they? Fuck New York. And then they wonder why no one visits their damn city anymore." Anthony was not wrong in his anger, as New Jerseyans were always charged more to enter the city than New Yorkers themselves, naturally. Besides, Anthony had always hated the city. Despised it, with every ounce of his being. Having to live in the shadow of its skyline an hour away was enough for him. Having to deal with New York transplants asking for directions in his hometown was enough as well. He only went in to the city today because he wanted to give Jacob the opportunity he had waited for for 12 years.
"It's not the state," Jacob responded, "it's the city. And we're visiting the city right now, by the way."
"Whatever," Anthony responded, "unlike some people, we have actual business to take care of." He then begrudgingly paid the toll.
They arrived five minutes later on Manhattan's wealthy Upper West Side, filled with yuppies and the like.
Anthony began honking incessantly at the New Yorker in front of him.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Jacob yelled.
"This mofo won't move his fucking piece of junk!" Jacob decided not to entertain it anymore.
"I swear, this city always brings out the worst in people," he said quietly to himself. Eventually, they were able to acquire parking at a garage on 201 West 75th Street near the museum. The heat island effect made the city feel somewhat warmer than the suburbs, and the air was suppressed by the multitude of Art Deco buildings in the area, which made walking to their destination more bearable. They reached a modest looking office building resembling a white cheesecake. Its exterior was clad in white terracotta and the top appeared to be of concrete bricks. Anthony pulled out a piece of paper with the instructions to Chester's office, read them, and they both took the elevator to the fourth floor. They reached Chester's office and walked in after being beckoned by a man's voice that said, 'Come in'. As they both walked in, they became captivated by the heavy amount of Jackson Pollock paintings on the walls. Other paintings included Washington's Crossing the Delaware, Washington himself, and Manifest Destiny. But most importantly, they were elated to see Chester Colfax; a man who had served to them as a father figure ever since their own passed away. Chester was on the telephone making campaign calls when they came, but he quickly hung up once he saw who it was.
"Hello boys," said he, with an air mystery, "Jacob. Anthony. How are you two doing?"
"Cold," Jacob responded while trying to display an air of excitement. "I'm just... so excited to see you again, Uncle Chester." And they shook hands like men.
"It's great to see you again too, son. And Anthony." Anthony waved awkwardly at Chester.
"That was Chuck on the phone. Chuck is my campaign manager." Jacob's confused face in that moment  conveyed to Chester the necessity to explain what the meaning of the meeting was.
"Jacob," began Chester.
"Yes..."
"Do you want to see what real politics are like?"