"What did you want me to do?" Jack whined as he followed Jill into the bar.
She turned glaring at him and snapped, "How about doing the right thing? How about speaking up for what you know is right?"
"I think you were speaking up enough for everyone."
After that remark, Jill gave Jack a withering look of apocalyptic proportions. Even the artificial plants in the room wilted from her glare. She wheeled around and without saying another word stormed out of the bar. Jack slunk over to the nearest bar stool and plopped down. He was sitting next to Lupin.
"I'm no expert, my friend but when mama bar growls, you don't growl back less you're lookin' fur a fight." I suspect Lupin accentuates his backwoods vernacular to make his wisdom seem more homespun.
Jack nodded his agreement with Lupin's analysis and asked, "But tell me, what's a papa bear supposed to do when he finds himself on the opposite side of the porridge preferences?" Jack went on to tell Lupin all about the community meeting that had him caught between his girlfriend's too hard position on protecting the environment and his employers too soft position.
"So, you're looking for the Goldilocks, 'jus right,' solution. You want sumpthin' that's hard enuf to placate mama bar, and soft enuf not to piss off yer boss." Lupin shrugged and commiserated, "That's a rough one. I know that Pfeiffer fellar. He is a real weasel. In his mind, you are either fur him or agin him. I'm thinkin' Goldilocks might be outta luck."
Both Men mournfully consulted their beers.
After a bit, Lupin spoke up, "Isn't he up for re-election this Fall? Maybe the problem will jest go way?"
"Probably not," Jack sighed. "He is up for re-election, but he is always unopposed. There are not many civic minded people out there willing to get into a nasty political skirmish with an incumbent. And certainly not for a part time job like being a GID board trustee."
"So, why don't you run agin him?"
"Yeah, right," Jack's sarcasm was obvious. "I don't have the connections, or money, and I'm hardly that popular. All the people in my division blame me for our group being closed down. Even my new girlfriend is pissed at me. I doubt I could get elected dog catcher in this district. And if I lost the election, I'd definitely lose my job."
Lupin got very thoughtful and said, "You need to find someone who is really good at gaining people's trust, who is well known in the community, who is available to run, and who might have a bone to pick with the current KGID management."
"He'd need money too," Jack added to the list of obstacles. "Election campaigns cost."
"Actually, I have some green I'd be willing to put toward getting rid of that asshole Pfeiffer. And I think I may know some others willing to kick in. More importantly, I have a friend who has a way with people and he used to work for the KGID. He was recently fired so I'm pretty sure he'd be interested in seeing some changes in the district.
Jack perked up at this hopeful prospect and asked, "Do I know this guy?"
"You should. Most everyone around here does and you're the guy who fired him," Lupin said with a smirk.
"You mean Red?" Jack was caught off guard, but after giving it some thought he said, "Yeah, he'd be a good candidate, but I doubt he'd want to help me. I suspect he is not too happy with me right now."
"Maybe we can solicit Miri's hep to put him in a more furgivin' mood."
