"I'll tell you about it later." To Grass he said, "Carl's actually in business with me. He owns ten percent of the dealership."
"You own a motorcycle dealership?"
"Sure, why not? The financials were good, they had a good business plan, and simply needed some angel investing. That was back in '82. We've known each other for twenty years or so, going back to high school. He might look like a crazy biker, but he's the smartest biker since Malcolm Forbes! He and Tessa do all right."
Tusker started handing out a few cups of beer to the guests, and we both refilled our own glasses. I had the grills turned on, and Marilyn brought out a giant Crock-Pot full of Michigan Sauce. "Is the grill ready?", she asked.
"Pretty much."
"Well the little ones are going to be getting hungry."
"Okay." Marilyn went back inside, to check on things. I pulled a stack of burgers and some franks from the refrigerator under the grill. I opened the top of the grill, and started tossing on some burgers and hot dogs. Marilyn brought out a stack of paper plates, and we started lining up some rolls. We had a whole separate table for condiments and veggies and other stuff.
Grass kept asking questions, almost as much about my business as about my politics. Jake Junior introduced him to Barry Bonham from Tough Pup, which had just announced a major expansion. Even though the economy was slowing, people still were paying to take care of their pets. He asked the business people what would happen if I were to win, and they all pretty much shrugged. "Whatever happens, we're not shutting the company down. I won't be running it, but what we've built is too good to stop.", I explained. The others all agreed with me.
And then we had to stop talking, as the meat cooked and people started lining up for lunch. Some of the little ones had eyes bigger than their stomachs, and wanted two of everything. I would just laugh and tell them to come back for seconds, there was plenty more. Charlie's friend Johnny Parker came through a second time, after everybody else had firsts. Johnny asked, "Can I have another burger?"I drank some more beer, and smiled over at Bill Grass.
"Please!", prompted his mother, standing behind him.
"Please!", he said.
"I don't know. Do you want a Republican burger or a Democratic burger?", I asked, giving his mother a wink.
Lurlene Parker laughed at this, and Johnny looked perplexed. "I'm too young to vote."
I looked over at Grass. "I'm courting the independent vote!" He snorted and laughed. I put a burger on Johnny's bun, and sent him on his way.
Lurlene held her plate and bun out as well. "What's the difference between a Republican burger and a Democratic burger?"
"Republican burgers are juicy and delicious. Democratic burgers get dropped on the ground."
That got another laugh. "Today I'm a Republican."
"Yeah? Why do I think that is going to last only until you get your burger?"
I put a burger on her bun and sent her off after her son. After she got a few feet from me, she looked back over her shoulder and yelled out, "Vote for Stewart!"
"You're killing me, Lurlene, you're killing me! I swear to God, I'm going to raise your taxes, Lurlene!"
She laughed maniacally and wandered off. A minute later I saw her laughing with my wife and a few of the other women. I knew I was going to get requests for a few more Republican burgers before the end of the day. The first request came from Fletcher Donaldson. His I mimed dropping on the grass.
The party began winding down around six or so. We suffered through the usual stuff. A little boy stubbed his toe running around the pool and had to get bandaged up and sent home. Somebody had too much beer and was napping in the pool house. A little girl managed to step in puppy poop that we had missed during the cleanup and cried. By seven it was down to just about a half dozen of us, Marilyn and me, the Tusks, Brew McRiley, Jake Junior and his fiancé, and John and Helen. The reporters had gone and we were all just sitting around the back deck.
"Screw it.", I announced. "We're doing the cleanup tomorrow."
"I am with you!", agreed my wife.
"So, Carl, what are you going to do after you win?", asked Junior.
"That assumes I'm going to win. Right now it's too close to call.", I said, shrugging.
He snorted. "Have you ever lost at anything? You're going to win!"
I laughed and looked at my wife. "Who are you voting for, me or Andy? Who'd you vote for in the primary?"
There were several astonished reactions around the group, since most people weren't aware Marilyn was actually a Democrat. She immediately protested, "You, of course!"
"Okay, you get a Republican burger next time.", I told her, which got quite a few more laughs.
"How are you going to live in Washington?", asked Tessa.
I made a wry face at that. "No idea. Whenever I've gone there before, we usually stayed at the Hay-Adams, but I don't think I can do that long term."
It was John who said, "Get an apartment or buy a house. Something big. You'll need to entertain occasionally."
I nodded in understanding. "I've heard that." I looked over at Marilyn who looked back, curiously. "Cocktail and dinner parties, etc, etc. If I win, we'll have to buy a house down there. You don't want an apartment, do you?"
"No. Does that mean we have to move!?"
"No. You mean, away from here? No way! I bet it's close enough I can drive down, stay a night or two, and then drive back easily enough.", I told her. No way did I want to move!
Marilyn looked relieved at that. Then John said something interesting. "Why drive? Fly! It can't be a half an hour by plane or helicopter. Go from Westminster right to downtown DC at National."
I gaped at my old friend for a moment, and then turned to Marilyn. "You know, that might actually work! I might even be able to make it home for dinner some nights. Or you could bring the kids down occasionally. I know you hate driving."
"You can drive, I'll fly!"
Melanie Something-or-other, Junior's fiancé, stared at us for a moment, and then she exclaimed. "You would fly back and forth to Washington from here!? That would cost a fortune!"
Some of the others laughed, since Melanie obviously didn't know how much money I had. It was compounded when John added, "Sure, why not? You've been wanting to buy a jet for a few years now. This is a good excuse!"
"Give me a break! I am not buying a G3 - and you know that's what we'd need anyway - just to fly fifty miles back and forth! We'd barely get the wheels up before we were landing again! That's silly, even for me!"
John laughed at me, and Melanie gaped. "You'd buy an airplane?"
I just waved a hand. "Yes, but not to commute like that! For that trip I just need a Piper Cub on steroids."
Junior asked, "So, what happens with the company after you leave? They'll never let you run it and be a Congressman at the same time."
"No, that won't happen. I'll still be the majority owner, but they can't make me sell my shares." I glanced over at John, who simply smiled and nodded back. "Okay, now's as good a time as any. If I win, and right now that's a damn big if, well, I've already talked it over with John and your Dad. If I win, you'll be named Chairman, and Missy will be named President. John goes into semi-retirement as Chairman Emeritus, and your father stays as the Treasurer, and they still run around and smack your heads. You and Missy going to be able to get along that way?", I asked.