This story is part of an ongoing series.
The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racism, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
***
Dedicated to Laura Branigan. Beautiful lady. Amazing voice. Gone too soon.
Part 1 - Prologue
Tuesday, February 25th. My daughter Tasha was four (FOUR!) years old today, and the kids were having a party at The Cabin. Carole, Marie, Jim, Ross, Ian, Betsy, Doug, Mike, and Jack Burke were in attendance. With Edward Steele at a Council meeting, Stephanie had brought Marie, Teresa had brought her boys, and Cindy had brought Betsy. Molly, who lived at The Cabin, was there as well.
And the evening was spent... watching DVR'd episodes of 'Supergirl' and 'The Flash' on television. That was followed by cake and ice cream. Your Iron Crowbar heated up some fudge and caramel so that the grownups (and I'm not sure who those were) could make ice cream sundaes. The kids (and I
do
know who those were) consumed the entire cake.
"Mmm, these Bessemer Butter Cookies are wonderful." said Stephanie Steele. "Please take them away before I eat too many and get fat!"
"I'm the choir. You are preaching to it." said Molly. "I love the Bessemer Sugar Cookies, too."
"Me three." I said agreeably.
Then came gifts. Carole gave Tasha two smaller-than-normal basketballs... because Tasha had asked for them. Jim gave Tasha an illustrated book written for children about how Courts of Law work... good stuff, seeing as Tasha's mother was an ADA and her father was a Police Officer.
Ian gave Tasha a book about cats, as Tasha was fascinated by Tiger Mom and her kittens. Mike, Doug, and (theoretically) little Jack Burke combined to give Tasha a doll house, complete with a couple of dolls... a white man and a black woman. Betsy may not have realized that she gave Tasha an 'advanced' coloring book.
And then came Marie's present. Yep, a booklet. Drawings of Tasha petting Tiger Mom; Tasha as a judge in Court, with her mother as an attorney before the Bench; Tasha playing with Carole and Marie; and Tasha with her dad, a red crowbar in
her
hands.
"Ahhh," I asked Tasha as I saw it, "are you going to earn a crowbar one day?"
"Yes, she will." Carole said. "Her whole team will, when she wins the Nash-u-null Champ-ion-ship in basketball."
"Write that one down, too." Cindy said, suiting the deed to her words with the 'Notes' app on her iPhone.
"So let it be written, so let it be done." I replied. "With what team will Tasha win a National Championship?"
"Daddy!" Carole chided me. "With the Wildcats,
of course!
"
Ross went last, and we were stunned when he gave Tasha a small box. Inside was a necklace, with the symbol of two fish... Pisces, Tasha's Zodiac sign.
"Oh wow, that's neat!" Tasha said, her happiness surprising us a bit... but what woman doesn't like to get jewelry on her birthday? Ross put it on Tasha, getting the clasp right the first time, and Tasha showed it off like it was one of the Crown Jewels.
"He saw it in the store, and said he wanted to get it for Tasha." Molly told me quietly a few minutes later.
"Maybe he had his own vibe." I said.
"Maybe." Molly said. "Ross is very good about organizing things, and his clothes in his drawers and the closet could pass a military boot camp inspection. I can see the wheels turning in his head when he's working on something, too."
I smiled, then said: "Jim is like that, too. Carole... not so much on the neatness, to her mother's dismay. But Carole has the powers of observation and deduction, and the Power of the Vibe on top of it."
Molly said "I wish Ian would develop those powers, too." Little did she know...
Part 2 - Midtown March Madness
"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!" shouted the redheaded MILF reporterette at 7:00am, Monday, March 2nd, from the KXTC studios. "The Legislative session for the year is becoming a disaster!"
Bettina began: "After failing to remove
deeply unpopular
Governor Val Jared by just one vote, cast by Republican Ross G. Edmunds, State House and Senate Democrats are showing no willingness to work with Republicans on the State Budget nor any other issues!"
Bettina: "Democrats, who control the State House, have passed several bills on purely partisan Party line votes. The 'Common Sense Gun Control' Bill would raise the legal age to own a firearm to 25 years of age, limit private ownership to one firearm of any type per household, outlaw all 'assault style' rifles, limit pistol magazines to five rounds, and would impose a $1-
per-round
tax on ammunition."
Bettina: "Also, as part of common sense Police reform measures, all ammunition purchased by Police Forces in the State would be taxed at a rate of $2-per-round. And Police would be limited in the quantity and type of firearms they can purchase, including a ban on 'assault style' or military-style firearms."
Bettina: "Other passed bills include common-sense measures to combat climate change, and an additional tax on the State's wealthiest citizens and businesses. The State Senate, controlled by Republicans, is blocking votes on these reasonable and important measures. Governor Val Jared has said he would veto those bills anyway, especially the common-sense gun control and climate change measures."
Bettina: "And while failure to pass a Budget will not harm the State this year, as it would operate on this past year's Budget levels, Val Jared would be leaving his successor of either Party with a potential disaster for next year. Legislators of both Parties blame Jared for the gridlock in the Legislature..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Holy Mother of God." Teresa gasped, her voice barely a whisper, as we drank coffee in the Chief's Conference Room. "Two dollars per round?"
"For the Police, yes." I said. "That's what Tasheeka Harris proposed as part of her