deflection in a tit-for-tat kind of way.”
“ It was deflection. That interviewer is counting on the ignorance of his
viewers to think A.I. has any control of how taxpayers' money is
spent.”
Mr. Haversham offered a grim smile. “Welcome to
politics.”
It was Daniel's turn to
rub his forehead. “The thing is, I'm not in politics. I don't even like them.”
His boss raised his hands to ward off further comment.
“You just got your feet wet this time. You'll be more prepared for
the next time.”
“ Mr. Haversham, when you said I would be on the water
treatment project, I thought I'd be working with Auto-Cad.”
“ I understand your concerns, I do. But for now, you're
our point man on this with the media.”
“ Does that mean you're considering professional public
relations?”
Haversham checked his watch. “What? No. Look, I have a
meeting in a few minutes. Marcy at the front desk has a new packet of
information to go over before your next interview.”
Daniel suppressed a sigh. “Which is when?”
“ Daily. At ten.”
“ Are you serious?”
“ The media wants tape in case they need something to
run on Metro. Keep it boring and scandal-free and you won't have to
worry about making the nightly news.”
With that, Daniel knew he was dismissed. He left his
boss's office and dutifully headed to the front desk to see about
that packet. His phone rang. When he checked caller ID he saw that it
was his mother.
Daniel pressed the connect button, already having some
idea about the nature of the call. “Hi, Mom.”
“ Daniel, what's going on? Your father said he saw you
on the news yesterday involved in some city council dispute or
something. I don't understand. I thought you got a job in
engineering.”
Me, too . “Uh,
how is Dad, by the way?”
“ He's fine. Please explain what's going on.”
Daniel ducked outside for a semblance of privacy. “Mom,
my firm has me working as a spokesman on a project. It's no big
deal.”
“ I'm surprised you'd go anywhere near politics after
what happened.”
He gripped the phone, staring at the street scene before
him with unseeing eyes. “Like I said, I'm acting as a spokesman for
my firm. I'm not involved in politics.” He closed his eyes. “I
have to go.” Daniel disconnected the call before she could respond.
With heavy steps, he headed to the front office and retrieved the
packet.
Once he had it in hand, he headed to Rose City Java. He
needed a dose of sustenance, and it had nothing to do with coffee.
***
Charity was surprised to see Daniel come in later in the
morning for his usual coffee break excursion. And she couldn't help
the little zing she felt when he met her gaze.
“ How are you today, sir?”
He quirked a smile—she didn't think his smiles would
ever grow old—and ordered his usual.
“ I don't know,” she said in a light tone, “you're
here at a different time of day. This might be the moment to go all
out and order something crazy.”
The light in his eyes dimmed for some reason. “I'll
just have the same, thanks.”
Charity felt she'd erred in some way. With a tight
smile, she filled his order and accepted his payment.
He went to an empty table after a mumbled thanks.
What did I say? She'd been feeling down when he hadn't shown at his usual time. So,
she'd spent the time thinking of clever things to say if he came in
at all. Except now they didn't seem so clever. Not when her words
made his smile fade.
Maybe it didn't have to do with anything she said. He
could just be in a funk. Maybe he was worried about work. There could
be many reasons.
I just wish I knew what it was .
Even more, I wish I had the right to ask—except I
thought I wasn't interested .
“ So, what's up with Loverboy?”
“ Jessie!” she hissed. “Keep your voice down.”
“ He can't hear us all the way over here.”
“ All the way over here is like fifteen feet. Now,
hush!”
He dropped his voice to a whisper. “What's wrong
“ It was deflection. That interviewer is counting on the ignorance of his
viewers to think A.I. has any control of how taxpayers' money is
spent.”
Mr. Haversham offered a grim smile. “Welcome to
politics.”
It was Daniel's turn to
rub his forehead. “The thing is, I'm not in politics. I don't even like them.”
His boss raised his hands to ward off further comment.
“You just got your feet wet this time. You'll be more prepared for
the next time.”
“ Mr. Haversham, when you said I would be on the water
treatment project, I thought I'd be working with Auto-Cad.”
“ I understand your concerns, I do. But for now, you're
our point man on this with the media.”
“ Does that mean you're considering professional public
relations?”
Haversham checked his watch. “What? No. Look, I have a
meeting in a few minutes. Marcy at the front desk has a new packet of
information to go over before your next interview.”
Daniel suppressed a sigh. “Which is when?”
“ Daily. At ten.”
“ Are you serious?”
“ The media wants tape in case they need something to
run on Metro. Keep it boring and scandal-free and you won't have to
worry about making the nightly news.”
With that, Daniel knew he was dismissed. He left his
boss's office and dutifully headed to the front desk to see about
that packet. His phone rang. When he checked caller ID he saw that it
was his mother.
Daniel pressed the connect button, already having some
idea about the nature of the call. “Hi, Mom.”
“ Daniel, what's going on? Your father said he saw you
on the news yesterday involved in some city council dispute or
something. I don't understand. I thought you got a job in
engineering.”
Me, too . “Uh,
how is Dad, by the way?”
“ He's fine. Please explain what's going on.”
Daniel ducked outside for a semblance of privacy. “Mom,
my firm has me working as a spokesman on a project. It's no big
deal.”
“ I'm surprised you'd go anywhere near politics after
what happened.”
He gripped the phone, staring at the street scene before
him with unseeing eyes. “Like I said, I'm acting as a spokesman for
my firm. I'm not involved in politics.” He closed his eyes. “I
have to go.” Daniel disconnected the call before she could respond.
With heavy steps, he headed to the front office and retrieved the
packet.
Once he had it in hand, he headed to Rose City Java. He
needed a dose of sustenance, and it had nothing to do with coffee.
***
Charity was surprised to see Daniel come in later in the
morning for his usual coffee break excursion. And she couldn't help
the little zing she felt when he met her gaze.
“ How are you today, sir?”
He quirked a smile—she didn't think his smiles would
ever grow old—and ordered his usual.
“ I don't know,” she said in a light tone, “you're
here at a different time of day. This might be the moment to go all
out and order something crazy.”
The light in his eyes dimmed for some reason. “I'll
just have the same, thanks.”
Charity felt she'd erred in some way. With a tight
smile, she filled his order and accepted his payment.
He went to an empty table after a mumbled thanks.
What did I say? She'd been feeling down when he hadn't shown at his usual time. So,
she'd spent the time thinking of clever things to say if he came in
at all. Except now they didn't seem so clever. Not when her words
made his smile fade.
Maybe it didn't have to do with anything she said. He
could just be in a funk. Maybe he was worried about work. There could
be many reasons.
I just wish I knew what it was .
Even more, I wish I had the right to ask—except I
thought I wasn't interested .
“ So, what's up with Loverboy?”
“ Jessie!” she hissed. “Keep your voice down.”
“ He can't hear us all the way over here.”
“ All the way over here is like fifteen feet. Now,
hush!”
He dropped his voice to a whisper. “What's wrong
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