The Governor smiled back and responded, “You know quite a lot for a man just moving to my state, Alec. I've been talking with a mentor of yours, one Frank Vaughn, former Congressman from Wisconsin. I have learned much about you, as well.”
“Such as?”
“We are like two peas in a pod, you and I. We drive ourselves, without mercy, as we strive for perfection. Perfection has no room for lies; there is only room for the truth. When we speak of some issue important to us, we tend to raise our voices, to almost shout out with our passion, quite unintentionally. Some times the passionate shouting becomes a detriment to selling our cause to those who misunderstand our reason for shouting.”
Alec nodded in agreement. “Been there, done that! We are type triple A personalities. For you and I integrity isn't just a word, it's our philosophy. You know, our waitress, Sally, is really very attractive, but I have no time for such things. I noticed your wedding ring. How have you found time to marry?”
“Being an active ball player only eight months a year doesn't keep a man very busy, I found the time back then. Lola Mae tried to slow me down at first, to force me to give more time to our relationship, but she realized that made me miserable.” He shrugged his powerful shoulders and added, “I really love my wife and I would never cheat on her. She knows that and is now comfortable with our relationship. Besides, when would I find time for two women?” They both laughed.
Sally brought their orders with her sparkling smile. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation, she said, “Enjoy your dinner, Gentlemen,” and walked provocatively away. The two men fell silent eating and thinking.
When Sally returned the next time, they were almost finished eating. She smiled at Alec and said, “You’re real cute when you're embarrassed, Professor. Is that your way of turning the girls on a little?”
He felt his face flush again and pretended to cough to cover his shyness. “No, I always get red faced from drinking beer.” He smiled back at her. Their eyes met. His eyes were pleading with her to drop the subject, while simultaneously begging her to continue.
She read him like a book and let him off the hook gently, hesitatingly. “Will there be anything else, Gentlemen?”
Red ordered two Drambuie and coffees. They both watched her walk away before Red restarted their conversation...
Sally brought their drinks, smiled at Alec once more and asked, “Will there be anything else, Professor?” She was ignoring the Governor and bestowing all of her attention on Alec.
Alec smiled and answered, “No.I'm fine, how about you Red?”
Red, feeling ignored, responded, “No, I'll just wait until you two are finished.” He smiled as Sally turned and walked away, again swaying suggestively. “I have just learned another thing about you, Alec.”
“What is that?”
“You are really horse shit when it comes to dealing with, or understanding beautiful women!”
They both laughed so loudly that they inadvertently received the attention of the other diners and the waitresses…
When Sally brought their check, she off handily said, “Goodnight Governor. I'll be seeing you tomorrow, Professor.”
Alec gave her a puzzled, quizzical look.
She explained, “Oh, I didn't tell you. I'm one of your students.” She flashed her blue eyes at them as she turned away, leaving them with their thoughts.
~~~
I used bits and pieces of Mr. Nelson’s scene above because it reflects the delightful charm and style of his writing. After reading the above, I actually found myself smiling.
The Appointee, however is not a work of humor, but rather a futurist suspense novel set in Washington DC . A well written and timely book that deals with corruption in politics and the struggles for reform.
Professor Alex Marshall is appointed as a senator to replace an aging and dying Minnesota Senator who can not fulfill his term of office. He is selected by the Governor (a Jesse Ventura personality) because he is a reformer, a man of integrity who the Governor is sure will finish what the dying senator has initiated in the hallowed halls of congress.
Enter, powerful lobbyist and mob members will stop at nothing to see that he doesn’t, even to the point of kidnapping the young senator and a sexy journalist who just happen to be getting an interview when the abduction takes place.
Mr. Nelson provides edge of your seat action and suspense which takes the reader on a thrill ride, from being waste deep in the underground sewage system of Washington, right into the U.S. Senate chambers.
Fun reading, super fast pace, great style, well developed characters, and as always with the Nelson mark, extremely thought provoking.
I highly recommend this book!
Jonathan David Masters
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