My Kind of Town
Oh, Mr. President!
>> State Capitol
Some women would have been offended. But all Grace Ah Sun could manage was to blush and giggle like a young girl. Contentedly married and the mother of three grown children, Grace felt a surge of adrenaline bolt through her like she hadn't felt in years.
"Oh, Mr. President!" she said. "I'm speechless."
"I'm not asking you to give a speech, Grace," the former president said in the sincere voice that was largely responsible for his election. And then with his down-home chuckle that put everyone at ease: "All I'd like to hear is a 'yes.'"
"If you don't mind my saying so, sir, I'm amazed that you'd remember me. I mean, just a secretary."
"I was very impressed with you on my last visit. To be completely honest, Grace, I'd like to get to know you better. Get your opinion on a couple of things I'm working on."
"I really am flattered, Mr. President," she said, her heart doing a double flutter. "To answer your question, yes, of course, I'd be honored to have dinner with you."
"Wonderful! You've made my day, Grace. But do me one favor. Keep this to yourself, will you? Our little secret?"
Her heart raced, and Grace tried to tell herself that it was because the president respected her and her opinion. How flattering! But it was more than that. The last time her heart fluttered like this, she was a senior at Kamehameha, parked with Sheets in his Chevy up at Tantalus. But the man from Arkansas, he'd done it to her over the phone, long-distance!
>> Queen's Medical Center
Laird Ah Sun took a cab from the airport and was disappointed to learn that visiting hours didn't start until noon. Seeing his brother Lance was the biggest reason for this unplanned trip from Palo Alto. He had to come home after his mother left a message last night, saying Lance was out of the coma. That was great news -- Laird could talk with him. It was crucial, because when he spoke with their sister Lily yesterday, she confirmed his worst fears, that his younger brother was gay. She'd even met his boyfriend. Laird shuddered, thinking of the baths he and Lance took together as kids.
It was a basic part of the teachings of Christopher X.O. St. John -- Laird had discovered his "Jesus Was a CEO: The Gospel of Acquisitions" in his last term at Stanford Business" and it changed his life -- that homosexuality was a disease. St. John proved it in his just published "Jesus Was Straight, Mister: And You'd Better Be Too!"
Lance needed to hear that message, for his soul's sake.
Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin
with weekly summaries on Sunday.
He can be e-mailed at dchapman@midweek.com