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My Kind of Town

by Don Chapman

Saturday, April 21, 2001


Company and counsel

>> State Capitol

The President's invitation could have been construed by some women as an indecent proposal. But Grace Ah Sun was taking it almost in stride. It was nothing new for men of power to seek her company and counsel. Before she was the senator's executive secretary, Grace had been file clerk and administrative assistant and secretary to powerful men, from estate trustees to council members, all starting as a young woman with a Big Five VP who had close ties to the Democrats.

Grace was a stately woman, of Hawaiian-Chinese ancestry, and despite three children and 53 years she kept a figure that made men half her age sneak wishful glances. Not to mention the occasional hint. Grace was never interested, no matter how handsome or charming the hinter. She worked the phrase "oh, my husband" into enough conversations that the world knew she intended to remain faithful to her marriage vows.

She was also a powerful woman in her own right. The only way you got to see the senator was through Grace the Gatekeeper. And she was not shy about expressing opinions. But she always spoke in human terms. It wasn't until she mentioned how much her neighbors, who had three teen-age drivers, were paying for their auto insurance that the senator decided to support insurance reform. Sen. Donovan Matsuda-Yee-Dela Cruz-Bishop-Kamaka was among the many leaders, including Sen. Inouye and Gov. Cayetano, who had adjusted policy because of her down-to-earth wisdom.

But this was not the chairman of the Pearl City Neighborhood Board or even the Director of Conveyances on the line. This was the President of the Greatest Nation on Earth. And Grace understood that this presidential invitation intimated more than dinner.

"I'm honored, Mr. President," she replied, trying not to tremble.

"So am I, Grace," the Leader of the Free World said. "I'll call you when I get to Honolulu."

>> Eden Off Kuhio

Lance Ah Sun understood that if he didn't meet Greg at the Capitol for the demonstration in support of the hate crimes bill, their relationship was over. But Lance would die to keep Greg in his life. That didn't make sense, but it's how he felt! And in matters of the heart, as his hero Randy Shilts said, what do logic and reason have to do with anything?

Lance was so excited about his decision to come "out" he just had to tell someone. As always when he needed an ear, he turned to his big sister Lily.




Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com



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