The Smiths and Joneses (41 page)

              “Officer, you’re asking the wrong person. I only work here as the office manager. I suppose the lack of fuel deliveries may have something to do with the announcement last night.”

              “I don’t understand the connection.”

              “That doesn’t surprise me.”

              “Are you making an un-respectful comment?”

              “No officer, I would never do that.”

              While Marsha and Officer DeFranco are discussing the tone of her discussion Sean says, “Wolf, any ideas how we get to and from the Smith’s and then home?”

              “I could call the ‘Gray House’ to request the use of the DepLIES vehicles and fuel.”

              “That may be our only option. I’m going to get another cup of coffee before it too, runs out, while you make the call.”

              Five minutes later a smiling Wolf stands in front of Sean saying, “It’s all arranged, Officer DeFranco will take us and our crew to the Smith home while another squad from the DepLIES sends a fuel truck to take care of our plane.”

              “I hope they provide some security for the plane, since anyone seeing it fueled will be trying to steal the fuel.”

              “Believe me, no one will mess with a squad from the DepLIES.”

              “When will we leave?”

              “As soon as you’re finished with your coffee.”

              “Let’s go before things get out of hand.”

              “Sean, things never get out of hand here.”

              “If you say so.”

              Sean says, “This is the first time I’ve ever ridden in an armored MRAP.”

              Officer DeFranco responds, “Sir, I’m sorry; however, that word is no longer used. It’s on the daily word list.”

              Sean looks confused, “Officer, I’m not following you, what word? What’s a daily word list?”

              Wolf responds, “Sean, we’ve determined that certain words can effect different people, as such we’re very careful about which words we use. We don’t want to offend people.”

              “Wolf, I understand some words may offend some people, which is why even though the FCC has relaxed the rules, we still try to not use the famous ‘31’ words you can’t say on television. What I don’t understand is which word did I use that’s now a ‘bad word’ and what’s a daily word list?”

              Wolf responds, “You used the word, ‘MRAP,' that’s now a banned word. The daily word list is a list of words that’s usually, but not always, updated daily with the words that we shouldn’t use.”

              “Wolf, MRAP isn’t a word, it’s an abbreviation, how can MRAP be offensive?”

              “Sean, certain abbreviations are included in the list, MRAP may remind some people from Islamic backgrounds of the various wars in the Middle East. MRAP may remind those people of the times American and NATO troops invaded their countries. We try to ensure nothing we say or print will offend others. Its all part of our everyone is equal foundation of the LSA.”

              “Wolf, don’t you think you’re taking this too far? Issuing an updated list of words that may offend someone seems a bit of overreach.”

              “It isn’t if you lived here and worked as hard as we do to make everyone feel included.”

              “Wolf, if you say so.”

              Sean sits quietly for the rest of the ride wondering how to get his hands on the complete banned word list. Such a list would make a good program.

              The broadcast crew pulls up to the Smith’s home, this time there’s no one waiting for them on the front yard. As they drive down the street Sean notices that every house closes their blinds or shutters. Two houses along the street had their front doors open, someone started to step out, when they looked down the street they turned around and went back inside their homes. Sean thinks to himself; “It’s these vehicles. Everyone knows they’re DepLIES trucks. We’re scaring everyone. They think we’re here for one of them. It reminds me of history I read about the old Soviet Union. They’re afraid of us. They’re afraid they will be picked up and sent somewhere or to prison. These people live in deadly fear of their government.”

             
The convoy pulls up to the Smith’s house. Sean notices someone is peeking through the blinds. The blinds are pulled closed before Sean can figure out who it was watching them from inside the house. The broadcast crew starts climbing out of the vehicles; they unload the cameras, lights and sound equipment. The Smith front door remains closed, usually the door opens and Sissy runs out to welcome them. Sean thinks; “They’re afraid something has changed because of the vehicles we’re pulling up in.”

             
Sean walks to the front door; he rings the bell; Sharon opens the door with a concerned look on her face. “Hello Sean, is everything OK?” Her eyes look towards the line of DepLIES vehicles.

              “Hi Sharon, oh yes, we’re all fine. We had a little trouble with the rental cars, seems the depot was short of fuel something about a delivery not being made. Wolf arranged for these kind officers to give us a ride.”

              “I understand. Are they going to be waiting for you until the broadcast is completed this evening?”

              “Yes, is there a problem?”

              “No, not at all, will they be spending their time inside or outside our house?”

              “I really don’t know, does it matter to you where they spend their time?”

              “Yes, I think it would be easier on the children if they waited by their vehicles.”

              “I think I understand, I’ll talk to Wolf.” Smiling Sean walks over to Wolf. “Wolf, may I see you for a minute?”

              “Sure, what’s up? Problems?”

              “Is officer DeFranco going to come into the Smith house or wait for us by the vehicles?”

              “I think it’s going to be very crowded if they come in with us, is there a problem?”

              “No, not at all. I’ll see you inside.”

              The crew starts setting up for the broadcast when Scott enters the living room asking, “Dad, I left one of my school eBooks at Randy’s, can you give me a quick ride to his house to pick it up?”

              Whispering to be as silent as possible Jason says, “Scott, you know with the new fuel rationing, we need to conserve the energy in the cars.”

              “But dad their electric, they don’t run on gas.”

              “Son, the fuel shortage effects the generation of electricity, which is why we were blacked out this morning. The cars take much longer to charge on a lower voltage. They're not charged from our drive to work yesterday. Do you really need your book today?”

              “Yes, I have a project due, my notes are written in the border of the book.”

              “Can Randy email those pages to you?”

              “I’ll ask him.”

              Scott returns a few minutes later, “Dad, Randy said they don’t have any power in his area. It’s supposed to be off all evening. He can’t send my notes to me.”

              Sean says, “Jason, I didn’t mean to listen in to your conversation, how about we ask Officer DeFranco to take Scott to his friend’s house.”

              Scott looks terrified, “Mr. Sean, it’s OK. I’ll do without it. No, there’s no need to bother the officer. I’ll call Randy, maybe he can read me my notes or enough of them so I can complete my assignment without the book. Please don’t ask the officer. I’m going upstairs until you’re set up for the broadcast.”

              Sean realizes that Scott is truly terrified of the officer, maybe the DepLIES is hated and feared here more than the KGB was in the Soviet Union. He decides to not to mention anything about the special driver they had this evening.

              In two hours everything is set up, Sean and Wolf welcome everyone back to the program. “Jason, Sharon, Scott and of course Sissy, thank you for having us back with you today. First of all, is there anything new you’d like to discuss with us or with the viewers?”

              Jason looks up, smiling, he says, “Hello again everyone, not much has been new over here in the previous 48 hours, we hope everyone watching has been well
.” 

              Before Jason can finish his sentence, Sissy says, “Daddy, you know that’s not true. We didn’t have ’lectric most of the today; that’s what’s new. No heat, no TV, no phone, things are all turned off.”

              The look of terror flashes over Sharon’s face. “Sissy, you know this is a game we were playing. See we have electricity. If we didn’t how could Mr. Sean or Mr. Wolf do their program from here?”

              “Mommy, it came on bout hour ago, you said it would for the program. You said we were lucky because our street was going to have power tonight.”

              Sharon tries to change the subject, “Scott, how was your day at school?”

              “Mom, it was good. I left my school eBook at Randy’s, I think I’ll still be able to finish the homework without it.”

              Sissy looks out of the front door, “Mr. Sean, what kind of trucks are those you drove in today.”

              “Sissy, we had to hitch a ride to get here tonight.”

              “You hitched a ride with the black suits? Are you really one of them?”

              All of the color drains from Jason and Sharon’s face.

              Wolf, jumps in saying, “Why don’t you tell us about your neighbors and friends?”

              Scott and Sissy both nod yes, Sissy says, “You go first Scott.”

              “My closest friend lives four blocks away, none of the neighbors have anyone my age; that is except for the house three down to the left where a really cute girl moved into with her parents about two weeks ago. I’m trying to find an excuse to meet her.”

              Wolf laughs, saying, “Scott, I think you may have just solved that problem. I’m sure she’s watching; I’m sure you two will meet up tomorrow.”

              Scott mumbles under his breath, “She won’t have anything to do with me with a DepLIES convoy sitting in front of my house.”

              Wolf asks, “Scott, did you say something?”

              “No, no I didn’t. I hope I get to meet her. The rumor is she moved here from Seattle.”

              “Do you have any classes with her?”

              “No, wish I did.”

              Sean jumps in asking, “Jason, are you comfortable talking about the income tax burden here?”

              Jason looks as pale as the walls, he says, “Sure Sean, what would you like to ask?”

              “Jason, how much, in a percentage do you pay for all of your taxes?”

              “Sean, that’s a very good question, I don’t think I’ve ever counted it all up, let me start, there’s the national income tax of 55%, plus the state income tax of 10%, the right to live tax in Beaverton of 1%, there’s our real estate tax of, I think of it as a money amount, not a percentage.”

              “Jason, that’s ok, how much is it a month?”

              “It’s around $800 a month; there’s the personal property tax which is 2%.”

              “Jason, 2% on what?”

              “I’m sorry; it’s based on the book value of everything we own.”

              “Everything?”

              “Yes, every time we buy anything the new, the item is automatically added to our personal property inventory, so the government knows how much to send us in a biannual tax bill.”

              “Everything you purchase is recorded and tracked by the government?”

              “Sure, otherwise how would they know what our taxable deductions are?”

              “Don’t you have an accountant do your taxes?”

              “Why would we do that? The government sends us a spreadsheet outlining what we earned, what we spent, what our deductions are, what we owe or what refund is going to be deposited into our retirement account.”

              “The government sends you your taxes already filled out? If you’re due a refund, you don’t get it in a direct deposit?”

              “No, why would I? Any refund is deposited into our government managed retirement account. We’ll see it when we retire. Everyone’s purchases and incomes are tracked. The government has access to our credit cards and debit cards; they track what we spend. This also helps them work with their factories inventory planning. The factories take their manufacturing direction from the government.”

              Sean says, “I think it’s a good place to take a short break.”

Chapter 25

              The group comes back together in the living room. Just before Sean can continue the Smith’s home phone rings, “Incoming call from Debra Williams, incoming call from Debra Williams, accept or decline.”

              Sean says, “Sharon, take the call.”