"Hey Via, can you come here a second?"  Will asked nicely, by screaming from his desk across the hall to her office.  

"I need your help with this speech."  He was still scribbling notes on his pad as Via entered the office.  He looked up at her and smiled.  He picked up his papers and made sure they were in order.  

"Speech, for what?" Via asked as she sat in her customary chair on the other side of his desk.  

"City Council.  18th District.  Downtown Detroit." 

"What the hell are you talking about, Will.  Have you lost your mind?"

He smiled, and continued.

"No, just listen.  Tell me if this is okay."

She was able to shake her head and agree at the same time as Will prepared his speech.

"Okay" He got up and walked around.  He pretended to shake a few hands, offered some waves, and a wink or two to nobody in particular.  A thumbs up to a chair, and a smile to the scotch, and then  he opened his remarks.

"Ladies and Gentlemen."  Another wave, another thumbs up, and a ridiculous wink. "I've walked the streets, and I can tell you that I still see so much bitching, whining, complaining and even crying.  I can't ... "

Via interrupted, "You can't say that.  You have to say something like, I'm hearing the concerns of the people..."

Will nodded, "Oh, that's good."

He continued, "...concerns of the people.  I want you to know that I think these concerns are fucking ridiculous..."

Via laughed and shook her head, "No, no, no!  You cannot tell people their concerns are ridiculous.  You have to say something like.  I've heard your grievances, and I plan to address each and every one.  They love that shit."

Will scribbled down some more notes, then continued, "...heard your grievances, and I plan to address each and every one.  So, take a minute, pull up your kiddie pants..."

She put up her hand, and smiled. "Ah, can I make a little correction there?  You can't call these people that you want to vote for you children.  You have to have some finesse.  Try something like:  You can trust me to make sure you have representation in our fine city. "

"Okay, Okay" Will continued, "Finally, I plan to weed out all these silly secret or unsecret societies whose intention it is to shovel shit on society..."

Via threw up her hands, "Will, you definitely can't say that.  You should say: I respect these community based organizations, and think we can work together to make society great."

Will shook his head and crossed out more notes, then scribbled furiously.  He looked up to Via and sighed.  "I'm not sure I'm cut out for this public office shit.  You have to please everybody.  Shake hands.  Smile.  Kiss babies.  And you have to talk like...like a politician.  I'm not sure I can make everybody happy, and I certainly don't want to attach my lips to their asses."  

She smiled and asked, "Then why the fuck would you ever run for office?"

He stood up, ripped his papers, and tossed them aside.

"I'm not." 

She raised her eyebrow and clapped slowly.

"There you go." 

Via stood up and looked out onto the streets below.

"You're not running for office. You don't have to keep up with the political correctness. You don't need to kiss babies or shake hands."

Crossing the room, she brushes her fingers on his lapel, smoothing out a slight wrinkle near his collarbone.

"Wearing this bold suit, you answer to one person, and you lead several. You don't vie for votes. You earn this authorization. The Earned Auth. All that political stuff?"

She glances back to the torn papers on the floor.

"That's exactly where that belongs."