Collaboration, part II

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We had some fun with a collaborative fiction thread last week. I hesitated to start another one, hoping that someone else would do it. But nooooooooo, so tentatively I begin anew. I hope some gals will get involved this time.

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Wilhemina Bernreuter had spent her first 24 years trying to prevail over her name. She was smart and attractive but the name conjured images of a down-home, knock-kneed bumpkin. It didn't help that was raised in Dodgeville, WI.

She graduated from UW with an MS in Poly Sci and was burning to go to DC to set the world right. She had a written recommendation from Prof Carlson and she didn't have to sleep with him to get it altho she would not have minded. He was "groovy", to use one of his 60s expressions.

Prof Carlson also had arranged an interview for a staff position with the newly elected Congress Person Laura Johanson from Madison. Willy was excited, she wanted to work for social-justice and against the reactionary Dubya.

She sat in the ante-room and nervously straightened her skirt in preparation for the 10:00AM interview with Johanson's Chief-of-Staff Marilyn La Follette.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 22, 2001

Answers

You couldn't tell by looking at her, but when she spoke, it became apparent that Willy had become indoctrinated by communist propaganda that oozed from Prof. Carlson like a dairy queen milkshake. Carlson was a CIA operative, who had set up the meeting with La Follette, another pinko cell leader. Even though none of them realized it, they were all dupes for the international bank cartels, and their activities. played out to actually maintain the status quo by creating and controlling the opposition.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), February 23, 2001.

The door to the inner office opened. Willy gasped. There stood the most handsome man she had ever seen. Six feet, about 200 lbs, black wavy hair with penetrating blue eyes and an amused but welcoming smile. His shoulders were broad, his stomach flat. He moved like an animal ready to pounce.

He wore a gray blazer, a blue oxford-cloth shirt, a red and blue repp tie, gray cuffless slacks and glossy brown loafers. The outfit was the epitome of square but Willy was sure that under those dowdy duds was a body buffed and ready.

He smiled and said "Good morning Ms Bernreuter. I'm Marilyn La Follette. Please come in".

As he turned to enter the office, his jacket opened and Willy briefly saw the blue steel revolver at his belt.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 24, 2001.


The office was spare. There were three straightbacked chairs around a bare wooden table.

They chatted for half an hour. Pleasant, aimless chat, but somehow directed. He was gently digging, searching for her motivations, passions, toughness.

Abruptly he stood, "Ms Bernreuter, we have no positions open on Congressperson Johanson's staff. But we are looking for someone to work on a special assignment. We want a young woman, highly motivated, intelligent and good looking. Someone unknown in DC. It could be dangerous. I cannot say more here. Would you like to hear more?"

Willy was frightened but intrigued. She heard herself say "yes", maybe too eagerly.

"Good" said La Follette. "Are you free tonight?"

"Tonight is fine", she said even though she had a date with the lumpy guy she had met on the plane.

"Seven o'clock, at Chez Paul in Georgetown? Bring your appetite".

"I might bring my diaphragm too" she mused as she smiled goodbye.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 25, 2001.


La Follette made more small talk with the young woman, then he concluded the interview by politely showing her to the door. She was perfect for the assignment, one he couldn't risk giving to anyone who was known in DC.

When she had left, he made a phone call on the secure line. A gruff voice answered, one that had been made raspy from too much tobacco and too many long nights on stakeouts in polluted foreign cities. "This is Hoffman," the voice on the other wheezed.

"La Follette here. This morning's candidate is perfect for the project. Should she begin tonight?" He straightened his tie.

"The sooner, the better. And make damned sure that she doesn't have any CIA connections. We don't need any more trouble."

"I will, Sir. Is there anything else that you want me to do this morning?" He hoped not. He had several urgent projects to complete before Ms. Johanson's late afternoon staff meeting.

"Yes. Phone Mr. Williams and tell him about the new candidate. She's pretty, I hope. That name is unfortunate."

"She is attractive. I'll phone Mr. Williams at once."

"Good." Hoffman hung up without saying goodbye.

La Follette consulted his Palm Pilot and then dialed another number on the secure phone. Williams wasn't in. He left a terse message. Williams was probably drinking a mid-morning cup of coffee at The Club. He could picture the old bulls sitting around in deep leather chairs. Would he live long enough to join them? Ever since the ill- fated attempt on his life last month, he caught himself wondering.

His thoughts returned to the interview and Wilhemina, "Willy," Brenreuter. Perhaps there would be time for a private session with her before she met Williams. Perhaps... he remembered Deana, a DC call girl, he used to see. Willy looked a lot like her, smelled like her, too. He breathed deeply. A hint of her perfume still lingered. Then he called in Ms. Card, the temporary secretary, and assigned her several tasks.

-- kb (kb8um8@yahoo.com), February 26, 2001.


Lars, I'm going to bail on this thread. This one demands some type of set up for the young woman, and I've drawn a blank as to her "assignment." I toyed briefly with several scenarios, none of which interested me enough to write them down, unfortunately.

I wouldn't mind trying another story, but I think leaving the situation (and character) a little more open-ended works better for this type of writing.

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), February 27, 2001.



kb,

Yeah, I don't know what to do with it either. I don't even watch "West Wing", so I have little DC knowledge to draw on. Maybe someone else will start another story. Thanks for trying.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 27, 2001.


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