The Anthonys




“Well,” Mark said, “Carl Anthony’s finishing his second term, but he’s supporting his vice president’s bid for the office. He and his wife are campaigning in major population centers. And his daughters are stumping in smaller markets.”

“Like this state!” Thomas said. He sounded exciting.

“They’re going by here?” Electra asked.

“They’re HERE!” Thomas said. “Their bus broke down on the freeway.”

“And while they’re waiting for it to be fixed,” Mark went on, “they thought they’d take advantage of the radio stations here in town.”

Electra started to bounce on my palm. “I can meet Amelia?”

“Sweetheart,” Mark said, “I want you to interview her.”

“You do?” she asked.

Mark nodded. “Sure. You’re a natural.” He nodded towards his boss. “Thomas has arranged for two radio interviews.”

“We’ll play Samantha’s tonight, and Melissa’s at lunch tomorrow,” he said.

“On which station?” I asked.

“All of them!” he said, eyes flashing.

“But I thought,” Mark said, “We could also have a sylph interview their sylph.”

“I don’t know anything about interviews,” Electra protested.

“Nonsense. I was listening. You’re a natural. And I have to assume you know more about sylph issues than you do about pitchforks and castles.”

“She does,” I said. “She’s all the time hogging the paper if there’s a sylph story.”

“Great,” Mark said. He noticed Electra hugging herself, curling into a ball in my hand. “Okay, relax. We haven’t even suggested it yet. If they agree, we’ll give it a try and see how it comes out.”

“You’ll explain that she’s not and never was a journalist?” I suggested. Thomas nodded vigorously. “So, we’re doing this?” I shrugged. Electra gave a tiny nod. “Okay. I’ll call them back!” He ran off to make the arrangements.

Mark started rearranging the set. I carried Electra to the corner to get out of their way. Then I had a thought and grabbed the carrier to go sit in the booth.

“I don’t know what to do!” she wailed when we were alone.

“Bullshit,” I said. “For one thing, you are perfect at getting people to talk to you. EVERYONE at school remembers you fondly for that.

“For another, you are smarter than any of the radio personalities, especially about sylphs, sylphing, sylphitude, sylph legislation-“

“Shut up,” she said, but with a smile. A small smile, but it was a start.

“Third, the Anthonys are pushing a pro-sylph agenda, right?”

“Not really,” she replied. “I mean, it’s not a sylph superiority thing. They ARE asking for a more rational approach to the sylph issue. Less frantic paranoia, maybe some individual rights, some protections.” She looked up at me suddenly. “Is that your point? That I know all this stuff?”

“No, my POINT is that they’re campaigning for political reasons. If you don’t know the questions to ask, they’ll answer them anyway.”

I saw her relax quite visibly at that. Hands came down to her sides and she leaned back against my fingers. “I suppose.” She gave me a speculative look. “You know, just when I decide you’re a complete idiot…”

“People are easy,” I said. “Facts? Those are hard.” I pet her hair for a moment. “So, you ready to get ready?”

“OH! I can’t wear a body suit! Not to interview Amelia! Not to MEET Amelia!”

“Are you going to be fractious?” I asked.

“No, no, no! She’s FAMOUS! I mean, not just for being part of the first family, or for shrinking on TV! She was a HERO that day! And she’s written articles! For Cosmo, for Vogue, for Playboy…”

“I can see we need to calm you down,” I said. I reached for the carrier. There’s a little compartment on one side of the thing. The instruction manual it came with called it the leash slot.

“No! No, what are you doing!?!” she cried.



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Index

22. Studio Attention

24. Introductions