Free Fiction From The Message Books

From The Gospels According To Reverend Ike

This story is dedicated to our California Governor who thinks he (or those who run him) should run everything.
Betsy Ross Jackson finds Governor T.J. Funston at the fly fishing pond, in Neighborhood 9, District 8, where he has the place pretty much to himself. The sun is setting over the pond, the fish are biting like crazy and ducks are about to settle for the night. TJ uses the fly his daddy gave him, the one and only thing he inherited from the poor fisherman that was his father.

"This fly always works for me." Thomas Jefferson tells the local fish and fowl. "Fishing with it brings me more peace and enjoyment than any other thing on Earth. Maybe it's time for me to quit politics and live off my inheritance." the Governor adds, as he feels the tug of a fish on his line.

As he pulls in his fish, T.J. hears, "That's a real gift you have there." He thinks, maybe, the fish are talking back when Betsy Ross Jackson steps into the last rays of sunlight, to help the Governor gently take the fish from his hook and throw it back.

"You look like you need some company." Betsy Ross tells him.

"This is all my daddy ever needed." the Governor admits, holding the fly between thumb and forefinger. "He was a master fisherman. We had almost nothing growing up but we always had plenty of fresh fish to eat."

The Governor casts his line, again, as Betsy Ross Jackson sits in silent contemplation of his skill with the fishing rod. Betsy understands the value of such skills, passed from one generation to the next, down through eons of time.

"I thought my daddy was the greatest man in the world." T.J. admits and casts again. "I recall that we ate like kings in my father's house. He rarely could find work, but I can remember him out on a river or pond, bringing in the best those waters had to give us. I still marvel at his ability to feed his family so well, without selling all his time to somebody else, the way so many other fathers did."

The Governor hooks another fish and pulls it in. "He taught me everything he knew about fishing. The man could not read a book, but could he read a brook. It was like he was part of each river or pond and the fish were just coming home to their own."

TJ throws the fish back and watches it submerge, before it leaps from the water, sending drops of gold flying with a jump for joy. "I wasn't a fish out of water, 'till we settled down to live in one place." TJ explains. "It was when I went to school that I found out we were homeless. Before that, I just thought we lived in a lot of different homes and were having adventures." TJ casts his line again. "My mama insisted we stay in one spot, when it was time for me to get educated." the Governor adds. "The first thing I learned in school was how we were the poorest kids in the school. The second thing I learned was how to reel those other kids in, just the way my papa caught fish."

Dusk settles over the pond and fireflies begin to wink off and on, reflected in the water below, doubling their light. "I was running the place before the end of the third grade. That kept me mighty busy. No time for fishing then. It's been about the same ever since."

"A lifetime as a fisher of men." Betsy Ross proposes. "Why should you not continue that work?"

The Governor gives his line a tug, as it seems to have hit a snag. "Dang! " TJ says "What a mess."

"Do what your father advised." Betsy Ross reminds him.

TJ lets out some line, relaxes his pull and lets it float free. "Daddy always said that, 'Give it some slack and then let it flow.' Like I said, maybe I need to let go of my job."

"Or just give it some play?" Betsy Ross proposes. " I got an election coming up in a couple of weeks. A playful party platform would be different…it could even be fun."

Betsy Ross assures TJ. "Our leaders in Tiger Country had to prove they could play along with all the People, even the People who are not human. Before we trusted them to lead, they had to show us they knew how to have a good time and to make sure a good time was had by all."

"A democracy that includes all species? That makes convincing a human electorate sound like child's play." T.J. admits, as he feels a tug on his line, reminding him of the part fish play in the scheme of things. "How do I convince voters to play it that way?"

"Have Fun and Be Kind." Betsy Ross suggests, as she turns to leave.

"Don't go!" the Governor calls. "What if I need more advice?"

"I've left you something that can help."

Then T.J. sees something he has never seen before. As Betsy Ross walks away, fireflies swarm around her to illuminate her path.

Once back at the governor's mansion, T.J. puts up his fishing rod to answer the insistent ringing of his cell phone. "What do you want, Pricely?" T.J. Funston asks, knowing the call has to be from his Campaign Advisor.

"Ready for tomorrow's speech, Governor?" Pricely asks.

"I still have no idea what to say." the Governor admits. "I have fewer ideas with every day that passes."

"Nothing to say does not have to be a problem for a politician." Pricely reminds T.J. "It's worked for at least half the world's politicians, for centuries. Wasn't it a Roman Senator, who figured out that political oratory does not need to have significant content, it only needs to sound good?"

"It was a Greek, long before that Roman." the Governor admits. "The Greeks used to have story-telling contests. The one that could spin the best tale ruled the city. They proved that politicians don't have to be truthful, just entertaining."

"Well, many a national leader has followed in that fine tradition." Pricely comments. "I hope you can be one of them, Governor."

"Sorry to disappoint you." TJ says and hangs up. T.J. opens his tackle box to drop the phone into it when Pricely calls him right back. He sees a copy of the Gospels of the Abiding Light, left there by Betsy Ross, and makes a switch. " I still need a speech for tomorrow." he admits, pocketing the book. "This could come in handy."

Those who back the Governor would not have been so eager to support the politician had they seen T.J. before he consulted the Gospels of the Abiding Light, left in his tackle box the night before. The man was an undecided mess. Fortunately, a place in the book was marked for him, so he read:

A Blade Of Grass - As told to Ceceil Tambeau, Plan(e)t Appreciator

Unsure of your place in the scheme of things? Don't think anything is unimportant, just because it looks small or there are a bunch of others just like it. Don't think you're unimportant if you're one who is small and commonly found. Everything is important and everything, sooner or later, must be given its due.

Come to the garden as a simple blade of grass, if that is all you are. Others come as they are. Together you make a place for life, a garden of creative change. When all parts work together, the garden grows. You can do little by yourself, but with the help of others there is nothing that can't be done. Together, reach a balance, with all parts in harmony.

Then, act with an unwavering commitment to what is correct. Discern what is right and act accordingly; meet injustice with justice, feed the hungry when there is hunger, give solace where there is pain, give shelter to those who have been dispossessed. This, done in sincerity and openness, will create an environment for all blessings to flow from Creator. This fountain of creativity waters a garden where life flourishes and takes root.
- As told by South, the Pathfinder

"Sounds like a plan." T.J. Funston admits. He now has a little something to say.

"I have a little something to say." Governor Funston tells his viewing audience, at the debate.

His opponent, Samuel Boatright McMasters, has just given a brilliant speech on how he will lead the people of his State into a future much better than any they can possibly imagine. His is just the kind of speech T.J. made, in past races, to get himself elected.

"Been there, done that." TJ tells his audience. "Time for a reality check. No way I'm going to promise you all that. Anything that sounds that good we got to do together."

"So what do we need you for?" Sam McMasters asks T.J.

"Maybe you don't." T.J. answers, honestly. "Maybe you don't need a Governor at all. Elect me to another term and we could build the kind of society where you have no need for a Governor, ever again. You can govern yourselves."

"No Governors at all? " McMasters gasps.

"Face facts, Sam." T.J. shares with his opponent, and the millions of voters watching them both. "Most decisions should be made at a local level. What happens for our citizens is determined in their Neighborhood and their Districts, and then at the level of their Urban Council. Local government is more responsive to people's needs. We have Regional environment groups and National agencies to help coordinate the big changes we need to make in all our Urban Centers. Who really needs a State Government?"

"So why are you running if you don't want to lead?" Sam asks.

"I'll transform the Office of Governor. There should be a scaling down of State responsibilities and a gradual turnover of power to the People. I believe locals can do that better without a Governor."

"A politician who works to put himself out of office?" McMasters asks, totally baffled by T.J.'s current political tack. "A disappearing Governor sounds like the ultimate lame duck to me."

"I will move forward with the strength of all the People, Sam, not just with the strength of one. Alone I can do little, except safeguard the People from my own inferior Nature. Together we might restore true, participatory democracy."

With that, the Governor leaves Sam to debate with himself. McMasters goes on for ten more minutes before he notices that the Governor, the reporters and the audience have left the building.

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