The Air Out There

It was a steamy day in The City Centre. The heat rising from the concrete and climbing up the multi-story office buildings created wavy vapor distortions everywhere Melody looked. She wore a stylish and lightweight romper to help beat the heat but still look the part of an aspiring politician for the cameras. Her car was waiting in front of the city administration building surrounded by people waving signs and banners supporting her campaign for county commissioner over Eagle's Roost and the surrounding area. The black, four-door, sedan sat on its own tiny island of pavement among the onlookers. Melody smiled. She had been well known, maybe even famous, for quite some time. Her modeling career was successful beyond question. Her acting career had never really taken off, but a few bit parts had still given her exposure and facial recognition that helped in political campaigns. She knew in her heart that this expensive sedan would be replaced by an even more luxurious limousine in the future. As her attache opened the door for her the boiler purged a tiny burp of steam that blew past her on the ground, blasting her with both the steam and the pavement heat. She fanned herself daintily as she settled into the car.

Her campaigning today included The Bull's Run, the poorest part of Eagle's Roost. To many, The Bull's Run was not exactly even part of Eagle's Roost any longer. Long ago the city had moved and The Bull's Run, once the inner city of the former municipality, was now outside the city proper, but still within the city limits. The drive to the outskirts was uneventful, round and round the winding city streets that deteriorated from new and maintained to neglected or even completely abandoned. There, in what was once a lovely garden park, Melody began her speech on a dried-out and cracked concrete fountain. With hands held out in a welcoming gesture, moving in professionally choreographed motions, Melody addressed the small handful of people that had arrived. "I promise to address the neglect that the city has allowed to overwhelm you all the outskirts of town! You are not outcasts, to me, just by being outside The Centre!..." She had much more to say but paused for the customary cheer after her campaign promises. Instead of a cheer, however, there was a question. From the middle of the small group, a woman in her mid-forties with thinning hair, dressed in her best summer dress that was faded from years of being her best, shouted," What about our 'lectricity?" Melody had not heard of any problems with electricity. Melody paused a moment trying to recalibrate her speech to speak to the woman as well as the rest of the community. "We don't have power out here unless we got a generator, and teslators cost a lot!" The woman continued. Melody could not continue as planned. "Do I understand you correctly that you don't have electricity right now?" She asked. "No ma'am, no air conditioning in this heat, no laundry, no lights, no cookin 'lest you got gas stoves," the lady replied. Melody drew herself up straight and pointed to empty, antique power poles," It is unacceptable that those who already feel powerless are left in the dark without life-saving power! How many elderly have suffered early deaths from lack of electricity! I promise to create and push through a bill that will provide power to The Bull's Run and Truitt areas of Eagle's Roost! No one will have to live in darkness and squalor when I am commisioner!" The group gathered at the small campaign meeting applauded half-heartedly. Those with generators didn't particularly care. Those who did care did not believe the government would act. Melody, however, felt the gust of inspiration breathe life into her burgeoning political career. This was something widespread and important enough to ride to every level of governmental success in the nation. Quickly wrapping the speech, Melody got back to her car and the driver headed back to The City Centre. Melody was on the phone already, there were plans to make and people to consult. Big changes were coming to Eagle's Roost, no....to the nation!