Free The Good Doctor's Tales Folio Nine by Randall Farmer Page A

age.”
    “Not better than mid-level, for a Focus of her promise?” Delia said.  Over at the bandstand, the band, some of Grace Johnson’s people, started to tune up.  The room became even louder as everyone raised their voices over the band.
    “Gail’s taking her household down an entirely new path,” Tonya said.  “Like Inferno, her household has tremendous potential, but also like Inferno, it’s going to take years to come together properly.”
    “So no bigger things for Gail and her household for now,” Delia said.  “I hope they can afford the years.”
    “I hope so, too.”  Tonya watched Gail thoughtfully, over by the punch bowl and so happy she bubbled.  Bigger things, Tonya thought, and wondered what Delia meant.  Gail had made a decent start, especially given her initial troubles, and she had a good heart to keep her honest.  Her leadership style was ‘barely controlled chaos’, which meant weak central leadership and a lot of household power invested in her Transforms and normals.  She read household authority on quite a few of Gail’s people, especially in Van, the best man, and Gail’s maid of honor.
    “The big test will come when Gail’s charisma fully comes in,” Tonya said, flickering her eyes over at Linda Cooley, trying to hide the fact she snorted down some expensive noxious drug as if it was play money.  Tonya strongly suspected Linda used her potent yet motherly charisma to score herself ‘product samples’.  “Quite a few Focuses fall by the wayside due to the temptations inherent in strong charisma.  If she can handle her charisma, and her household matures, she’ll be Council quality.”  The Council could use another strong competent Focus.  Esther Weiczokowski, the Midwest region rep, wasn’t truly Council quality, in Tonya’s opinion.
    “Council quality?”  Delia made a face.  “What a hell of a thing to curse some young Focus with.  Couldn’t you steer her toward something less destructive, like Focus Rizzari’s Cause?”
    “You think it might be better to let her grow into her power and not be forced into it out of necessity?” Tonya said.  Delia nodded.  “That might be for the best.  If we can afford it.”
    Delia smiled.  Tonya took another sip of punch and picked at the wedding cake on her plate.  Over at the bandstand, the band, all Transforms, segued into ‘Octopus’s Garden’ at a volume that shook the rafters.  Tonya appreciated the jazz they had started with, but the young folks wanted to dance.  Gail’s father went charging up and the notes faded off as he hollered at them to play something more suitable for a first dance.  Tonya smiled and shook her head.  The band must be either new at weddings, or flustered by their audience.
    As Gail had walked up the aisle, she had caught Tonya’s eyes, and Tonya had read in them love.  Why did this innocent young Focus think so much of her?  Despite their phone conversations, some that had gotten harsh, despite the mind scrape in Keaton’s house, Gail still treated Tonya like royalty.  As if she was some kind of saint.  A miracle worker, a saver of lives.  After so long as the Wicked Witch of the East, it was a decided jolt to have a young Focus think she was a saint rather than a demon.  This would be a lot to live up to.
    Tonya wasn’t sure how close she was ready to be with Gail.  She liked Gail well enough, but real friendship?  So weak and yet so strong.  So morally good .  Far too far on the other side of a rather large generational divide.  Gail’s little ordeal with Adkins and the mind scrape at Keaton’s was nothing compared to what the first Focuses would put Gail through if Gail tried to grab real power.  What the first Focuses had put Polly and her through when they became Council members together was beyond rough.
    Even after freeing herself from the Patterson tag, Tonya still wasn’t sure if what she and Polly had suffered through to get onto the Council