Free arbitrate (daynight) by Megan Thomason Page A

“The devil’s in the details,” is.
    Henry stood with my aunt Elizabeth and their two daughters—my cousins Anne and Mary. They basked in the spotlight, waving to their constituency with smiles as fake as their promises.
    Finally, Henry stepped forward to the podium and waited for the crowd to settle. There were a few shouts of “We love you Henry!” that made it through before he was allowed to speak. His thank-you’s were interspersed with boisterous applause. And then he cut to the chase—lies wrapped in promises so beautiful that even staunch Republicans had a hard time looking the other way.
    “This great nation needs a reboot. A fresh start. A Clean Slate…”  
    “We want more . We want King.” The crowd chanted.
    “Our freedom is threatened daily. Terrorist incidents are on the rise. We need more security, more safeguards for our citizens.”
    “We want more . We want King.” Signs were waved furiously and the decibel level was stifling.
    “Our educational standards have fallen to sub-standard levels. We need more focus on education and greater consistency across our schools. Why should a child in a rich neighborhood get a better education than one in a poor neighborhood? I have repeatedly told you of the great success The Second Chance Institute has had with their pilot educational programs. Now is the time to give our children more opportunity.”
    “We want more . We want King.” Red, white, and blue confetti crowns rained down from the ceiling.
    “Our health care systems are a train wreck. The people of this great nation deserve better medical care and more of it. As it happens, I have a bit of an inside connection to some of the best doctors and scientists in the universe…”
    Laughter.
    “I’m pleased to announce that our private sector partner, The Second Chance Institute, has developed a universal blood test that can screen for cancers, chronic ailments, and autoimmune disorders. Under my leadership, every citizen will be offered this test, free of charge, on an annual basis.”
    Deafening cheers. Five men and women joined Henry on stage.
    “Paul was screened and a marker was found for colorectal cancer. He just finished a successful preemptive treatment and is expected to live a long life.”
    “We want more . We want King.” Flags waved and feet stomped.
    “Diana had been plagued with poor health for a decade. The new screen detected a rare autoimmune disorder. With proper treatment Diana’s quality of life will increase exponentially.”
    The introductions and cheers continued.
    “Let’s move on to a tough topic. Our nation is plagued with high unemployment numbers. Our people need more jobs. Places to live. Food on the table. The SCI Clean Slate Complexes prove that it is possible to give the poor and downtrodden a fresh lease on life without raising taxes and with complete self-sufficiency. No one should have to sleep on the streets or go hungry. A vote for King is a vote for more hope for every citizen’s future.”
    “We want more . We want King.” Balloons were unleashed rising into the air triumphantly—just like Henry’s ascent to political stardom.
    A security guard came and demanded that Alexa go up onto the stage. She reluctantly went, plastering on a fake smile as she climbed the stairs and stood by Henry.
    “Meet Alexa Knight. A few months ago, Alexa was living in the back of a van with her mother and brothers. An SCI bus happened upon her as she was being attacked by a methamphetamine addict. She was taken to a Clean Slate Complex, and she and her family were given food, lodging, medical care, jobs, and an education.” Alexa clenched her teeth at the mention of her mother. “Look at her now. Every fair citizen of our country deserves what Alexa has. They deserve more than they have now.”
    “We want more. We want King.” The crowd hungered for more as they ate up the lies with reckless abandon.  
    “We call you to serve. If you want more —take