Chapter Twenty Two
BEN WAS ONCE alone. He was often the single dissenter, especially on budgetary matters. Yet, he finally found an opportunity where his single vote mattered, and it gave him a chance to express himself in a way few thought possible.
When the Student Government establishment broke in two over Don Daley’s rise to the Senate Presidency, Ben found himself on the Appointments Committee. This was a pretty powerful posting in of itself, since the group often worked collectively to reward their friends with vacant Senate seats. However, as it all too often happens in any government, politics seeped into the activities of the Appointments Committee. Soon enough, votes were breaking down on pretty reliable dividing lines. Daley and his allies shared one half of the committee; his opponents comprised the other half.
This situation left Ben in the middle, as the decisive factor in whose side won. It was here Ben’s voice found expression. He was also no longer truly alone…
“THANKS, JOHN. I am on the red carpet here in Hollywood as we await the premiere of the new Paramount movie, ‘A True Gator Party,’ based on the book of the same name. The studio has pulled out all the stops with this one, John. It’s a true gator party down here, complete with life-sized statutes in front of the theatre,” the reporter said as she pointed to a green sculpture of the swampy beast.
“When will we get to see some celebs?” he asked her.
“Well, they should start arriving any moment now. They are just trying to be fashionably late for the party.”
“Of course. Thanks Allison.”
The reporter posed for a few seconds before hearing, “And we’re clear,” from her cameraman. Not more than ten feet away, another journalism duo was just starting the same report she had made. It’s going to be a long night, Allison thought as she returned to her chosen spot along the ropes.
A WHITE LIMO pulled up, and the fans went berserk. The driver came around the vehicle and opened the door for his passengers. Out came some guy in an expensive Armani suit, with a matching yet subtle green tie. A young lady also popped out, dressed in a sparkling blue number from Dana Karen’s line.
The reporters were the next group to go crazy. “Mr. Adams!” shouted one. “Who’s the lady with you tonight?”
Mike grabbed his companion’s hand, and smiled at her. He then turned to the shouting reporters. “Her name is Ashley Woodard. I am grateful for her company tonight.”
As the couple made their way down the red carpet, the movie’s soundtrack began playing on the loudspeakers. And with a popping sound, Mike glanced up near the roof of the movie theater. A bunch of orange and blue confetti, intermixed with some silver pieces, tumbled down from above him. A giggle came out of Mike, followed by an ear-to-ear grin. He lifted his hands up high, turned around, and began thanking the fans. And the flash photography did not bother him this time.
“Mike,” Ashley cautioned, “you’re a ham out here.”
“I don’t know why, but I love it,” he whispered.
AN USHER OPENED the doors for Mike and Ashley. When they got inside, Mike made a bee-line for his director.
“Who’s the lady friend, Mike?” Adam asked.
“You remember Ashley Woodard, don’t you?”
“Oh yes, sure, I do,” Adam said as his face lit up with acknowledgement. “Good evening, Ashley.”
“You too. I look forward to seeing the finished project.”
“You will not be disappointed,” Mike said, hugging Adam from the side. “Adam is a great director to work with. He certainly knows what he is doing when he gets behind a camera.”
“Now,” Adam said modestly, “it kind of helps that I knew the subject matter, and witnessed some old fashioned Student Government silliness first hand during production.”
“Oh, Adam, don’t get me started!”
“You know, Mike, I have a secret,” Ashley said.
Mike turned to her, clearly interested. “What’s that?”
“I was a member of Chi Omega sorority in college.”
“Yeah, I remember you telling me that.”
“Well, what I didn’t tell you was that I coordinated SG activities for the sorority.”
“Really?!?”
“Sure. It was my civic duty. Now my civic duty is to keep you guys in line,” Ashley said as she needled his stomach playfully. Mike laughed in return, and Adam smiled at the joke.
Mike flipped his wrist to reveal a watch, and peered at its face. “Well, we should head inside if we are going to actually watch the film we spent so much energy on.”
“You’re right,” Adam said. “Right this way.” He led them into the main theater, even as Mike caught a glimpse of some members of the media were finally working their way inside.
WHEN THE CREDITS finished rolling, Bennita joined the audience in clapping. And perhaps in a fortunate way, a steamroller effect ensued when a couple of ardent fans gave it a standing ovation and turned in the direction of Mike’s balcony. Soon enough, pretty much the entire audience was giving the film a standing ovation – Bennita included.
She was clearly happy for her friends. They had done the near impossible. They had created that which was only talked about. SG the Movie had turned its many obstacles away and finally became a success.
This movie, she thought, mirrored Mike. It was the underdog that wouldn’t take the wrong answer from conventional wisdom. It up-rooted everything we knew about the subject matter and generated renewed interest in the motives of those involved in politics.
She smiled. As she left the theater with the rest of the audience, she made a mental note to get in touch with Mike and Adam before the night is over. She was “incognita” no longer.
MIKE, ADAM, AND Ashley all sat as the audience left the theatre. Finally breaking the silence with a gratifying sigh of relief, Mike commented, “I still don’t understand why you aren’t a bigger name in Hollywood.”
“Oh, Mike, it’s all politics down here. I just don’t kiss up to the big-wigs just for the sake of doing so. Never have, and I never will. But thank you all the same.”
“Let’s go, Mikey. We’ve got a hungry press to feed,” Ashley insisted.
“Okay,” he said, rising out of his chair. He embraced Adam one last time. “Now, I don’t care if there is a movie to make or not. Let’s not lose in touch this time.”
“Not a problem at all, Mike.”
Ashley wrapped an arm around one of Mike’s as they headed out of the balcony and down the stairs that took them into the lobby area. The press was clearly waiting for them. For once, no one was able to tell who was more nervous about the questions to come – Mike, or his date.
Mike cleared his throat, before brushing off the easiest and most predictable question of them all. “I think you guys could tell what my reaction would be. This is a great end-result to months of hard work. Not just by the crew, the writers, and the editors. But even the actors had weathered some bizarre confluences of events to get their jobs done. I am proud of everyone that put together this adaptation.”
As Mike began taking questions, an usher came up and delivered in Ashley’s hands an envelope that was directed for Mike’s viewing only. She nodded, and gave him a tip for his trouble. Her hand holding the small manila envelope dropped to her side.
“…and that’s where I got the inspiration for some of the casting calls for the movie, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Adam helped me pick a great casting director, who certainly has an eye out for the best talent in Hollywood,” Mike was saying when Ashley resumed paying attention.
“How’s the sequel coming?” a reporter asked.
Mike professed innocence, but noted, “It’s taking longer than I thought. Right now, though, I only have plans to make a sequel in print, not necessarily to make a second film. After all, I don’t think you can catch lightening in a bottle more than once. Why risk it?”
Some reporters nodded. “Now, are you and Ms. Woodard an item?”
“I kn
ow the tabloids have called us something or other, but I will leave that question to be answered by Ashley herself. She calls the shots in that department,” Mike said with a laugh.
Ashley was only partially amused. Still, she did allow, “I am definitely enjoying his company. But our off-the-record relationship will have to stay that way, even for reporters. You will have to accept that, and take it as you will.”
“Back on the subject of your ongoing projects, is it not true you are in talks with some of the best-paid lobbyists to take over your consulting business as your managing director?” a reporter from the D.C.-based Roll Call asked.
“In a word, yes. With the PR work necessary for this film, and the original book, not to mention trying to write its sequel, I just don’t have the time like I used to for politics. I really want that DC shop to continue, so I am trying to hire someone to run it for me.”
“Last question!” Ashley pepped out.
“You heard the lady,” Mike said.
The last one came from a Hollywood trade paper. “Roger Davis, the star of this film, is on record as saying he’d love to work on another Ruppesberger-Adams project. Several other actors have expressed disappointment that there are no current plans in the work for a future project. What will it take for the two of you to team up again?”
“I think it would not be that difficult to see Adam and I working on something in the future. We made a great team in college, and I am certain that, should this film be successful, that we will have set a standard for what our teamwork can do for Hollywood. There’s a great abundance of material to work with when it comes to political silliness and college hijinks. While I don’t want to make a sequel to ‘A True Gator Party,’ if a good concept came across our desks, or a decent script was pitched, I think you could definitely see us together again.”
“Thank you, everyone!” Ashley said as she began tugging Mike along.
Mike followed Ashley into their waiting limo. The driver closed their door, walked back to his seat, and whisked them away from the still-falling confetti. Mike pulled down his tie, letting himself loose after an exciting evening.
The two of them picked up a glass of Champagne. As Mike was taking his first sip, Ashley pulled an envelope out of her purse. “This was delivered by an usher while you were talking, Mike.”
It was a manila envelope. Mike shrugged off the first thought that came to him, knowing that his antagonist was long-since put in prison, and this only could be a practical joke, or something completely benign – like a telephone message.
He took the envelope from her. It was unopened. He asked her, “Why didn’t you peek at it?”
“The usher said it was for your eyes only.”
“That’s odd.”
“True, but it’s your privacy all the same.”
“Thanks,” Mike said as he broke the seal.
The envelope had an all-too-familiar tan color, but Mike was still not convinced it was anything more than a joke. Sure enough, the text was black, but that didn’t mean anything. He finally took the time to read the message. The had-to-be-a-joke message read as follows: “Your success to date is nothing more than a kid learning how to light a match. Putting George Avelli away was like playing with fire. But it will soon burn you. The college ties you thought you knew are over. You have no idea what you have begun, but mark our words – once this is over, you will regret ever getting on our bad side.”
Mike sank in his seat, giving Ashley a reason to be concerned. “What is it?” she pleaded with him.
Mike’s nerves came roaring back. Joke or not, this sounded like a serious threat. And of course, “they” were right. Everything has changed since college. Except now he had a familiar-yet-funny feeling in the pit of his stomach.
And this time, he had someone to share this with. Someone who immediately recognized what he was feeling. Despite all he had been through, and all he had written, his past was not at rest. Ashley saw this, and knew what needed to be done.
If anyone could cause “a great change to sweep across” his heart, she’d be the one to do it.
THE END
Afterword for the 2013 Edition
I was very much like Ben Burns and Mike Adams – my college days were marked by political intrigue among the most obsessed and partisan people I’ve ever met. As the years tumble by, I can safely say that the actors involved in those struggles at the University of Florida may change, but the issues and conflicts change very little.
Reunion at University Avenue was my first attempt to record for posterity a fictional account of the drama that happens among self-obsessed politicians, at all levels but especially during their formative years. I wrote the first draft of the novel in the summer of 2003. This re-release of the novel under a new publisher essentially celebrates ten years of Mike Adams being a character in my stories.
Two other novels have followed, as Mike’s story continues through campaign adventures (The Proxy Senator) and navigating the corridors of official Washington (Confirmation).
About the Author
Kenneth Kerns is an author, screenwriter, manager, number-cruncher, gamer, and nerd-herder. Ken has a master’s degree in political management from the George Washington University and is currently a manager and trainer at the UMWA Health & Retirement Funds.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and can be reached on Twitter (@kenkerns).
Mike Adams books by Kenneth Kerns
Reunion at University Avenue
The Proxy Senator
Confirmation
The Stepford Student (a short story)
The Young Mike Adams
Other books by Kenneth Kerns
From Maverick to Statesman
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