TUESDAY JANUARY 1, 2008
ON THE FIRST DAY OF the new year she made pancakes and announced that two or more emotions could exist simultaneously. Each day presented an array of sentiments—sadness and gratitude, anger and peace, regret and hope. There was time for rest, but also for duty. Taking action while grieving was possible. She would run for office.
Scott raised his orange juice.
“Good job. Way to go, Mom.”
Dee said, “Are you crazy? You just got out of there.”
“I’m going to go back and do it right, if they’ll have me.”
“Half the county will hate you,” Dee said. “That’s the nature of a commissioner’s job. It’s worse than sheriff.”
“That’s because they’ve all been unethical bastards,” Scott said.
“She’s a woman.”
“No kidding.”
“They’ll eat her alive. Don’t do it, Mom. It’s not worth it.”
“I’ve worked there long enough to anticipate the pitfalls. Someone’s got to improve things.”
Scott clapped. “Spoken like a true politician.”
“Better get used to it, Dee,” she said. “I’ve got a call in to Jo to help me run my campaign.”
“Dad won’t like it,” Dee said.
“Dad isn’t here. And if he should come back, I think he’d approve. He’s criticized my attitude about my job.”
“Ginny’s cousin Derek has quit the rodeo circuit and is looking for work. He’s coming over this afternoon.”
“What’s the condition of his body?” Scott asked.
“Probably better than someone whose nose is stuck in a book all day. It’s a toss-up, though. Man with crushed spine, cracked ribs, and busted nose versus a cowhand who’s only half here.” He grabbed the beak of Scott’s hat and pulled it down over his eyes. “Hope it works out, bro, so you can get on with figuring out how to breed that small heifer with a bigger uterus and wider birth canal.”