Page 81 of Powerless

“Yes, sir,” he says as he fidgets in the seat.

He seems uneasy being in here. “What do you think about gay marriage?”

There’s a tiny tremor beneath his right eye. “I’m fine with it.” His words don’t match his response.

“What about gay couples adopting?” In the exact same spot, there’s another small quiver.

“It’s up to them.”

I don’t believe him, and if he’s going to be my personal aide, then he’s going to be with me nearly every single day for the next four years. I close his folder and place it on my desk. Standing, I hold my hand out to him. “Thank you for your time.”

“Oh, um.” Garry gives me a slight headshake and frowns. “Thank you, sir.” He finally shakes my hand before seeing himself out.

Esther looks over from her desk, stands, and heads into my office. She approaches my desk and takes Garry’s file. “Talk about lightning speed. That bad?”

“I can’t trust him. He lied to me.”

“He was in here for all of sixty seconds.”

“Enough time for me to see that I can’t trust him. He’d tell me what I want to hear, as opposed to the truth. And I can’t trust someone who lies so easily.”

“How do you know he lied? He may have been overwhelmed by your presence.” I look up at her from above my glasses, giving her a knowing stare. “Yeah, you’re right.” She looks out toward her office, then says, “Your next appointment is here. Jamie—”

He’s the one I’ve been looking forward to the most. “Good, send him in,” I say, cutting her off.

“Yes, sir.” She walks out of my office with Garry Smith’s file. “The President will see you now,” she announces to Jamie.

Nervously, he walks in, wearing the same cheap suit he was wearing the day I met him. “Jamie, I’m pleased you could make the appointment today.”

“Mr. President, I have to be honest and say I’m out of my league. I don’t think I’d be able to be your personal aide.”

“Why?” I indicate for him to sit in the seat Garry what’s-his-name was in.

“Sir, with all due respect, I’m not at the level required to be able to successfully do this job. It’s intense, and...and...” He gulps and shakes his head. “I go to a community college, sir,” he argues, as if something like that makes him a lesser person.

“Then why did you come to the interview? Why didn’t you say you weren’t interested?”

“Liam is quite coercive, sir.” He darts his eyes around the room, as if he’s expecting Liam to charge in here and scold him for his words.

“You don’t want the job, or you don’t think you’re good enough?”

“I think other people may be better suited to it than I am.”

I sit back in my seat and remove my glasses, laying them on my desk. “Tell me what you think the number one problem we’re facing at the moment is.”

“Sir, I’m not a politician. I’m not entirely sure how you expect me to reply.”

“I want an answer. Give me whatever you think is the greatest problem we’re facing as a nation.”

He thins his lips as his jaw flexes. “Um.” Not a good start, Jamie. Give me something to work with. He clears his throat before finally responding with, “We’re not happy.”

Not what I was expecting. “We’re not happy?”

“People are chasing the wrong things. They think if they can make another dollar, their life will be better. And maybe it would be, but if they’re not happy then...” He shakes his head and looks down at his hands before lifting his chin. “It doesn’t matter how much money they make; they’ll never be happy. Happiness is about so much more than money. It’s certainly part of it, but it’s so much more than that.”

“What if I told you you’re wrong?”

“In your eyes I might be wrong, but I know being happy is what’s right for me.”

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