Read Online The iCongressman by Mikael Carlson - Free Book Online

back to teach here if things don’t work out for my reelection
in November.”
    “What a very gracious and generous offer,” Charlene says
with a big smile.
    “I thought so. It would be great to work for such a fine
administrator again,” I say, laying it on thick. Before he goes nuclear, she
cuts him off.
    “Robinson, will you give me a moment with the congressman,
please?”
    Howell shoots me a look and storms off, leaving me with the
superintendent of the Millfield Public School District. Again, very little has
changed since I left.
    “Love to have you back to teach, eh? Are they putting LSD in
the water down in D.C. these days?”
    “It was the best I could come up with on short notice.”
    “Oh, I doubt that,” she says, glancing in the direction
Howell disappeared in, “but I would be lying if I said it wouldn’t be great to
have you back in the school district again. What brings you here now?”
    “I owe my mentor a visit.”
    “I’m sure Chalice is still up in her office, but before you
go, I need to apologize.”
    “For what, ma’am?”
    “Congressman, you don’t work for me anymore. You can drop
the ma’am thing.”
    “Sorry, it’s a force of habit. And I prefer Michael, not
Congressman,” I say, returning her smile.
    “We never apologized to you after the truth about the
allegations of the affair came out. More importantly, I never reached out to
apologize to you. I should have, and I’m sorry.”
    I give her a nod, but I’m not sure I can accept the apology.
My termination from Millfield was more of a result from the disruption I caused
and my insubordination with Howell than anything else. To say I’ve been sore
over the past year because my former employer could not be bothered to issue an
apology would be an exercise in understatement.
    “Are you serious about wanting to return to teaching if you
don’t win a second term?” I look off down the hall in the direction Howell
sulked off in.
    “Charlene, we both know that won’t ever happen, at least not
here.” She nods, understanding that my reemployment would never be accepted by
the school board. “But please feel free to mention it in passing to Howell. The
token consideration of it would make him go postal.”
    “You bet. Now, you’d better get up there before Chalice
leaves. It was great seeing you again, Congres …
Michael.”

 
    * * *

 
    “I apologize, I’m not going to have my lesson plans in
on time this week,” I announce as I reach the door.
    “Oh my God!” Chalice exclaims,
jumping out of her chair and moving around the desk in her cramped office to
give me a hug. “You look great! How are you, Congressman?”
    “Really, Chalice? Congressman? Cut that crap out. You are the very last person
I’ll ever let call me that. But I’m good, thank you, and yourself?”
    “Another year under Robinson Howell and another year closer to
retirement,” she says with a smile. “Every day I take the bad with the good.
Did you run into Jessica while you were wandering the halls?”
    I was afraid this would come up. Chalice was always partial
to my ex-fiancée, and I’m sure would love nothing more than to see us get back
together. She likes Kylie, but until there is a ring on her finger, she will
always be rooting for Jessica.
    “Chalice,” I warn with a look that prompts her to hold up
her hands in mock surrender and change the subject.
    “So, what brings you home?”
    “I flew in this afternoon for our constituent work week in
the district.”
    “Look at you, Mister Jet-Setter.”
    ”Yeah, not so much, but working with the people in the
district is about the only part of this job I still enjoy.”
    “Of course it is. You’re a natural problem solver. You
didn’t answer my question though. I asked why you’re here .”
    Chalice has always had a low tolerance for small talk with
her teachers. She was an amazing boss and understanding advisor, but she could
also be a cut-to-the-chase taskmaster. It would