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I want you to
meet.” Harry Gates’s eyes swept the room searching
for Fletcher, who had been standing by his side only a moment before.
“Strange,” he said, “but you mustn’t leave without meeting him. Otherwise I
won’t have kept my end of the bargain,” he added without explanation.
    “Where’s
Fletcher disappeared off to?” Harry Gates asked his son once the Coulters had
joined the other guests.
    “If
you can spot Annie, you won’t find Fletcher behind; he hasn’t left her side
since he arrived in Hartford. In fact I’m thinking of buying him a dog leash
and calling him Fletch.”
    “Is
that right?” said the senator. “I hope he doesn’t think that releases him from
our deal.”
    “No,
he doesn’t,” said Jimmy. “In fact we studied Romeo and Juliet for two hours
this morning, and guess who he sees himself as.”
    The
senator smiled. “And which part do you imagine fits your character?” he asked.
    “I
think I’m Mercutio .”
    “No,”
said Harry Gates, “you can only be Mercutio if he
starts to chase Diane.”
    “I
don’t understand.”
    “Ask
Fletcher. He’ll explain it to you.”
    Jimmy
left his father to walk across and join his friend.
    “I
don’t know what you see in her,” said Jimmy.
    “She’s
got everything you haven’t,” said Fletcher smiling. “She’s bright, pretty, fun to be withand .
    .”
    “Are
you sure we’re talking about my sister?”
    “Yes, which is why you’re the one who has to wear glasses. ”
    “By
the way, Diane Coulter has just turned up with her parents. Dad wants to know
if you’re still hoping to meet her.”
    “Not
particularly, she’s gone from A to Z, so she’s now a natural for you.”
    “No
thanks,” said Jimmy, “I don’t need your cast-offs. By the way, I told Dad about
Romeo and Juliet, and said I saw myself as Mercutio .”
    “Only
if I start to date Dan Coulter’s sister, but I’m no longer interested in the
daughter of that house.”
    “I
still don’t understand.”
    “I’ll
explain tomorrow morning,” said Fletcher, as Jimmy’s sister reappeared carrying
two Dr.
    Peppers. Annie scowled
at her brother, and he quickly disappeared.
    For
some time, neither of them spoke, until Annie said, “Would you like me to show
you the Senate Chamber?”
    “Sure,
that would be great,” said Fletcher. She turned and began walking toward the
door, with Fletcher following a pace behind.
    “Do
you see what I see?” said Harry Gates, turning to his wife as Fletcher and his
daughter disappeared out of the room.
    “I
certainly do,” replied Martha Gates, “but I shouldn’t get too worried about it,
as I doubt if either of them is capable of seducing the other.”
    “It
didn’t stop me trying at that age, as I feel sure you remember.”
    “Typical politician. That’s another story you’ve embellished over the years. Because
if I remember correctly, it was me who seduced you.”
    “This
is the Senate Chamber,” said Annie as they looked down from the gallery onto a
semicircle of blue leather chairs.
    “It’s
very impressive,” said Fletcher.
    “Daddy
says you’ll end up here one day, or perhaps go even further.” Fletcher didn’t
reply, because he had no idea what exams you had to pass to become a
politician. “I heard him tell my mother he’d never met a more brilliant boy.”
    “Well,
you know what they say about politicians,” said Fletcher.
    “Yes,
I do, but I can always tell when Daddy doesn’t mean it because he smiles at the
same time, and this time he didn’t smile.”
    “Where
does your father sit?” asked Fletcher trying to change the subject.
    “As
the majority leader, he sits third along from the left in the front row,” she
said pointing down, “but I’d better not tell you too much because I know he’s
looking forward to showing you around the Capitol himself.” He felt her hand
touch his.
    “Sorry,”
he said, quickly removing his hand, thinking it had been a mistake.
    “Don’t
be