Page 44 of The Reverse Cinderella

Chapter 7

Bright lights glared down at her. There must be a hundred people or so in the audience. Piaget nervously fiddled with her jacket. She had bought a second-hand suit set at the thrift store and paired it with a nice blouse. She looked professional but the butterflies were starting up a storm in her stomach.

She pressed a hand to her abdomen and watched from behind the curtain as the people found their seats. Tonight’s debate was her first and she tried to review all of the facts that she had learned over the past week, but they were gone. It didn’t matter how many people were reported as homeless in the city or how much the city budget was and where it was spent. There was nothing in her brain but fear.

The butterflies picked up momentum. She worried that they might fly away with her.

She idly wondered if she should have smeared Vaseline on her teeth like professional dancers did so that she would be sure to smile for the whole debate. Didn’t politicians do that? Smile through everything?

The moderator stepped up to the stage, announcing the candidates, the rules of the debate and generally welcoming the audience. Piaget could feel the fear ratchet up a notch.

Mayor Johns came beside her and gave a jolly laugh. “I love a good debate.”

Piaget murmured something. She did not like a good debate. Not when a hundred people were watching her and judging her. She barely glanced over as Tom Bailey, a city councilor and late entry into the mayoral campaign joined them. They were announced to the stage. Piaget stepped forward into the light and was blinded for a moment. Her feet skidded to a stop. She couldn’t see. Mayor Johns bumped her from behind and she stumbled forward awkwardly.

Flushing red, she forgot to shake hands with her two opponents and rushed to her podium.

Tom Bailey came over to her and shook her hand anyways. He gave her a smile. “First debate, Mrs. Williems?”

Piaget nodded, mortified.

“I had a smear of butterscotch pudding on my forehead for my first debate thanks to my son. Everyone called me a lot of poop names in the paper and online. However, it was memorable, and I won a seat as councilor,” he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Take a deep breath, you’ll do fine.”

Piaget smiled up at him in relief. “Thank you.”

Bailey went to his podium and Johns smiled evilly at her, happy that she had already messed up and the debate hadn’t even begun.

The moderator asked them to introduce themselves.

Mayor Johns was a husband, father and grandfather of eight. He had been mayor of the city for two consecutive terms and was looking for a third. He had a proven track record and hoped the good citizens would remember his dedication to them. Mayor Johns told his background with a jolly laugh that he was so well known for. He also enjoyed playing Santa Claus for the little ones each Christmas at city hall.

He sounded like a wonderful man. Too bad he wasn’t, Piaget reflected.

Councilor Tom Bailey was a husband, father of two and an experienced council member. He talked about how he enjoyed being a productive member of the city council and wanted to make a difference in the community. He had chosen to run against Mayor Johns because he felt that some of the mayor’s policies would not be beneficial to the citizens of the city. He believed that the city had a bright future and wanted to be part of ushering it in. He supported numerous charities.

When it was her turn, Piaget smiled and began tentatively. “My name is Piaget Williems. I am a student at the local college, studying my passion which is journalism and broadcasting. I have no children but there is an amazing man in my life named Max. Max has been my inspiration for doing this. He has helped so many in our community out of his own goodwill and I hope to help the citizens by his example. I don’t have the experience that my fellow candidates do. I’m a bit of a klutz, as you’ve already noticed. Yet I do want to help our city andallthe citizens in it, not just those that are deemed worthy by Mayor Johns. Thank you.”

The moderator thanked them all and they began to discuss their platforms. After that, it was time for the questions. These were questions from the audience so Piaget had no time to prepare for them. She felt underqualified and ignorant. Her nerves were stretching thin. She knew Max, Adam, Dix and a few others were in the audience and she wanted to do well.

As people began lining up to the microphone to ask their questions, Piaget was surprised to see people she knew. Her friends, students from her classes, students who had been helping with her campaign, some customers from the diner, they all were hogging the two microphones so that no one else could get a question in. She was overwhelmed as they asked questions. Some gave Bailey intelligent questions. Many gave Mayor Johns difficult and angry questions about his stance on the homeless in the city. The rest gave her easy questions. Questions that she knew from the practice debate that Mrs. Brown had allowed her to hold to help polish her skills.

Piaget couldn’t believe how many people were rallying around her, making her first debate a wonderful experience. Suddenly, she was just talking to people she knew, telling answers that came from her heart. The butterflies went away and she felt that she was really shining.

Then it was all over. The candidates shook hands, Mayor Johns angry but determinedly jolly. Tom Bailey a gentleman as ever. Piaget just relieved that she hadn’t entirely embarrassed herself or the college. Each of them greeted people and it wasn’t long before Piaget was surrounded by her friends and well-wishers.

“I vote we go to Barneys to celebrate!” Adam said excitedly. “You did an amazing job Piaget.”

Piaget grinned. “I had a lot of help. Thank you.”

Dix shrugged. “It was fun to stick it to Mayor Johns. I should help organize protests.”

“This was your idea?” Piaget couldn’t believe that so many people had come out to help her and make her first debate a memorable event.

“I had help in the execution,” Dix allowed.

“She wanted to just egg him, but we convinced her this way would be better,” Adam grinned as Dix elbowed him. “Hey, no one has cash to bail you out of jail.”

“That’s right,” Max agreed as he threaded his fingers through Piaget’s to hold her hand. “We’re all broke.”