(Art: Socotra, WER and Chat)

51?

We ran a story about our exploits on a Pub Crawl to re-awaekn memories of the old rip-roaring Adams-Morgan area of the District.

That was going to be the opic this mrning, but it turned out we were all going back aross the brown Potomac to DC, just not the way we expected.

Ot was a burst of activity. The usual suspects, Miles in his accustomed place att the head of the table, Splash and Rocket gnawing nasgels amidships and Sirdre shoveling in fresh platters when things looked short/ Miles waved a note from a distinguished colleabue our in the Cowboy State. “I got a note from an Old Sat this morning that clears up a lot of stuff.

Splash dropped his pastry and burst out: “Like what? The redictrictng thing? I thought that was in the courts, headed for our Virginia Supremes to see if it was legal!”

Mileds shook his head. “Nope. That is going to get litgsated fster than closing the Strait of Hormuz. This one is about our fifteen minute counties.”

Rocket took. sip of Flat yank coffee. “Tell me. I am stilll not awake after zBar Del Monte last night.”

“You have heard about the lates qwae between the States, right?”

“Ueah, the redistricting is supposed to affect the Electoral College in the 2028 elections, right?:

“Yeah, that is the heart and real deal about some of this partisan rancor. if blue wins in two years, they say they will admit dc anf puerto rico as the 41st and 52nd sttes. and add enough justices to the US supreme court that they will never have to worry about the legal system again.”

There was sulence at the table. “Thart seems sort of rad8cal,” siad Bambi, taking a puff of his Marlboro. “I thought we were supposed to come together in our public discourse. But not adding Senators or Congresspeople.”

“Some fol,ks have been at war for a while. They turned the legal system into a percentage game tyhat had little to do with justixe and a lot about raw power. ThaIt’s not new, it is where Arlington County came from.” He put down his mug with a hollow hud and clicked the remote to a bright changed display.

“This is the game being played out right now. Iy has some loud enchoes. As the first Civil War was looming, residents of the District decided to take a major social issue to the ballot box.”

“What did the new Party Lincoln belonged to want to achieve across the River?”

“They wanted to abolish Slavery before everyone else. We talked about that the other morning.”

“Yeah.” Holley rose, thinking the matter was concluded. “So, did anything else happen?” she asked, headed to replenish the tray and empty tub of cream cheese.

“Aside from the war tha changed everything, not much. Not like this. That little slivver of dark Blue Virginie will be moved back to the District for means of jurisdiction.: He waved a crooked finger, smoke emanating from his fist. There was aa sudden deep silence, since evryone in the room had either worked, lived or slept in the District andfnot necessari.ly in that order He slid from his chair and began a slow crawl toward the Galley hatch.. “I have lived in those squares and angles for a half centurty. There is a lot of distance in them.”

“That is going to take cranes and pontton, I assme,” said Splash slowly and then gufwed as he pushed his mug towqd a now-empty silver tray. ‘i think this is going to take some work.”

There some nods at the people.still ready for consturctiv3 activity. And then Holly reached over for the tray. “I think we can syatty with so4ethinh that only 3works with time≥ I am going to tart by looking for my watch that was attached to the power cord llast night. And that new Vape cartridge that is supposed tyo lastt all 3week.”

“Just liet he rest of this…. He voice rose as he glanced in both directions and ended slowly.

He let the sentence fragment dangle at the front of the room.. In the silence, it seemed to fit just fine.

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