Previously published November 14, 2023
I should have posted this a long time ago. I’ll admit that in June, when I first found out the results of the second round of the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge, I was disappointed. But I been got over that. As far as me posting results and sharing, we’ll just chop it up to life and all. Consistency with posting is a goal I’ve yet to reach, but that has not changed my writing habits. I’m continuing to work on the second book in the Tiwa Series. If you haven’t read the first one, ask for it at your local library or purchase here: https://a.co/d/95YLc39.
As I’ve alluded to, I did not make it past the second round of the short story contest. I got good feedback and have been making sure I include those notes in the short stories I’m working on. I learned that I’m capable of writing in other genres, with prompts that are outside of my interests. I also learned that a deadline and a very limited word count can be a really good motivating factor. The genre, subject, and character I was given, respectively, were Political Satire, Infatuation, and A trendsetter. The maximum word count was 2000 words.
The story is below. I think it’s apropos given the results of the election. I don’t think I’m ready to voice my opinion on the outcome given I’m a Black woman who watched the country vote in a _____, ______,______ horrible ________ to be president, I have lots of feelings. And so many more thoughts about our choices in this country, the established systems, and how we even got here. I’ve always had those and they are part of the inspiration for the creation of Tiwa. I will say that action and community are going to be so important moving forward. You can decide what that looks like for you. And you definitely should.
Enjoy the story!
Make Fun of Choice
A reality star’s meeting with his idol takes his career to a new level.
Milo flipped up the broadcast switch and held his palm over the power button. This was it. He’d be meeting his hero 5 billion miles away on Mars. “I can’t wait to meet you, sir,” he whispered to the hologram of Charleston Finesse in his mirror. The power button moved in slow motion as he pushed it down.
“This is Commander Milo Hargove transmitting from orbit around Charon, Pluto’s Moon. Special greetings to all the Spaceman Spiffers.” Milo’s grin enveloped most of his face.
After the standard transmission delay of 34 seconds, fanfare played from the space station’s speakers. The picture was surprisingly clear. Milo noted minimal pixelation on the pale lady’s face and double beehive hairdo. Her jovial voice bellowed over the music.
“Commander HarrrrGrove, this is YouChannel’s Legendary Heroes host, Adrian McKay. Joining me today is Your Hero and one of the United Republic of Nation States’ highest earning moguls, Charleston Finesse.”
Milo’s eyes widened at the stars and sparkles that flew across the screen. Media applause. The comments viewers typed in the chat warmed his heart:
“We love you Milo”
“Spaceman Spiffy”
He realized that the transmission delay would give him time to react while he waited to hear back from the other side.
“Hey Spiffers,” he put in the chat, adding some stars.
“I’m excited to be here,” Milo said. “I’m grateful for the Spiffers that follow me and support me. Hit that Like and Follow button below. It’s been my dream since I landed this position on the FinesseCorp Shuttle to speak with Mr. Finesse.” Milo’s eyes flickered back and forth between his mirrored image on screen and Adrian’s slack-jawed face and big eyes waiting to hear his response.
“Oh yea, that’s the guy who used to do those Finesse dress-alike videos”
“Yuck”
“He even talks like Finesse”
“Yes! You’ve won several awards for your emulation of Mr. Finesse. Congratulations again on using your YouChannel platform to bring awareness to the wonderful deeds of Mr. Finesse and for landing the Space Station engineer role. We understand you have some questions for him. Before we get started, we wanted to confirm that we have linked this live YouChannel broadcast to your 300 million followers, as well as the Legendary Heroes channel. Milo, the galaxy is watching. Let’s get started.”
Milo breathed deeply as he watched the camera center on Mr. Finesse. The overweight mogul sat back in his chair and scrolled his crystal. He barely flinched at the mention of his name.
“Uh, yes, Mr. Finesse. How did it feel to be the first mogul to launch a space expedition for life on other planets and be successful so quickly?”
“He looks nervous”
Mr. Finesse looked off camera towards where his name was called a couple times. He eventually managed to look at the camera.
Milo waited for Mr. Finesse’s response, smiling, ignoring the off-centered orange quiff on top of the mogul’s head. Mr. Finesse had the question repeated to him by off camera staff.
“Finesse is a bozo. Look at his wig.”
Milo tried not to look at the chat.
“FinesseCorp’s number one mission has been to propel the human race to its greatest heights. I have always been a thinking leader, smarter than my counterparts. I am the best at everything I do. That is why I have single-handedly led the way to the URNS successful space missions.”
“Is this going to be a real interview or is Spiffy gonna jiggle Finesse’s balls?”
“This guy is always rambling about himself”
“Is that space gel in Spiffy’s hair ha”
Milo grimaced.
“Thank you. What piece of advice would you give the children of the URNS?”
Finesse lifted one eye from his crystal, along with one eyebrow. “You first, Spaceman.”
“What a douche”
“Spaceman Spiffy suuuuucks”
“I love you, Milo”
“Of course! I’d tell the children of the URNS to keep working towards your dreams. There was a time when Earth was overpopulated and run by corrupt governments. We’ll soon have more outposts as far as Pluto and no one is living on a dying planet.”
Mr. Finesse’s full attention was on the camera. “What is going on in the chat, Adrian? Who is manning this?”
Adrian signaled off camera. The chat slowed down.
“Spaceman Spiffy,” Finesse continued, exaggerating Milo’s media name, “Let’s be real. I’m responsible for evacuating Earth. Children could never be like me. I, alone, will continue to solve the URNS’ problems.” He turned to someone else off camera. “This is over. I don’t have time for idiocy. Does he know who I am?”
“Why is he so mad?”
“Always the nepo kid taking full claim for others’ hard work.”
Milo’s heart dropped. He briefly frowned at his hologram. “Uh, Mr. Finesse? Before you go, I was told you had an announcement.”
The delay showed Adrian mouthing something at Finesse as he tried to leave the studio. Several members of his staff directed him to his crystal.
“Oh, that’s right.” Finesse straightened his bow tie and adjusted his pocket square. His large belly jiggled as he stood more erect. Milo was fascinated and chuckled quietly.
“I’m announcing my run for URNS Premier in the 2184 election,” Finesse shared. Milo watched Finesse’s hair slide down a bit to the left side of his head.
“Oh brother”
“Finesse for Premier!!”
“I wish Spiffy would run”
“Is that thing on his head alive?”
Milo laughed so loud, the echo bounced around the space station for nearly a minute. Finesse raised his furry eyebrows at the sound once it reached him.
“EXCUSE ME, SPACEMAN? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE TO SAY?”
“Well that’s our time Legendary Heroes family,” Adrian interjected apologetically. She waved at the cameraman to center her. “YouChannel wants to thank the infamous Charleston Finesse. We appreciate you selecting YouChannel to announce your run and wish you the best of luck.”
∞
The next few orbits felt empty to Milo. He went through his ongoing checklist of managing the Shuttle: life systems, check; power systems, check; zero gravity workout, check…
Meeting his idol had his mind racing and yet everything felt so bleak. His adoration of Finesse was waning and he didn’t understand how he could feel this way. What had he missed?
Milo barely had time to view all the messages that streamed into the Personal Messages on his channel after the interview. Some chastised him for his lackluster performance. Others bashed him for not calling out Finesse and his family’s legacy of harmful decisions, especially the ones that led to Earth’s inhabitability. Milo disregarded the few that said he should run for Premier.
A beeping alerted Milo to an unscheduled incoming transmission. He floated over to the monitor. His mother’s face filled the screen, older and more ashen. Living on Mars allowed her to have more color than other URNS citizens, but the medication needed to survive Mars’ atmosphere made the ashy gray undertone unavoidable.
“Ma, are you okay? What’s going on?”
“You’ve been nominated, baby! I can’t believe they picked you. It’s only you and him but wow, it…”
“You’re not making any sense,” Milo interrupted. He checked his mother’s background for empty alcohol vials. “What are you going on about?”
“You and Charleston Finesse are both nominated for Premier of the URNS. They want you to debate him. Oh, baby, I knew you would always be a star. I remember when I took you home from the neonatal cubes…”
Milo, unaware of when he had disconnected his mother’s call, hovered in silence for hours. Premier? How would that work? The Premier typically lived between the space station on Earth’s moon and Mars VIP Village. He was two and a half years into a four year mission on Charon.
An alert interrupted Milo’s train of thoughts. Another incoming transmission.
Milo’s recorded laugh echo reverberated around the station again. His eyes bugged out at the sight of Adrian and Finesse on a split screen. Finesse was visibly annoyed by the sound of the laugh.
“Welcome citizens of the URNS,” Adrian announced. “Spaceman Spiffy, YouChannel is ready for the 2184 Premier Debate and Election. Isn’t this exciting?”
“Why does he look so surprised?”
“This guy or Finesse?! We’re lost.”
“Um, yes, gee, uh…What?” Milo stammered.
“Mr. Spiffy, you’ve been nominated as a contender in this election,” Finesse said dryly. “I’ve arranged for all the viewers today to have a final stay through the YouChannel poll. This is it.”
The heart rate notification on Milo’s wrist crystal brought him back to the present. They wanted him to debate Mr. Finesse? For a chance at being Premier? Right now?
Milo quickly remembered major changes the last few Premiers made. Forcing citizens to work through the Great Resurgence of Bubonic Plague, tax cuts for moguls, removal of environmental regulations for all space stations across the URNS. How could he make such difficult decisions? Decisions he didn’t understand.
“Let’s begin,” Adrian’s lilt interjected. “Mr. Finesse, the first question goes to you. What do you see as the greatest threat to the freedom of URNS citizens and how do you plan on combating that?”
Milo rubbed his temples, unable to hear clearly over the loud thumping in his head. He watched live poll numbers fluctuate as Mr. Finesse spoke about the future of FinesseCorp and the URNS through “workplace competition” and “foreigner deportation.”
“The question is yours, Milo,” Adrian said.
“He’s stuck”
“Spiffy for Premier 2184”
“Spiffy is down to 32%. What a loser”
“Oh, um, well, I think the greatest threat to our freedom is the lack of critical thought. The citizens of the URNS deserve to understand what their elected officials have planned for them.”
“More critical thinking garbage.”
“Wake this up!”
“He’s over 50% now.”
“Mr. Finesse, your rebuttal?’
“Wrong approach. Governments can’t make the changes to help citizens. People have to help people.”
“We can help ourselves”
“What a crock of sh**”
“Help Ourselves! HO! HO! HO!”
“The next question goes to you, Milo. In past elections, misinformation has been rampant. What steps would you take to protect information integrity?
“Oh well, I guess I would just be transparent with citizens. Tell them everything. Let them have the power to make choices. And it could be fun. Make fun of choice!” Milo felt a rise in adrenaline.
“Make Fun of Choice!”
“He’s got my vote!”
“This guy’s at 70%!”
“Make Fun of Choice!”
Milo skyrocketed in the polls.The debate continued. To Finesses’s chagrin, he continued to go down in the polls and had to watch “Make Fun of Choice”enthusiasts fill up the chat with thumbs up and peace signs.
After the 45-minute time limit, Adrian was forced to call it. “Mr. Finesse, thank you so much for this opportunity. I’d like to congratulate Milo Hargrove, aka Spaceman Spiffy, the new URNS Premier elect of 2184.”
Milo ended the transmission.
∞
“How does it feel to be back on Mars, sir?” the shuttle driver asked. Milo adjusted his Hawaiian shirt and peered out into the desert of VIP Village.
“It’s good to be home, I guess.”
“I can’t imagine what it was like to be all alone out there on Charon, but I bet-”
“Privacy please,” Milo interrupted before answering his crystal. “Hello?”
“Sir, there’s been a breach in air systems across most space stations in the Mars’ colonies. We need you to evacuate to the Earth’s moon. How do you want to handle the citizens?”
Milo sighed. He remembered running through the terrarium towards the living quarters as a child. He’d miss Mars.
“Tell them what’s going on and the need to evacuate.”
“Sir, there’s no way we’re going to get all the citizens off this planet in time. We don’t have any contingency plans for where they could go.”
“Use the emergency shuttles, fit as many people as you can.”
“Where do we send them? How do we decide who goes?”
Milo smiled. “Make Fun of Choice!”