Episode 53: Senator Castillo’s Big Announcement

“Roxy, Roxy, Roxy, Roxy!” the cheers hit a crescendo late in the day as Senator Castillo stepped out of the courthouse and raised her arms triumphantly in victory.

“Good evening! Bienvenidos and welcome!”

“Roxy, Roxy, Roxy, Roxy!” The crowd’s volume redoubled, their energy was renewed, and their chants swept over Senator Castillo.

She waved and then held up her hands to call for silence.

“I got tested,” she began,

“I have rested,

“I’ve been boosted,

“now I’m feeling…

“…like I used to!”

She triumphantly pulled down her jacket from her sleeveless blouse to expose a neon green bandage on her bicep.

“Roxy, Roxy, Roxy, Roxy!”

“Alright!” Senator Castillo called out.

“Roxy, Roxy, Roxy, Roxy!”

“Listen!” she said halfheartedly, basking in the crowd’s approval.

“Roxy, Roxy, Roxy, Roxy!”

“Listen!” she repeated.

Finally, the crowd settled down enough for her to speak.

“Yesterday, we scored a victory over hate,” she continued. “Sadly, it was not a bloodless victory, but let the haters and the second guessers take note. It’s critical for our democracy that everyone’s voice be heard. History will show that this was an inflection point in the ongoing fight for justice. We have exposed the naked brutality of local law enforcement who fanned the flames of hatred instead of putting them out.

“Protests are essential for the evolution of our country to a more enlightened state, and they will continue so long as there IS hate, and so long as WE remain committed to END the HATE!”

“End the hate! End the hate! End the hate! End the hate!” the crowd picked up the chant.

“We will not be discouraged!”

“We will not be deterred!”

“We WILL NOT BE DENIED!”

The crowd erupted in applause. “Roxy, Roxy, Roxy, Roxy!”

Senator Castillo turned suddenly to the side as if catching sight of a threat in her peripheral vision. She held her hands up in a protective gesture, took a step back, spun around, and stumbled into President Buchmann.

Then, she collapsed, falling on top of President Buchmann, taking them down as well.