Molly smirked and said, “Daddy, I found a book that has the guide for our nation in it.”

Marvin Dimwiddy looked as if he had been kicked. “What book and what are talking about?”

“It’s an old history book and it has the Constitution of the original United States in it.”

“So, what does that have to do with the EPA?”

“Daddy,” Little Molly said with a sigh, “there is a whole list of things in the Constitution that tells government what it can do and the EPA isn’t one of them.”

Frightened by what he had heard, Marvin asked, “Where is that book? If you get caught with it, our family will be in serious trouble. The nation doesn’t follow that anymore.”

“Why not,” Molly wanted to know.

“Several years ago it was replaced with a modern way to run the country. The old one didn’t have answers for all the problems and how to save the planet.”

“Daddy is that why we don’t have gasoline in our town?”

Well, that’s part of the answer.” Marvin fervently hoped the conversation would end. When Molly didn’t respond, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was short lived.

“What’s the other part of the answer?”

“Gasoline prices went so high that the owners of that station couldn’t afford to buy it even if they had replaced the tanks last year. The other stations closed years ago because they couldn’t make enough profit to live.”

“I know what profit is, Daddy. That’s the money left after all the bills are paid and profit is like the stock dividends. It’s the reward for your investment. Isn’t that right?”

Fear entered the eyes of Marvin Dimwiddy. “Little Molly, where did you learn all of that?” 

“I learned it in a book that grandpa had in his attic and it was a fun book to read.”

Even though apprehensive about the title of the book, Marvin knew he needed to know it. “Molly, what's the title of the book?”

“Oh, daddy it is so funny. It's Economics 101 for Dummies. I think the Dummies are called liberals in the book.”

“Molly,” Marvin shouted, “don’t you ever mention that again and I need that book.”

“Why, do you want to learn about economics?”

“No, yes—err—uh—just forget it, and keep that book hidden. Now let’s talk about something else.”

“What’s wrong with the book?”

“It’s forbidden since it isn’t politically correct and doesn’t fit with the new economic model of our utopia. Now let’s be quiet.”

A series of thoughts formed in Marvin’s memory. He recalled that when he was a young college student he was thrilled to be a part of a new movement that would radically change the nation from one that cared little for the environment, to one that was sensitive to the wild life and the earth as whole. After all the struggles with stopping developments, refineries, drilling, and promoting global warming, he was now reaping the benefits of his labors. But for some reason he still didn’t feel happy.

He thought his biggest problem was those unenlightened people who didn’t appreciate the new way and he was afraid his daughter was one of them. He decided that he must take possession of the books she had found because they were polluting her mind.  And he would speak to his father concerning the econ book. He just couldn’t believe his family was part of the subversion he encountered at every turn. 

The silence in the car was broken by Molly’s voice coming from the back seat. The question she asked abruptly brought him out of his reverie. “Daddy, why didn’t mother come with us to meet granny?”

“We had an emergency with the chicken house cooling fan.” 

“What kind of an emergency?”

“The fan quit running so your mother had to stay home to man the crank to make the blades turn to keep the chickens cool.”

Silence engulfed the car. Marvin sat on pins and needles expecting more questions. None came to his relief, but when they did, he felt cornered again. “Don’t we have a generator hooked to the fan motor?”

“Yes, there’s one hooked to the motor.”

“Why not use it instead of having mother out there turning the crank?”

Marvin Dimwiddy wanted to end this whole trip but couldn’t. He loved his daughter dearly, but she was getting on his nerves with all the questions. She just didn’t understand all that was needed to preserve the health of the earth. As she grew older, she would be more enlightened. He would see to that. Her voice jarred him to attention.

“Daddy, I asked you a question, why isn’t the generator being used?”

“It’s out of gasoline and we can’t get anymore.”

“I know we can’t get any in our town, but what about over in Gilmore? Why not go over there?”

“It’s a long story.”

“As slow as we are going you have plenty of time to tell a long story.”

“Okay.” I sure wish we were at the airport, Marvin Dimwiddy thought. He began his answer.

    (To be continued.)

   © 07-03-2008 DEC