The Awakening

I constantly marvel at the politician's ability to smoothly change from one topic to another. Like the others around me, I clap when they do, I stand when they rise, and I am happy to be here, sharing with the others, in this unspoken way.

But then something is said by the politician, that I either don't quite get, or with which I don't quite agree; I am not certain. So, I listen a little harder, trying to make it clearer, to myself. When it doesn't happen, I begin to feel a need to ask a question, for clarification.

At last the opportunity to do so comes, as comments and remarks are taken from the crowd. A number of people ahead of me praise the politician for the speech; some even say that it did not go far enough. So, when my turn comes before the mic, I feel awkward about asking my question.

However, after politely listening to me, the politician says a few more words and phrases, and then it is the turn of the next person. While I am nervously returning to my seat, it dawns on me that my question was not answered. Oh Cripes !!! I think, I must have put it the wrong way.

So, with embarrassment painting the tips of my ears, I returned again to the mic, with my rephrased question. "Didn't we just answer that!?!" the politician laughs, winking at someone off to my left. "But, I didn't get it," I sheepishly replied.

The smiling politician then launches into a very complicated something, ending with, "I hope that fills you in." Well, I could not even dare to look at people, as I moved back to my chair. I felt so stupid, so humiliated, plus I was sure that everyone was staring at me.

However, after a minute or two, while silently collapsing in my chair, the stranger seated next to me leaned over with a puzzled glance, and asked, "Did you understand what he said????" Then in an instant I knew that angels must exist, just like on TV and in the movies. I was not dumb, and I was not crazy. The politician really had not answered my question! What a relief I felt. Yet it was sort of sad, too. It was like wakening from a pleasant dream, only to find that life is as it was, when I had dozed off. No one was going to decide for me, no politician was going to rescue me, because I was going to have to do those things for myself. So....., nowadays, when politicians talk and I don't get it, I ask myself, "Maybe there was nothing there to get, in the first place?"