DeMille looked up, already prepared for the Wednesday production meeting. The Salts and the lovely Melissa were grouped in various states of eager participation and a certain somnolence. “It is December,” he said gravely. People looked at one another with uncertainty. Some tried a smile. Others did not.

“So, the Supreme Court is going to determine when human life begins this morning. They are going to broadcast their deliberations for our convenience.”

Rocket looked alert, which is one of the means he succeeded in his former trade as a mach+ pilot, since he could get to the blackboard first when the fight was over. “This is about a heartbeat or something?”

DeMille nodded. “There are people out there in the cold who are convinced that a heartbeat- or something that looks a bit like a heartbeat- is the point where a bunch of loosely assembled cells can be categorized as a human being.”

Loma shook his head. “Aren’t we now in some religious territory? Some people say that life begins at conception. Doesn’t that opinion have a validity that is spiritual and not under the jurisdiction of the court?”

“Well, yes. That is one of the issues. But it is more complex. The legal question is whether the state can direct the behavior of adult women on what they can do, or not do, with their bodies.”

“Fair enough. Seems like as good a question as the government is telling everyone what to do with their bodies on that Covid thing.”

“That is part of the ambiguity of crisis governing. There are at least three courts that have a penumbra about that. The specific question this morning is whether a particular state can determine if a medical observation actually determines when a bundle of growing cells has rights separate from the woman who is carrying it. The Roe versus Wade decision was based in part on a penumbra of privacy, since it doesn’t reflect anything specific in the Constitution.”

Splash put down the steaming mug of coffee and looked over at Melissa. “What do women think, lovely lady?”

Melissa shook her head slowly. “This is complex, and it based on belief and individual rights. If you guys actually dealt with the issue, end-to-end as a personal matter you might have some insight you lack by virtue of experience. And emotion.”

Loma nodded. “I have grandkids and my granddaughter was delivered almost two months early. She seems happy. So, the whole live-birth thing seems a little outdated. I don’t think it is anybody’s business except the mother, her partner and a physician.”

Melissa was the only one of us with direct experience in the matter, and we decided to leave it up to her. She did it adroitly, as usual, and immediately changed the subject. “So, in keeping with that emotional issue, we have the continuing trouble over Taiwan and the Ukrainian issues. But then yesterday Iran announced they had the right to develop atomic weapons and fully intend to do so. You know the Israelis have some direct personal knowledge about how those sorts of issues work out. They already acquired the historical records of the Persian nuclear program and killed the top scientist on that project a couple months ago. They have demonstrated the ability and determination to take action if their very existence is threatened.”

“So that part of the Wednesday Weather Report has its own momentum?”

DeMille almost smiled. “The U.S. Government’s budget authority under the Continuing Resolution they passed a month or so ago expires on Friday. That is another thing that has it’s own momentum.”

Splash snorted. “And we are all drawing checks on it. My Navy pension got paid this week, but my social security doesn’t get here until mid-month. That is a bit of a real issue. I have a tab over at Belmont Farms that I need to cover.”

DeMille closed the cover on his notepad and looked around the circle. “That is only five major issues to be resolved, with a big one that has to be done by Friday. Maybe they can work late up there on The Hill.”

There was general laughter with a slightly ironic flavor. Splash got up, turned to face the group and made a gesture that could have been a benediction of sorts. “The holidays are upon us. Let’s be charitable and respectful. And deal with the budget today. We can do the matter of the beginning of life and the possibility of the use of weapons of mass destruction in the Holy Land when we have some time next week.”

Loma and Rocket stood up to join him. “If we still have heartbeats, we are right with you, Dude. The distillery will probably be open, right?”

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