(Belmont Farms Delivery Vehicle. A known Classic. Photo Belmont Farms).

Splash was missing at the Morning Production Meeting. The Attorney was smiling. She had taken firm and decisive steps to remedy a growing problem. Thankfully, the problem had been resolved in a manner precluding a call to local law enforcement, which would have created a paper trail and more work for her. She had decided to reserve that option, which was advertised to serve our rural district in an indeterminate amount of time, but with courtesy.

Normally, there would have been mild consternation at that sort of affirmation of order. But since the offense in question was possibly Federal in nature and accordingly defended on the ground of other Constitutional stipulations, it would have become a complex matter involving not only the Writer’s Section, but the larger Legal and Human Relations teams. Not to mention local state and Federal Appeals adjudication.

The last we saw of Splash was an apparent pre-investigation get-away from the property in the delivery truck which languishes in the shed behind the Belmont Farms showroom where tours are conducted demonstrating the mysterious process involved in creating refreshing beverages in the gigantic copper tanks.

“What specifically is Splash in trouble about?” asked Rocket, after taking a bracing sip of freshly-brewed Chock Full o’ Nuts.

Melissa frowned. “Something about the Bill of Rights.”

“Now what?” asked Loma, still groggy at awakening under a morning with the bright promise of the sun swirled in murky twists of fog.

“In general, the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 10th seemed to be of concern.” Melissa frowned. “It is sort of the usual. Apparently there was an announcement that there would be an Executive Order issued to fix a big problem looming before the Mid-Term elections this November.”

“Problem for whom? Didn’t that stuff used to be handled in Congress?”

“Yeah, but we apparently are operating in a new and streamlined system necessary due to emergency and technical advances.”

“Isn’t there always an emergency these days? How do we tell if it is a new emergency, or just a new normal in which the traditional ways should operate? And isn’t technology part of the problem?”

DeMille stepped forward. “Listen, we are supposed to not notice that a guy named Mark Zuckerberg and the alphabet company that used to be called “Google” apparently have a new and respected role in our collective self-governance. Here at The Farm we are expected to do our duty and just relax and let things sort themselves out. That is what got Splash in trouble.”

“That is what is confusing. He didn’t do anything but sputter aimlessly about matters he was concerned about. That used to be part of the process, when sputtering was allowed to go on until general laughter drowned them out. It seemed to work pretty well when I got here last month,” said Buck with a bemused tone. “If there was something to be said outside Article 88 restrictions in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, I am specifically allowed as a emeritus academic civilian to state them without punishment.”

“That is part of the whole issue!” Rocket was unusually agitated, since his usual approach is to ensure that there is enough gas in the air to refuel and get away from issues with an application of Zone 5 settings on his throttles. His immediate concerns are a little unusual, and include a lot of stuff these days. “As fixed-income citizens, this inflation stuff hurts people like us directly. And quickly. The President said there might even be food shortages here in America. There is also a brutal invasion of a sort of democratic country a long ways away with a lot of emotion about it. But I suspect what got Splash wound up was the prospect of a potential nuclear event.”

“Oh, that. We dealt with that threat all our lives. We handed it and won the Cold War. That isn’t the problem, is it?” Loma looked at his empty cup in dismay. He can be a little detached at times.

Melissa stood up and brushed some crumbs from the morning pastries from her billowing royal blue skirt. “Apparently we missed some of the aspects of the Victory. They are still sorting themselves out. But I was assured that the Grown Ups are back in Washington and with their leadership, everything is going to be fine.”

“I wonder where these supposed Grown Ups spent their time off?” asked Loma. “Belmont Farms?”

Melissa was already on to the rest of the morning’s activities. She had apparently already got that part of her shopping done for the week.

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