Marcus didn’t drink, preferring to keep his wits instead of losing control like his college friends used to. Rare occasions found him sipping a glass of Pinot Noir after learning red wine neutralizes garlic’s acidity, the reason he had heartburn after ingesting any alfredo dish. Fettuccini alfredo with white clam sauce was served at Tabitha’s fundraiser for Scott Gerald. Scott wanted steak, but Tabitha knew a heavy pasta dish would make donations flow faster. And if wine was added, more so. So the bar was open, with various spirits, beer, and wine. No one paid for a single thing, making donations palatable to the donors. If you had to pay for a drink AND give money? It wasn’t the right way to make things happen. Controlling the fundraiser was what Tabitha wanted. The donations and winning the election for Scott would be nice, but to be honest, Tabitha could care less about the politics and needs of Macon’s schools. She needed control, and the fundraiser did that.

“Scott, I’d like you to meet Macon’s high school principal, Marcus Allen. Marcus,” Tabitha handed him a glass of Pinot Noir, gesturing to Scott, “let me introduce you to Scott Gerald, up for reelection to Macon’s school board.”

“Please to meet you, sir.” Scott grabbed Marcus’ right hand, shaking it hard and squeezing his hand around Marcus’s fingers. “You’ve been at the high school for three years, right?” Marcus nodded, sipping his wine. “I hear the graduating class of 1997 will have more graduates than the last four years because of your changes to the curriculum.”

“Well, thank you, Scott.” Marcus took another sip. “The truth is, our seventeen graduating seniors are working hard to be the best graduating class of Macon in forty years.”

“Forty years?” Scott sipped his Bud Light. “The high school has been around for forty years? I didn’t know that.”

Marcus nodded. “Yes. This area was overrun with indigenous tribes who did their best to get along with the invading settlers.” The Allen family traced its roots back to settlers who intermarried with some tribes living in Montana and the plains, like Kansas and Oklahoma. Fifteen years from now, distant relatives of Marcus would contact him, letting him know that he shared the same DNA as many of the tribes slaughtered in Montana. But for now, all his information came from historical records. He finished the second glass, the one Tabitha brought him a minute ago, and grimaced.

“That Pinot hits hard, does it?” Scott laughed.

Marcus coughed a few times. “I don’t drink often.” He coughed again. “Excuse me, Scott. I’m so sorry.”

Scott waved his hand at Marcus. “Don’t worry about it, Marcus.” Scott leaned in close enough that Marcus could smell Bud Light on his breath. “If you ask me, this whole thing is overkill.”

Marcus smiled. “You might be onto something there.” The room filled with guests dressed for church, or better. Some of the gentlemen wore tuxedos, others wearing their Sunday best suits. The women wore evening dresses or nice church clothes. But one and all were dressed conservatively, with no blue or black jeans or t-shirts in the crowd. Marcus wasn’t sure how she did it, but Tabitha disappeared into the crowd, glad-handing some, smiling and waving at others as she made her way up to the podium. Cheers and shouts erupted through the venue, ending with Gerald’s name being repeated. Tabitha smiled at her captive audience, urging them all to sit down. Scott finished his beer and sat it on the floor next to Marcus, whispering, “Guess I better get up there with her, huh?” He winked at Marcus moving like a fast-paced mall walker, getting to the podium as she finished her introduction, smiling as he moved, looking at the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to personally thank each of you for coming to Scott Gerald’s fundraiser for the school board.” Applause erupted from the crowd. “As you know, Scott is working with our schools to ensure our children have the best education, the best equipment, and the best coaches for our football, basketball, and baseball teams.” More applause. “In the last year, Scott has overseen the reintroduction of extracurricular activities, including marching band, art, and dance. These programs are why our soon-to-graduate seniors will enter seventeen colleges across the country, putting Macon back on the map as one of the best high school’s to attend.”  Scott waved at the crowd as the applause died down. “So, without further ado, here’s Scott!” More applauding, this time giving Scott a standing ovation.

Marcus’ tongue felt thick in his mouth. The alcohol was going straight to his head, the room starting to waver and wobble. He didn’t feel like he’d be sick, but Marcus was drunker than the last time he had wine. Then Marcus remembered Tabitha gave him a second glass and he didn’t remember where he was supposed to be sitting. People in Macon looked at him funny like the zipper of his khakis was open or he had a massive stain on his crotch.

The closest table had two couples, none of whom Marcus knew. They were older ranchers, based on what they were wearing, not that Marcus was paying any attention. He slumped into the chair as Tabitha came over, grabbing him by the arm, whispering, “Pardon me, folks. Marcus, you are sitting over here,” she guided him farther back with her girlfriends from high school. The ladies at Tabitha’s table saw her with him, staring. Tabitha smiled, never saying one word.

Scott made his speech, Marcus hearing none of it, thankful that the food, the fettuccini alfredo with clam sauce, a Caesar salad, and more than plenty of garlic bread, came out to their table less than two minutes after Scott finished his brief speech. He didn’t remember the speech but felt better after eating the food, so much so that he drank more Pinot at Tabitha’s prompting.

Marcus didn’t remember much. Tabitha gave him his fourth glass of wine, plying him with enough bread and pasta to keep him from getting sick, making him dance it out of his system. His drunken state made him the life of the party, the extrovert coming out in him, Tabitha dancing multiple dances with him, with all those in attendance wondering if they were dating. By the night’s end, no one had to be convinced – Tabitha and Marcus were a couple.