“This one has such beautiful hair! Arri, look please, see the rose highlights at the end of each curl, and that creamy skin just glows? That means good English stock, doesn't it? I wish these infants had teeth, I wouldn't want to end up with those horrible English teeth, or worse yet, Irish. They promised no Irish, didn't they Arri? I suppose if you want to be sure of the teeth you would have to go with the Scandinavians or Germans. Italians have good teeth but you never know what...” Arri was lost in his own thoughts of Bridget and the rosy glow of her butt cheeks.

The agency had really come through for him, she was perfect, passed her interview with flying colors, proved to be a naughty nanny indeed and got down to the business at hand without any coaxing, even agreed to move in straight away in anticipation of the new baby, her room just down the hall, next to the nursery. The agency knew a man of his means didn't have time to waste on details. He had the means to enjoy life and by damn he wasn't wasting a second on trifles. He wouldn't be wasting time with this baby choosing...

“Arri, stop fretting about business and help me choose. What do you think of this little follow? Look at that nose; it already has a refined look about it. You don't think it will grow to be too large do you? There's just so much to consider, I wish you would help.” “And can't we do something about those young women with their faces plastered against the windows. It's distracting?”

“Dearest Blythe, those are the mothers, we can't very well make them disappear.”

“It makes me feel guilty, is all, and they should be happy.”

“I'm sure they are, deep down. Look what a chance you are giving their child, a life worth living, full of ponies and tea parties, the best schools, everything.”

Randolph, the director of the “Home for the Best Young Mothers” stepped close to the Cachefeller's and whispered, “If those girls are troubling you, I can arrange a more private viewing? We don't discourage their watching because we would like to reassure the prospective parents that these children come from the very best stock. Sadly, it can be a bit troubling.

Bridget had enjoyed her interview with Arri, he had insisted that she call him Arri and not Mr. Cachefeller. She knew what would be expected of her and had no problem with it; after all, conditions being what they are, a safe secure placement was not to be taken likely. Riots, protests, demonstrations were everyday occurrences. People like the Cachefellers could not go out to restaurants, all the theatres had closed long ago, the gangs of impoverished controlled the streets at night. Civilization was close to collapse and everyone knew it. She was delighted with her new surroundings. At first she was puzzled by Arri's little Mrs. checking her out from the corner of her eye but realized it was not a menacing stare, more a look of interest.

Bridget had managed a sly smile and a downcast glance and was surprised when her gesture was returned which caused both women to offer surprised smiles. The Mrs. might have been relieved into believing that Bridget was not a threat to her marriage and that was a good thing. Bridget could handle the affections of more than one lover.

Arriviste was not a stupid man, that was what he told himself before he had that mental conversation about what the fuck went wrong with the world and what could he or anyone do to turn things around? He was pretty sure he knew when that fateful straw was readied for the camel’s back. He had just finished grad school and was learning the family business from top to bottom. He had a bright future and a progressive mind. He hoped to influence the family business and make a better world for all concerned when things took a drastic turn. The conservatives won the election, held the House, retook the Senate and won the Presidency for the first time in fifty years. His father’s generation was delighted. By God, they had the power and they were sure as hell going to use it.

First up to the plate was a home run tax cut. The mood at the club was ecstatic. Yachts and planes were ordered. Private islands were all the rage. Cachefeller senior purchased a beauty in Puget Sound, technically in the Inland Passage, colder and wetter than he would have liked but with loads of fertile forests, a freshwater lake, natural harbor with boat dock, helipad and security galore. The houses were adequate and hidden from the water. The first year’s tax break of fifty million provided the cash for the purchase. God, he wished he had that island now but when father was offered three hundred and fifty million, a stock swap sale between corporations exempted from capital gains, avarice raised its ravenous head, bye bye paradise. What a huge mistake, you could have lived for centuries off the trout and salmon that spawned in the lake. Fixed them on the hardwood fired bar-b-q designed to service dinner for fifty and served them with a wild berry coulis made from the several varieties that grew on the island. Dad promised that we would find another island, a better one, but the prices soared further and a replacement was not to be. 

The tax cuts were followed with cuts to social programs and health care. The promised job growth spiked with the new military buildup and the resulting aerospace contracts but soon plummeted when the troops on the ground made only backward gains and previously staunch allies jumped ship. Even the potato growers panicked as French fries were once again taboo and crops rotted in the fields. You knew the end was near when both houses of congress approved and the President signed a bill ending Social Security as a Socialist boondoggle designed to destroy the countries independent spirit. The Supreme Court reversed the legislation, everyone knew they would, but allowed the cuts in benefits not covered by current revenue. They just couldn't help themselves.

With orgasmic ecstasy, Southern Senators ran for reelection on a platform that promised to tear out the century old sidewalks and other improvement built by the depression era WPA to end once and for all the sins of the New Deal. The courts were clogged with cases against the newly installed prayer in school programs, bible study instead of evolution, sports facilities instead of science classrooms. As a final act just before the end of the second presidential term public and private unions were outlawed as socialist institutions counter to progress and public welfare. The teachers, civil servants and the few remaining private unions, mainly the Teamsters and Longshoremen went on strike.