Dead Politician Society Read Online Free Page B

game.”
    Clare hoped this was all written down somewhere in a class summary, because she was already lost.
    â€œYour assignment for Thursday is to bring one bill to be tabled and voted upon. There is no taboo topic — gay porn, child marriage, it’s open season as long as there’s no hate — but I insist upon two things: you have to want the bill passed, and you must believe that it could realistically be implemented.”
    Jonathan, from the Tree-Huggers, spoke up. “What about legalizing marijuana? Is that in the too-unrealistic category?”
    â€œNo, that’s a good one,” Dr. Easton said. “By unrealistic, I mean I’m not interested in debating the merits of having flying cars available for public use.
    â€œAnyway, it’s five past four. It was great to meet you all. Now go away.”

FIVE
JONATHAN

    Hey, Jessica. Wait up.”
    Jonathan watched as Jessica stopped walking, turned slightly, and gave a small frown when she saw that it was him.
    â€œWhat is it?” She brushed a pale strand of hair from her face.
    â€œWell . . .” Of course she was busy, had somewhere to be. What could he say that she might possibly find interesting? “I was thinking we could get together later. Talk over our tree-hugging strategy.”
    Did she know that he’d copied her answers to the questionnaire, so they’d be in the same group for Poli Real World? Could she tell that he was the lamest guy to ever walk the planet? He didn’t think much slipped past her, but he hoped that those two things had.
    The sun was in her eyes, and Jessica squinted. “You’re not wiped from work last night?”
    â€œNah.” Jonathan was exhausted, not from working, but because he’d been tossing and turning in his bed for hours afterward. “I overheard the other groups making plans to meet. I wouldn’t want to fall behind, be less prepared.”
    â€œHave you asked our other group members?”
    â€œRight. Them. No. I just thought, since our ideology is so similar, maybe you could use a right-hand man.” Shit. Jonathan hoped that only sounded dirty to him.
    â€œI guess it wouldn’t hurt to get together for a coffee. Tomorrow afternoon works better for me.”
    â€œTomorrow?” Jonathan scanned his schedule in his head. “I think I’m working.”
    â€œMe too. I was thinking before work, maybe around three. Maybe we could invite the other party members.”
    â€œYeah, okay.” Jonathan didn’t like the addition of the other party members, but he had to start somewhere. “It’s a date.”
    â€œIt’s a meeting.” Jessica smirked.
    â€œL-O-L. That’s what I meant.”
    â€œDid you say ‘L-O-L’ out loud?”
    Jonathan laughed. “Shit. How lame is that?”
    â€œIt’s not so bad.” Jessica shrugged. “I said ‘B-R-B’ to my grandfather the other day. He had absolutely no clue what I was talking about.”
    â€œAre you online a lot?” Jonathan relaxed a bit.
    â€œDon’t tell anyone.” Jessica leaned in closer. “But I’m addicted to this game. It’s called
Who’s Got the Power?
I spend at least half of my free time playing it.”
    â€œFor real? You don’t look like a computer geek.”
    â€œI know. I look like a tree-hugger. Does this shatter your image of me?”
    â€œAre you kidding?” Jon was thrilled. “Which country do you play? Or do you switch it up?”
    â€œThe States,” Jessica said. “I’m surprised you know the game.”
    Jonathan decided not to tell her right away that he’d invented
Who’s Got the Power?
as a high school independent study. “It’s easier to win as China.”
    â€œYeah.” Jessica’s voice lifted playfully. “If you can suspend your morals and keep your citizens suppressed.”
    â€œWe should get online together