The chairman had just called the committee to order and made his requisite opening remarks. Lishan sat, poised, ready and hopeful for an execution of substance.
“In today’s hearing, we will examine whether the Food and Drug Administration must alter its nutrition labeling to, once and for all, provide the public with information that’s truthful, easy to understand, and void of doublespeak. Specifically, we’re here to charge the FDA with further modifying its regulations about trans fats and food additives. The public has long been denied a straightforward label that informs of the true and real ingredients in products on our country’s shelves. Those companies who label the front of the package as being a ‘zero trans fats’ product, when in fact trans fats—a.k.a. partially hydrogenated oils, for one—do exist in the product, must no longer be allowed that deception. As to food additives, monosodium glutamate, for example—an excitotoxin that causes headaches and other severe problems—has more pseudonyms unrecognizable to the average consumer than I can count beyond my fingers and toes.”
This prompted light laughter, as the chair was known for his visibly counting—on his fingers—small numbers of things.
“How this deceit of the public continues unabated is beyond my comprehension. Or is it?” The chair had the tone of rhetoric, seemingly customary in high-ranking positions in government. “It is my esteemed hope that those voting members present today have the clarity of intellect and the ethics representative of solid family values to leave any puppet strings behind and stand up for the good of the public.”
A murmur ensued. As he paused for a sip of what appeared to be water, Lishan drew whatever substance she could from the grandiloquence and jotted it down. She was hopeful his carefully chosen wording was indicative of his true feelings.
The hearing continued, with apparently substantive discourse on the merits and drawbacks of present-day labeling regulations. Lishan wrote “apparently substantive” in her sidebar notes since the opposition contradicted many of the “facts” presented.
When one of the speakers made mention of Conner’s Mod X3 Connola Oil and its dangers, as brought to light in a news leak yesterday, a loud disruption occurred in the left rear of the room.
“That is absolutely false! It would revolutionize food stor…” began the tall figure until a neighboring male, who looked like Secret Service, quickly pulled the man back to his seat. No one noticed the one-way ticket to Cinque Terre that fell from the tall man’s lap.
“Too late,” said Maya. She stood, catching the attention of the two marshals, pointing at the outspoken man. Looking down at Lishan, she simply said, “Conner,” adding, “nice disguise.”
In less than six seconds, both marshals had seized Conner, handcuffed him, and began parading him through the front of the room and through the double doors.
“These two marshals have been wanting to perp walk Conner for at least a decade. Now they’ve had their day,” said Maya, sitting down.
“Do you imagine he’ll avoid jail and continue with business as usual?”
“No, not this time. Too much evidence against him—we have enough to substantiate probable cause. He’ll try for a mistrial, then an appeal, but the public has had its fill of CEOs getting away with... murder.”
After the camera flashes and uproar quieted, the meeting resumed. At the 138-minute mark, the chair called for a vote on whether to report the bill, with its changes to trans fat and food additive labeling, to the Senate. The ayes carried, mostly along Democratic lines, but this time with a larger handful of Republican defectors. The battle was not yet won, as Lishan knew. The Senate and House had to approve, followed by the president. But the proposed changes to the FDA were out the gate.
Lishan was inspired. She would see to it that the public stayed informed, regardless of the self-described D.C. oligarchy.
One mark for the public.
“Will he get out on bail?” Lishan asked, fear driving the question.
Maya had confidence in her composure as she gave Lishan’s question some thought. “No. For capital crimes, especially complicity with the injury of an innocent child and the poisoned students, no judge—not even the ones beholden to Conner—would risk putting their reputation on the line with all the evidence against him. He’ll be in jail within the half hour. No bail for him or his oversized ego. He’s not going to see the light of day without looking over prison walls for many years to come. This I can promise you.”
E p i l o g u e
An ethereal painting of her calendar, a red star on the thirteenth, dissolved as she awoke. Where am I? crossed her mind. Ah, yes, the Quincy. She had stayed here the past few days—chilling, she told her friends. Besides, home was nonexistent.
She had two suitcases in her room. Auntie had gathered additional clothing from Lishan’s apartment, answering Erik’s questions with a simple “She’s okay.”
Lishan felt a hole in her soul. Was it her vagabond state? She opened her journal, the one with Vermeer’s “The Girl With The Pearl Earring” on the cover. She began writing, nearly stream of conscious.
I miss Erik. I keep thinking about what he said, “All those homes.” Was he a foster child, in homes where he wasn’t loved? That would explain so much. And what of Jimmy? Nice fellow. Yet my history with Erik counts, doesn’t it? Perhaps he’ll have an epiphany, come to his senses, mature beyond that last bump. I’m not infallible, but neither am I necessarily at fault. Have I truly done something wrong? I have, in Erik’s mind, which counts, but that doesn’t make it my truth. I know I’m lovable, and I can love. This is about Erik, not me. I’m no longer confused about this. I can meet Erik where he is, but can he? I’m not the same woman I was before my life was put in danger. This I know.
Lishan sat back, rereading her entry. Growth. Understanding. Movement. Strength. A decision was in order. She reclined, Bose headphones in place. Sade Adu again—Is It a Crime? In the silence, her turmoil continued. One more, Sade. Tell me what to do. The Sweetest Taboo. Lishan cried until the song ended. Drying her tears, she could not decide. She knew she needed to take a step. No guarantee presented itself. She stared at her phone, the keypad—the step.
Texting: “Jimmy, hi. Decisions to make. You helped me so much, for which I can only thank you. I can’t do the 13th, but know that I see the beauty in you. Be kind to yourself. XO. Lishan.”
Texting: “Erik. I’m working on forgiveness, on understanding. Not just for you, or me, but for each of us. I understand, as well, about “All those homes” in your life. It’s okay. If you believe, then Quincy Hotel. Rm 403. I am here. The sheets are silk. Delay is inadvisable. Lishan.”
LETTER TO THE READER
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for reading my work. My intent in writing Silence Her was to challenge each of us to speak up for justice, and to draw you into the storytelling world.
I would appreciate your taking a moment or two to review my book on Amazon. Your honest reviews help authors to continue bringing you the best possible stories in the future.
Works Cited
i Dr. David Graham. Lucas Catton, Ed. “FDA Overhaul Needed to Quell Drug Threat.” January 13, 2007. http://www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/lcatton_20070113.html
ii Klemm, Rolf D.W., MPH, Dr PH. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “US Food & Nutrition Policies: The Actors, Structures & Instruments.” 2006. ocw.jhsph.edu/courses/FoodNutritionPolicy/PDFs/Lecture2.pdf
iii United States Food and Drug Administration. “Foods / Healthier Americans.” 5/27/2009. http://www.FDA.gov/AboutFDA/ReportsManualsForms/Reports/BudgetReports/2007FDABudgetSummary/ucm112799.htm
iv United States Food and Drug Administration. “Guidance for Industry: Letter Regarding Point of Purchase Food Labeling.” October 2009. http://www.FDA.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm187208.htm
Douglas Fetterly is a freelance writer and novelist with a passion for literature, love of
adventure, and propensity for social consciousness in his stories. He has traveled extensively, including Russia, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Europe, South Pacific, Mexico, Canada, and Asia. Living on or near the water most of his life—at times on a sailboat or houseboat north of San Francisco—helped him keep perspective through life’s trials. Interests include surfing, sailboat racing, ocean conservation, backpacking, indie films, guitar, more surfing, and the treasure of his kids and grandkids. Most days he can be found surfing with his wife at a variety of O`ahu surf breaks, or writing at a local café. He has enjoyed storytelling classes, dancing, singing in community choirs, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
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