Ed Cooke is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.) Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
Capitol
by Ed Cooke
Germaine was a curious, precocious kid. On fifth-grade field trips with his social studies teacher, Mister Frye, he could be a challenge.
“Why do they call it the CapitOL, Mister Frye, when the city is the CapitAL of the state?”
“Well, Germaine, the Capitol is the structure and physical campus of the center of our government in our capital city. The name has its origins in the ancient city of Rome where the Senate met near the temples of the Romans’ most powerful Gods on Capitoline Hill.”
“So, Mister Frye, that’s why this building looks like a church, ‘cuz it’s close to the Gods?”
“No Germaine, it is substantially built, like a church, to symbolize our faith that, like the building, our government will be resilient and last for a long time, and that our elected officials will make good decisions in a house that shows that we, the people, respect their endeavors on our behalf.”
“So, we trust that all the fancy chandeliers and shiny marble will guarantee our democracy works.”
“Well, no. Ultimately, we trust the will of the people to elect good people to make good decisions.”
“Well, then Mister Frye, how do we trust the people to make the good decisions?”
“That, my boy, is one of the dilemmas of democracy.”
“So, the fancy building is merely a symbol of an aspirational ideal?”
“Germaine, please go outside with your classmates and find a food truck. It is past lunchtime.”
