After breakfast, Pamela tutors Molly and Anna in Counterpoint, though the topic of interest is coitus, or the potential thereof.
"How was your date with Albert?" asks Molly.
"It went well," responds Pamela. "He put his hand on my thigh."
Anna inquires. "Do you think you will...?" Ever the lady, Anna does not complete the sentence but her meaning is clear.
Pamela ponders. "I think he will be an adequate sexual partner."
"He likes Domenico Scarlatti," Molly interjects, helpfully.
"He does," says Pamela. "It's a point in his favor."
In the early afternoon, Roderick calls Mr. Smith to commiserate about the election. "It sucks, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does."
"So what's next?"
"Well, today I have two customers that need some help and I want to do some writing."
"No, I mean in politics."
"Just keep the Studebaker in mind."
Roderick is puzzled. "The Studebaker? You mean our Studebaker?"
"Right, the one in the garage."
"What does that mean for politics?"
"They don't make them anymore."
"Right."
"And if you polled people about their favorite cars, not many would say Studebaker, right?"
"Right." Roderick figures that about ten people would say 'Studebaker'.
"But it still works, and we're going to keep it."
"It stinks to watch other college students cheering results of the election."
"Yes, I understand. But look at it like this: yesterday, those students had to grapple with a tough job market for young people. And tomorrow, the job market will be just as tough. It would likely be just as tough if the other guy won, too. So exactly what do they have to cheer about?"
"Won't it hurt your business if taxes go up?"
"Not really. If taxes go up, people need more help with investments, not less."
"So I guess the health care bill won't be repealed."
"It wouldn't have been repealed if the other guy won absent a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate."
"Our candidate had a serious plan to reform entitlements."
"Voters don't care about that. They don't want to hear about shared sacrifice. They want soundbites, photo-ops and free phones."
"Doesn't this mean the country is going to hell in a handbasket?"
"Sort of. But look at it like this. You and I think that the guys who won are going to implement terrible policies that will ruin the country. We're either right or wrong about that. If we're wrong, the country will turn out all right. If we're right, we'll still be right when the next election comes around."
"But we have 7.9% unemployment! Doesn't that prove that the incumbent's policies are bad?"
"Voters don't care about the unemployment rate. They care about free phones."
"So what do we do now?"
"Go and spend time with Molly."
"Thanks, Dad."
That evening, Roderick cuddles under the comforter with Molly. "I called my Dad to talk about the election. He told me to spend time with you."
Molly smiles and cuddles back. "What election?"
