Dorsai - Full Circle

As she was talking to them, all of the girls asked her questions at different times, and all of them listened to the answers she gave. Her talk to them took up nearly all of the time for our meetings, and the twin's dad finally interrupted things to ask her again how she was able to avoid biasing her stories with her own opinions.

She looked at him, first, but addressed her answer to the girls when she said "One of the things that Dan helped me learn was that a fact is neither good, nor bad." She took one of the small pillows on the couch and held it out – then let go of it so that it fell to the floor. Looking at each of them, she asked "The cushion fell to the floor because of gravity. If I wanted to make that a story, should I say that it was good, or bad? Or should I just report that it happened, and let people decide for themselves which it is?"

Even Mister Rigney nodded his head in understanding before she went on "If I tell people that a politician is accepting money from some people, and that he does special favors for those same people, it isn't up to me to say what they should think about it. He is supposed to represent them, so it's up to them to decide if those two facts add up to something good or bad, not me. Dan helped me understand that its up to me to think about what I'm doing, and why – and to be absolutely honest about my reasons. What I learned from Dan is that each of us has to make our own choices, for our own reasons, and then live with the consequences of those choices. As a reporter, I've written stories about people that were doing things that weren't fair and honest, and politicians that weren't doing the things that they said they were or would do. But I've also written stories about people that were being honest and truthful, and helping other people – and the people that read my stories decided that those good people deserved to have good things happen to them, just as they decided that the bad people deserved to be punished. And when I say 'good' and 'bad' and 'honest' and all of that, yes, those are my opinions; but what I reported were the facts – so that the people reading my stories could make up their own minds without me influencing them, even by accident. There are too many people out there that will try to make you believe what they do by the way they tell you something. People like that aren't being honest, with themselves, or with you – and more, they aren't showing you the respect that you deserve, because if they respected you, they wouldn't have to try and make you believe something. An honest person will show you something, tell you why they think it is true, and then let you decide for yourself. A dishonest person thinks that you have to be told what to think, or tricked into believing something. And since I want to respect myself, I have to be honest with myself, too – and if I am honest with myself, then I have to be honest with other people, and to be honest with them, I have to show them respect. So in my stories I show people what the facts are, tell them why I think those facts are true, and then show them the respect of letting them decide for themselves what those facts mean. And I do things that way for each and every one of my stories, no matter who or what I'm writing about – because the people that read my stories are the ones paying my salary; and they deserve the best, and most honest, work I can do."

When she was done, all of them sat there, as though she was still talking and they were still listening. But what they were doing was actually thinking about what she'd said – Kelly and I could both see it on all of their faces.

After a bit, they all got up, and Kelly and the girls headed for the door. When they were gone, the twin's dad approached Candice and said "That was really something to listen to, Candice. Where on earth did you learn all of that?"

She looked him squarely in the eyes – it didn't escape her that she'd already given all of them the answer to the question he'd just asked – and replied "When I was their age, I only kinda-sorta knew the things I was just talking about – until I met Dan. Then I started talking to him, and asking him questions, and listening to the answers he gave me – with him always telling me to check them for myself. That was when I really learned it so that it stayed with me. Mister Rigney, I don't think that it is accident or coincidence that of the six of us that met Dan and learned from him, all of us have not only graduated college at or near the top of our classes, but gone on to become successful in our chosen careers."

With that, she excused herself and went to chat with the girls a little more before they left. Rigney stood there for a bit before turning to me and saying "I have to admit that I came here tonight hoping to find out a little bit about whatever the hell it is that you and your wife have been telling our kids. Jose Delgado told us what he heard your wife telling the kids, and that sounded okay; but these last couple of weeks, I've started to see some kind of change in Crissy and Sheri, and it worried me a little. But if what you're telling them is the same thing as what you told Candice" – "It is", I assured him – "then I don't have any problem with them being here, any time or any day, no matter how long it is. That young lady is just the kind of person that I'd want MY girls to grow up like, and I know the other parents would, too. The only thing I'm going to ask is that if you or your wife get tired of having them around that you let them down easy, okay?"

I smiled, and said "If that happens, we will. But I don't think it will come to that."

"Good deal, then. Mister Marshall, this is one of the times that I'm actually glad to say that it's been a pleasure meeting someone. Thank you for letting me stay and meet Candice. After I heard what she had to say tonight, I respect her even more than I did before" he told me, before sticking his hand out for me to shake. I shook hands with him, and it seemed that he was actually pleased that I did.

The two of us went to where the girls were waiting by the front door, and Kelly opened it so they could leave. As each girl went by, Candice gave her a hug, and told her that she was happy to have met them. Rigney followed them out, and Kelly waited until we'd seen all of them get into his station wagon before closing the door.

Once we were back in the living room, I told Kelly and Candice what he'd said to me about him and the other parents not having any worries about the girls coming over. Kelly and I both smiled when Candice said "Dan, that's going to make it a lot easier and simpler for you than when we were coming over, won't it?"

I agreed that it would before I gestured that I wanted her to come over and sit on my lap. She didn't hesitate to do so; and when I had my arms around her, I told her "Thanks, Candice. I knew that you talking to the girls would help, but what I didn't expect was that Rigney would be here, too – and be so impressed by you."

Candice gave me the Goober look (as if telling me "You are such a Goober!"), and said "Dan, after all you've done for me, and all the love you and Kelly have shown me, do you really think that I wouldn't be happy to do anything I could to help? Or that there's any reason on earth that you have to thank me?"

I smiled at her and answered "No, of course not. I just wanted you to know that I – we! – recognize and appreciate that help."

Mollified, she leaned close to me; and the two of us shared a loving kiss. She got back off my lap and went over to kiss Kelly, too, before sitting down so the two of them could snuggle. I turned the TV on and passed them the remote so they could find something to watch – while I watched them and thought about how lucky I was.

It was a couple of weeks before the girls were able to come over again. When they did, Kelly and I knew from the way they acted that what they'd heard from Candice had sunk in for them. When all of us were in the den, Bonita told us "Dan, Kelly, there's something that we need to tell you."