The Candidates

The radio station had invited three people. Three chairs, three microphones, one host, forty minutes.

At the Blue Plate, on a Thursday evening in April, the class gathered at the long counter in front of the radio on the shelf, the same radio that had been on the same station for twenty-four years, the same one that had carried Frank's angry voice two winters ago. Frank was back from Portugal, tanned, five pounds heavier from grilled sardines, and sitting on a red stool with a cushion that Bev kept for him under the counter.

"Part 5," said Grace. "Listening to a Discussion. Three speakers, sometimes four with the host. The questions ask who said what, who agrees with whom, and what each person's position is. We each follow one voice. Kai, the first candidate. Lina, the second. Ade, Hannah, because he's the most critical. Yuna, the host's questions. Everyone else, listen for agreement."

"I'm not critical," said Ade.

"You're very critical," said everybody.