2030_ The Real Story of What Happens to America - Albert Brooks [36]
Kathy was wet. She was in love with this guy. Like crazy. She actually looked at Brian and felt sorry for him. His simple idea to go to this meeting was going to change their relationship forever.
Kathy had never been a love-at-first-sight person. As a matter of fact, with the feelings that she was experiencing at this moment she wondered if she had ever really been in love before. This is crazy. Just listen to what he has to say and tomorrow this will all be nothing. But as the meeting continued she felt closer and closer to these people. They were different from the kids in the resentment gangs. It was not just that they were more articulate; they were actually experiencing what she was—having to work for years to pay off a medical debt—or else they were sick themselves and couldn’t get the proper care.
One woman, Sandy, had a damaged heart valve and was always tired, even at twenty-five years old. Her mother’s health plan was so meager it would not pay for her operation, so Sandy lived her life with the energy of someone three times her age. Another young man, Robert, lost his vision in his left eye after a carjacking. If he could have gotten care quickly enough, his sight might have been saved, but his parents were divorced, and when his father remarried and had a son, Robert’s health care vanished. It was something in the law that Congress always wanted to fix, but didn’t.
People, one by one, stood up and told their stories. Brian told of his grandfather’s illness and how it cost his parents a fortune, but he spoke quickly and did not make much of an impression. Kathy didn’t feel she wanted to speak. But when she stood up and told the story of her dad, everybody was mesmerized. No one more so than Max.
She found it to be a great release. She could vent and cry and maybe even do something about it, though at the moment she didn’t know what that was. No one had gotten to that part.
When everyone finished, Max stood back up and said, “Tonight is a starting point. It’s important to know our stories and how we feel. Next time we’ll talk about what we can do. The only thing worse than what we are going through is to feel helpless. So it’s time to take back some power.” Again, people applauded. No one really knew what he meant, but the words sounded so good. Everybody agreed they would meet again.
Kathy didn’t want to leave. She wanted to talk to Max all night. She went up to him and said, “You were so great. We’ll see you at the next meeting.” Max gave her a hug.
“Feel better,” he said.
Kathy stared at Brian as Max had his arms around her. She was aware of her expression. Don’t swoon. Look like it’s your uncle.
“Thank you,” Kathy said, breaking the embrace so it wouldn’t lead to anything more serious. Her tone of voice was all for Brian’s sake. She sounded as matter-of-fact as possible. “We’ll see you again sometime.”
As Brian and Kathy were driving home, Brian was the first one to speak. “That was sort of boring, I’m sorry I dragged you there.”
“I didn’t think it was boring. I thought it was fascinating.”
“You don’t want to go back, do you?” Brian knew the answer.
“Are you kidding? I want to hear some solutions. Don’t you?”
“I don’t think that group is really going to have any solutions.”
“Why not? No one else is doing shit.”
“So we should go back?”
“I’m going back. You don’t have to.”
“No, that’s all right. I’ll go back.”
And they drove for a while in silence. Brian reached over and pressed a button and music filled the rest of the ride home. Neither of them spoke until he dropped her off. Kathy beat him to the question of whether or not he should come in.
“I’m exhausted. I’m going to read for a bit and go to sleep. Thank you so much for taking me. I loved it.” She gave him a quick kiss and opened the car door.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Brian said.
“Great,” Kathy