Trump Goes on Trial

“Why should I register as a Democrat?” Juan sensed he was being signed up for something he didn't want. “Maybe I want to vote for somebody else?”

Hector leaned back and held his hands up, “OK, Señor Torres. Look, nobody’s making you do anything. I’m just here to help.”

He’s back to calling me ‘Señor Torres’ again. Juan felt that was more appropriate.

“But think about this,” Hector continued, “Donald Trump is on trial in at least four different cases. If he goes to jail, he will likely be there a long time.”

Juan nodded his head and looked away, “I know.”

“Even if he beats some of the charges, he won’t beat all of them.” Hector wagged his finger, “Is that the kind of man you want running our country?”

“I heard if he got elected President again, he could pardon himself,” Juan offered.

Hector swung his hand as if batting the idea away. “Even if he could, and that’s a big ‘if’ because some of the charges are state and not federal, what does it say about the man’s character?”

Juan scowled. Something about Hector’s arguments bothered him. I’ve known a lot of good men who’ve been pulled over and arrested for nothing, he thought. “It’s obvious they’re after him.”

Hector grinned maliciously, like he’d been waiting for a chance to enumerate the sins of the devil. With his right hand, he dramatically grabbed the forefinger of his left hand. “One! Trump has thirty-four counts of falsifying business records related to his payoff of Stormy Daniels about their affair.”

Then, Hector grabbed his middle finger, “Two! He has forty counts against him for his scheme to conceal classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.”

Juan was getting uncomfortable and got up to get a glass of water. Hector followed him into the kitchen, bending his ring finger back as he announced, “Three! Inciting an insurrection on January 6^th, Trump’s got four counts against him.”

Juan slammed down his water cup, but Hector continued to advance and shoved his hand towards Juan’s face. Now Hector was holding his pinky finger. “Four! That cabrón’s got thirteen counts against him for trying to find almost 12,000 illegal votes during the 2020 election!” There was a strange gleam in Hector’s eye. “You can’t tell me he’s not going to jail. Can you believe the gall of that maniac?”

“I think it’s time for you to leave. Now!” Juan pushed Hector’s hands away from his face.

For an instant, Hector seemed to be struggling with an impulse to escalate the confrontation. But with visible effort, he took a deep breath and stepped away. Once again, Juan sized the big man up, noting his powerful build and youthful energy.

“I’m so sorry, Señor,” Hector hung his head and moved to pick up his tablet from where it lay on the dining room table. “My behavior is inexcusable. I meant nothing by it. It’s just that I get so passionate when I think about the danger this country is in with that man…”

Juan cast a glance at Maria. She nodded silently. Then he turned back towards Hector and patted him awkwardly on the shoulder, “It’s OK. I feel that way too, sometimes.”

Hector was making his way towards the door, and he stopped to give Juan a wry grin, “You do?”

“Yeah, sometimes,” Juan lifted his chin and shrugged his shoulders.

“Then is there any chance I could sign you up with the Democratic Party?” Hector lifted his tablet hopefully.

Wow, this guy never gives up! Juan thought. But he said, “No. That’s OK. I want to just vote for whoever I think is the best.”

“Hmm…” Hector considered this. “You’ve got an independent mind. I like that. But you have to register if you want to vote. I could sign you up as an Independent.”

“What’s that?”

Hector leaned against the couch, “An Independent is someone who can vote in the general election in November. But you wouldn’t be able to vote in the primaries.”

Juan glanced at Maria again. She shrugged. “Yeah,” he’d begun to reach a decision. “Yeah. I like that. Maybe I’m an Independent.”

“OK,” Hector made a show of firing up his tablet and rapidly typing a few quick lines. “No problem. I’ve listed you as an Independent. Your ballot will come in the mail in a couple of weeks. OK?”

Juan breathed a little easier. “OK,” he said. It really was helpful to have this man take care of the computer stuff for him. I ought to be grateful.

 “Now then,” Hector said. “Before I leave, are there any other members of your household that still haven’t registered?”

Before Hector left the house that day, Juan, Maria, Sofia, and Carlos (who would receive a military absentee ballot) were all signed up.