What Could Have Been

Caravan by Thelonious Monk plays.

“Joe never was US President.” says Pat Wilson.

“What if he had been?” asks Kick, dreamily.

“I chose the Thelonius Monk for a reason.” says Pat Wilson.

Written by Pat Wilson with assistance from Lacey Banks:

“With Lem and Lacey out of the way, happily blissfully wedded living probably somewhere in Pennsylvania or Maryland or New York City for all I know…for all I care in a way because I’m not exactly happy about her. Sure…Joe loved me, but he also carried her picture around in his front pocket and you know what men do with pictures like that when they’re alone.

But with Lacey out of the way, living in New York City with Lem I was able to live my dream, and boy was I happy. See…what Lacey doesn’t realize is that Joe is an absolute genius. I think he’s the smartest man to ever live, but that’s just my opinion.

Of course he married me.

Joseph Patrick Kennedy Junior considered marrying Athalia.

And…see…this is where Lacey is wrong. He was…a genius.

He made…marrying me…ideal.

The story was that my husband died. Because he did. Very conveniently. So we could get married. Easily.

In 1945. We married. And I looked downtrodden. Britain was devastated in the war. I was loving, living proof!

But dear Joe has befriended me and we fell in love! Wow!

It was a lie. But it worked.

And by the 1950’s…he was Governor of Massachusetts. And I was his wife. How about that?

By 1964…Joe was ready to run for US President.

Of course he won!

And of course…the First Lady had a pretty accent.

It wasn’t Camelot. Maybe Camelot was in the 1980’s. Or 70’s?

No…the first Kennedy Administration was…cool.” says Pat. “Cool like La Piscine. It was…a glittering…feast for the eyes. Like Truman Capote’s famous ball but…all day. Everything. It was lavish. It was…opulent.

And…we…ate like kings.”

Straight, No Chaser by Thelonious Monk Quintet plays.

“Was American culture affected? Yes. Of course.

But not much.

Vietnam was a victory. Truly. Joe Jr is just that smart.

Instead of being a cautionary tale…it was…a lie. Because he made it look easy. And it wasn’t.

But…drugs were still a thing. The changes still happened. Except for a few?

It was…a monstrously GORGEOUS time.” says Pat Wilson.

“Dahling…why?!” asks Kitty.

“God knows.” says Pat.

More later.