Power Games

After enjoying a quiet Sunday at home just building furniture and doing some online shopping to get some things for the house, I get ready to watch the Political debate with my father hopefully being brought back down to earth with a massive thud.

The latest opinion poll had my father holding a 61-39 lead in a two-party poll and in all honesty, it would take a miracle for anybody to beat him at this time given that he is liked by the biggest media conglomerate in the country and the media press is always positive. The debate starts and both leaders give their 20-minute pre-prepared speeches about how important things are for the communities of New Wellington.

I listen to Dad’s speech where he talks about the importance of family and how important trust and loyalty is and that how he is “not a one-man show” but takes the advice of family on the big decisions for the country because getting the best advice from family and spending time with them is always important. Barely able to control myself, I laugh and yell at the laptop when he goes on about that bullshit.

The next bit of the debate is pretty boring and I start to think that Frankie is not actually at the debate or not going to ask a question before finally he gets called up to ask his questions. “Frankie Rivers, National Gazette” introducing himself before he asks the question “Mr Keppel, a story has broken in the National Gazette regarding the qualifications of two of your campaign staff and their profiles and titles that they have been using during this” I smile as Frankie starts to deliver on his promises as my father’s demeanour has no real noticeable change.

“Your daughter Sarah has been repeatedly a spokesperson on your campaign regarding to health matters and on your campaign website she is referred to as Dr Sarah Keppel MD, GPNW,” Frankie says giving details of Sarah’s supposed credentials. “When investigated, there is no registration for a Doctor Sarah Keppel and her academic history seems to be fraudulent given that only Graduation of a Keppel from the New Wellington College of Medicine is that of your daughter Eliza?”

My father’s expression still not changing that much even though this is something that has come straight at him out of the blue as Frankie continues “If your own daughter is lying about her credentials and academic history and you are using her as an important member of the campaign, then what else are you lying about or going to lie about?”

“Well Frankie, was it? I don’t understand what my daughter’s history has to do with the campaign or anything here, it has no relevancy to the campaign and what I am aiming to do for the people of New Wellington, making a change to their lives” he says smarmy and deflecting the questions “Plus as my daughter is a private citizen and holds no active major role in the campaign, so I think that bringing in my family into the campaign produces a lack of class”.

The smugness of my father thinks that he has been able to deflect what is happening despite the fact that the Campaign’s website has that Sarah is a doctor. I quickly look at the website and screenshot the fact that it says she graduated as a Doctor with honours and that she is a member of the GP council of New Wellington which is also a lie.

My father then answers the second question that Frankie has “Mr Keppel, with all due respect to your last answer, there seems to be a pattern of behaviour that is very similar to that of Sarah because there is also information that has been circulating online that your son and campaign manager Brendan Keppel did not sit for his legal exam and instead it was another member of your staff Corey Chang, a then classmate of Brendan that sat the exam, could you explain that factor?”

The expression of my father automatically turns from calm and confident to agitated as he is noticeably frustrated that the questions have gotten personal, which ordinarily I would hate but right now I don’t care. “As I said to you on your previous question Frankie, my family’s business is private and as private citizens, they are not running for election so deliver your questions at me and my campaign rather than the lives of my children”.

“With all due respect Mr Keppel, we are not bringing up random members of your family such as your son Isaac who has been noticeably absent from the campaign but members of your campaign who are highly visible members of your staff, your son Brendan is your campaign manager and has been the face of several press conferences and statements”. Frankie is not letting up although I’d have appreciated not to get my name dragged into things at the moment but if it upsets the apple cart then I’m all for it.

My father lets out a sigh “Well Frankie again, my families private life is just that private but I will seek counsel on the issues that have arisen tonight and seek explanations on your information and attempt to provide an answer at a suitable time given the situation”.

It’s not necessarily the capitulation that I was hoping for but still, the fuse has been lit and it could be set to bring down the Keppel political empire or at the very least take out my brother and sister from the game.

Sitting watching the rest of the debate is quite mild, my father is clearly rattled by the comments tonight as I get a text message “You don’t think this little game of yours is going to work now is it Isaac; You’re not bringing this family down with you”. I laugh as I read the text and clearly realise that Brendan is shitting himself with fear about what happened.

I text back “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I don’t know how you think I could have had anything to do with this, I’m in Yellow Peak remember where you sent me?” not sure whether I should have texted back but I’m loving the fact that Brendan is panicked.

I don’t focus on the debate for a bit until a question peaks my attention “Mr Keppel, just picking up on the information that my colleague from the National Gazette asked, I think that you could understand that impersonating and faking credentials in any advertising is considered fraud, can you personally undertake right now that there has been no fraudulent activity by yourself, your family or anybody in your campaign staff in regards to your campaign and it’s finances?”

The question puts my father on the spot “Doug, I think that if you felt that there was anything to these rumours then you would have had proof and be running these stories with evidence yourself and as I previously said, I have no knowledge personally of any such behaviour and will endeavour to ensure that these claims are duly investigated”. It’s a typical political answer from my father, both deflecting the question and ignoring the claims.

My phone rings, I think about not answering it but see Eliza’s name on the display and I answer it “Hey sis, everything ok?” I ask, not sure why she is calling me “Was this all your doing Isaac?” her tone making me suspicious because she seems angry. “I don’t know anything about that in all honesty, as I said to you the other day somebody was handling it for me” my reply is trying to calm the situation down but ultimately, I didn’t need to calm it down because she is not angry.

“If it was you, I’m not angry Isaac, actually I’m happy because it’s about time they got shut down, Sarah is a master manipulator who is your typical mean girl, she wouldn’t have anything to do with me at college unless she wanted something” Eliza enlightens me about a lot of things about Sarah at college and how much she misbehaved.

The conversation is good as I give Eliza the email address that we are sending information to Frankie and she agrees to send some information to Frankie if she has it. It’s nice talking to her again and again we agree that nobody else finds out about this conversation so that neither of us can get into trouble.

Nothing much happens in the rest of the night and I head to bed, the next morning I’m lying in bed with my phone blowing up with texts and a few phone calls. I sit there as I pick up my phone, there are a range of numbers that I recognise instantly and a couple that I don’t know either. I read the text messages from Mitch “Bro, you need to check this out urgently”.

I click on the link that he sent me and it’s a press release that was issued at midnight, I read through it

“The National Democratic Party is tonight announcing a temporary suspension to our election campaign in the light of allegations that have been levelled towards members of the Keppel Family and campaign staff of the NDP

Mr Keppel denies any knowledge of wrongdoing in his campaign team but in the eyes of transparency wishes for a full and thorough investigation of claims that have been made.

The NDP and Mr Keppel believe for a better future for New Wellington and will continue to fight for the people of this great land”

I never expected anything like this and honestly, feel guilty about the fact that my father’s campaign could have completely become undone by all this and I never wanted to ruin the families name or legacy because my ancestors have done amazing things especially my grandparents. I continue to go through the texts and calls, most of the texts from the numbers that I know are just people checking if I’m ok mostly from Danny, Adam, Linda and even Michael checking on me.

I slowly get out of bed where there is a banging on my door, I look out the window and see a black car parked out the front “Open the fucking door Isaac”, the voice is clear as I automatically know that it is Brendan who has come out me. I don’t bother to open the door and get on my phone quickly “Hey Danny, it’s me how close are you to my place? I need you to get here quickly”.

Danny down the line “I’m just heading there now, what’s wrong?” my voice is quite panicked as I talk “My brother is here banging on my door and honestly, I’m scared”. The irrationality that is probably going through Brendan’s brain right now frightens me as he keeps banging on the door, not leaving. I call out “Go away Brendan, I’m not talking to you” as he waits outside for me.

About 10 minutes later, I hear Danny’s truck pull up and hear his voice “You need to leave right now brother or at least calm down before you talk to Isaac” he says towards Brendan who is still irrationally angry. “I’m going to fucking kill the little rat” his tone still angry until I hear a thud against the front door and then Danny’s voice.

“If you have to talk to Isaac you’ll do it on our terms, not yours, he’s an adult that can make his own decision on whether he wants to talk to you” Danny threatens Brendan which makes me think about what would happen once he finds out about Tash and Brendan’s connection.

Danny knocks on the door “It’s me, man, want to let your me and your brother in, he just wants to talk right now” reluctantly I open the door and Danny walks in first making sure that Brendan cannot get to me with how angry he is.

I sit at the table as Danny and Brendan come in, Brendan quite furious and annoyed sits down but before he goes to speak I stand up to him “You need to listen to me and that’s all you’re going to do ok, otherwise Danny is going to throw you out of here and he isn’t afraid to do it”.

Taking a deep breath, “You and Sarah are the ones who have dishonoured the family, we both know that you are the ones who have lied about everything, you didn’t do your college exams and I know from a very reliable source that Sarah failed her course on three separate occasions and did not graduate at the same time as Eliza”.

Brendan slams his fist on the table trying to argue with me “Don’t bother speaking, it’s my turn to start speaking up about things for a change and not let you take the run around of things right?” Brendan reluctantly nods his head as I start to speak and give him instructions.

“Both you and Sarah will resign effectively immediately from the campaign team and have nothing to do with it again, you will admit that Dad had nothing to do with anything you’re cheating and that Sarah came to you for help and you covered up everything given that the graduation happened during his visit to Australia,” I say as Brendan realises that he is stuck between a rock and a hard place in his situation.

“Can you give us a minute please Danny?” I say as he walks outside and goes out to the truck and sits there until I’m ready to get him. “See that guy out there, he has become a good friend of mine and is a great Dad, but you already know that because you’re still seeing Tash and know all about Danny and everything like that don’t you? DON’T YOU?” I say raising my voice at him as Brendan looks at me.

“Fucking hell you think that you’re a clever one don’t you Isaac "Brendan tries to fight back but I stop him.

“It’s not about being clever, it’s about being a good person and honestly neither of us can say that can we, you’re the one still sleeping with a married woman, you’re the one as Doug Parker said committed fraud so don’t lecture me about being clever” Brendan slumps down realising that he can’t talk his way out of it.

“What do you want Isaac, I can talk to Dad about bringing you back to Grantham and getting your apartment back or money as much as you want” I shake my head “This isn’t about going back to Grantham because I’m at home with the family that I want to be with”.

Brendan nods his head and reluctantly agrees to what I want, he tells me that he will take care of it today after he talks to Sarah about things. He stands up and heads towards the door and walks out. I have my doubts about whether he will actually commit to his words but it’s at least something to come out of this and put me on the front foot. I sit there as Danny comes back in “You alright after that?” I nod and slump to the table “I think that things are going to get better but there is still quite a few things that we are all going to need to deal with to close this situation for total good”.