Retrospect: the case of the politicians’ kids

Self-tutoring about people and events from the past: the tutor recalls a couple of kids he knew in elementary school.

As military kids, my sister and I were moved from base to base. We encountered all kinds of interesting characters who lived in different societies. Sometimes, however, I didn’t realize exactly what I was seeing until much later. Such a case were C1 and C2, two kids we attended elementary school with for a few years.

C1 was my age, and in my class some years. C2 was my sister’s age; similarly, they were in the same class some years. I never had problems with C1, whom I considered a friend. However, problems between C2 and my sister were pronounced at times.

What my sister and I were, compared to C1 and C2, was naive. I don’t think we were alone. C1 and C2’s parents were both politicians, and raising their kids to be as well. In that context, few people thought politically; therefore, C1, C2, and their parents were well ahead of their time.

C1 and C2, even in elementary school, knew how to work the system to their benefit. I recall numerous kids pointing out how, in basketball, C1 would deftly imitate a fall to suggest they’d been fouled.

C2, by my sister’s description, was a social bully. They sat behind my sister and would whisper things to annoy her, then claim to be just asking for my sister’s help. This doesn’t sound like much, but my sister had true anxiety when C2 was in her class. The teacher always considered the situation a misunderstanding.

As time passed, even I started to wake up to how skillful C1 was at manipulating the narrative. However, I didn’t recognize the advantage: in grade 7, save a few free throws, what could one really gain by acting? I had no idea how powerful deceit would become. C1, on the other hand, seems to have been well aware: doubtless they’d learned politics at home. I would guess they were thinking a decade or more ahead.

The few times I was around C1 and C2’s parents, they talked and behaved in cliches. Their comportment stood out a bit, since in that context, many people were individualistic.

I haven’t noticed the name in politics – yet. However, I’ve been given to understand there are layers of unelected positions who get paid six figures:)