Horatio's Great New Role

     Those of you who are familiar with this blog, may recall my little friend, occasional
model, and thespian,  Horatio H. Hamster Esq., who sometimes pops up at my studio,
at unexpected moments.  Whenever I ask him what the middle initial of his name stands
for, he usually has a new answer.   Oftentimes, when he arrives, his freshly changed,
theatrical regalia provides me some clues about his latest persona, as was the case
when he turned up this time.  So, based on his new appearance, I asked him if perhaps
his middle initial stood for Harry, as in Harry Potter.   He replied that he and Mister
Potter were not personal friends, but that he had indeed just returned from Hogwarts,
where he had received some advanced training in wizardry.  When I remarked that such
a trip must have been difficult for him, he said that he had used one of the latest models
of brooms, transport "with all the spells and whistles", which allowed him to fly back in
a flash.

     He said that he couldn't stay long, because his new magical training was intended
to provide assistance during this latest dark spell which has overtaken our nation's
executive mansion.  When I said that I wasn't sure about which of the many dark spells
to which he was referring, he seemed shocked that I was so poorly informed.

      "Don't you know that Lord Voldemort is living in the White House?", he asked.

     I replied that some people think of the current resident of the white house as more
of an overgrown Oompa-Loompa, or The Hamburgler, rather than as a demon from
hell, but I couldn't help feeling that perhaps he wasn't too far off.

    As I was doing a quick sketch of him, Horatio reminded me of the current struggle to
evict Voldemort, which was now being waged by the party of truth and justice, against
the party of lies and hatred.
     "There is no-longer anything grand about that old party", he assured me.  "It's
members are hopeless muggles.  They may wear American flag pins on their lapels,
but it is their money clips, that they wear closer to their hearts.  Patriarchal elephant
sculptures can't represent them anymore.  Now it is the sculpture of the three monkeys,
with their hands clapped over their eyes, ears and mouths, which is symbolic of what
the party has become.  During this trial, the muggles have pledged that they will
"See nothing, hear nothing and say nothing!", to evict the dark demon from the
White House!".

     I reserved comment for the moment. I didn't want to add to his distress about the
G.O.P. member's predetermination that they would not see or hear the undeniable
proof of guilt, which is available in clear, and thorough abundance.  Horatio alone
will not be able to make them honor their sacred oaths, despite his new-found, wizardly
skills  They have already sold their souls to the devil in exchange for wealth and lofty
position.

     Before he hurried off to try and work his magic with incantations and spells, I did
caution him that I thought perhaps the "invisibility cloak", which he had purchased
second-hand, looked a bit like a plastic rain-cape, so perhaps he shouldn't count on
it to reliably conceal his presence in the halls of congress.  But he showed no sign of
diminished determination, as he charged out, brandishing his magic wand before him.

      I wished him a safe flight and a successful trip, but I have little hope that magic
on any scale, will help to remove these historic, dishonorable, black-spots from the
reputations of the Republican members of the United States Senate. 

                                                                                         E. P. McNerney