OBERON’S GIFT-a Political Fantasy
by Richard Hardaway
To counteract the gloom and doom of the daily news--here‟s an upbeat alternative:
Blessed with a wee bit of magic and his own considerable abilities, George Bertram
Potter (No relation to Harry) enters the picture and ultimately pours light and joy into the
dark corners threatening mankind. Accompanied by his beautiful wife, Lydia, their son
George Two, and his nanny, Liza Cooper, Good ol‟ George sets out to right the world‟s
wrongs and bring sense to government turmoil. Though OBERON‟S GIFT may at times
seem bizarre and a bit over-the-top, that‟s part of the fun of this feel-good tale. After a
brief bumpy beginning, poli-sci major George Potter meets the amazing Oberon, the
leprechaun, and he‟s off and running! Once you are caught up by the good fairy‟s
spell in the first chapter you‟ll be hooked. So Read On...and Enjoy!
The rusty, dusty VW Bug roared and clattered down the night-quiet streets of old
Oakland. It was two A.M. After squeezing through three yellow lights and blatantly
running a red one, the small car swerved into the circular drive of the Amos Plunkett
Memorial Hospital; and came to a screeching halt in the white passenger zone at the
front steps.
The driver side door flew open and a tall, black-bearded, long-haired young man in
faded jeans and a sweatshirt with cut off sleeves, leaped out and rushed around to the
passenger door. A pretty blond with a pained expression emerged. Her bulging camel
coat did nothing to hide the fact that she was extremely pregnant. The girl groaned
softly as the young man grabbed an old shopping bag from the back seat and gently,
tenderly almost carried the young lady up the steps, through the glass and brass doors
and into the hospital lobby.
The young man looked wildly around for a moment until he spied the admittance
desk in the far corner. The girl bent forward and moaned: “Hurry, George! Please!”
He seated her carefully on one of the couches and ran to the desk.
“Please!...my...Lydia...she‟s...she‟s about to have a ...baby!” he stammered
desperately.
The thin-faced, gray haired woman seated at the desk looked up. In his haste,
George had neglected to comb his hair and beard. With his scruffy appearance and
