Cat Boat on the Mississippi Sound

Chapter 1

The Mississippi Sound Expedition

Totally distracted from the daily challenges of her job, Penelope Chatham browsed through family pictures in a photo album on her enormous desk. To her creative mind lost in thought, the overly large size of the desk could actually have been part of the original raft that accommodated Tom and Huck on their Mississippi River adventures. While she knew those irreverent boys never really did all that Samuel Clemons wrote about, adventure was in her blood and her way of thinking was boundless like that of past political leaders that had sat at the time-honored walnut desk.

The lady politician from South Mississippi who now resided in Washington, D.C., had often been called a modern-day Tom Sawyer but with education, class, and connections. That comparison was okay with her; just like Tom she was a traveler. Experiencing aboriginal culture and untouched natural environments with her family was what she enjoyed the most!

The up-and-coming Representative from Mississippi’s Third Congressional District was high spirited and bubbling with energy nearly all of the time. Her smile was endearing, and her shoulder length blonde hair, naturally blond of course, was often pulled back in a high pony, signaling she was deeply involved working with some issue. Mississippi’s emerging political leader was the only lady among the state’s four congressmen which included a lawyer, an accountant, and an educator. She was a teacher and graduate of Mississippi State University and LSU. Together with her good looks and inquisitiveness, Congresswoman Chatham could have easily won the most popular House member contest, if such a competition was ever held.

Musings of her husband and three children were interrupted by her cellphone, “Madam Speaker, it is fifteen minutes until the roll call vote on your Sustainability Bill. You will soon need to walk over to the House Chambers.” She was anxious as anything could happen at the last minute.

Senator Long of Louisiana and Speaker Chatham had worked unceasingly to convince their colleagues to establish a national effort that would restore damaged coastal ecosystems. The legislation would also promote methods for conserving energy and reduce carbon emissions in housing.

All of the hard work creating the landmark bill for coastal marsh and estuary restoration, and carbon emission reduction should be an easy sell to congressional colleagues. It was legislation that was beneficial to the individual taxpayer and popular with outdoor enthusiasts. For home owners, becoming sustainable would put individuals in charge of a never-ending supply of free electricity and water.

“Ok,