“Grizzlies? I know the name but what do they do?” George Sanders said as Dan Lotts, Thomas Neill, and he walked down Camino Street. Dan got his friends to come with him, for how often does one get to drive to Los Angeles with the top down?
“That’s why we are here.” Dan shot back.
“What kinda place is this anyways?” Thomas said, looking at the neat two-story tan colored building. On the second floor the State flag flew, next to a flag similar to the one on the card.
“Professor Milan says it’s a recruiting office.” Dan replied walking into the building. A small room was inside, stairs leading up in the back. Four women each one prettier then the last looked up from their desks and smiled.
“Can I help you gentlemen?” The closest secretary said. Dan held up the card, her smile grew even larger, “Right up those stairs. I will tell Mr. Kelbs you are here to see him.”
The boys went up stairs, a small hallway lead to an office in the back. Dan looked at all the pictures on the walls: A sharp handsome man in a doughboy uniform, the same man standing atop a platform his hands thrust out CFP flags behind him, and the one right by the office door a tall man shaking his hand.
Thomas slapped Dan on the arm, “Is that Wootton?”
“What?” Dan looked closer, and blinked. “How does this guy know Wootton?”
“I met him in Sacramento.” Standing in front of his office was Eugene Kelbs. He wore a neat three-piece black suit, and wing tipped shoes. Hair neatly combed, and a dapper smile on his face. “You are Dan Lotts correct?”
“Yes sir I am.” Dan shook his hand.
“My friends call me Eugene. Who did you bring with you?” Kelbs smiled holding his hand out to the others.
“George Sanders.”
“Thomas Neill.”
“Neill? Did you make that touchdown on Friday?” Mr. Kelbs escorted them into his office. It took up the entire second floor. The CFP flag, and the other Bear Paw flag beside it next to his ornate desk, antique guns, sat next to a fully stocked bar.
“Yea that was me.” Neill said admiring the picture of Eugene next to Jimmy Stewart.
“Ahh beautiful run. I heard it over the radio, almost lost money on your team.” Eugene sat behind his chair, and motioned for the boys to take up the other seats. His happy go lucky smile never left his face, “So Martin tells me you are an outspoken Californian?”
“Martin?” Dan said, “Oh Professor Milan. Well I don’t know about outspoken but yes I am a Californian.”
“And your friends?” Mr. Kelbs turned to them.
“Born and raised in San Francisco.” George said.
“ Los Angeles.” Thomas replied puffing his chest out.
Mr. Kelbs pulled out a few folders and handed them over. “You are all party members correct? If not I can have you join right now.”
Dan held his hand up, “ We have voted for the California First Party since we have been allowed to vote. Well Thomas and I have, George is only twenty.”
Eugene smiled and opened the folders, “Not a problem. These gentlemen are pledges to the Party, and also to the Grizzlies.”
“ So what do the Grizzlies do? I have seen them at a few rallies, but no one really talks about them.” Thomas said.
“The Grizzlies?” Mr. Kelbs stood up smiling, “Why son the Grizzlies are the life blood of the party. They spread the word, put up posters, hold protests, demonstrate, and they handle security.”
“Security?” Dan asked.
“ Nothing to bother yourself with. You see next month elections for the new Governor are to start. The party needs its message to be spread around. More importantly the Party needs good young men like you to show what California is all about.” Mr. Kelbs cracked his knuckles.
Dan, Thomas, and George looked up at him smiling. “What would we need to do?”
He sat back down, “First you need to sign the papers in those folders, and then the loyalty pledges to the Party and to California.”
Without a second thought Dan signed his name. Thomas and George did the same, and then looked up to Mr. Kelbs. “Wonderful. Now first and foremost you will be in our recruitment program. It is very simple walk around in your uniforms, smile, and get people to vote Californian on Election Day. You may have to do security every now and then but nothing very bad.”
Thomas leaned forward, “Uniforms?”
Mr. Kelbs smiled lifting his phone up, “Sarah…Sarah, yes its me. Be a dear and send a few uniforms up. Thank you sugar.” He turned back to them, “Now where was I… oh yes. In about two months you will have to make a small trip up here with any other party members for a rally. Do not worry about money the Party has more then enough, and can cover most expenses.”
Dan was about to speak when the door opened, and a blonde clumsily walked inside carrying three boxes, “ I did not know your sizes. I just guessed.” She walked closer, each box at least three feet long and looking rather awkward to carry.
Eugene smiled, “Thank you Sarah.”
Dan walked out and picked up all three boxes with one hand the secretary gave a little laugh smiling. Dan blushed and passed the boxes out. Inside was a white dress shirt, but on the collar and shoulders were the bars a private would wear. Underneath it was army green pants, and the fancy belt the army liked to wear. Thomas was already pulling it out looking it over, black leather gloves, and new polished infantry boots.
What caught each mans eye was the helmet. It was the doughboy helmet each boy grew up admiring, shiny and new. Dan then saw something odd; he reached in and pulled it out. His eyes widened, “Why do we need a holster?”
Mr. Kelbs walked over taking it away, “Ahh sorry about that. You got a security uniform I believe.” With another brilliant smile Eugene looked to Dan, “No worries son. We are strictly political.”
Dan nodded at that, not really understanding but accepting it.