File Under: senior Senator, Washington parties, die in war, avid golfer
Like any good mother, Mary Courage loves her children very much. This is great news for the Senators whom she sees as her real children, not so great news for her actual children whom she sees as her employees.
Previous installments
Part 1: Mother Mary Courage
Part 2: The Story of Mary Courage
Part 3: Who is Mary Courage?
Her actual children (Catherine, Neppo and Veggie) were inspired by the three children of Mother Courage; the Senators are inspired by their real-life counterparts crossed with the lost men of The Wizard of Oz.
Catherine Courage
Catherine is the perfect child in Mary’s eyes: seen but not heard. This is because she’s mute. She’s tied to honor her mother in the Biblical sense but often can’t help but to disagree with Mary, sometimes trying to foil her. Catherine sees herself as the real mother to the Courage children.
Neppo Courage
Neppo is too dumb for the real world, but he’s carved out a nice niche for himself in Washington where loyalty is rewarded over brains. The leash he wears makes it easy for a Senator to hand him over to the next guy who often hires Neppo as an assistant to get in Mary’s good graces. He’s an innocent who wants to be as brave as his brother Veggie was.
Veggie Courage
Mary’s oldest son bought into all his mother’s rhetoric and went off to war to defend the country that his mother works so hard behind the scenes to protect. Sadly, his unit had a run-in with a roadside bomb, leaving Veggie brain dead.
Senator Abel Coward
The senior Senator from the state of Depression, Coward loves Mary Courage almost as much as she loves his vote. Coward is an avid golfer who sees his lifestyle of free golf trips around the world in jeopardy as the new anti-war movement, fueled by freshman Sen. Apollo, picks up speed in his home state. He needs to be brave enough to cast his vote for the war funding.
Senator Scarecrow
The senior Senator from the state of Shock, Scarecrow’s in charge of the pro-war spin machine, spewing talking points of fear and patriotism for the public to consume.
Senator Smiley
The senior Senator from the state of Denial always looks at the positive side of the issue. Men may be dying in war, but not that many men are dying in war.
Senator Crony
The very senior Senator from the state of Decay is a crusty old man who knows that things are too good these days, people have gone soft. Even the Washington parties are losing their luster and excitement.
Senator Gaffe
The senior Senator from the state of Confusion is an anti-Semite who doesn’t know why we can’t just bomb Israel while we’re over there. He has two shoes where his hands should be.
