Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

[Mark Rand]

Let me say first that I have a great deal of respect for the men and women of the Secret Service.

 

The first question that's posed is valid in both the game world and the real world. It is "How do you protect the President's daughter when she's married, a circus performer, and insists that you have no control over the circus's operations?"

 

The second question is valid only in the game world. It is, "You've just been informed that vampires, demons, Watchers, Slayers, Hellmouths, and such exist. How do you protect the President, Vice President, and their famlies from the evil undead?"

 

The third question is also valid only in the game world. It is, "The Vice President's daughter, who lives, in the campaign city, with relatives, is one of the city's Slayers. She's a high school student and trains daily with her team mates. How do you protect her?"

[Thia Halmades]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

1. She doesn't get a say in how she's protected, that's purely the device of television. The reason they're called the Secret Service is because you're not ever supposed to know they're there. They can yes sir and yes ma'am all day long, but they will never compromise their duty just because Princess ***** insists they stay out of the way.

 

2. If you were "just informed" that means there's already multiple special ops groups devoted to dealing with this problem. Think like a government; no matter how absurd it sounds, someone is working on it RIGHT NOW. The whole Super Soldier concept from Marvel? Art imitates Life & vice versa. That happens; maybe not as dramatically, but it happens. So the next question isn't "How do you do it?" it's more "How has the world evolved to handle it, and where do you get your new issue weapon and training?"

 

3. In a combination of A & B. Slayer. Great. You're still a political target. First, the President would have to authorize her activities. Second, if he failed to do so, you do everything short of physically restraining her. If she gets into a fight, and your orders are to protect her, you tackle her down and take the fight to the enemy. You never - EVER - compromise her security, no matter how talented she is, unless the game world design states expressly (in a massive step away from how the Service operates) that she is allowed to engage this nuts. But bear in mind that many higher level undead/cursed/evil types will also have government contacts and political agendas on their roads to power, especially if your campaign is built around it.

[oryanfactor]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Thia, I'm gonna have to take issue with you on this one.....

 

Question #1: The heck she doesn't. I disagree that a protectee having a say in how they are protected "is a device of television". Since the Secret Service does not discuss publically their methods and policies for protection, neither myself nor Thia have any idea what they really do, but you can bet your last nickel that a person, even the President's daughter, who strenously objected to the Service's interference, would quickly take the issue to court to get left alone.

 

In the real world, both Jimmy Carter and Harry Truman both told the Secret Service where they could go, with Truman taking long walks around Washington, and Carter walking up Pennsylvania Avenue to be inaugerated. They're both Presidents, so it's a little different. If memory serves, Jackie Kennedy didn't want her kids monitored by the Service, so she left the country and had Onasis hire bodyguards. The President's Daughter/Circus Owner example is married, therefore an adult, and would likely have the right to refuse protection.

 

For the second question, regarding weird, supernatural threats to the President and First Family, etc.; ....how do you know there aren't any....(bwah-ha-ha). No, seriously, if there were threats lile that which existed, the Service would be on that like hawks on a chicken.

 

The third question sounds like a nightmare, and I'm sure the President's Daughter beign a slayer or somesuch, she'd have to keep a secret ID to function, but I'm sure the Service would make allowances. After all, rumor has it that Jenna Bush attended nude parties at Yale, so.....

 

Also, the Secret Service is not ALL powerful. In Chille, I think it was, about two years ago now, the President was walking to a reception with full detail, when the local guards, who had been in a hissy match with the Service over security since Bush arrived there, walked in between the President and one of his Agents, blocking the agent from continuing with the Pres. Bush heard the commotion behind him, turned around and grabbed the agent through the local guards by the coat, and yanked him, yes, yanked him through the line.

 

oryan

[Lucius]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

 

Also, the Secret Service is not ALL powerful. In Chille, I think it was, about two years ago now, the President was walking to a reception with full detail, when the local guards, who had been in a hissy match with the Service over security since Bush arrived there, walked in between the President and one of his Agents, blocking the agent from continuing with the Pres. Bush heard the commotion behind him, turned around and grabbed the agent through the local guards by the coat, and yanked him, yes, yanked him through the line.

 

oryan

 

This is where I confirm my reputation as a political "moderate" and admit that here is something Bush did that I admired.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary reminds Lucius that this isn't Non Gaming Discussion

[David Johnston]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

1. You arrange for the circus to accept the services of roustabouts who get their paycheck somewhere else. In the absence of any immediate threat you do not interfere with the activities of a principal beyond advising them that what they are doing is risky.

 

2. You hire sorcerers for great sums of money to put protective spells over the White House to ensure that no supernatural can enter, and have them check each other's work. You make swords standard Secret Service issue and train them in how to use the swords. You research occult texts for things that act as demon repellents, at least for the more common types and test them to see if they work. Ideally you hire some superhuman fighters who seem reliable for escort duty when the President is out of the White House.

 

3. You provide her with at least one of her teammates.

 

3

[oryanfactor]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

The Secret Service is not so named because they are supposed to be unseen (although an invisble Secret Service agent is a neat idea). They were named that almost by happenstance. They were created in 1860 to supress counterfeiting, and did not provide presidential protection until the death of Pres. William McKinely in 1901. The TV show Wild, Wild West makes Jim West and Artie Gordon protectors of Ulysses S. Grant in the 1870's, but this is purely fictional.

 

The "Secret" part is that they were the alternative to the more public United States Marshall Service, the only other Federal service of the time.

 

oryan

[David Johnston]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Er...who said they were supposed to be invisible? But when dealing with things like principals who insist on trying to live a normal life, the Secret Service does try to be inconspicuous.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Here's a section from the campaign timeline. Assume that we're in the CU. Crossovers are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the series, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and the Ryanverse.

 

1999, The Initiative closes its doors in Sunnydale, California and becomes a demon hunting group that operates only outside of the United States. Since the crew all served in Sunnydale, they agree to keep Buffy's existance a secret until she says otherwise.

 

2001, Eighteen year old Holly Ryan, a former high school gymnast, joins the Ross Brothers Circus as a showgirl. She learns how to ride horses and elephants and do Spanish web (An act in which women do acrobatics while holding on to ropes).

 

2002, Holly starts working with the Vasquez family and learns single trapeze and aerial cradle.

 

2003, The Sunnydale Earthquake, Holly marries Raul Vasquez late in the year. (Now, there are many Slayers. The Cleveland Hellmouth is actually in a remote corner of Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The closest city to it is Akron, and a Slayer base is built there. Other Slayer bases are in Rome and Rio. Headquarters is in London, because of the availability of good connections anywhere.) Buffy and Riley talk. He agrees to brief the Secret Service and offer the services of Buffy and her group to the Secret Service.

 

2004, Holly starts doing the hair hang and assists Raul with his juggling. Demons attack Angel and his people in L.A. near the Wolfram & Hart branch.

 

2005, Holly starts doing the human cannonball. An airliner crashes into the Capitol Building while George Bush Junior is giving his State of the Union Address. Jack Ryan, the cabinet member that had to stay at the White House is the new President. Halfway through the year, Robbie Jackson becomes Vice President. His adopted daughter, a high school student and one of three Slayers in the campaign city, gets Secret Service protection.

[Yansuf]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

The Secret Service is not so named because they are supposed to be unseen (although an invisble Secret Service agent is a neat idea). They were named that almost by happenstance. They were created in 1860 to supress counterfeiting' date=' and did not provide presidential protection until the death of Pres. William McKinely in 1901. The TV show [i']Wild, Wild West[/i] makes Jim West and Artie Gordon protectors of Ulysses S. Grant in the 1870's, but this is purely fictional.

 

The "Secret" part is that they were the alternative to the more public United States Marshall Service, the only other Federal service of the time.

 

oryan

 

Actually, the current secret service was formed in 1865, just after the civil war. Its mission was to supress couterfeiting, it is part of the treasury department.

The first head of the service had been head of Union Intelligence during the war, which had informally been called the secret service. I thought that was the origin of the name, but I have never seen any authoritative explaination.

BTW, The US Marshal Service did not exist yet; there were US Marshals and deputies, but there was no central organization, each marshal was completely independent of the others. (The service was formed in 1969.) That is why in 1901 when congress wanted a professional force to protect the president, their choice was to use the military, use the secret service, or start a new agency.

[oryanfactor]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Yansuf,

 

I stand corrected, thank you. The Secret Service was begun in 1865, not 1860, and did not formally protect the President until 1901. Can you beleive they used to let familes picnic on the White House Lawn?? They had sheep grazing it as well?? Ah, for the good old days.

 

Washington felt the President should live on a street, not in a palace, and that's how it was for a long time. I was livid with Clinton for closing Pennsylvania Avenue, but Bush has kept it closed, so that isn't much better. Yeah, I know we're post 9/11, but that never stopped FDR, who faced considerably larger challenges.

 

Just to clear it up, the Marshalls service was "organized", so to speak, under the Department of Justice on July 1st , 1870, and that may be why the Secret Service was created, as the Marshalls were disorganized.

 

There was a fourth option open to Congress in 1901 you didn't consider, which was to leave it status quo. Yes, McKinley was shot in public in Buffalo, and you can't leave the President unguarded, but one wonders why they didn't engage a permanent protection force after 1865, with Lincoln?

Do you know if this was because of the same backlash against military law-enforcement that followed Reconstruction?

 

oryan

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

After Riley briefed Homeland Security about the threat from the undead and Buffy's willingness to provide help, he suggested that they go and meet with her. They agreed and traveled to Akron, where the United States office of the council was.

 

As they toured the compound with Willow, they saw Rear Admiral Robbie Jackson and his wife, Cecilia, watching their adopted daughtrer, Ronna, and her friends, Lisa and Kimiko, spar with swords. (In Executive Orders, Tom Clancy states that Mrs. Jackson is unable to bear children.) Nearby other members of their undead-hunting team work out.

 

In another part of the yard, Akiko Yamamoto (Kimiko's elder sister), worked out with her friend Renee, a skilled witch. As they watched, Willow told them that Akiko and Kimiko's cousin Mariko was the Silver Avenger in the city the three girls were going to be in.

 

"Very nice," said the Director of Homeland Security. "When can we talk to Ms. Summers? I'd like to find out how much we're going to have to pay for what she's offering."

 

"I think Buffy's just going to want federal sanction for our people within the United States and sanction from U.N.T.I.L. for our people outside the United States," Willow replied.

 

"I see," the Director said.

[Yansuf]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Just to clear it up, the Marshalls service was "organized", so to speak, under the Department of Justice on July 1st , 1870, and that may be why the Secret Service was created, as the Marshalls were disorganized.

 

There was a fourth option open to Congress in 1901 you didn't consider, which was to leave it status quo. Yes, McKinley was shot in public in Buffalo, and you can't leave the President unguarded, but one wonders why they didn't engage a permanent protection force after 1865, with Lincoln?

Do you know if this was because of the same backlash against military law-enforcement that followed Reconstruction?

oryan

 

The department of Justice was formed in 1870, but the "US Marshal Service" was not formed until 1969, according to the history on their website.

Yes, congress could have left things as they were in 1901, but there was a major argument then. Basically it was "why are our presidents being killed when European heads of state are not?" The answer that was given (which can be argued, but I believe it) was that the heads of state in Europe had professional guards. So congress decided the president should too. Actually the secret serice didn't get its mandate to guard the president until 1902, it took congress that long to decide.

While I do not know why they did not choose to use the military (probably the marines) I have always thought that it was part of the "don't use the military for law enforcement" mindset that led to the posse comitatus act.

[oryanfactor]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Yansuf,

 

If you re-check the post you quote me from, I did not say the United States Marshalls' Service was created in 1870, I specfically referred to the service of the Marshalls, which was organized in 1870, but which existed since 1789.

 

Also, there's no assertion that the Secret Service began formal protect in 02 versus 01, just that Congress began debate then, which they did.

 

You're agruing points I didn't make.

 

oryan

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

"Why would Miss Summers insist on sanctioning instead of money?" a mid-level functionary accompanying the Director of Homeland Security asked.

 

"The old Watchers Council had assets of over one trillion dollars," Willow replied. "We now have access to all of it."

 

"Oh," the functionary said.

 

It took a while, but Akiko and Renee joined the White House staff, as sceretaries, not Secret Service agents. Akiko was assigned to the communications staff and would accompany the President to various events both inside and outside the White House while Renee watched his office.

 

Both women carried stakes in their purses and swords, crossbows, wooden-shafted crossbow bolts, and stakes in duffle bags in their cars. Identical duffle bags were carried in Secret Service vehicles and many agents began carrying stakes.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Life continued. In 2005, Jack Ryan, a Cabinet sceretary, was chosen to be the one that stayed in the White House while the others watched the President deliver his State of the Union addresss.

 

That morning, Secret Service agent Connie Wells traveled to the Durant, Oklahoma-based Ross Brothers Circus, to, if something happened to the President, protect Holly, Jack's married daughter.

 

She arrived just before supper time and, with Holly's permission, left her bags in the motorhome Holly and her husband, Raul Vasquez, owned. After supper, the circus employees drifted into a barn that houses the bandstand and rows of seats. Once the audience was seated, the band, the Reese family, began their practice.

 

At 8:10 pm (9:10 Eastern), while the band was between songs, Mr. Ross, the circus owner, stepped to the microphone and told everyone that an airplane had crashed into the Capitol Building, killing everyone inside. Matt Reese, the bandmaster, asked everyone to rise, sounded Taps on his trumpet, and announced that band practice was over for the evening.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

The assumption I'm making is that Agent Wells has seen either route books or programs (which include photos) from the cicus.

 

As Holly and Raul hugged each other, Mr. Vasquez said, "As is our custom in times like this, we'll gather together by the bandstand."

 

"Why there?" Connie asked.

 

"We have a large family," Mr. Vasquez replied. "The Reese family is part of it. Since Susan is legally blind, we join her. Sugar, her guide dog, could lead her to us, but this way, is easier for her."

 

"I see," Connie said, walking to the bandstand after a state police officer joined Holly and her husband.

 

"Help you?" Matt asked as he noted Connie looking at his music stand.

 

"Hope so," Connie replied, showing her badge.

 

"Nothing there but my conductor's baton and scores," Matt said. "There's more scores in the briefcase."

 

"Didn't see you use the baton, Maestro," Connie said.

 

"Hardly ever use it," Matt said. "And it 'Matt', not `Maestro'."

 

"Noted," Connie said. "Mind if I come back inside?"

 

"No objection," Matt said.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

By the time the band's equipment had been broken down and stowed, the family was gathered around Susan, who was hugging Sugar and caressing her golden fur. Connie herself was in the middle of the cluster, between Holly, who was talking to her husband, and Catherine "Cat" Campbell, R.N.P., a nurse practitioner and the show's nurse, who was with her immediate family.

 

After ten minutes, the groups began to drift apart. "Can we discuss the protection tomorrow morning?" Holly asked.

 

"Sure," Connie replied. "The rest of the team'll be on the way by then. Oh, I'll need to talk to quite a few people."

 

"Make a list of who you want to talk to, and I'll notify them," Raul said.

 

"Fine," Connie said. "I'll definately want to talk to the Ross family, your 24-hour advance agent, the immediate Vasquez family, and the all cookhouse staffers." Turning, she asked, "Mrs. Vasquez, do you work with any animals?"

 

"I ride a horse and, if I'm in the sideshow this year, I might handle a snake," Holly replied. "Why?"

 

"I'll need to talk to the people involved with them, too," she replied.

 

"Our immediate family runs the sideshow, Agent Wells," the senior Mr. Vasquez replied. "The snake Holly handles in the sideshow is Sassy, an 18 foot long Bermese python and a family pet."

 

"Noted," Connie said.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

The next morning after breakfast, everyone gathered in the cookhouse tent. "I asked a few people that you didn't suggest to join us," Mr. Ross said. "You will need to hear from them, too."

 

"Fine," Connie said. "Introductions are in order. I'm Connie Wells, a Secret Service agent. Our job is to protect Mrs. Holly Vasquez, because her father, John Patrick Ryan, is now the President of the United States. We'll do our best to keep a low profile."

 

Everyone then introduced themselves. The woman beside Connie who was dressed like a working cowgirl was Mary "Cowgirl" West, the show's 24-hour advance agent.

 

"I have some things here for you, Agent Wells," Cowgirl said, passing Connie a file folder. "You can access the password-protected section of our computer with the login and password inside. You can change the password, but not the login. There are also maps of winter quarters, the big top, our usual lot layout, a list of everyone in Holly's family, and a list of everyone that carries a show two-way radio. I also have a two-way radio for you."

 

"What about the rest of my team?" Connie asked.

 

"They'll get the same stuff," Mr. Ross replied.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

"Fine," Connie said. Turning, she asked, "Cowgirl, what kinds of lots does the show play on?"

 

"All kinds," Cowgirl replied. "We play on everything from grass to blacktop. Some lots are flat, while others are sloped."

 

"Do you play large or small towns?" Connie asked.

 

"Mostly small towns," Cowgirl replied. "Our lots are often outside city limits."

 

"You're the first one on the lot, right?" Connie asked.

 

"Yeah, I'm there the day before," Cowgirl replied. "Part of my job is to mark the route with paper arrows. Why?"

 

"I'd like to have an agent travel with you to examine the lot and talk to the local law enforcement people," Connie replied.

 

"No objection," Cowgirl replied.

 

"There are times when the lot the sponsor chose isn't used," Mr. Ross said. "In those cases, Cowgirl often finds us a better lot."

 

"I see," Connie said. Turning to Holly, she asked, "How risky are your acts?"

 

"You tell me," Holly replied. "In the main show, I fly from a trapeze without a net, assist my husband while he juggles, ride a horse, hang by my hair, and get shot out of a cannon."

 

"Sounds risky," Connie said.

 

"It is," Holly admitted. "However, I know the risks and I set up and inspect my gear. Your job is to keep people from injuring me. My job is to make sure I don't hurt myself when I'm performing."

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I was out of town at a group campout over the weekend.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

"True, but I have to know as much as I can about how the big top is set up and equipped," Connie said. "Also, I'd like to get as close as I can while you're performing. Watching you from the stands may not be good enough."

 

"I can show you everything you want to know," said.Daniel Lopez, the big top superintendent.

 

"If you like, you can wear the same uniform jumpsuit the rest of my crew wears," added Paul Lopez, the prop boss.

 

"Sounds good," Connie said. "Where do you do your costume changes?" she asked Holly.

 

"At the wardrobe truck, of course," Holly replied. "I don't have the time to get to my motorhome."

 

"What if someone took a picture of you without clothes on?" Connie asked, shocked.

 

"Like everyone who has many costume changes, she wears a flesh-colored unitard under her costume," replied Sarah Lopez, the wardrobe mistress and Daniel's wife.

 

"Why didn't I know that?" Connie asked, shaking her head. "Okey, what weapons can I find around here?"

 

"Everyone carries a knife," Holly replied. "Additionally, we have wood and metal stakes, sledge hammers, chains, shovels, and elephant goads. Also, Rumiko, our vet, has a compressed air pistol, a compressed air rifle, and darts."

 

"I have two toy revolvers in my motorhome," Cowgirl said. "I wore them on Halloween and for homecomming in high school."

 

"I don't understand," Connie said.

 

"We were the Mustangs. During homecoming week, Western garb was required," Mary replied. "Although optional, we could wear gloves and masks and carry non-working weapons. Trust me, most of us were gloved, masked and armed."

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

"Makes sense," Connie said. "Can I have a look at them?"

 

"Sure," Cowgirl replied. "You can even look at my collection of old photos of me as a cowgirl."

 

"Sounds interesting," Connie said. "How much weight can the rigging hold?"

 

"I weigh 125 pounds," Holly replied. "My gear has to hold at least 1250 pounds. My rigging can hold at least 3000 pounds."

 

"Wonderful," Connie said. "One less thing to worry about."

 

"Being a human cannonball, I have to watch my weight and what I eat," Holly said. "Of course, as an aerialist, I also have to care for my hands."

 

"Okey," Connie said. "Are you going to be in the sideshow again this year?"

 

"I don't know," Holly replied.

 

They continued their discussion for another hour. When it ended, Connie said, "I'd like to try the hair hang, human cannonball, and single trapeze once. I know you're the expert, but I have to be familiar enough with it to know the risks."

 

"If we do it, you'll be under my family's supervision, using my rigging and a mechanic. For the hair hang and single trapeze, you'll be no more than six inches above the mats. For the cannon, you have to take ground school first. That takes two weeks. Then, you'll have a 15 foot cannon shot. Mine is 195 1/2 feet."

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Some quick notes.

 

Connie is an African-American woman whose braided, black hair falls to just below her shoulders.

 

The senior Mrs. Vasquez's name is Roberto. His wife's name is Elena.

 

The Vasquez family are aerialists. The Valdez family, their second cousins, are animal trainers.

 

The Reese family, who are Jewish, the Campbell family and Rumiko Yamamoto, D.V.M., the show's vet, are related to the Valdez family by marriage. This makes them part of the Vasquez family, too.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

I don't need to do this as a story, but I think it works better when it is.

 

"Fine," Connie said. "Now, does anyone on the show have super powers?"

 

"Me," replied Rumiko Yamamoto Valdez, D.V.M., the show's vet, a black-clad woman with long black hair. "I can communicate with animals within a 2 meter radius. When I do, their eyes glow, as do mine."

 

"I see," Connie said. "Anyone else?" When nobody answered, she said," That's all. Thank you, everyone."

 

Elena Vasquez joined Connie. "I was a hair stylist before becoming a showgirl," she said. "After marrying Roberto, I learned other aerial skills. Since I taught Holly the hair hang, I'll be teaching it to you. I'll also put the metal ring we use in your hair."

 

"She does it for me, too," Holly said.

 

"I'd do it, but, when it comes to Holly's hair, I'm all thumbs," Raul admitted.

 

There were chuckles as someone called from the pie car, which was beside the cookhouse, that President Ryan was holding a televised press conference. Everyone went in to watch it. When the President was asked about the rumor that his daughter was a performer for the Ross Brothers Circus, he admitted it. "We may have to step security a bit," Connie said.

 

"Fine," Mr. Ross said. "If anyone's found on the lot without our permission, we just may have them jailed for tresspass."

 

"Better yet, they can be jailed as a threat to a member of the President's family," Connie said as someone asked Jack Ryan what he thought of the various animal rights groups. The President responded by putting them all down, hard.

 

"Dad's acting like a father, not a politician," Holly said.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Thoughts on the Secret Service questions

 

Let's take a moment to look at the circus's winterquarters. The property is cut, more or less, in half by a road that runs through it.

 

On one side are motorhome and trailer parking, the bunkhouse, the cookhouse and pie car semis, a 22-foor class C motorhome that served as the medical office, the animal areas, various shops, and rehearsal areas.

 

On the other side are the Ross family homes, the office, electrical, special projects, and wardrobe departments, pasture, more rehearsal areas, and storage area for show vehicles.

 

After the press conference, Sarah Lopez and her wardrobe crew, which included Susan and Fran Reese, Paul Campbell and his electrical crew, which included Matt Reese, the office staff, and most of the Vasquez family, headed across the street.

 

Holly didn't. She went with Cat and her mom, Annette, the show's physician, and Paul Campbell's wife, into the medical motorhome. Connie followed, wondering what was going on. "We check Holly's weight every day," Annette explained. "After that, we'll look at her hands and arms under an examination light. That way, we can spot problems while they're still little ones."

 

"Good plan," Connie said. "I just wish I'd have known about it."

 

Edit: changed words in italics