“I don’t know if that is a good idea.”
“What? Do you need permission from Richard before you can go?”
“No, of course not.”
“Okay then, let’s go! Take me out. You never take me out anymore!”
Thalia stood up and pulled Jerrick from the armchair by his hand.
Jerrick let the book fall to the floor, and he followed Thalia to his bedroom to change.
Jerrick found his blue jeans, buried at the bottom of his drawer, which he hadn’t worn in years. Luckily, he slid into the jeans, but they were a little snug around the hips.
Next, he dressed into a simple polo shirt.
An agent helped the President comb his hair differently, and the President put on a fake mustache.
Thalia changed into a simple, long black dress and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. When she appeared in public, she always styled her hair, never in a ponytail. She touched a little makeup to her eyes, cheeks, and lips.
Before they headed out, Thalia and Jerrick checked on Aric. He slept soundly in his crib with grandma standing sentry nearby.
Thalia and Jerrick both bent down and lightly kissed Aric on the forehead.
Little Aric stirred a little and kicked his feet. Then he went back to sleep soundly.
Thalia and Jerrick left the Whitehouse and passed through the guard shack.
Guards immediately stood up and saluted the President.
The President said, “You guys can sit down. The First Lady and I are going out for a hamburger.”
Guards were stunned.
One of them stated, “But sir, shouldn’t you have some bodyguards with you.”
“No, I think we will be okay.”
“Sir; we are concerned about your safety.”
“Okay, send one guard with us and please fit in. I do not want to draw attention to us.”
“Yes, sir,” one guard said while grabbing his thick coat that hid the bulge of his firearm.
Guard stood at 6 feet 2 and packed 300 pounds of lean muscle onto his frame. He was still young in his 20s with a well-trimmed black moustache and beard while he slicked his jet-black hair back.
Three walked down Pennsylvania Avenue three blocks from the Whitehouse.
They walked into Fat Burger, an old styled mom-pop shop.
Owners converted an ancient gas station into a small restaurant. Restrooms were still located outside in the back of the building. Rumors abounded that Fat Burger made the best hamburgers in town, and the whole east coast.
They smelled hamburgers cooking over grill containing smoldering wood, imbuing a bacon flavor into the burgers.
Group strolled to the counter.
Sales clerk asked, “May I help you?”
“Yes; I will take a cheeseburger, fries, and a Pepsi,” the President stated.
“I’ll take a chicken salad. Please put the dressing to the side and a diet Sprite,” the First Lady said.
Then the President gestured for the bodyguard to order.
“I’ll take a double cheeseburger, French fries, and a strawberry milkshake,” the agent said. Then he reached into his pocket for money, but the President shook his head no.
“Your total is $25.30.”
The President reached into his pocket and pulled out a new, crisp fifty-dollar bill.
Sales clerk took the money and returned the change to the President.
The President searched the girl’s face for any recognition, but the girl obviously didn’t watch the news channel. She had no idea, who stood in front of her.
The President and First Lady sat in one booth while the bodyguard sat in the adjoining one, keeping a watchful eye.
The President took a large bite of his hamburger, and then chased it down with a swig of Pepsi.
Thalia stabbed at her salad with a fork, eating one piece at a time. She ensured every shred of food had a drizzle of salad dressing on it.
A few tables over, a little girl piped up and pointed at the President and stated, “Mommy; the President and First Lady are sitting over there.”
Then the little girl waved, and both the President and First Lady waved back.
Mother continued eating her French fries and hamburger. She never glanced at the people her daughter said was the President and First Lady.
Mother replied, “Oh sweetie, don’t make things up. The President and First Lady live down the street in the Whitehouse. They have their own gourmet chef who cooks them delicious food. They would never eat here in this restaurant. You can write a letter to the President or First Lady, and invite them to your school. I hear they are nice and buy all the kids ice cream.”
Little girl peeked at the esteemed guests.
The President and First Lady smiled at the little girl.
Finishing their meals, they headed outside and walked across the street. Then Thalia pulled Jerrick to a side street.
She stopped and pointed at a shop window. Although the shop owner closed the store, they peered through the display window.
“See Jerrick. People love you. Look at the oil painting of you hanging proudly on their wall. Look at the inscription on the bottom, ‘The People have a right to pursue their dreams unhindered by their government.'”
Jerrick studied the painting that represented a strong, powerful President in the portrait. Then he added, “That is a really nice painting.”
“I agree. Shop owner spent a $1,000 for it from his own money, unless you have a law, making all the people buy paintings of you?”
“No, of course not. They are free to paint whatever they want.”
Then the three continued walking down the street.
Thalia pointed across the street to an opened Laundry Mat to another portrait, hanging on the wall. From this distance, they didn’t see the exact details, but they knew the person in the portrait. The President wore a military uniform in the portrait.
“See; if the people didn’t love you, they wouldn’t be spending money on these expensive oil paintings. In Mexico, you opened some deep wounds in the Mexican psyche. In time, if you keep doing well, they’ll forgive you. Those wounds will heal, and the Mexican people will love you too, just as I love you.”
Jerrick turned to face Thalia, using his hands to reel her in.
Then they started kissing on the street.
Jerrick rarely showed public displays of affection, but he made an exception. He stood with Thalia and a bodyguard, standing on a dark, deserted street. No crowds of people chanted his name.
Bodyguard looked away as the President and First Lady kissed.
Jerrick and Thalia strolled to the nightclub with the bodyguard following behind.
They approached a nightclub, and they heard the thumping bass of an extremely loud music system that pumped out Cuban salsa.
They saw a one-story nightclub that spanned over half a block. Owner painted it in pastel yellow, bright orange, and an occasional red. Several fake palm trees lined the sidewalk outside the building while red neon lights illuminated the building.
They stood in line to enter the discoteca.
Approaching the bouncer, the bouncer stared coldly at Jerrick and then Thalia. Next, he snapped, “Sorry, we have a strict dress code. We don’t let men wearing blue jeans to enter the place.”
“Please, he’s my husband,” Thalia pleaded with a large smile. Then she showed him her wedding band and engagement ring. Engagement ring contained a sizeable sparkling diamond.
Thalia can charm anyone. When she turned on the sweetness and charm, people never said no to her.
Bouncer studied Jerrick, and then his extremely large companion. Subsequently, he stated, “You should have married your own kind, but I’ll let you in. However, if you guys cause any trouble, then I’ll toss you out onto the streets personally.”
“Thank you,” Jerrick said. Then he smiled and handed the bouncer a new crisp fifty-dollar bill.
The President’s bodyguar
d sized up the bouncer, and thought who will be throwing whom out. However, the bodyguard displayed his best behavior in front of President.
They entered the dark place with flashing lights, and people were everywhere, reeking of alcohol and hot sweaty bodies.
They approached the counter, and Jerrick shouted, “I’ll take a margarita, and the lady will have a wine cooler.” Then he looked at the bodyguard and asked, “What do you want?”
“Sir, a coke will be fine.”
“Don’t you want any alcohol in it?”
“No sir, I’m working. I must return you home safely.”
“Okay then, my friend will have a coke.”
“That will be $15.50.”
The President handed the bartender a $20-dollar bill and added, “You can keep the change.”
They sat on bar stools near the dance floor, sipping their drinks.
Bodyguard scanned the crowds, inspecting everyone and anyone nearby.
Then Thalia pulled Jerrick onto the dance floor, teaching Jerrick to dance.
Occasionally, a Latin woman would bump into Jerrick, and then she smiled at him when Jerrick looked at her.
Thalia squinted at her and placed herself between Jerrick and the woman, daring the woman to continue.
Around midnight, Jerrick fished his phone from his pocket because someone kept calling him. He glanced down onto the cell phone’s display, seeing Richard Woodland calling him.
Thalia giggled, and Jerrick returned the phone to his pocket. Then he danced with Thalia again.
Thalia and Jerrick returned to the Whitehouse at three o’clock in the morning.
Unfortunately, Aric was crying because he missed his mother.
Thalia retrieved him from her mother, gently rocking him to sleep in her arms. Then she placed Aric between her and Jerrick on the bed, and they all fell asleep.
Around seven, Aric, the natural alarm clock, woke everyone up, crying furiously.
Thalia carried Aric into the bathroom and emerged 15 minutes later.
Aric was happy and all smiles.
Thalia placed Aric on the bed between them again.
Jerrick leaned over and said, “Hey little guy, you sure cry loudly.” Then Jerrick kissed him lightly on the forehead and tickled his belly.
“He’s fine now. I changed his diapers and breast-fed him. He should be good for a while. "
Jerrick continued tickling Aric’s stomach.
Aric giggled, moving his arms and kicking his feet.
“I guess I would be happy too if I wore clean underwear and filled my belly with fresh food.”
“So, how do you feel Jerrick?”
“I must admit; I feel great even with little sleep. I feel I am ten years younger.”
“You know Jerrick; I’ve been thinking. One way you can appease the Mexican people is to relocate the capital to the border of Texas and Mexico. That way, both peoples can share you.”
“That is a great idea, but we thought about going further. After South America joins the Empire, the federal government will become too large, and we’ll have problems administering the Empire. We thought about breaking the federal government into three districts. One government represents the English-speaking people; the second one represents the Spanish-speaking people in Mexico and South America, and the third for the Portuguese-speaking Brazilians. Then we build the headquarters for the top layer of government in Mexico City, towards the Empire’s center.”
“You are actually thinking about moving the whole capitol to Mexico City?”
“Yes, that puts the top piece of government at the Empire’s center. We thought about building the government campus around the Aztec ruins, so two great Empires can stand proudly next to each other.”
“I see. That means you’re returning to work, aren’t you?”
“Of course, I must check the progress of my Empire. I am like Charlemagne. He traveled across his kingdom, keeping everyone in check. He always traveled on the road.”
“Charlemagne? I guess you are a history buff?”
“Not really. I only studied the famous dictators, emperors, and kings. I wanted to know what worked, and what didn’t work.”
“Did you learn anything?”
“Of course, the power went to their heads, and they started stealing property and money from the aristocrats. Finally, they started mass executions of their people?”
“Do you ever get those thoughts?”
“No, of course not. I keep my mind occupied. I build things, like my large public works projects and buildings. I have no time to think how many pennies the wealthy squirrel under their mattresses. My tax agents just ensure they pay their taxes. That is it. I also do not worry about rivals or troublemakers. I let Richard at Homeland Security worry about them.”
“Well Jerrick, Aric and I’ll be waiting here until you return. If you return too late, then I can’t promise you that I’ll be in a good mood. Besides, if you are gone too long, then I’ll have your creepy friend Richard track you down and return you.”
Jerrick burst into laughter and replied, “I am sure Richard will love that. He will do the job personally.”
Then Jerrick leaned over Aric and kissed Thalia, and he kissed Aric on the forehead again.
Jerrick slid from bed and rushed to the bathroom. He showered, changed and headed to work. He felt like a new man again, and he must continue building his empire.
***
First Lady and Aric sat in an armor-plated limousine in 2030. Aric was already five years old, and they would meet the President at a ceremony in Monterrey, Mexico.
The President spent $1 billion to build a state-of-the-art hospital with thousand beds and an impressive intensive care unit.
The board has christened the hospital as the Davis Medical Center after the President’s honor. The President peered at the ten-story building, shaped like a bracket. On one end of the building held the doctors' offices while the emergency rooms were on the other end. The President believed strongly in training and education, ensuring the hospital had plenty of classrooms to train the next generation of doctors and nurses.
As the limousine approached the hospital, Aric stood on the back seat in the limousine, pushing his face against the window, watching the crowds of people standing on the sidewalks.
People cheered and waved at the limousine as they drove by.
“Look mommy! People are waving,” Aric said. Then Aric waved at the crowds.
Crowds went ecstatic.
“Yes; I know son. You are sitting in the President’s limousine.” Then the First Lady smiled and waved to the people as they passed by.
“Mom; what does the President do?”
“You read about kings. A President is like a king; he leads a country. Your dad is the leader of our great country.”
“But mommy, I do not see daddy do anything. He only talks to people.”
Thalia laughed a little and then replied, “Your dad does a lot. You see that new hospital there. Your dad gave money to help build it.”
“Wow, I guess that’s why dad is always gone.”
“Yes, he is always working.”
“Mommy, will I ever be President?”
“Of course you will. Someday your dad will become too old to lead, and you can take his place.”
Aric smiled widely. Then he sat down next to his mom.
Thalia wrapped a loving hand around Aric, hugging him. Then she planted a soft kiss on his forehead.
“Mommy, the president’s job is the best job in the world!”
Guards let the limousine through, and it parked near the main entrance of the hospital.
The First Lady and Aric climbed out the limousine. Then Thalia walked to the main entrance while Aric ran to his dad.
Jerrick scooped him up and held him in his arms. Then he handed Aric a large pair of scissors and said, “Aric, will you do the honors and cut that large ribbon on the door.”
Aric cut the
ribbon in one snip, and the crowds cheered.
“The Davis Medical Center is open for business,” the President exclaimed to the crowd. Next, the President grabbed his son and embraced him. Then he held his son high above the crowds while Aric waved to them.
The President had the best job in the world.
***
On May 14, 2030, the President’s cabinet called for an emergency meeting in the Cabinet Room in the Whitehouse.
The Cabinet Room contained a long, huge mahogany table with rounded oval corners. Table stood on top a large red rug, speckled with yellow stars. Surrounding the table, were dark, reddish leather armchairs.
Meeting started at nine o’clock at night, and the President sat at the head of the table while his generals sat in a row to the President’s right while his other staff sat to his left.
Off to the side of the room, the President had an assortment of drinks, snacks, and simple finger food for his staff.
After everyone had seated, the President began, “Okay guys, you got me here. What is the emergency? What is going on?”
Agent Harris started, “Sir; our agents just returned from South America. Chaos erupted in Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama. They know the Empire is coming, and their governments stopped providing services. Government officials are stealing all their country’s resources.”
The President retorted, “This situation is dire. Mexico drained our investment funds. We are not ready to annex new states.”
The President’s face reddened, and he pounded his fists on the table and screamed, “Damn it.”
Everyone at the table jumped because the President rarely used profanity. He never had to.
Everyone became silent, sneaking glances at one another.
The President inhaled several times and cooled down. Then he began, “My hand has been forced. I wanted to wait a while before we added South America. Obviously, we do not have a choice. We cannot let their countries erupt into chaos and violence that would immensely increase the development costs. Protestors will destroy the buildings, and workers and managers flee their employers. We must invade, whether we want to or not. Does anyone here have any other ideas to fix this situation without an invasion?”
Room remained quiet.
The President turned this head to study each face around the table.
Everyone remained silent.
Scanning around the table, the President continued, “Then invasion it is. Tomorrow generals, let us meet in the Map Room at 7:00 AM sharp. I want detailed plans for the invasion. At 8:00, I want the cabinet, and your best and brightest financial wizards. Unfortunately, we will win the war, but then we become bankrupted.”