Saturday, June 30, 2012

Stepping Stones

TJ Davis, who had been named after Thomas Jefferson, set the tall thick white candles around the tables for the presidential dinner in the designated pattern. He and the other servers finished setting the tables then retreated to the kitchen to help prepare the appetizer trays for the guests.

“Who brought in these candles? They are not the ones we usually use,” the caterer demanded.

TJ smiled. “They have a slower burning wick so they will last the whole dinner,” he said.

“We’ll let it go this time,” the boss said. “Next time get approval from me first.”

“Yesm Sir,” he replied then went back to filling trays.

“Places everyone! TJ and Ben, light the candles please,” the boss announced several minutes later. “The president will be arriving in twenty minutes. Move, move!”

There was chaos in the kitchen as everyone quickly made their way to the dining room and moved into position. The two men ran from table to table to light the candles. When they finished they moved to the side to take up their position as bus boys.

The main doors opened and guests, who had been milling around the outer room, entered and found their seats. When everyone was in place the official announcer for the White House stood by the doors. “Please stand,” he said then when everyone was standing, “I present President Douglas Wilkens and First Lady Maria Moore-Wilkens.”

The guests clapped as the president and his wife stepped into the room and made their way to the presidential table. “Thank you all for coming,” President Wilkens said. “Please be seated and enjoy your dinner.”

The servers quickly brought out the trays of appetizers as the bus boys watched, waiting for people to be finished so they could remove the plates or to refill water and wine glasses. TJ glanced at his watch then went to find his boss.

“Excuse me Sir,” he said. “I am not feeling well. My stomach is queasy and I feel that I might vomit.”

“Don’t bother coming back,” the boss said. “You will get your last check in the mail.”

“As you wish,” TJ replied then hurried out of the building.

He was two blocks away when the White House exploded. People all around him stopped then ran in the direction of the flames. Fire trucks zoomed past him and he kept walking towards the Masonic Temple.

All the TVs were on different channels as they watched the president arriving at the White House for the dinner then scenes of the fire following the explosions. All reports declared there were no survivors as discussion began on who was in attendance at the dinner and who would be assuming the position of president.

Soon reports of other leaders dying in explosions around the world replaced the reports about the president’s untimely death. Speculation over who was the mastermind for all these deaths was rampant and preliminary investigations traced the bombs to the candles though all traceable evidence of who planted them had melted away.

A cheer went up as George Connors, Secretary of the Treasury, stood up. “I will soon be called and told that I am to be sworn in as the President of the United States. Around the world, our Templar brethren will also be sworn in as the leaders of their countries.

“Today we usher in a New World Order. We will unite the world as it has never been before. A special thank you needs to go out to the brethren like TJ, who put their lives on the line to make this happen. Your hard work and dedication will not be forgotten. In fact, each and every one of you will be given a place in the new administration to help further our goals and those of our friends across the universe.”

A hush fell upon the room when Connors’ cell phone rang. “Yes, I will come right away,” he said. When he hung up the phone he stood before the group of men again. “I have been called to fulfill my duty. This is a wonderful day for our organization, the world and the universe. Remember always you are among the chosen ones and your duties as a Templar.”

A cheer went up as he left to go to the Pentagon, which would serve as a makeshift White House until a new one could be built. Then everyone crowded around TJ to congratulate him and thank him for his contribution. He smiled as he shook their hands. The stepping stones were falling into place for him and his quest for world domination.

Copyright 2012