I Will Faithfully Execute
A.J. Roye
All Rights Reserved 2022
Chapter 1
"I was elected, on the promise of reform. To return our Nation, to the ideals, of the men, who formed our government. Return those rights, taken from The States, over the past two hundred and thirty years."
I paused and looked across the crowd, who were applauding. Cheering. Throwing their hands into the air, in affirmation of my words. Damn. I never imagined so many people cared. So many people. To the horizon.
"A few moments ago, I said... 'I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States.' ... I can't do it alone. I need... YOU!" I pointed to the crowd, on my last word and the roar was deafening. I waited to continue.
"To those in the Congress and elsewhere in our Nation, who have trampled upon the Rights of The People... the very People you have offended, are going to take those rights back."
I paused. Looking across the sea... No... the ocean, of humanity before me. All colors. All faiths. All beliefs. If I had ten times this many, I could do it one day. I looked at my great-great grandfather's pocket watch I set on the podium. Two minutes of applause and cheers.
"In just a few minutes, I'm going to work." I paused. Tentative applause and cheers.
"YOU CAN EXPECT MY CALL TO HELP!"
I stepped away from the podium and turned to my Chief of Staff... and the Vice President. During the deafening roar of the people from behind me...
"Let's get to work!"
*****
I was ushered into a conference room.
A small one. Two black suits against the back wall. Stoic. No one else.
"Come sit with me, Jack."
I stopped and let Sam pass me and take the lead. As I sat, about 10 people came in and the door closed behind them. I only knew two of them. My Chief of Staff. And, the Vice President.
At the small table, there was just the three of us. Whom, I also knew from the campaign.
Samuel Perkins. Speaker of the House of Representatives and a fellow Texan.
Maggie Ruiz. Majority Leader of the Senate. Vicious conservative from Missouri. Kansas City native.
The perfect team to lop off centuries of federal bureaucracy.
Maggie...
"Damn, Jack. You've set two records... and you've only been President for ten minutes."
I knew I had broken one record. The other? I arched an eyebrow to the Senator.
Maggie leaned onto the table, with her arms crossed before her. Glaring at me. With a sinister smile. I had been warned about her.
"Thirty five years old... and the youngest President ever. And, you just set the record for the shortest inaugural address." She turned to her aide. "What was it, Lance?"
A young aide stepped toward the table and looked at me.
"Sir," he began, with a tone of respect. "You have broken George Washington's record, in his second inaugural address, for its length. The shortest address. His, at 135 words. Your address, Sir... 111 words."
I didn't know. I did know, I wanted to make a point with The People. Simple. A plea for their help. I thanked the young aide and thanked Leader Ruiz.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to Sam.
"Jack, you're gonna need that help from The People."
I nodded and twisted my lips.
I knew that.
*****
Jess placed her hand on the door handle.
"Your 'Office,' Jack," she offered, with a sexy smile. "Ready?"
"No," I replied. "But some jackass has to do it. Just call me... 'Jack... Ass,' ... after today."
She took her hand from the door handle and stepped toward me. Nearly in my personal space, her agitated look is still sexy. Her crystal blue eyes melting my soul. I could tell she had something to say, that would be meaningful.
"That's the last time, you're going to say that to me," my former lover whispered, in a firm tone. Looking up to my six-three from her five-five. "You're the smartest man I know, Jack." She looked down and took my hand into hers. She tilted her head to me and... "If there is anyone that can fix the problems this Nation has, it's you."
I squeezed her hand. I looked to my right and out the window. Just a lawn and an iron fence, in the distance.
"I could fail. Every President has had a failure."
Jessica stepped in front of me and blocked the view of the window. Her hand on the side of my face. Soft. Tender. Warm.
"You have The People behind you. You're a natural leader, Jack." She looked at me like I had seen her in our past. Like she wanted to fuck me, right here and now. Which, in our past, we would've done. Those passionate memories, with Jess, raced through my mind in a nanosecond.
"Lead, Jack. Lead The People to success."
*****