14. Dilemma 2
“They are looking for you and crying because they believe that you are dead?”
“My goodness! I can't meet them. Let them remain with the notion that I am dead.”
“It is all right.”
Meanwhile, Tim, who had not come to terms with why they were at the gate, added, “When they are tired of searching for me, they will leave.”
“That is it.”
“Thank you for informing me, Your Excellency.”
“You are welcome.”
After the call, he looked at the boys again and asked himself, “Is that why they had been calling me?”
Without delay, he joined George. To his chagrin, George could not even drive a screw into a hole.
He laughed softly and asked, “Is it difficult for you?”
Unhesitatingly, he answered, “Yes, Boss.”
“That is a good one to own up. It is good for you to know how to do it because you may need it someday. If you run out of weapons on the battlefield, the ability to improvise will help you a lot.”
“I got it, Boss.”
“Take a break. We will continue later.”
“Okay, Boss,” he said, carefully gathering the pieces of the dismantled gun and returning to the foyer while Tim returned to his room.
Now, he watched the television and the reports on boundaries intrigued him. One of his reasons for watching was to see their weapons and compare them with what he had.
At Laura's House
It was almost 5 PM and she returned from work dispirited over many things but determined to appear cheerful before her expectant parents. As usual, her bodyguard opened the car and held the door for her.
“Welcome back, my dear,” her mother greeted her as soon as she got out of the car while her father grinned from ear to ear beside her.
“Good evening, Dad and Mom. How was your day?”
“My day was fine, my dear. And your day?” Her father asked.
Now, she walked towards the parlor and they followed her.
“My day was good. What about Gerald and Samuel?”
“They are not back yet?”
“That reminds me. Where are they?”
“We don't know?” Her father answered without worry.
Now, they were in the parlor, and she turned angrily and asked, “Are they not in their rooms?”
“No. They strolled out.”
Her eyes beamed in anger and she asked again, “Strolled out? Didn't they say where they were going?”
“No. They only said 'We will be back,'” her father informed her.
“And they did not even wait to have their lunch,” her mother added.
She was disturbed to hear that they did not have their lunch and it was almost 5 PM. Likewise, she gave her parents a puzzled look before she said, “Excuse me,” and walked to her bedroom.
She returned after she had freshened up and changed to casual wear.
“How did today's work go?”
“It went well, Dad.”
“That is good to hear. What about the new President? Has he reported to work?”
“Yes, Mom, but not in person. He sent a representative.”
“That is weird. Why should he send someone on his first day?”
Presently, she must defend her crush. Therefore, she looked at her father, smiled softly, and elucidated, “Maybe he has not returned from the foreign mission.”
“It is possible. The appointment was so sudden,” her mother alluded to.
Afterward, they chatted happily until dinner. When Gerald and Samuel did not show up, Tim became useful.
At Tim's House
A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it was hatched (African Proverb).
Apart from George's potential, he was already in love with Tim and did not wish to live below his expectations.
After he carefully gathered the pieces of the dismantled gun and returned to the foyer, he studied it critically and resolved that he must get it right. Instantly, he began to assemble it.
“Gosh!” He exclaimed after his first attempt failed.
At that point, many screws were left, and he could not identify their rightful holes. All the same, he continued trying and failing. He was in that dilemma when Tim walked downstairs for dinner.
“George,” he called out.
He was excited when he heard his name and wiped the beads of sweat that covered his brow before he answered, “Yes, Boss,” and walked into the parlor.
“You called me, Boss,” he said when he met him at the dining table.
Tim looked up from the food and was aghast to see his forehead.
“What are you doing?” He asked instantly.
“I was working on the gun,” he answered with defeat in his tone.
“I asked you to take a break so that we can continue later,” he looked into his eyes and reminded him.
George could not express his zeal to succeed with words and only looked on.
“Let me see what you have done,” he requested.
George walked back to the foyer and returned at once with the gun and shyly announced, “This is it, Boss.”
Tim collected it and observed it. With an unreadable expression, he ordered, “Stop working on it and go for your dinner.”
George was relieved that he would not berate him further and responded, “I got it, Boss.”
“Come back after dinner. I will put you through on what to do in the office tomorrow. Okay?”
“Okay, Boss,” he said and left immediately for his dinner.
At The Headquarters Gate
The night shift officers arrived at 4 PM and took over Cpl. Carter's problems. When the Head of the Team, Cpl Kenneth Murphy, inquired about the two Cadets, he simply responded, “Major Horton is aware of their visit.”
“I see,” Kenneth said.
He looked at their gloomy faces before he looked away. Then, Gerald, who sensed that David was leaving, asked, “Corporal, how do we get our brother-in-law? Kindly assist us by calling the number.”
At that point, Kenneth's curiosity was piqued and he looked at David for his response.
Likewise, he tactically answered, “The Major will get back to you. Okay?”
Without waiting for their response, he left and the two began to cry again.
“Why are you crying?” Kenneth asked anxiously.
The two boys believed that they were playing hanky-panky with them and ignored him. Kenneth was careful not to hurt the supposed children of colleagues and minded his business.
At dinner, he asked them, “When will you leave? Ain't you hungry?”
“Give us his corpse and we will leave,” Samuel stated tersely.
“Corpse?” He asked in wonderment and the two ignored what they termed as deceit.
Kenneth gave them a searching look before he walked back to his office and called on Major Horton. When the call connected, he greeted him, “Good evening, Major.”
“Good evening, Kenneth. How may I help you?" He asked anxiously thinking that there was a security issue at the gate.
“There are two Cadets at the gate. David said you are aware of their visit?”
“Oh, my God! Are they still there?”
“Yes, Boss and they have been crying?”
“Does that mean that they have not eaten?”
“I asked them about dinner and when they would eat. They said they would not leave until I gave them his corpse.”
“This is serious.”
“Whose corpse are they talking about if I may ask?”
“I am not aware either. Just ignore them. They will leave when they are hungry and tired of crying.”
“Okay, Boss.”
Suddenly, Gerald's phone rang. He looked at the caller and was angrier.