68. The Transience Of Life

68. The Transience Of Life
Tim ran his hand across his head, laughed happily, and asked himself, “What would I have done without George? Thank you, for being the best.”
Laura's House
“Everything is just going south quickly. Our sons are missing. Our daughter is facing a lot at her place of work. What is happening?”
Madeline was conversant with his feelings and consoled him, “I know how you feel. I feel the same way too but we have to be alive for each other and solve the problem together.”
“Even if they return today, they would have been expelled from the school, as the Commandant threatened.”
“Ouch!” She cried out in anguish. Presently, she was weeping and her husband was uncomfortable with it.
“Stop crying, my dear. Let me call their numbers again. Who knows, fate will smile on us.”
A dry smile flickered across Madeline's face and she looked on while he dialed Gerald's number. They waited afterward until they heard the automated message - The number you dialed is unreachable.
“It could be a glitch. Kindly try Samuel's number.”
He obeyed and dialed his number and they waited anxiously. Gerald's number seemed more respectful. At least, they were spoken to but Samuel's own was mute.
“Mhhh,” he breathed heavily and looked at his wife who burst out crying.
Now, the chef and janitor were attracted and they rushed to the parlor.
The Auxiliary Armory PLC
After the day and week destroyers left, George hissed and cursed, “Fools. Do you have any roaster if not to give us what we want?”
Instantly, he called the security office, and Cpl. Simpson picked up the call.
“Good morning, General,” he greeted forthwith.
“Good morning, Corporal. In addition to the patrol team on the tenth floor. I need two security guards at the President's door.”
“Consider it done, General,” he promised and the call ended.
He was so furious and unable to concentrate on his attack on the South Coast. To stabilize himself, he turned on the television. His anger increased when he saw the Saturday event. Capt. Bolton waa shouting at Laura and Cpl. Barton talking to her with shackles.
“Stupid girl. You may end up in the guardroom today if you don't return with Gilbert,” he stated.
Unfortunately, he believed that he was older than Laura because he considered that she was below-average intelligence. Shortly after the call, he heard a knock on the door and he looked at the security television.
“Come in, the door is open,” he called out when he saw the Corporal.
“The security guards are at your door, General.”
“It's all right. Let me see them,” he answered and got up.
The Corporal led the way and he followed. Meanwhile, one of the security guards was Laura's head of security whom he slapped two weeks ago, and he was scared out of his wits. Unknown to him, George had more important people to think of than to retain his face.
“Good morning, General,” they saluted him simultaneously.
“Good morning,” he responded and returned the salute.
“Don't allow Miss Dickson into the office if she is not with a male janitor,” he instructed.
“We got you, General,” they responded one after the other.
“Thank you, Cpl. Simpson. You can leave,” he appreciated him and returned to the office.
Shortly, Brig. Dale walked in for the tutorial that day and George was excited.
“Good morning, Brig. Dale,” he saluted and he returned the salute.
“Good morning, Sgt. Young.”
Thereafter, they settled down to have his two-hour lecture. George put everything behind him and concentrated.
Meanwhile, Laura had been trying to get the janitor and it was fruitless. When she got tired of searching, she decided to report back to George.
“At least he can use his power to order the Supervisor to bring him. I'm tired of searching,” she reasoned.
She got to the office and saw two of her bodyguards. She smiled at them and hoped to be greeted accordingly as before but she was wrong
“What are you doing here?” She asked them and waited for a response but they were mute.
Not only that, she gave them a searching look and got no clue. All the same, she inched forward but they blocked her.
“Why are you blocking me? What is the matter with you?” She asked angrily.
“The President said we should not allow you into the office if you are not with a male janitor,” her head of security who wished to keep his job informed her with the same tenacity that he insulted Tim.
At that point, she realized the true meaning of 'no condition is permanent' and that she should treat people well. She looked into his eyes and he locked eyes with her. She discovered that he had no iota of respect for her anymore and could strike her. At that point, she pouted and turned away.
Meanwhile, she preferred the bickering with Gilbert to her aimless search.
“Mhhh, Life! The guards that she harassed me with are harassing her now,” Tim shrugged.
The General Manager's Office
After the Supervisor chased Laura out of the office, he steadied himself by sitting down. He thought of how to remedy the situation and decided to visit the General Manager's office. Not to revoke the contract but to plead for mercy.
“What is difficult in altering your roaster to give him who he wants?” The General Manager asked after listening to his complaint.
“You have to believe me, Captain. It is not in our character to disobey anyone. His secretary advised me to do that.”
“That is unbelievable. Nobody will believe your story. How can you say that a small girl led you into this mess?”
“I'm not proud of myself. She subtly presented it as a solution. Kindly plead with him on my behalf, Captain.”
After some seconds of silence, Capt. Bolton asked, “Where is the janitor?”
“I can get him,” he promised and left.
He returned quickly with Gilbert who was oblivious of the situation.
“Good morning, Capt. Bolton,” he greeted.
“Good morning. We are going to the President's office.”
“Okay, Captain.”
“You can leave, Supervisor,” he informed him and faced Gilbert, “You can take a seat. We will see him soon.”
“Okay, Capt. Bolton,” he answered and sat down.
After an hour, he was through with his work and informed him.
“Let's go.”
He got up at once and followed him.
The President's Office
After two hours, Brig. Dale left and George continued with his work.
Capt. Bolton was infuriated when he arrived and saw the security guards whom he considered brats, standing in front of the office.
“What are you doing here?” He shouted at them.
“Good morning, Capt. Bolton,” they saluted.
Without returning their salutes, he thundered his question again.
“Cpl. Simpson asked us to stand here,” one of them explained.
“If you don't want to return to the guardroom, just disappear now,” he ordered and they fled. Gilbert was scared to see him angry for the first time.
“Just imagine that. Are they even qualified to sit in the lobby?” He asked angrily and pushed the door.
George saw him walked in with an angry look on the Captain's face. He stopped his work and waited for them to come into his office.
“Good morning, Capt. Bolton,” he stood up and saluted him.
“Good morning, Sgt. Young,” he returned the salute and sat down.
“Good morning, Sgt. Young,” Gilbert greeted.
He was not aware of how he came but concluded that Laura or the Supervisor brought him. All the same, he faced him and instructed, “Good morning. Don't be far away from me again. Okay?”
“Okay, Sgt. Young.”
“Good. Take your seat at the Secretary's office.”
“I got it, Sgt. Young,” he said and returned to the office.
Now, he sat down too and faced the General Manager and waited for him to speak.
“Are you aware that there are guards at your door?”
“Yes. I asked Cpl. Simpson to get two for me.”
“Can you imagine that?” He said and dialed the gatehouse number.
George wondered what he was up to and looked on. When the call connected, the Corporal spoke.
“Good morning, General. How may I …?”
“This is the General Manager. Why did you bring those loafers to the President's office?”
George furrowed his brow and waited for the Corporal's answer.
“Loafers? They are Lance Corporals.”