K.B. Fugitt

· 69 ·

One Last Chance

FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD BURNS SAT IN WHAT looked like a typical living room in front of a blank TV screen. Remote control in hand, it looked like he was staring off into space. A female’s voice from behind asked him a question.

“Not watching the news?”

It was Amy. She had come back into Ronald Burns’ life one last time to try and save a lost soul. Burns turned around and recognized the person who had visited him previously. His anger showed immediately.

“What the hell are you doing here?” the former president said as he took a couple steps toward Amy as if he wanted to physically confront her, then stopped short knowing deep down inside he was no match for her.

“I come and go as I please, Ronald. You should know that by now,” Amy answered.

“I told you before,” Burns responded in a fit of anger. “You call me Mr. President or President Burns. That’s an order!”

“But Ronald, you’re no longer the president. Maria Fernandez is and she’s setting a good example for the children, something you never did. I find it sad that you were so full of yourself you didn’t know how to be a role model for the youth. They were and are the future, you know.”

Burns looked at a door that even he wasn’t sure where it went. He had been blindfolded when authorities brought him to this secret place where he was being held. He could only look out the windows and see he was in a woods somewhere. The former president had a fleeting thought about making a dash for the door but his thoughts were interrupted by his visitor.

“You can’t escape, Ronald. I’m afraid you’re done.”

Burns decided to switch tactics and his demeanor changed drastically.

“Look, whoever or whatever you are, I’m a very wealthy man. I’ll pay you any amount of money if you can get me out of here. Obviously you have very great powers people have never seen before. Get me out of here and make me president again and I’ll set you up for life. I’ll get you a private room in the White House. I’ll get rid of Jensen and make you Vice President. Just get me out of here and you can have anything you want, I’ll see to it.”

The angel shook her head and had to laugh at his ludicrous offer and at what a shallow man he was. She began to lose hope she was capable of changing this man. It was obvious he didn’t know the difference between good and evil. Amy knew from past experiences she couldn’t get all evil people to change and it saddened her. For some, evil was so deeply rooted in their soul that there was no hope, no love, or kindness, in their heart. Even though love always conquered evil, people made their own choices. Burns was making his and it was the wrong one. If someone couldn’t let go of the evil inside them, there would be no place for them on Earth. Evil ones would go their own way, lost in their selfishness and would die fighting each other for power and riches. If love always conquered evil, then it was evil that eventually turned on itself because it was blind to the power of love. It was a simple solution for those who exhibited love toward others and their reward – a place called Earth. Amy walked over to the window and looked outside. Without turning around, she made an observation.

“It’s a beautiful day out there, the trees, the wildflowers, the birds.” Amy turned around and saw Burns with a fist in one hand punching the palm of the other. His anger was still very much apparent. “No, Ronald, I can’t accept your offer. Until you let go of the evil which is inside, you can’t be trusted. I don’t want to believe that, so let me say one it more time. If you’re ready to let go of the evil within, now would be the time.”

“Look, I’m the least evil person ever born. I despise evil. Evil people should be shot. If you get me out of here I’ll make sure everyone has guns and I’ll direct my citizens to shoot every evil person they see. Shoot them on sight. Only I can get rid of evil. Set me free and you’ll see. If I think a country is evil, I’ll drop nuclear bombs on it. I can show the world how to get rid of evil, just get me out of here.”

Amy now knew the writing was on the wall. Burns hadn’t a clue that she knew he was lying. He wouldn’t, couldn’t let go of his hatred. He thought he was the center of the universe, but his universe was now the size of a living room with a TV that only showed heartwarming and good news and no news stories about him.

“You are not telling me the truth, Ronald, and that is sad. I see I’ve wasted my time with you once again. Enjoy your new living quarters. I’ll be going now. Good-bye.”

“WAIT!” Burns shouted. “I haven’t seen anyone since I’ve been here. The door is locked and I can’t get the windows open. I’m trapped! Help me, please. I haven’t even seen my wife since I’ve been here. This is torture and inhumane treatment. It’s presidential harassment. I deserve better treatment. If you don’t get me out of here let me give you a warning that when I do get out I’ll track you down and have you put in prison. I’ll track down the new fake president Maria Fernandez and have her executed. No one wants a Hispanic or a woman for president. That’s treason and the American people won’t stand for it. I’m not kidding. If you don’t get me out of here I’ll find you when I do get out and your life won’t be worth two cents. Now, give that some thought.”

“I don’t have to give it any thought, Ronald. I can see your eyes are hollow and that you have no soul,” Amy stated. “And, speaking of your wife, I spoke to her before I came here and she wants nothing to do with you. She’s done with you. Alena is in her own little room all by herself watching the good news on TV. I think there may be hope for her, but there is no hope for you. Now, good-bye.”

With those final words Amy made her exit by vanishing right before Ronald Burns’ eyes.

“You don’t scare me,” the former president yelled. “I’ll find you! I have more power than you. You’ll see. I’ll find you!”

Burns sat back down on the sofa in front of the TV and clicked it on with the remote. He watched about two minutes of “good” news before getting bored and turned it off again.

“It’s all phony, all fake, all false. The world needs Ronald Burns,” an evil man muttered to himself. “I’m the only one that can save the world. They’ll see one day. I’m the chosen one.”