Indivisible (Overlooked by Liberty) by Blair Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

presidents, now puffy blond heads dotted the room.  Veteran reporters overlooked the President's obsession with blonds, Winifred represented their political ideology.  The few repulsed by the display kept it to themselves--not wanting to be estranged by their own.
           Nancy Atherton gave preliminary comments before a camera about "The Dixville Massacre," as the media had dubbed it.  She wore a purple pantsuit with a strand of pearls hanging well into her unbuttoned shirt.  Her blond hair fluffed out from her ears, precisely displaying looped earrings.  Not a blemish could be found on Nancy, an appearance so crisp, so clean, so proper, few men approached her for a date.  They considered her out of their league.
           "Ladies and gentlemen, The President of the United States," stated a young woman from the podium.  Taped commentaries ceased, silence swept the room.  People talking among themselves stopped in mid-sentence and turned to listen as President Clifford Winifred pushed buttons on a pocket computer and scanned the teleprompter in front of him.  He began to speak, but caught himself with a quick gasp for breath, then paused as though holding back tears.  Everyone waited anxiously.  "My fellow Americans, few tragedies cut so deeply to the soul as the loss of children.  I can't pretend to feel the pain the Dixville families are going through at this moment.  Those boys were American children and when their souls left this planet, some of us went with them.  Excuse me."  President Winifred turned away and wiped his eyes with a hanky and resumed his spot at the podium with resolve.  "I promise you, as your President, I will find the perpetrators of this hideous act and bring them to justice.  There is no place on earth those murderers can hide!"  He hit the podium with his fist.  "If they flee, there's no country far enough!  If they fight, there is no army great enough!  Let God be my witness to this oath!"
           Journalists applauded and cheered the President; his words moved them.  President Winifred's sincere address caused eyes to moisten.  The tragedy extended well beyond New Hampshire and touched every parent in the country.
           "As tragic as this massacre was, we must not let the children of Dixville die in vain.  Our fractured nation has many serious wounds.  The blood of those boys will bind us and renew our efforts to help the poor working class families they came from.  And as a nation, we can reassert our efforts to rebuild America and console the Dixville families, renewing their faith in a government that protects them."
           Applause erupted from the audience.  Clifford waited.  "There are many of you out there who want to help.  You can.  The White House will send investigative teams and troops to the region to catch these terrorists.  Though this nation is financially strapped, we're asking for any support the American people can give to the families in crisis at Dixville.  The American heart is an inexhaustible resource that has never failed us in times of tumult, during war, or in the times of economic hardships of today.  We will endure the Dixville tragedy, more united as a nation, setting aside all our ethnic and religious differences to focus on a common cause.  To the Dixville families: Our hearts go out to you in this time of grief." 
           Clifford paused and turned from the cameras to reporters in the audience.  "I'll take questions now."
           Every hand in the room went up, some reporters waving their arms to capture the attention of the President.  Nancy Atherton casually raised her hand from the far left side of the room.  "Ms. Atherton from CBS News," said the President.
           "There were reports that a boy nearly survived the attack.  Could you confirm or deny that?"
           Clifford pulled out an electronic note pad from his coat pocket that had details of the incident.  He