The Willard by LeAnne Burnett Morse Read Free Book Online Page B

Dr. King,” the man said, extending his hand. Calvin shook his hand but said nothing. He was too stunned to speak. “And you are?” the reverend asked.
    “I’m sorry. I’m Calvin Walker.” He kept examining the man before him. “It’s extraordinary, the likeness,” Calvin said. “You really do look just like all the photos I’ve seen.”
    “Well, I’ve been told the camera doesn’t lie although I wouldn’t mind a fib or two from time to time,” Dr. King said with a smile. The elevator doors opened and he stepped inside. “Are you going down?” he asked Calvin.
    “Um, no. I forgot something in my room,” Calvin answered.
    “Well it was nice meeting you, Mr. Walker. I hope to see you at the march tomorrow.”
    Calvin said nothing further and the doors closed, taking the best Martin Luther King, Jr. impersonator he had ever seen down to the lobby. He went back to his room to call his wife and tell her about the experience he’d just had. It had literally shaken him up because it felt so real.
    Why didn’t I pull out my phone and ask for a picture? Nobody will believe how much this guy looked like the real thing
.
    Calvin reached in his pocket for his cell phone but couldn’t find it. He didn’t remember picking it up this morningat all so he walked over to the nightstand to get it and noticed the rotary phone on the table, but no cell phone.
This phone is a little old school for such a fancy hotel
.
    Outside there was a commotion of some sort at street level and he could hear raised voices and an intermittent siren. He went to the window and everything looked surreal. The cars were all old and everyone was dressed in what looked like vintage-wear. The women on the street had little hats on their heads and proper pocketbooks on their arms. It looked like a Hollywood back lot for a period film. Maybe that was it. They must be shooting a film outside today and the man he met is an actor playing the part of MLK. Now he really wanted to find his phone so he could snap some photos on his way out. Who knew what big-name actors might be out there? His son would be really impressed if he came home with a football jersey AND a photo of Will Smith, or maybe Denzel Washington would be there. That shot would win him points with his wife for sure. He was still looking for the phone when he heard a knock at his door. He opened it to find an impeccably dressed man standing there.
    “I’m sorry to disturb you, Mr. Walker. My name is Edward Chase and I’m the hotel concierge. I understand you made the acquaintance of Dr. King this morning.”
    Calvin smiled. “Yes, I met the illustrious ‘Dr. King.’ It looks like they’re shooting a movie outside. It must have been a no-brainer to hire that actor. He could be the man’s twin. What can I do for you, Mr. Chase?”
    “Mr. Walker, I’m afraid you have misunderstood what you’ve seen this morning. That man was not an actor and this is not a film location. The man you met is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the famous civil rights leader.”
    Calvin stood there waiting for Chase to say something else but nothing was forthcoming. “What’s the punch line, Mr. Chase? Is this a reality show or something?” He looked into thehallway, both left and right, but there was no crew there and no cameras.
    “Mr. Walker, if I could come in for a moment I can explain everything.”
    Calvin stepped aside and let the concierge enter.
    “First, let me start by giving you this morning’s paper.”
    Chase handed him a newspaper and Calvin saw the date on the masthead.
August 27, 1963
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    Calvin looked at Chase questioningly. “What the hell is going on?” he asked.
    “Mr. Walker, most of what I’m about to say you’ll have to take on faith because we don’t have much time. Today is August 27, 1963. There is a march scheduled for here in the city tomorrow. I believe you know it as the March on Washington. Dr. King is one of several prominent civil rights leaders heading up the