No Handlebars

*is there any chance emily and Tom could fall in love in the future,
Emily ran down the stairs following him, her black hair trailed behind her.

"Tom, what is it?" I asked as I walked down the stairs

Ronald:

There would be public outcry over the closure of the zoo, no doubt. Just as there would be a general feeling of goodwill towards Sam from the animal activists. You win some, you lose some. This would be more of a loss than a win in terms of public opinion, but public opinion could easily be remedied.

"Ronald, is there any way we could gain back some of the support we'll lose by closing down the zoos?" Sam seemed concerned once again, and I nodded.

"We could easily accuse the zookeepers of mistreating the animals, say that they will be released on to nature reserves for a time to recuperate from whatever crimes they were subjected to, and promise the people that they would be given access to the zoos as soon as the animals have been rehabilitated." I paused, "Of course, that would mean that they wouldn't learn their lesson, but then we could say that we would have to raise prices on the zoos in the future in order to account for the cost of the rehabilitation. That should prevent people complaining, we could just say that they didn't care for the wellbeing of God's creation. We'll foot most of the, uh, bill, of course. But they have to bear some of the burden, too."

I stopped at the window of a booth to straighten my tie, smiling at my own reflection for a moment before continuing, "In the meantime, we need to discuss the application of the system. There will no doubt be even more protestation against it than there would be over closing the zoos, but it is completely necessary for the security of this country." I clapped a hand on his shoulder, "You're going to need to put a good face on that, Mr. President."

*huh? I posted what happened to it *

I ran down the stairs,

"Tom who is it?" I shouted as I my black hair trailed behind me.

Sam-

I sat in my office preparing my speach for the people. The security systems implanted all around the country was vital for the country's protection. I just needed to show the people that.

Ronald was right, I was going to need to put a good face on this project or it would not go well. But my mind isn't on the speech right now. It was on Tom and what he had said when I saw him last.

"The people don't want to live in tyranny Sam! And I will do all in my power to make sure democracy lives!"

The rebellions... somehow I just know Tom is helping them. I need to talk to Ronald.

Ronald

It had been a long time since the Secret Service had realised that I had more power than an ordinary Chief of Staff and permitted me full access to the Oval Office. As such, I met no resistance from the pair of agents standing by the door and was allowed to enter immediately.

Sam was staring at the pages of his speech, or rather, he was staring through them. The President wasn't focusing on anything at all, the pen in his right hand held loosely, as though he barely knew it was there.

I sat down opposite him, leaning back in the plush, high-backed chair set aside for visitors to the Office. "Mister President. The Chinese Premier is arriving today for a meeting with you, you still need to review your speech, and you seem half-asleep. Is something wrong?"

Sam-

I jolted slightly at the voice of Ronald. I didn't know he was there.

"Is something wrong?"

I sighed. "Yes, I just can't focus today. I just don't know how the tell the people about the new security system."

"You could start with 'We have long discussed and thought about the good of the country..."

I nodded. "That is good. You were saying about the Chinese?"

"Yes, the Chinese Premier will be arriving today."

"Ah yes, well then..." I looked to my phone and pressed the direct link to Ms. Herse.

"Ms. Herse, have the embassy prepared for our guest by 1:00."

"Y-yes, Mr. President."

~Tom~

"Proabably some of the guys. They're always fighting...so typical." She smiled and I found I was right. Two guys that I'd been sheltering from some of their 'drug buddies' had been wrestling and had knocked some stuff over.

"Guys..." She muttered next to me, shakingher head.

"Will you guys at least move the furniture before you decide to destroy my house? I got a lot of pictures that I want to keep on those tables."

"Sorry, Tom. We'll move it next time." One of them grinned, rubbing the back of his neck.

Mikael

I looked around as i wandered through the streets spotting adverts for the new security system everywhere. How can the people not notice?, i wondered, or maybe they do and they just dont care. What a sour thought. Still it could be worse. They could have seen me blow that cop a new one down that alleyway. I smirked as i heard the sounds of the first shocked civillian to discover the body. Thats for mum, i thought as i walked away.

~Tom~

"You guys want to go to the zoo?" I asked them. The kids would be out of school soon.

"Naah...you guys go ahead." They said.

"Shall we go then?" I asked with a comic bow and I offered her my arm. She giggled and curtsied, taking my arm.

"We shall." She said, a sparkle in her eyes.

We caught the kids just as they were getting out of school and promised the parents (who I knew pretty well by now) that they would be back before dark. They piled into my huge van (affectionatly called Gus) and we headed for the zoo.

We were all in a for a huge dispointment when we got there. Police blocked the entrance. I asked one of the officers what was going on.

"President's orders, the zookeepers have been mistreating the animals or something."

"Thank you officer." I said, "Sorry kids, looks like you won't be able to see that platapus I was talking about." They all looked disapointed as I took them and explained what happened to the parents. As soon as I got into Gus as the last of the kids waved from their windows, I finally let my true emotions show. I was MAD.

"What is it, Tom?" Emily asked, worried and a little scared.

"Sam!" I finally yelled, startling Emily.

"Tom!" she cried.

"Sorry Emily but we're taking a detour to the White House." I said, gripping the steering wheel too hard.

"Why?"

"Because Sam is sooo going to get it." I said, but then took a deep breath.

"Who's Sam, Tom?" Emily prodded, getting really worried. I looked at her and then got a hold of my emotions again.

"The Preisident. He's gone too far this time." I drove home and we were both silent.

I stormed into my house, making the guys jump.

"Tom..." I grabbed the phone and dialed the White House (you can actually do that)

"I need to speak to the Cheif of Staff, please." I told the operator, "Or better yet, the President. Tell him it's Tom."

"Tom, be rational." Emily cried, nervous. Probably because I don't get angry a lot.

"Sir, you have a phone call," said Ms. Herst

"Who is it?" I was still in the middle of talking with the Premier.

"He said his name was Tom."

I felt my brain go numb and my self stiffen. What did he want?

"I don't want to speak with him."

"Sir, he said it was important..."

"I am in the middle of something!"

"I shall take a message."

"Just hang up!"

Ronald tapped my shoulder. "Sir, who is Tom..."

"Just someone I used to know. Very well I'll take the call! Excuse me Sir," I said to the Chinese Premier and marched over, taking the cell phone from Ms. Herst and going into the hall.

"President Morris here."

~Tom~

I was in shock for a few moments--he actually answered.

"Sam, shutting down the zoo is going too far." I said, trying not to sound too threatening...I mean, the secret service takes their job REALLY seriously.

"I don't believe you're in any position to tell me how to do my job." Sam said, a bit angry.

"Sam...don't do this. You know very well that every single one of those zookeepers love animals and wouldn't EVER hurt them." I argued, "You just made some good people lose their jobs. Is that really helping the U.S. economy, Mr. President?" I spat out his title. I glanced at the people in my house, then at Emily. She looked confused--I wasn't supposed to actually KNOW the president.

"Once again, you can't tell me how to do my job, Tom!" Sam said, clearly angry now.

"Actually, Sam, I am entitled to do just that. I am a citizen of the United States of America and its MY job to make sure YOU'RE doing YOUR job correctly." And then I hung up. On the president.

"Tom, what was that about?" Emily asked.

Sam-

He hung up on me. That nosy little interferer!

"Mr. President?" Ms. Herst asked.

"It was nothing. Just some concerned citizen."

Ronald stepped out with a smirk. "He has agreed to help with the project Mr. President. China will send workers, technicians and supplies."

"Very good Ronald. We will need to work faster though. I want this to be a 24 hour project."

"Yes, Mr. President."