The Smiths and Joneses (48 page)

              “I agree.”

              Sean enters the living room, “Carol, Bob, we’ve received a message on the national emergency system telling us to return home and not enter the LSA. Wolf received a message instructing him and his crew to return to the LSA after tonight’s program. As such this is most likely our last live program for a while. We want to thank you for your support.”

              Carol replies, “We thank you for putting us on the program, I guess we should try to wrap it up tonight. It’s a shame because I was so looking forward to asking my counterpart about her life and kids.”

              Sean says, “You’ll learn a lot when you watch the program; I will tell you, things have taken a different approach.”

              Everyone takes their positions; the clock counts down to zero, Sean says, “Thank you for putting up with the unusually long commercial break, one of the issues we sometimes encounter on a live show is, as they say, ‘things happen’ we had a few messages from our corporate offices. We’re back and ready to continue.”

              Carol says, “Everyone, my family has totally enjoyed being part of this program. I know that the networks would like to continue it for another week. As a parent, I have to be mindful of the impact on our children. While one of our children is handling it well, one has allowed it to go their head. This isn’t something that can be known in advance. It’s only after the fan mail arrives that we learned the program was having a major impact on our family. In order to maintain the level-headed family we currently have, I’m afraid we’re going to have to resign ourselves from continuing the program. We’re not television actors or movie stars. We’re normal people just like you are at home watching us. I’m sure the networks have hours of footage available from the background videos they recorded of all of us going about our normal lives. We have no issue with the networks using the previously recorded information to continue the program. Bob and I feel that if we continue live broadcasts, the potential negative impact to our family outweighs the potential benefits of each side learning about the other. As such, on behalf of my family, my loving husband Bob, our son, Leon, Elizabeth and of course Holly, we thank you for sharing our home with us.”

Before the camera cuts away, Elizabeth runs into view saying, “remember to call me Beth, bye now, come back whenever you want to, Holly and I will be waiting for you.” She picks up Holly waving the dog’s paw up and down into the camera.

Leon slides into the camera view saying, “Hey everyone, I’m going to miss you all, but stay in touch on my FB page I’ll post videos so everyone can stay in touch and see what’s going on here in Burlington, North Carolina. I’ll post new videos at least once a week. Remember I get my permit in six weeks, I’ll be able to drive by and say hi!”

The camera shifts to Bob sitting on the love seat next to Carol. “I don’t know how to follow that up. All I can say is thank you for joining us, and its true Leon does get his permit in a few weeks so I’d advise everyone to stay off the roads. He’s written to President Brownstone offering to break in his new corvette; God help us if President Brownstone replies. We very much enjoyed welcoming you into our lives; we hope you learned something about living here in the USA. Feel free to forward questions and comments through the two broadcasters. My family wishes your family all the best. Good night.”

The picture fades out to a pinpoint of light before opening to the broadcast presidents in their studios who each read from the same script. “Hello everyone. We hope you’ve enjoyed becoming part of our two families’ lives. We are going to use the previously recorded video to continue the program for another two evenings. We’ve launched a Smith family and Jones family FB page where you can make posts and add videos that you’d like to share with the two families. We’ll be back tomorrow with a wrap up of our series.”

The crew in Jones’ home is packing up, Wolf walks over to Sean, “Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I told you we got a recall notice. When we confirmed it, we all got a message telling us not to enter the LSA.”

“I got a message ordering me to bring my staff home.”

“I wonder what’s going on. Whatever it is, it doesn’t look good.”

“I agree. Something’s about to pop. I hope it doesn’t put us at odds with each other. I thought we were making good progress with this program.”

“I hope those in power watched the program and don’t go running off the end of a short pier.”

“I agree, it’s been a pleasure working with you, even if you are a real PITA.”

Both men hug and slap each other on the back as the crew split up. Sean takes his crew to dinner at Ruth’s Steakhouse as a reward. While at dinner Sean and everyone gets a text message from Wolf News informing them they will be paid as if the program ran for another week. The group cheers, celebrating by ordering another round of drinks.

Epilog

              The mood at the Wolf News table is good, they are enjoying a great diner, they are getting paid, and they became friends on the almost daily flights across the country. Joan turns to the group asking Sean, “There were a couple of topics that you refused to touch, can I ask now why you left them on the table?”

              “Joan, sure, can you name one?”

              “How about the fact you never mentioned the fact that childhood diseases are increasing in the LSA because many people are against childhood inoculations?”

              “I didn’t want to scare the people. If the people watching back home learned that measles and whooping cough among others, were returning, they would be very scared. People know these types of diseases don’t recognize borders. This information might have caused a panic back home.”

              “Granted, but don’t you think the people have a right to know they may be at risk?”

              “I do, however the powers that be decided not to include that piece of information.  They feared it would set off a mass panic, so they texted me not to bring it up.”

              “Wow, I never realized we were being censored.”

              “Joan, we’re always being censored by someone.”

              Ted asks, “Sean, what about the protestors that were at the Smith home, we know they were there, however we never saw them or got to meet any of them, do you have any idea what there were protesting?”

              “I learned they were protesting President Bloomberg and the invasion of privacy in the LSA.”

              “I see. Why didn’t they just move?”

              “Ted, not everyone can just up and move.”

              “Sean, I understand that. Do you know what happened to the protestors?”

              “I do, but it needs to be a secret.”

              Joan looks around the table asking, “Sean after everything we’ve been through, can’t you tell us what happened to them?”

              “I’ll tell you they are no longer in the LSA.”

              “You got them out?”

              “Not I, is all I’ll say. If you want, I can arrange for us to meet with them. They’re currently getting settled into their new homes in Des Moines, Iowa.”

              Ted says, “Iowa? Why Iowa?”

              Laughing, Sean says, “Who would look for them in Iowa?”

              “You made your point. Were any hurt?”

              “That I don’t know. If you want to see them, I’ll arrange the flight crew to take us there on the way to the office.”

              Joan says, “It’s not really on the way home.”

              “HQ doesn’t care, let me know if you want to go.”

              Everyone nods yes, “See that was easy, I’ll make the arrangements.”

              One of the crew asks, “Sean, you didn’t mention the gang rapes of young girls we learned about.”

              “I thought about that one for a long time. For those of you who don’t know what Frank is talking about, there are a couple of small towns in the LSA where the LSA has resettled mostly Islamic families. It seems the teenage sons of these families have formed gangs; they are grabbing young white girls and gang raping them if they’re wearing modern clothing. The local police and press are not reporting the crimes. It seems that in the move to diversity they are ignoring the crimes. If it had been a black girl raped by white men, the story would be all over the world’s news.”

              Joan says, “Let me see if I understand this, young men are gang raping young women and the police are letting it happen? Why aren’t the girls’ parents doing anything?”

              “Joan, what should they do? Remember no one is armed in the LSA. Without being armed how is a father going against a gang?”

              “Maybe the fathers should get together and go after the gangs.”

              “That may happen sooner or later. I can tell you if it was my daughter; I would tear the young men apart.”

              Joan asks, “So these young men want to bring Islamic culture to the LSA? I thought it was forbidden to have express displays of religion in the LSA.”

              “It is, however the newly resettled families don’t care. They want to start converting the LSA to Islam.”

              Ted asks, “What’s President Bloomberg doing about it?”

              “Trying to sweep it under the rug. I’ve heard rumors that in another small town in what used to be British Columbia, gangs recently resettled from the Middle East are grabbing young women and cutting their faces if they don’t wear modest clothing.”

              Joan is shocked saying, “Doesn’t the LSA central government realize the potential risk they’re running?”

              Sean responds, “I think Bloomberg is trying to handle both situations as quietly as possible. He doesn’t want to break his agreement to accept 50,000 displaced families from the new Islamic state which he agreed to take in exchange for oil. On the other hand, he doesn’t want to change the culture in the LSA. He has a very difficult balancing act to follow. I don’t think he’s going to be successful sweeping it under the rug. Stories like this become too juicy for the press to ignore forever, even the state-controlled and owned press is going to be hard to hold back, one of them will break the news sooner versus than later.”

              Joan leans back in her chair asking, “Sean overall what are your thoughts on the differences twelve years have made?”

              “Joan, when I asked to be one of the hosts I had no idea what we’d find on the other side of the wall. Wolf has travelled back and forth between the two countries; he knew what he would find on our side. Very few of us have ever ventured into their side. As such, I was surprised how far the LSA was able to control their people. The LSA central government succeeded better than the old Soviet government ever did. I think Stalin would be very proud of Bloomberg. I don’t know what they’re going to look like in another twelve or twenty years.”

              Ted asks, “Sean why were we recalled?”

              “My guess, and it’s only my guess, is the mysterious illness many of our children experienced was traced to the LSA.”

              Joan asked, “Why would they do that to us. I’m sure Bloomberg knows how we respond to such attacks.”

              “Joan, it’s just my own guess, but I don’t think President Paul will respond with a nuke. We still consider the LSA as being part of America. I don’t know how he’ll respond, but I’m sure it’ll be something to remember.”

              The crew is enjoying coffee and shared desserts when they notice the TV located in the bar flashes “NEWS BULLETIN” every member of the crew stands to get a better view of the television in the bar. A large red banner flows under the talking heads saying, “This just in, there’s a major blackout in both the LSA and Russia. Stand by for more updates.”

              Sean says, “See I told you, something unforgettable.”

End of book 4

Book 5, “The War Breaks out” is coming soon

Other books by the author.

37 Miles

37 Miles, Book 2, Patty’s Journey

My Story

A History Lesson

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 1

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 2

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 3

By the Light of the Moon, Book 1

By the Light of the Moon Book 2

Feel free to contact me at [email protected]