THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT...by b. Malin
FIRST CHAPTER...
The crowd was restless waiting for the new President-elect to ride down Pennsylvania Avenue. There was a special kind of excitement in the air. " A Jew for President", a man was heard to remark to his wife. "Who ever would have thought"...his voice trailed off as his wife gave his rib cage a gentle nudge. The man's wife felt smug contentment at the country's choice. She sighed to herself and felt happy that her vote as well as all women's votes had made history. For it was their vote and theirs alone, that had helped to elect the first Woman President of the United States. It wasn't that long ago that history had been made with the first African-American President...and now this.
The President-elect, Marcia Gilmore, sat in the back sear of her chauffeur driven limousine. She waited patiently for the car to start the long drive down Pennsylvania Avenue to her new home. She was a strikingly beautiful, well groomed woman of forty-two. Her shoulder length blonde hair was neatly styled up into in a soft bun. She wore a black knit suit with a soft white blouse and a single strand of white pearls around her neck. On her ears, were matching pearl earrings. The rest of her jewelry consisted of her wedding band and her "Omega" watch. A gift from her father. On her feet were black leather boots and on her lap lay a matching black leather pocket book. She was the picture of sophistication...and yet there was a certain warmth and charm to her that both sexes found irresistible.
Next to Marcia sat her husband George. He was a tall dark haired man of forty-five with slightly graying temples. He was a successful attorney, who had been able to make a name for himself, in spite of Marcia's fame. He was considered handsome and always impeccably groomed, and together they made an attractive couple.
Next to George, sat Jamie and Sammy their twin sons, who were home from Harvard, their fathers alma mater. The Secret Service had picked them both up at school two days ago, and had not left their sides since. Something both boys had found uncomfortable, and not easy to deal with. But knew they would have to accept because of their mother's presidency.
"It's ironic, George said quietly, "the talk going around Washington is, more people are surprised at having a "Jew" for president than a woman." His voice sounded weary as he looked at Marcia, who now sat with her head leaning back and her eyes shut. She smiled slightly. How funny, she thought to herself, go figure the American public. Aloud she replied, "I guess times really haven't changed that much". It had been a long hard struggle, but she'd won, fair and square, of course, not without her share of mental bruises and hurts along the way. But she also knew that her public loved her, and she promised herself she would make them proud and happy that they had voted for her. Her mind now flashed back over time to where it all began...
To be continued.
