The Garden Club by James Gerard (bill gates best books .TXT) 📕

Hal remembered the speech as if it were yesterday.  Like everyone he could see and those who could not be seen, uncertainty about the future plagued the minds of all.  He vividly could see that  image and hear that voice that went on to promise “that together, we could rid the political world in which people needlessly suffer and a world in which governments’ corruption reached out not to help us with our struggles, but to assure a profit for themselves and their select friends.”

Hal recollected that in that instance a sense of order was restored.  Her words spoke of a hope never seen nor experienced in the history of mankind.  She further pacified his heart and the hearts of humanity by speaking of a justice that would weed out the bad politicians from the good.  A new system of justice that would make accountable those that had been so intoxicated by power as to bring the world staggering on the breach of total destruction, and find those politicians that had acted and spoke out with sober reasoning.

Her plan spoke of maintaining borders while creating employment opportunities for all so as to avoid a panic by which people scurried to any country that had once provided the means of a good life. 

Promises of a paycheck for any willing worker to sign up for the building of a worldwide infrastructure, and for the housing by which every family and individual could afford to purchase a living unit supplied with electricity, gas, water, and indoor plumbing were made.

Beyond that, Hal remembered the uplifting of the hope in the promises of jobs emerging in every technology known to produce power as well as those that had been held back by government regulation in order to meet the false assurances that all in need would be taken care of. 

She promised that manufacturing plants would sell the furniture and appliances, the entertainment systems, and any imaginable item for comfort and happiness would commence immediately.   She spoke of a promise to provide the world with an abundant supply of affordable food and clothing as well.  All of this and so much more would be possible only if everyone would just grasp onto the idea that in order to accomplish all of this, control and authority must voluntarily be handed over to the hands of corporations whose only goal would be to deliver all the promises.

Days after, the anger of the entire population had completely subsided.  Corporations and businesses quickly met, planned, merged into giant conglomerations in order to carry out the promises.  With a collective cooperation cheering the people on, a sheer vivacity never witnessed, the colossal expectations became reality.  What was impossible by the control and direction of governments became possible by the men and women whose vision for the future was rooted in reality.       

Hal glanced to the digital readout and noticed how time had lapsed.  “Oh great, ten minutes late.”

The Governor was well aware that only a limited amount of privileged senior executives within the hierarchy of the corporate world had the use of private aircraft as personal transportation, yet the expectation was to be on time regardless of any circumstance.

Hal chuckled having thought that somehow the Governor expected the car to fly through the air with the power of thought alone.  But regardless of that impossible maneuver, the thought of arriving late should have been the least of the worries.  What he worried about was the same old explanation that may or may not pacify the Governor.  The same old argument rang in the thoughts: He’s got to realize that Ron doesn’t mean any harm.  It’s not like he’s orchestrating the events.  Just show a little understanding.

Traffic was zipping along nearing the westbound onramp, and so too was Hal’s thoughts.  Though the Governor may yet again understand the children’s reactions, Hal surmised that the good intentions in “why” Ron continued to take what the Governor called “dangerous risks” would be overlooked.  But Hal realized that even if the Governor sided with him and showed mercy, the park’s closure was still inevitable.

The park’s fate all along had been at the discretion of the Governor.  In a decision to pacify those that still screamed for a safety net as protection, the corporate leadership agreed to install quasi-politicians in all the nation states and countries that at least shared a common language and culture and heritage.  This was based on easing the citizens into accepting the label of world citizens.  Depending on the levels of bureaucracy in each nation, either one was appointed as a national figurehead, or in the Governor’s case, as the state’s lone representative.

Hal had always thought it rather remarkable that the only true power entrusted to the Governor was as a keeper of the public trust concerning the public lands that had yet to be consumed for the needs of the world.  It was more odd than remarkable, he reasoned.  After all, the corporations essentially owned everything.

In the beginning' the decision to cede power to the figureheads conjured up confusion.  Whenever quasi-politicians made the decision as to which corporation would receive the available acreage requested, there were so many parcels still available that bickering over final decisions was unheard of.  But now, with public land more scarce, the logic of such a decision came to light.

The park was the last of the vast tracts of land remaining that could be utilized for the expansion of any corporation's industrial plans.  If left to their own devices, if they had not assigned the Governor the autonomy to act independently, then the corporations would find themselves literally fighting gory battles to seize such treasured land thereby unleashing the rage of the world citizens again.  They knew such rage would fiercely destroy them as the corrupt governments had been destroyed.

Hal was aware that the Governor was facing immense pressure from all interested parties.  The Board of Realtors was his biggest headache as they cried out for the space to house the swelling population.  Housing was on the verge of becoming scarce.  More and more families were forced to settle for small apartments and charged higher rent.  But the Meat Council was also applying some pressure.  It had been reported that food production was falling behind the growing needs.  Prices were rising.  Grumblings were vented amongst the citizens at the corporate food stores.

Turning onto a southbound off-ramp, Hal’s thoughts turned to the propaganda campaign.  The campaign was likened to  the ‘Manifest Destiny’ attitude that once swept expansion of the country.  It was used by the corporate leaders shortly after the new world order was under way to rile up the citizens.  Zoos, animal reserves, and protected lands were seen as things of a repressive world.  Pets, along with wild animals of all kinds, were deemed useless eaters and slated for elimination.  They were turned over to the slaughter houses and processing plants for the extraction of protein to be added to the food supply.  And although every species of birds used for both hunting pleasure and to satisfy strange appetities had been eradicated, smaller birds and birds of prey proved too elusive and the efforts at their eradication had been cancelled. 

The phone rang.  “Oh gee,” he whispered, “wonder who that can be.”

“So sorry to bother you,” a sarcastic tone blared from the speaker, “but do you think you can find the time in your busy schedule to meet with the Governor?”

Hal rolled his eyes and inhaled deeply.  “I’m four blocks away from the hotel.  I’m stuck at a stoplight right now.   Traffic has been congested as usual,” he calmly informed the Governor’s aide.

Hal scoffed at the ingenious traffic plans that had gone awry.  The staggered work times proved useless in solving the daily congestion.  Buses, the transport for those that carried out the lowly tasks of the corporate leadership, filled the streets.  Cars, that had initially been reserved for those the corporate leaders thought it a necessity to efficiently carry out the daily tasks to handle the daily toils, had been allotted at the whim of any corporate executive.  They all cluttered the highways.

Even the sidewalks were filled with workers.  They consisted of those that had been placed in housing close to the manufacturing plants to make it easier to bustle off to their jobs.  And though Hal was often annoyed with the Governor’s aide and his expedient yet irking nature, he had come to terms with it long ago.       

A valet raced to the parking curb as soon as the car was steered to the side.  The young man came to a sudden stop and retreated.  His hidden attitude was revealed by his buddies huddled together.  They were smiling and whispering to each other.  Hal knew why they just stood there staring and snickering at the beat up old car begging for special attention.

“Excuse me,” shouted Hal, “I’m in a hurry here.  “I’m meeting the Governor this morning.”

Hal smiled as one of the young men, obviously at the mere mention of the Governor, dashed over to the car and opened the door.  “I’m terribly sorry sir.  We thought you were delivering something.”

A sense of pity for the young man erased the smile.  Detecting panic in the young man’s face, the wide eyed expression staring down on him, Hal stepped out and patted him on the shoulder.  “Relax.  Honest mistake.”

Passing through the hotel’s posh garden and the exquisitely designed water fountain, Hal felt at peace.   The peaceful feeling lasted for a moment.  Up ahead stood a doorman standing at attention.  And although the man waited to relieve the burden of having to open the entrance door himself, the burden to come was implied by the angry face staring him down as he approached the Governor’s private elevator.  The look shattered the momentary escape from the harsh reality at hand.

“Good morning David.”

Through many an experience Hal knew it was not unusual for David to ignore the greeting, but rarely did he show his displeasure by slapping the elevator button.  Unsettling as the violent action was, Hal dismissed it as a minor distraction.

Eerie silence filled the elevator as it seemed an eternity to reach the Governor’s suite.  Finally, Hal released the uneasy feeling trapped through a long, drawn out exhale.  The elevator doors opened only to reveal one of the Governor’s personal security agents.

“Good morning Mark.”

“What’s in the bag?” he asked in a suspicious tone.

“The monthly report.”

“Let me see.”  Mark looked into the bag.  “Ah!  Look at what have here,” he said pulling out the yellow fruit.  “Fresh bananas; tsk, tsk.”

“What of it?”

“You of all people should know it is illegal to have fresh fruit in your possession.”

“They’re not mine.”

Mark smiled.  “I’ll just have to perform my sworn duty and confiscate this illegal contraband to save you embarrassment of doing in front of the Governor and the others.”

Hal laughed.  “Oh for Christ’s sake Mark, they’re just a bunch of bananas.  Besides, the Governor asked me to bring them along for breakfast.”  As if light began to flicker in the brawny man’s brain, he stared into the steely eyes and softly whispered, “That’s it, make the connection.”

Mark started to respond, but hesitated and looked at the bananas.

Evidence of reasoning emerged as Hal watched the countenance change from excited to somber.  He figured Mark longed for the fresh fruit to satiate a long lost taste for such a delicacy, but to do so would be at the risk of facing the Governor’s wrath.

“They’re for him?” Mark asked.

“Of course.”

Mark examined the bottom of the bag.  “Is there a loose one in here?”

“Oh my god will you just take one already and let me get the hell in there.”

Mark smiled as he broke one free from the bunch and put it in a coat pocket.  He then stepped out of the way.

Hal smirked in passing. “Why didn’t you just ask for one in the beginning?” he let out from behind.

Two more officers stood in front of Hal to block the path to the voices heard out