Tale of A Widow

One Last Time

Mr. President, you asked to see me
I know you're busy
What do you need sir?
Sir?

"Why does this feel ominous?" Peggy asked.

I wanna give you a word of warning
Sir, I don't know what you've heard
But whatever it is, Jefferson started it
Thomas Jefferson resigned this morning
You're kidding

"Why did you blame Thomas?" Mulligan laughed.

"I don't know, Herc," Alex replied. "We probably didn't get along very well."

"Trust me, we didn't." Jefferson said.

"Good to know," Alex chuckled. He and Esper seem close, he thought. Maybe I can try hard to get along with the Thomas Jefferson, as well as the James Madison, I'll meet.

I need a favour
Whatever you say sir, Jefferson will pay for his behaviour
Talk less
I'll use the press,
I'll write under a pseudonym, you'll see what I can do to him

"You really don't listen when you get invested into something, do you?" Madison asked.

"Nope," Alex said proudly.

"That's not something to be proud of, Alex," Washington sighed exasperatedly.

"Oh well." He shrugged.

I need you to draft an address
Yes! He resigned, you can finally speak your mind
No. He's stepping down so he can run for President
Ha! Good luck defeating you, sir
I'm stepping down, I'm not running for President
I'm sorry, what?

"Why?" Laurens asked.

"The country needed it." Aspen explained.

One last time – relax, have a drink with me
One last time
Let's take a break tonight, and then we'll teach em how to say goodbye
To say goodbye, you and I
No, sir, why?

"I still don't get it... The country needed it, sure, but aren't Britain and France on the verge of war at this point?" Alex mumbled to Esper.

"They are, but it shows we're a strong country." She replied.

"I see..."

"You don't, do you?"

"Not in the slightest, my love."

"Didn't think you did, dear."

I want to talk about neutrality
Sir, with Britain and France on the
Verge of war, is this the best time-
I want to warn against partisan fighting
But-
Pick up a pen start writing

"That's a first." Burr noted.

"It is."

I wanna talk about what I have learned
The hard won wisdom I have earned
As far as the people are concerned, you have to serve
You could continue to serve
No.

"I really need that explanation." Alex said.

"You'll get it soon." Aspen promised.

One last time, the people will hear from me
One last time, and if we get this right
We're gonna teach em how to say goodbye
You and I
Mr. President – they will say you're weak
No – they will see we're strong

"See?" She said, pointing to the screen.

"Kind of." The immigrant murmured.

Your position is so unique
So I'll use it to move them along
Why do you have to say goodbye?
If I say goodbye, the nation learns to move on
It outlives me when I'm gone

"Now do you understand why?" Esper asked her husband.

"Yeah, I do." The man confirmed.

"Aspen, have they met anyone from my original time?" the girl asked to which the girl nodded. "Well, you know how those three probably slated King George?"

"Yeah?" Philip nodded.

"That's because we never went back to them. With Father standing down as president, it means the country is able to grow and become stronger through each president." She explained with a soft smile.

"How many presidents has America had?" Washington asked.

"Well, we've had 45 presidents," Esper explained.

"Actually, 46. Joe Biden started his presidency in 2021." Aspen corrected.

Like the scripture says,
Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
They'll be safe in the nation we've made
I want to sit under my own vine and fig tree
A moment alone in the shade
At home, in this nation we've made
One last time
One last time

"I'm guessing the nation does well, dear?" Washington asked.

"It does, Father, it really does." Esper nodded. "In later years, it blossom wonderfully. It takes time, as it does with everything, but in that time it becomes a masterpiece." That people destroy, Esper thought to herself sadly.

Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration
I am unconscious of intentional error.
I am nevertheless too sensible of my
Defects to not think it probable that
I may have committed many errors.
I shall also carry with me the hope that
My country will view them with indulgence;
And after 45 years of my life
Dedicated to it's service with an upright zeal
The faults of incompetent abilities will
Be consigned to oblivion,
As I myself will soon be to the mansions of rest.
I anticipate with pleasing expectation
That retreat in which I promised myself to
Realize, the sweet enjoyment of partaking
In the midst of my fellow citizens
The benign influence of good laws and a free government
The ever-favourite object of my heart
And the happy reward, as I trust, of a mutual cares
Of labours, and dangers.

Esper joined in the last bit of the song, the children smiling at the sound of their mother's voice.

One last time
(George Washington's going home)
We'll teach em how to say goodbye
(George Washington's going home)
You and I
(George Washington's going home)
Going home
(George Washington's going home)
History has it's eyes on you...
We're gonna teach them how to say goodbye
Teach them how to say goodbye
To say goodbye, say goodbye
One Last Time

"Your voice is wonderful, mother." Eliza exclaimed with a smile.

"Thank you, Eliza, dear." Her mother thanked.