A Rude Awakening

Chapter 10 (Part 2)

Note: This will be the final update for a little while as my university session begins. Stay tuned.

White House, Washington D.C

The American President stepped into the White House State Dining Room. Stopping beside him, Bob took a quick glance around. The room also appeared modest in its furnishing and its wall designs, reminding him of seeing the Alexander Palace interior for the first time. The chair cushions were the same imperial yellow. The elongated table reminded him of the White Hall in the Livadia Palace. The plain white walls were engraved with ornamental designs, and below a painting of Abraham Lincoln, a fireplace rested cold with its fire extinguished.

On earth, there were fires sparking again. Something had begun- a rude awakening had come to humanity. The feminine figures that had died young and innocent in the cold depths of history had awakened too for a purpose. It was a shame, really it was... The President did not understand the full weight of the situation.

But Bob knew that it was infeasible to convince people about such things. People were just stubborn by default. Belief or unbelief? Only experience could change such things. For the time being, he would settle for advising the U.N Council about lessons learned from the brutal past.

President Biden patted Bob on the back.

"I'm glad you could join us, Mister Atchinson. I know that you are a well versed advisor for Romanov and Russian history. Thus, I invited you earlier to be a moderator for any discussion in this meeting, concerning Russia's business."

"Of course, President."

Biden sat next to Bob Atchinson. The two aged men picked up the freshly prepared glasses of apple cider, clinking them in a toast.

"To a good meeting."

"Indeed, President. I imagine that the Ukrainian and Russian leaders will not be as satisfied, but humanity as a whole needs to live."

"From what I have read on Twitter, the Ukrainian President and his constituents are very displeased with me for backing down the missiles. If only he could understand... That I do not support or like Putin at all, but I would rather not escalate things to a fiery, nuclear death of countless human lives."

"Yes! I would have done the same, and I completely understand. Murder of a family with their friends in a dirty basement is one thing, but to doom the entire human race is immensely worse. Human hatred over political divisions is something that we must overcome."

"Well said, Mister Atchinson."

Bob Atchinson glanced at the analog clock. At that moment, he felt anxious about the upcoming meeting. He knew that what Biden and he himself had said rang true, but the meeting would not go so smoothly... The topics to cover would be very heated especially after a war between the visiting parties.

He would not look forward to the pointless bickering about the contested Crimea again. That was certain! They continued to converse like friends for the remaining minutes.

"... I may appreciate the culture and history of Russia, but I do not have to agree with its politics. It is a shame that such a beautiful, cultured country has gone rogue."

"Agreed... I think that under the firestorm of different politics for America and Russia, the average person wants things to settle down. We should not have to inch close to complete self-destruction for humanity to realize this."

A moment of silence passed. The noises of footsteps and voices came closer, and the President motioned for two Secret Service agents to open the doors. They did so. Biden and Bob mustered a formal smile. A slight curve of the lips, eye contact, and hands in their laps.