A PUPPET ON A STRING

CHAPTER 5

Just as Frank was finishing his bourbon and about to order his second, Thomas,now dressed as a Waiter arrives at the Senator's banquet. Presenting himself to security guards who directed him to the kitchen to await further instructions.Standing among other waiters. All dressed alike. Pots and pans clattered as steam erupted from beneath rattling lids. Odors of seasoned proportions  ' nostrils. And for a moment he had forgotten the mission. And his name.

"Max Pecks?!" A loud voice calls out his name.

"Yes Sir! Here!" Thomas responds, soon remembering his name."Over here!" The voice barks the order.A Head Waiter, short and stout stood before him. His monkey suit straining at the buttons.

"You'll be serving tables ten to fifteen. Do you understand?"

"Yes Sir." Thomas responds sharply and confidently.

"I like your attitude son... You'll do well here if you do as you're told."

"Thank you Sir!" Barks back Thomas.

"Get your butt out to the tables and start serving drinks... You've been assigned Senator Luxon's table... Don't fuck it up! Understood?"

The Head Waiter glared at Thomas."No Sir... Yes Sir!" Unsure of which.

"Get out of my sight!" The Head Waiter barks.

Thomas hurries through the folding doors and onto the banquet floor. A disparity to the chaos and clatter of the kitchen. Taken back by the orderly setting and inaudible voices engaged in conversation. Thomas goes in search of his assigned tables.

Ten to fifteen he says to himself. A trolley of bottles is suddenly thrust in front of him and he is instructed to seek out parched dignitaries in need of rehydration. Silence fell over the room of muffled voices as elaborate speeches of fine words would be caked upon those present. Soon to be followed by fine cuisine. Luxon was attending the dinner alone.

His wife choosing not to make a public appearance, in light of the growing scandal. The Senator on the other hand had no choice.Giving a stirring speech on a proposed Privacy Bill. Empowering the Government with greater surveillance abilities. Weeding out terrorists and the undesirables that threatened the Nation's security. More so the undesirables.Terrorists on the other hand were good for business and an essential cog in the nation's war economy.

A terrorist would never bring down a Government. But an undesirable could. Any indictment of his illicit affair with a woman old enough to be his daughter were expunged by the rousing ovation.Up until then Thomas had only ever seen the Senator in the papers. Now Thomas was able to observe him in the flesh, he was more three dimensional.Loud, overweight, and abhorrent. Spouting political rhetoric to please those that feathered his nest. A worst, he was a narcissist. At best, a buffoon. Having charmed and bullied his way up the political ranks to the upmost level of incompetency.

Short of being President. And that position was already taken.Thomas could find no likeable quality to the man. Setting aside his personal appraisal, Thomas went about clearing tables of dishes. Then headed back to the kitchen with a full trolley load of plates and cutlery."Well done Max." The Head Waiter commends Thomas. 

"Take a break before your next shift."

"Thank you Sir." Heading to the alley way outside, he lit a cigarette.He had been meaning to quit, but working for Smith had it was almost impossible. Security staff stood about in dark suits, white shirts and dark glasses looking bored. Ear pieces giving their identities away. Periodically talking into their sleeves. Ensuring no one got in that should not. But it was all a little too late. Smith had created a crack for Thomas to creep through. Taking in the last draw of his cigarette Thomas stubs the butt out on the frozen ground and walks back inside.