A slight case of hangover did not hinder Alex to determine his new administrative skills. On the first Wednesday on the way to work with his car, the street shops' operators cleared up their celebratory debris of streamers before their regular operation on a bit different situs.
Parked his car and escaped with his introductory documents in a folder, he greeted Maynard and Norbert right away.
"Good morning, best friend," greeted Maynard first.
"Good morning, Alex," Norbert followed, "Brynn's waiting for you upstairs."
He entered the hallowed edifice with the two men flanking as Chief Frankie nods the entry. Inside were gazing stale and solid beige walls awaiting for a splendorous mural, hangings or fixtures as he ascends the flight of stairs.
The corridor on the second floor is much empty and many ambiguous doors, making the chief confused. Norbert and Maynard directed him to the center door on their right and knocked the door.
"Come in," the British lass responded while she read a magazine from a clear coffee table with two unopened small envelopes. As the three men entered in a room, a classical design of a clock ticking 8:30 a.m. as Gretchen served coffee ready to serve for five.
Taking a small serving, Alex did not hesitate to ask the three, "How was your morning? Did you sleep very well?"
"I barely got enough sleep," answered Maynard.
"Not me," replied Norbert.
After a short sip, Brynn presented two envelopes to Alex but warned him, "Do not let it open until the rest of our Cabinet members arrive."
"A Cabinet," Norbert corrected, "don't you mean a Directorate?"
"Cabinet, directorate, same function."
"What Ms. Bonney thinks," Gretchen remarked, "it's written in our first order of business at 9:00 a.m."
Glancing his watch ticking a quarter to nine, Alex was alarmed with the rest, "Great, 15 minutes left, how many directors are we convening?"
"Ten," Maynard replied. Alex quickly counted the heads present including himself.
"Where are the four? Did you contact any one of them?"
"Yes," Brynn swiftly replied, "I contacted Kelsee, Sayid."
Lidia approached first to time in her card with Bundy clock at the lobby. Dax rushed in next in a sartorial mess due to his rushing. Kelsee and Sayid came in last in the boardroom upstairs just in a nick of time before the Supreme Six leaves their informal liaison room.
Alex grabbed the envelopes from Brynn earlier to be delivered on their first official business. Chief Frankie had the honor to open the room giving Gretchen the way, then Norbert, then the co-founders.
The door finally shut and the three raps of the gavel sounded by the chief executive began the summoning of their first Directorate.
"The meeting is now officially called to order," he declaimed and authorized Gretchen to do a roll call. After the roll call that constituted a presence of the quorum, he continued, "Before I called the first order of business, I have the honor to read the envelopes from Ms. Bonney and Ms. Eldred."
Using a letter knife, he slowly opened the envelopes first was sent by Ms. Michelle Merrill, Alex's friend and Brynn's inspiration. He opened the contents with a near-rigid delivery:
"April 10, 2012, Hon. Alex Winston del Puerto, Mayor, Municipality of Laurmont, Hon. del Puerto: I am happy to hear the news that your town is now part of the family of local governments. Congratulations! For how many months before you incorporated, you paid my respect when you drafted the Charter and certain affairs that assures the freedom of your townspeople. I hope that I will visit you, probably by December. Respectfully yours, Michelle Merrill."
He proceeded on the next letter.
"April 10, 2012, Hon. Alex Winston del Puerto, Mayor, Municipality of Laurmont, Hon. del Puerto: In behalf of Bitts Valley City Council..."
His mouth slowed down as he recalled his massive minority bloc withdrawal to his previous political entity more than a year ago as he swiveled on both shoulders who are his colleagues.
"... we have recognized your independence and your legitimate powers in local governance. The Council formally moved a resolution calling an apology also to Mr. Preston and Ms. Bonney from the parliamentary dilemma committed a year ago. We hope that reconciliation and inter-local relations will strengthen in this new page of history."
He stopped emotionally for a minute and asked, "Today, I summoned this first formal convocation for the first order of business, the table will be given those who are willing to speak. First, the Deputy Mayor, Hon. Kenneth Maynard Preston is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. del Puerto," he complimented, "the Municipal Council appointed last January will be convened on May 14. Formal legislative powers based on the 2011 Charter will be implemented."
"Miss Bonney," ordered the boss as he looks on Gretchen typing on their first minutes of the meeting on her laptop.
Ms. Bonney, "I have negotiated with Ms. Dickinson. Despite of the school located in this new town, the school board retains the jurisdiction as it is, Point Napier School District. Acadmic calendar for 2012-13 will remain as it is printed."
"Mr. Leighton? Any changes in transportation and communications?"
"Only the train station stop is renamed. Normal operations as usual. Rehabilitation of pier is recommended," Norbert immediately explained like a Twitter status.
As every member presented have their proposals and status reports in a secluded synod, Alex decided to adjourn until tomorrow and decided the three to have a lunch break outside. Before Brynn, Maynard and himself went outside, Dax, Gretchen and Chief Frankie witnessed there was an uncontrollable brawl. Alex felt sorry for making a decision for a year after a massive walkout with the two but Maynard counseled him to move on and to begin working on a new chapter.
"Mr. Mayor, Brynn," Gretchen notified their attention ocularly at the second floor, "there is a brawl against the two. Chief Frankie and Dax couldn't control it."
"Who are they?" Alex intrigued.
"I don't know."
"You have to know, it's in their nameplates earlier."
"Sorry, I didn't know."
He sighed and finally rushed in seeing Sayid and Norbert arguing and pulling neckties at each other and calling names.
"WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS," he shouted as the two guys stopped.
Sayid explained, "Well, he said that I should not be welcomed because he called me a 'terrorist.'"
Alex turned to Norbert, "Did you say he was a terrorist?"
Norbert responded, "Yeah... but... no... but..."
"DID YOU EVEN DARE SAY THAT," Alex fumed, "just because he's a Muslim, doesn't make him a terrorist! Where do you think do you belong in this society? Apologize to him this instant."
"Sorry, Sayid, I didn't mean it," the English lad answered with a delivery of a slight grudge.
"Don't ever strangle me again," the Malay man accepted as he fixes his tie as he ascended to his office for his noontime prayer.
Alex shook his head for disappointment because he knew before the day of incorporation, the feud existed. He left to a street with the co-founders sans Norbert, who decides to take lunch at the other yet parallel road.
While the eldest of the trio decided the resto, Maynard looked at the beauty of the young 5-footer Englishwoman in her dirty white one-inch-high heels. This may have been the prima facie of his secret affair but his elder friend woke him up to reality as they entered the joint.
