《The Art Of Politics》Chapter 2 : Inauguration Day
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Washington D.C.
Today's the day, I said to myself as I stared at my reflection on my phone screen. Dressed in a grey suit with a matching grey colored skirt I looked out to the administrative capital's scenery as the Beast traveled down the blocked streets towards the western front of the United States Capitol, the place where I will be inaugurated in front of the American people. As custom a pin, fashioned as the American flag, the Star Spangled Banner, is pinned at the left side of the suit. Dad gripped my hand in his, smiling like a boy hoping for a Christmas present. "Your mother would be proud of you Isa." He said.
"I'm not sure about it." I murmured a reply.
"Why?"
"Nothing." I said, dismissing the conversation. "You think the American people will accept me as vice president?"
"Why won't they? Might I ask."
"The name already had given away. President Jeffery Christian Reagan, choosing his adoptive daughter to be the vice president of the United States?"
"I am not. Jesus Isabella, look at yourself. You think that you're not worthy of the position because you're a Reagan? What I see in you is your power, what you can do."
"I know you have your faith in me but I'm concerned about the people's thoughts about this administration."
"Isa, the people have faith in you. So does the members in the Senate and Congress. I didn't adopt you when you came to power as the Secretary of State, I honored your mother's wishes to take care of you, not your career." As we arrived at the Capitol building we met waves of Americans cheering. "See? I didn't lie." I hesitantly opened the door of the sedan and took the first step. Nothing happened except cheers of comfort and joy from the American people. Perhaps I was wrong? Their feelings towards me seemed genuinely nice. Dad was waving at the people and walked me up the stairs when he sees my shoulder slightly tremble.
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"Right." I said, straightening my jacket. "Let's get the inauguration procedure going. I have a job to do." Dad then smiled and took my hand. Chief Justice Brandon Jackson is already standing there, holding a bible with his hands when I stood opposite him.
"Please place your hand on the bible Miss Reagan." I placed my left hand against the Holy book and he looked at me in the eye. "Repeat after me now. I, Isabella Reagan, do solemnly swear..."
"I, Isabella Reagan, do solemnly swear..." I begun, raising my right hand.
"That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States..."
"That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States..." I repeated.
"Against all enemies, foreign or domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same..."
"Against all enemies, foreign or domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same..." I continued.
"That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion..."
"That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion..."
"And that I will well faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter."
"And that I will well faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter."
"So help me God."
"So help me God."
"Congratulations, Madam Vice President." The Chief Justice said. I smiled and removed my hand from the holy book upon the end of the inauguration. "You're the first female to be vice president."
"Yes, I am aware of it." I said. "Thank you, Chief Justice Jackson." When I turned to look back the cabinet members, senators and congress alike, clapping upon my inauguration. The female members are all beaming with pride, seeing me as their new light of hope in the circle of men in the political arena. Dad was really happy but clapped politely when I came down from the podium. Then we heard the drums and we knew one thing : It's time to sing the Star Spangled Banner, our country's national anthem. Placing my right hand against my heart we all sang the anthem with the same custom, our people did the same but some did not sing. Glancing down I can still see the sparkle of respect dancing in their eyes as they sang the anthem. As the flag is raised and the song ended we shook hands with members of the Congress and Senate. The Secret Service followed closely as I walked down alone to greet the crowd.
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"Cool." Said a young boy as I passed by.
"Hello." I said to him. "What is your name boy?"
"C...Carl." The boy stammered.
"Hello Carl, my name is Isabella." Surely I know that he knows my name but I wanted him to feel that he is talking to a normal adult, not the vice president of the United States.
"I really like you Madam Vice President, all of the kids in my school wanted to be like you someday."
"You can call me Isabella, it's okay."
"Can I?" He asked in shock.
"You can Carl." I replied, smiling at him. "Where is your school?" I asked, kneeling down to look at him at his height. "I'd love to go there."
"Wow! I... uh... my friends and I are studying at Big Apple High."
"Isn't it just around the corner?"
"It is." The boy said enthusiastically.
"Agent Barrowman, is the agenda free for this afternoon?" I turned to ask the agent standing by my side.
"Yes, Madam Vice President."
"Phone the high school and tell them I will be dropping by later." I said. "Here, have a sweet." I offered the boy a candy.
"Thank you!" The boy beamed. After bidding the boy goodbye I continued to greet the crowd and shook their hands but the agents are weary about this act of humbleness. In my family we were raised to be humble citizens despite being rich and powerful. Grandmother's philosophy is that people are the same, it's just the difference between rich and poor, skin and hair, mannerisms and education.
Big Apple High School (Two hours later)
Stepping out of the vice president's sedan I breathed in a crisp of fresh air and walked into the school, Secret Service agents flanking all sides except my front view. When I passed by a classroom I saw Carl inside with his classmates, all of them unaware of my presence. "Can I come in?" I asked, gently knocking at the door. The room fell silent as the teacher dropped the marker in surprise.
"Miss... Madam Vice President!" The teacher stammered in response.
"Hello." I said. "I promised a student of yours to come here for a visit."
"Oh yes," she said. "Carl told me after he came to school."
"It's really her..." Some students murmured.
"Are you learning Korean?" I asked, glancing at the whiteboard scribbled with my native language.
"Why yes." The teacher replied.
"I can speak in Korean." Then I replied in the language taught on the board. "After all I was born to an American father and a Korean mother." I spent the next hour staying in the class and watch them teach before leaving because of a Senate meeting that I must attend to as the vice president.
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