The John F. Kennedy, Sr. Story: Part Two: Rite Of Passage
Rite Of Passage:
The John F. Kennedy, Sr. Story
By: Mary Johnson
Author's Note
John's first two years of elementry school will be eliminated, because I feel that part of his life will not really help along the story that I'm trying to tell. I do not wish to offend anyone and if I have please e-mail me at my address: Beamer9368@aol.com/ or just post a message on my live journal. My livejournal is Petela5072, at West Winger Garage. The subtitle is WWG.
thanks for understanding
Ana Cornell
My alias is Mary Johnson. This is the name I use when I write. I feel it is much easier that way.
Chapter One: "Father And Son"
John Kennedy, ran into his parents room at the Kennedy Compound, in Hyannis Port, Massachuestts. He leaped up onto the bed with all the exburence of a six year old. "Daddy" he called, bouncing around on all fours trying without sucess to wake his father up. "Hey Dad, we gotta go" John said, pushing on his father's shoulder, to no avail. "Dad, come on Dad" he said, annoyed, nipping at Michael's ear. He tugged harder, but still the agent snored softly. "Ow, Dad!" he said, as he rolled over his mother's back and onto the floor. He ran and leaped up onto the bed, ramming his forhead into the side of his father's face, hard enough to knock him onto the floor. "Michael! your son is awake!" Diana told her husband, putting extra emphasis on the word son. Suddenly a force landing on top of him caused him to open one eye. "Mm?" Michael asked. "You promised!" John said. "All right, all right, I'm up" Michael said, motioning for John to get up so he could stretched his legs. "Yeah" John said, as he bounded out of the room to get dressed. "Good, Can I go back to sleep?" Diana asked. "Sure be my guest" Mike said, sarcastically. "It's only 4:49 am" he snapped, quickly getting dressed. "John, hurry up, the sun is almost up" he called as he caught sight of the darked haired- blue-eyed- wide-framed jaw six-year-old, bouncing in front of him. The boy stood in a polo t-shirt that had black along the edges of the sleeves, and blue cords with nike sneakers with blue streaks along the sides, and red across the upper top of both of the shoes. Mike glanced at him as he tied his shoe, then walked over to him. Mike took his hand, but Joh pulled slightly. "Dad I can walk" he said, trying to sound grown-up. His father smiled at this attempt, as he said "I know." But Michael knew that John's time of adulthood was far away, to be exact twelve years away; but if he became a father so very young as he, himself had done it would be six- seven years away. "Let's go" John said, impaitent. Mike laughed and led the way.
Father and son walked quietly along together, suddenly engaged in the twinkling sky that was now streaked with tints of gold, purple and pink. Suddenly overcome by the sight, Michael started humming. The song he was humming was a hymn that they had sang back in catholicism classes when he was boy. It was Will The Circle Be Broken? "What are you humming?" John asked as he squinted, the streaks of the rising sun, blocking his view. "A very old catholic hymn Abraham and I learned as boys" Michael replied. "What's it called?" John asked, gazing at something in the distance, trying to crane his neck for a better listening sensation of whatever it was he wasnt sure. "Will the Circle Be Broken?" his father replied, knowing that his age-group in the caticism classes had yet to learn about birth and death and how it affected ones lives, and the lives of Jesus and everyone around Him. "What's the circle?" John asked, not realizing it was about balance, about life and death and how we're all connected. "The Circle Of Life" Michael explained. "How's it go?" John asked, staring up at him, the rising sun causing ripples of golden streaks in his dark hair, and the dewy scent of the early-morning grass to ruffle as if urging him on, to sing the song of life, the song of God, to his young impresiable son, who was still discovering the world and all the things around him. "It goes like this" Michael said, and started to sing softly.
There are loved ones in the glory,
Whose dear forms you often miss;
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
In the joyous days of childhood,
Oft they told of wondrous love,
Pointed to the dying Savior
Now they dwell with Him above.
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
You remember songs of heaven
Which you sang with childish voice,
Do you love the hymns they taught you,
Or are songs of earth your choice?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
You can picture happy gatherings
Round the fireside long ago,
And you think of tearful partings,
When they left you here below:
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
One by one their seats were emptied,
One by one they went away;
Here the circle has been broken-
Will it be complete one day?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
"Michael! a agent called, walking along with his own child- a daughter named Arziki Ebere, whose full name meant soft, gentle and mercy. John's name meant God is gracious and mercful. While the two men conversed, Arziki looked at the elder boy of two years shyly. He seemed proud and strong for a six-year-old. She stuck her tongue out at him, and he stared with startled eyes. John was going to say something but then he noticed a gopher on the ground. He leaped at it and missed, knocking his forehead on a rock. "What are you doing son?" Michael asked, as he took his attention away from Agent Donald Ryan O' Mac. "Fighting technique" John replied as he tried again. " Gophers dont fight like we do" Michael chuckled as his son came over to him, rubbing his head slightly. "Here let a old pro show how its done" Michael whispered, as he eyed Arziki watching them. "Um Arziki could you turn around?" he asked, watching his son. The girl did as she was asked. "Ok, stay low to the ground, not to low though" Michael whispered. John took his stance, his hands up and his body slanted, and his feet in place. "Dont make a sound, relax your breathing" his father instructed. "Ok more step" he whispered. John leaped and tackled Arziki to the ground. "Pinned ya!" John grinned, as Arziki scowled. She was quite tough for a girl, maybe that was because she had three older brothers who were 15, 11, and 9. She shoved him, and he got up, sauntering back to his father who laughed. "That was very good" Michael chuckled, as John looked up at him, smiling. "Ok this time" Michael whispered as he heared shuffling feet. "I'm sorry Michael" Agent O' Mac said, as he and his daughter began to leave. John snickered behind Arziki. Michael watched this and glanced at his son. "You shouldnt rub it in" Michael said, as they began to walk again. "She's a girl dad, she'll get over it" Michael laughed at his son's nativity. "Um she may be tough, but girls are sensitive, i guareentee you that she wont get over it" Michael explained. John stared at the horizion, thinking about what his father had just said.
Chapter Two: "The Circle Of Life"
John glanced up at his father as his father had begun humming again. He recongized the tune as the song his father had sung only moments before "Will The Circle Be Broken?." "What it's mean anyway?" John asked. "The circle of life is about balance, and knowing that everything you see exists together in that delicate balance, an balance that we adults like to think of as a circle. A circle of balance" Michael explained. "Arent there songs about it?" John asked, watching the sun. "Yes, and the correct beginning word is isnt not arent, arent isnt a word son" Michael replied. "Will The Circle Be Broken and a few others, such as one that is called "The Circle Of Life" Michael told him, humming it very softly then began to sing.
From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
[FS:] It's The Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
John listened as his father sang. John waited for Michael to think about what he was going to do or say next. Michael paused for a moment then began to speak again. "Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance, and as human beings we need to understand that balance and respect all the people, from your elders to your family, and also the creatures of this planet" Michael said. "But Dad, dont we eat the antalope?" he asked. "No, we dont eat antalope, the lions eat antalope, but we eat deer and things like that ocasionally. Anways when we die our bodies become the soil, and the worms and other insects eat the soil, and so we are all connected in the great Circle Of Life" Michael said, smiling. "Doesnt the sun follow into this to?" John asked. "Well the rise and fall of the sun is the rise and fall of our lives. John when the sun sets on my time here it will rise with you as adult ready to carry on your circle of life. Remember the Circle Of Life is the Circle of balance, and how it keeps moving no matter happens, through birth and and death Michael explained. "For every death there's a birth, to the keep the circle moving to keep a balance" Michael added. John nodded. "We all have a place in Life's circle we just have to find it first" Michael told him. "But until then your life will have a balance, that will keep moving, that will get harder as time goes on" Mike explained. John nodded.
Abraham Beckwith, running at full speed interupting what he was going to say next to his son. "Mike I'm sorry but you have to go to the white house" he said. "What? Is it the president or one of his family?" Agent Morgan asked, looking down at his son who listened with interest. "Yes the president has been shot" Abraham said. "Adam take John home" Michael instructed John's agent Adam Lynn, who would be on John's detail for his entire life, through his death, looked at Michael and nodded. "Dad, can't I come?" John asked, hopefully. "No son, this is strictly business" Michael said then hurried off.
"I never get to go anywhere" John complained. Adam laughed as the boy's scowl and smiled. "Oh young foster, one day you'll get to be an adult and you'll get to chase those scum bags from dawn 'til dusk" Adam told John as they walked off together back to the compound.
Chapter Three: "Forbidden Place"
Two Years Later
Summer 1978
John Kennedy smiled at his friend and closest confidiate, Jessica Wakefield as they wrestled together in the tall grasses at the compound at Camp David, located in the Mountains somewhere in the heart of Massachuesstts. They were eight now, and were becoming equels in strength, and intelligience. With a cry John leaped at his friend, who just smiled and flipped him onto his back locking her legs behind his. "Pinned you!" she said, grinning in victory. "Agh! let me up" John said as he leaped and tried to pin her again but again Jessica won. "Pinned 'ya 'gin" she said, gloating at this. He got up and grinned, a idea forming in his head. Jessica smiled, knowing him very well, to realize he was getting an idea. (Eventually, knowing each other very well and being friends for so long, their longtime friendship would deepen into love, and would make their bond, begun in babyhood all that much stronger. Eventually people would use this qoute by President Kennedy's friend Chuck Spalding to describe the love and the strong bond between the couple: 'From the very beginning, he loved her and she adored him.'). "Yea, um about we go explore that place" he suggested to her. "Ok, hey Mom can I go with John?" Jessica asked, her mother who was near by. "Hey Alice, where's my father?" John asked. "Patroling with the other agents" Alice called back. "Thanks" he said, grinning at his friend who smiled back. "Let's go" He whispered to her.
Halfway there, the two children got into into another wrestling match. John leaped at her, but Jessica flipped him over causing them to roll down a hill into some slightly wet grass. "Pinned ya again" she said, grinning down into his face which held a scowl. Both looked up when they heard a noise. "This is it! we made it" John said, scampering up a hill with Jessica following. "We could get in big trouble" Jessica said. "I know" John replied, grinning. "Yeah isnt it great though?" John asked, nudging her. "Yeah, its creepy" she replied. "I wonder if its intestines are still in there" she said, her mischevious side coming out. "Let's go check it out!" John said, but before he could get any further, his agent appeared stern and angry. "We are way byond the boundary of Camp David!" Agent Lynn told them, nervous because he had never been outside of the Camp run by the United States Navy and Marines. "Well look at this tough guy here is scared" John snickered. "Its Mister Tough- Guy to you!" Agent Lynn snapped. "We are in very real danger!" Adam told his charge sternly. John just grinned. "Danger? ah! I walk on the wild side, I laugh in the face of danger, ha ha ha!" John said, straigthen to his full height and squaring his shoulders. Suddenly John scrambled and jumped behind Jessica just as two elder boys came out of hiding. "Well well well, look at who we have here, The Prince and his little friend, both are tasty dont you think Phil?" the first boy asked his counterpart. John scowled, his face revealing his rage and anger at their display. "Ph. You can't do anything to me or her!" John said, angrily, displaying the courage that would help him throughtout his life but especailly during his 13-year military career. "Techniqcally they can, we are trespassing" Adam whispered. "Ok my my, we have to go" Adam said, urging the children out. "Hey come on we'd love for you to stick around for dessert" Phil said, a strange glint in his eye. "Yeah we could have whatever is lying around" his friend added. "Hey did we order this dessert to go?" Phil asked, his friend. "No Why?" Billy asked. "Cause there it goes!" Phil said as he and Billy took off after the two children and John's agent.
"Did we lose them?" Jessica asked. "I think so" John replied, suddenly becoming very quiet at a noise beyond a hill. John ran over and caught the two lowlifes messing with Adam. "Hey! why dont you pick on someone your own size?" John asked, barring his teeth while Jessica watched, her heart thumping softly in her chest. At that very instant, one thing became certain: she loved him, very deeply, and passionatly as another can love someone. "Like you?" Phil asked, as the two children were chased again. John and Jessica eventually scampered up a hill while Jessica lost her footing half way up. "John!" she screamed as she slipped. John ran back, and raked his nails across Phil's face, who recoiled in anger. He growled, and chased the two children into a corner.
"Here kitty kitty!" Billy said, while Phil licked his lips at Jessica suggestingly. John scowled and tried to fight back when suddenly Michael appeared and fought them off, causing the two teens to scatter. Michael turned to his son, his face dark and stormy. "You deliberatly disobayed me. Let's go home!" Michael said, angrily as the two children and Adam followed him. As they followed Michael, Jessica looked at John whose head was lowered in shame and said quietly so Michael couldnt hear, "I thought you were very brave." John smiled.
"Thanks."
Chapter Four: "Lessons"
John and Jessica looked at one another while Michael stopped, and looked around, suddenly calling for Adam. "Adam!" Michael called, his voice echoing in the quiet night. "Yes Sir?" Adam asked, walking over and conversing with him for a minute. "Take Jessica back to Lauriel. I need to teach my son a lesson" Michael told Adam, putting etra emphasis into the words 'my son.'
John crouched into the grass, scared. Jessica sensing his discomfort, touched her nose to his cheek, gently, in a show of compassion and support. John looked at her suprised and slightly shocked that she would make such a move in front of his father. "Jessica. It's time to go home" Adam told the eight-year-old girl, pretending not to notice her display of affection. As Jessica followed him, she looked back at Jack, his head bent down in shame, and winced when she heard Michael's voice call out to his son. As she walked she clasped her hands and said a prayer for her friend "God bless and keep him, amen."
John walked slowly over to his father, taking time to pause in the moonlight to look up at his father's domineering height, and he came to a sudden realization: his father was adult who understood the ways of the world while he was still extremely young and still learning about his place in Life's circle. Michael thought for a moment as he gazed down at his young impressionable son, whom tonight he had almost lost to a bunch of teenage pricks. If he hadnt gotten there in time who knows what would have happened to John and Jessica. Michael watched the young boy knowing that he was to ashamed to look up at him. "John, you deliberatly disobayed me. You could have been killed!" his father (Michael at this time is twenty-eight) told him sternly. "I know" John said, struggling with his composure. "And what is worse you put Jessica in danger! and she's your best-friend! Michael angrily told his son, who lowered his head, and shook. "I- was just trying to be brave like you!" John gasped out. Michael shook his head, and tried not to smile so fondly, after all what the boy did was very wrong and not to mention dishonest. "Son, I'm only brave whem I have to be. John, being brave dosent mean you go looking for trouble. Many people mix up the terminolgy of bravery and bravedo. Being brave means that you stand up to danger while bravado means that you feel like you have to prove that your brave, so you show your bravery by acting boastful or by putting on a macho-guy attutide but your really not. And tonight that was a show you put on for your friend. You were trying to show off for her. You dont let bravery turn into bravado because when that happens you put yourself and others in danger as you did tonight" Michael explained sternly. "But your not scared of anything" John protested to Michael who chuckled softly at his son's nativity. "I was today" Michael admitted without shame, his heart and soul full of love for his son,the son whom he hoped would oneday be the President Of The United States. "You were?" John asked, in wonder. "Yes" Michael nodded as he spoke. "I thought I might lose you" Michael told him, looking the eight-year-old in the eye. "Oh I guess even adults get scared" John said. "Yes" Michael admitted to his son. "But you know what?" John whispered, cupping his hand over his father's ear. "What?" Michael asked, also lowering his voice. "I think those guys were even scarder" John said, looking at his father who chuckled. "Because nobody messes with your dad, come here you!" Michael said, grabbing his son up into his arms and giving him a noogie. "Aw, oh no, Dad, aw" John grunted as he tusseled with his father, finally getting out of the noogie, beginning to chase his father around the open space. Michael laughed, then slowed down some so his son could catch up a little bit. "Er, gotcha!" John cried in triumph as he landed on his father's backside causing Michael to land on his stomach in the deep grasses (the truth of the matter is that Michael let his son win so the boy could feel that for once he was stronger and braver then his father considering what John had tried to prove earlier that very night).
As the two of them cooled off in the gentle breeze of the slowly-disappearing day, John perched himself on his father's shoulder, lost in thought. "Dad?" John asked after a pause. "Mm?" Michael answered, wonderingly, as he glanced up at his son who lay, looking down at him from his shoulder. "We're pals right?" John asked, smiling. "Right" Michael replied, returning his grin as he looked up. "And we'll always be together, right?" John asked, nativity, excepting his father to agree with him again. Suddenly John felt the mood change and his father propped himself up onto his elbows as he gazed up at the stars. "John let me tell you something my grandfather (the grandfather on his mother's side) told me. Look at the stars. Our ancestors look down us from those stars where they are in heavan" Michael told his son, who was at that moment gazing up at the vast sky. "Really?" John asked, his voice holding awed. "Yes" Michael replied, glancing over his shoulder at his son who gazed back at him, his eyes wide with awed. "And so when ever you feel alone, these ancestors will be there to guide you, and so will I" Michael said, as he to gazed up at the sky.
Chapter 5: "Sealing The Future"
John walked along side his father as they headed back to Camp David where Jessica and the others waited. Diana waited for her husband and son to return anxiously as did Jessica beside her, but for a different reason. Suddenly the two heard voices in the near distance. The voices of a man and a young boy. "Dad will I be among the stars oneday?" John asked, wondering about his place in Life's circle. "Yes but not for a long time" his father told him, smiling fondly. He nodded as Jessica ran up to him, but her path was blocked slightly by his mother. "Well John, what do you have to say for yourself?" his mother asked, trying to be stern with him. She did love the boy it was just that he would let everyone but her get close to him. "It was accident. I didnt mean for it to happen" John told her. "I know" she replied as she looked first at him then at his father. "What happened?" Diana asked her husband as Jessica made her way over to John and looked at him. "Well we talked and I straighten him out nicely" Michael explained as they walked off together for a little private time.
"So what did you guys talk about after Adam and I left?" Jessica asked John who shrugged. "Nothing. he just said that even adults get scared and that acting brave can put you in danger" John said. "Wow, your father sounds very wise" Jessica said, in awed. "Yeah, he even explained what the stars mean" John said, as they gazed up at the sky. "What are they?" Jessica asked, intrugied. "Our ancestors looking down on us" John said. "Cool" Jessica said, glancing at him for a minute. "Ouch my neck hurts" John said, reaching up to rub his neck. "I was thinking about what Adam said today" Jessica admitted, looking at him. "Yeah which thing was that?" John asked. "About you being betrothed to Emma" Jessica said. "Yeah I know" John said, becoming glum at the mere menition of his "mate's" name. "I was thinking about you and I and what would happen if we were betrothed" she said, watching his face. "Us? the queen would never consent to a match" John told his friend, shaking his head. "Jack, your only half royal blood, and that being so, you should be free to live your own life" Jessica told him. He looked at her shocked that she would even say that. "Yeah your right" he said. "But we're friends though" he stated. "I know. We are friends because we have so much in common but I'm also sensing that the things we have in common will also bring us closer, make our bond stronger and this in itself will cause our friendship to deepen into love" Jessica admitted. The two friends stared at each other for a long time, in a way Adam had never seen them do before. John smiled at Jessica who smiled back before leaning over and kissing his each cheek softly. John blushed and returned her kiss. "We should make a promise to love no one else but each other" Jessica said to John who nodded. "Yes. I agree because we will have God's blessing. And I think your very pretty and that there's no telling how much more prettier you will be in the near future" John said, softly, then blushed. "Dont be so shy Jack. We are future mates now. We're allowed to say anything we want to one another" Jessica told him. "Well what if I call you a sissy in front of the others? Will you change our plans?" John asked, worriedly. "No. I'll know your just showing off" Jessica said, as she pounced on him, pushing him onto his back. John jumped up, and tried to pin her but without much success. Then the two began chasing one another around the wide open space, before John colaspsed on the ground. "I'm tired now" he said to Jessica who nodded, seriously. "We had a busy day. You got up early to learn about the circle of life, we got the idea to check out the forbidden place, we ditched Adam, and almost got beat up by those guys, so no wondered your tired" she told him, before giving him a punch in the shoulder before walking up the steps of Lauriel. "Hey can carry me?" John asked with a small grin. Jessica giggled, scampering up the steps; she was playing hard to get. John thought for moment then decided to go after her when his mother picked him up. "I'll carry you" Diana told him. "Thanks mom" he said, with a wide yawn. Adam watched as the family walked up the steps and entered the front door of the cottege called Lauriel.
hi listen this is the first half second hallf coming up in 2-3 minutes
author Ana Cornell a.k.a. Mary Johnson
The John F. Kennedy, Sr. Story
By: Mary Johnson
Author's Note
John's first two years of elementry school will be eliminated, because I feel that part of his life will not really help along the story that I'm trying to tell. I do not wish to offend anyone and if I have please e-mail me at my address: Beamer9368@aol.com/ or just post a message on my live journal. My livejournal is Petela5072, at West Winger Garage. The subtitle is WWG.
thanks for understanding
Ana Cornell
My alias is Mary Johnson. This is the name I use when I write. I feel it is much easier that way.
Chapter One: "Father And Son"
John Kennedy, ran into his parents room at the Kennedy Compound, in Hyannis Port, Massachuestts. He leaped up onto the bed with all the exburence of a six year old. "Daddy" he called, bouncing around on all fours trying without sucess to wake his father up. "Hey Dad, we gotta go" John said, pushing on his father's shoulder, to no avail. "Dad, come on Dad" he said, annoyed, nipping at Michael's ear. He tugged harder, but still the agent snored softly. "Ow, Dad!" he said, as he rolled over his mother's back and onto the floor. He ran and leaped up onto the bed, ramming his forhead into the side of his father's face, hard enough to knock him onto the floor. "Michael! your son is awake!" Diana told her husband, putting extra emphasis on the word son. Suddenly a force landing on top of him caused him to open one eye. "Mm?" Michael asked. "You promised!" John said. "All right, all right, I'm up" Michael said, motioning for John to get up so he could stretched his legs. "Yeah" John said, as he bounded out of the room to get dressed. "Good, Can I go back to sleep?" Diana asked. "Sure be my guest" Mike said, sarcastically. "It's only 4:49 am" he snapped, quickly getting dressed. "John, hurry up, the sun is almost up" he called as he caught sight of the darked haired- blue-eyed- wide-framed jaw six-year-old, bouncing in front of him. The boy stood in a polo t-shirt that had black along the edges of the sleeves, and blue cords with nike sneakers with blue streaks along the sides, and red across the upper top of both of the shoes. Mike glanced at him as he tied his shoe, then walked over to him. Mike took his hand, but Joh pulled slightly. "Dad I can walk" he said, trying to sound grown-up. His father smiled at this attempt, as he said "I know." But Michael knew that John's time of adulthood was far away, to be exact twelve years away; but if he became a father so very young as he, himself had done it would be six- seven years away. "Let's go" John said, impaitent. Mike laughed and led the way.
Father and son walked quietly along together, suddenly engaged in the twinkling sky that was now streaked with tints of gold, purple and pink. Suddenly overcome by the sight, Michael started humming. The song he was humming was a hymn that they had sang back in catholicism classes when he was boy. It was Will The Circle Be Broken? "What are you humming?" John asked as he squinted, the streaks of the rising sun, blocking his view. "A very old catholic hymn Abraham and I learned as boys" Michael replied. "What's it called?" John asked, gazing at something in the distance, trying to crane his neck for a better listening sensation of whatever it was he wasnt sure. "Will the Circle Be Broken?" his father replied, knowing that his age-group in the caticism classes had yet to learn about birth and death and how it affected ones lives, and the lives of Jesus and everyone around Him. "What's the circle?" John asked, not realizing it was about balance, about life and death and how we're all connected. "The Circle Of Life" Michael explained. "How's it go?" John asked, staring up at him, the rising sun causing ripples of golden streaks in his dark hair, and the dewy scent of the early-morning grass to ruffle as if urging him on, to sing the song of life, the song of God, to his young impresiable son, who was still discovering the world and all the things around him. "It goes like this" Michael said, and started to sing softly.
There are loved ones in the glory,
Whose dear forms you often miss;
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
In the joyous days of childhood,
Oft they told of wondrous love,
Pointed to the dying Savior
Now they dwell with Him above.
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
You remember songs of heaven
Which you sang with childish voice,
Do you love the hymns they taught you,
Or are songs of earth your choice?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
You can picture happy gatherings
Round the fireside long ago,
And you think of tearful partings,
When they left you here below:
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
One by one their seats were emptied,
One by one they went away;
Here the circle has been broken-
Will it be complete one day?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
"Michael! a agent called, walking along with his own child- a daughter named Arziki Ebere, whose full name meant soft, gentle and mercy. John's name meant God is gracious and mercful. While the two men conversed, Arziki looked at the elder boy of two years shyly. He seemed proud and strong for a six-year-old. She stuck her tongue out at him, and he stared with startled eyes. John was going to say something but then he noticed a gopher on the ground. He leaped at it and missed, knocking his forehead on a rock. "What are you doing son?" Michael asked, as he took his attention away from Agent Donald Ryan O' Mac. "Fighting technique" John replied as he tried again. " Gophers dont fight like we do" Michael chuckled as his son came over to him, rubbing his head slightly. "Here let a old pro show how its done" Michael whispered, as he eyed Arziki watching them. "Um Arziki could you turn around?" he asked, watching his son. The girl did as she was asked. "Ok, stay low to the ground, not to low though" Michael whispered. John took his stance, his hands up and his body slanted, and his feet in place. "Dont make a sound, relax your breathing" his father instructed. "Ok more step" he whispered. John leaped and tackled Arziki to the ground. "Pinned ya!" John grinned, as Arziki scowled. She was quite tough for a girl, maybe that was because she had three older brothers who were 15, 11, and 9. She shoved him, and he got up, sauntering back to his father who laughed. "That was very good" Michael chuckled, as John looked up at him, smiling. "Ok this time" Michael whispered as he heared shuffling feet. "I'm sorry Michael" Agent O' Mac said, as he and his daughter began to leave. John snickered behind Arziki. Michael watched this and glanced at his son. "You shouldnt rub it in" Michael said, as they began to walk again. "She's a girl dad, she'll get over it" Michael laughed at his son's nativity. "Um she may be tough, but girls are sensitive, i guareentee you that she wont get over it" Michael explained. John stared at the horizion, thinking about what his father had just said.
Chapter Two: "The Circle Of Life"
John glanced up at his father as his father had begun humming again. He recongized the tune as the song his father had sung only moments before "Will The Circle Be Broken?." "What it's mean anyway?" John asked. "The circle of life is about balance, and knowing that everything you see exists together in that delicate balance, an balance that we adults like to think of as a circle. A circle of balance" Michael explained. "Arent there songs about it?" John asked, watching the sun. "Yes, and the correct beginning word is isnt not arent, arent isnt a word son" Michael replied. "Will The Circle Be Broken and a few others, such as one that is called "The Circle Of Life" Michael told him, humming it very softly then began to sing.
From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
[FS:] It's The Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
John listened as his father sang. John waited for Michael to think about what he was going to do or say next. Michael paused for a moment then began to speak again. "Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance, and as human beings we need to understand that balance and respect all the people, from your elders to your family, and also the creatures of this planet" Michael said. "But Dad, dont we eat the antalope?" he asked. "No, we dont eat antalope, the lions eat antalope, but we eat deer and things like that ocasionally. Anways when we die our bodies become the soil, and the worms and other insects eat the soil, and so we are all connected in the great Circle Of Life" Michael said, smiling. "Doesnt the sun follow into this to?" John asked. "Well the rise and fall of the sun is the rise and fall of our lives. John when the sun sets on my time here it will rise with you as adult ready to carry on your circle of life. Remember the Circle Of Life is the Circle of balance, and how it keeps moving no matter happens, through birth and and death Michael explained. "For every death there's a birth, to the keep the circle moving to keep a balance" Michael added. John nodded. "We all have a place in Life's circle we just have to find it first" Michael told him. "But until then your life will have a balance, that will keep moving, that will get harder as time goes on" Mike explained. John nodded.
Abraham Beckwith, running at full speed interupting what he was going to say next to his son. "Mike I'm sorry but you have to go to the white house" he said. "What? Is it the president or one of his family?" Agent Morgan asked, looking down at his son who listened with interest. "Yes the president has been shot" Abraham said. "Adam take John home" Michael instructed John's agent Adam Lynn, who would be on John's detail for his entire life, through his death, looked at Michael and nodded. "Dad, can't I come?" John asked, hopefully. "No son, this is strictly business" Michael said then hurried off.
"I never get to go anywhere" John complained. Adam laughed as the boy's scowl and smiled. "Oh young foster, one day you'll get to be an adult and you'll get to chase those scum bags from dawn 'til dusk" Adam told John as they walked off together back to the compound.
Chapter Three: "Forbidden Place"
Two Years Later
Summer 1978
John Kennedy smiled at his friend and closest confidiate, Jessica Wakefield as they wrestled together in the tall grasses at the compound at Camp David, located in the Mountains somewhere in the heart of Massachuesstts. They were eight now, and were becoming equels in strength, and intelligience. With a cry John leaped at his friend, who just smiled and flipped him onto his back locking her legs behind his. "Pinned you!" she said, grinning in victory. "Agh! let me up" John said as he leaped and tried to pin her again but again Jessica won. "Pinned 'ya 'gin" she said, gloating at this. He got up and grinned, a idea forming in his head. Jessica smiled, knowing him very well, to realize he was getting an idea. (Eventually, knowing each other very well and being friends for so long, their longtime friendship would deepen into love, and would make their bond, begun in babyhood all that much stronger. Eventually people would use this qoute by President Kennedy's friend Chuck Spalding to describe the love and the strong bond between the couple: 'From the very beginning, he loved her and she adored him.'). "Yea, um about we go explore that place" he suggested to her. "Ok, hey Mom can I go with John?" Jessica asked, her mother who was near by. "Hey Alice, where's my father?" John asked. "Patroling with the other agents" Alice called back. "Thanks" he said, grinning at his friend who smiled back. "Let's go" He whispered to her.
Halfway there, the two children got into into another wrestling match. John leaped at her, but Jessica flipped him over causing them to roll down a hill into some slightly wet grass. "Pinned ya again" she said, grinning down into his face which held a scowl. Both looked up when they heard a noise. "This is it! we made it" John said, scampering up a hill with Jessica following. "We could get in big trouble" Jessica said. "I know" John replied, grinning. "Yeah isnt it great though?" John asked, nudging her. "Yeah, its creepy" she replied. "I wonder if its intestines are still in there" she said, her mischevious side coming out. "Let's go check it out!" John said, but before he could get any further, his agent appeared stern and angry. "We are way byond the boundary of Camp David!" Agent Lynn told them, nervous because he had never been outside of the Camp run by the United States Navy and Marines. "Well look at this tough guy here is scared" John snickered. "Its Mister Tough- Guy to you!" Agent Lynn snapped. "We are in very real danger!" Adam told his charge sternly. John just grinned. "Danger? ah! I walk on the wild side, I laugh in the face of danger, ha ha ha!" John said, straigthen to his full height and squaring his shoulders. Suddenly John scrambled and jumped behind Jessica just as two elder boys came out of hiding. "Well well well, look at who we have here, The Prince and his little friend, both are tasty dont you think Phil?" the first boy asked his counterpart. John scowled, his face revealing his rage and anger at their display. "Ph. You can't do anything to me or her!" John said, angrily, displaying the courage that would help him throughtout his life but especailly during his 13-year military career. "Techniqcally they can, we are trespassing" Adam whispered. "Ok my my, we have to go" Adam said, urging the children out. "Hey come on we'd love for you to stick around for dessert" Phil said, a strange glint in his eye. "Yeah we could have whatever is lying around" his friend added. "Hey did we order this dessert to go?" Phil asked, his friend. "No Why?" Billy asked. "Cause there it goes!" Phil said as he and Billy took off after the two children and John's agent.
"Did we lose them?" Jessica asked. "I think so" John replied, suddenly becoming very quiet at a noise beyond a hill. John ran over and caught the two lowlifes messing with Adam. "Hey! why dont you pick on someone your own size?" John asked, barring his teeth while Jessica watched, her heart thumping softly in her chest. At that very instant, one thing became certain: she loved him, very deeply, and passionatly as another can love someone. "Like you?" Phil asked, as the two children were chased again. John and Jessica eventually scampered up a hill while Jessica lost her footing half way up. "John!" she screamed as she slipped. John ran back, and raked his nails across Phil's face, who recoiled in anger. He growled, and chased the two children into a corner.
"Here kitty kitty!" Billy said, while Phil licked his lips at Jessica suggestingly. John scowled and tried to fight back when suddenly Michael appeared and fought them off, causing the two teens to scatter. Michael turned to his son, his face dark and stormy. "You deliberatly disobayed me. Let's go home!" Michael said, angrily as the two children and Adam followed him. As they followed Michael, Jessica looked at John whose head was lowered in shame and said quietly so Michael couldnt hear, "I thought you were very brave." John smiled.
"Thanks."
Chapter Four: "Lessons"
John and Jessica looked at one another while Michael stopped, and looked around, suddenly calling for Adam. "Adam!" Michael called, his voice echoing in the quiet night. "Yes Sir?" Adam asked, walking over and conversing with him for a minute. "Take Jessica back to Lauriel. I need to teach my son a lesson" Michael told Adam, putting etra emphasis into the words 'my son.'
John crouched into the grass, scared. Jessica sensing his discomfort, touched her nose to his cheek, gently, in a show of compassion and support. John looked at her suprised and slightly shocked that she would make such a move in front of his father. "Jessica. It's time to go home" Adam told the eight-year-old girl, pretending not to notice her display of affection. As Jessica followed him, she looked back at Jack, his head bent down in shame, and winced when she heard Michael's voice call out to his son. As she walked she clasped her hands and said a prayer for her friend "God bless and keep him, amen."
John walked slowly over to his father, taking time to pause in the moonlight to look up at his father's domineering height, and he came to a sudden realization: his father was adult who understood the ways of the world while he was still extremely young and still learning about his place in Life's circle. Michael thought for a moment as he gazed down at his young impressionable son, whom tonight he had almost lost to a bunch of teenage pricks. If he hadnt gotten there in time who knows what would have happened to John and Jessica. Michael watched the young boy knowing that he was to ashamed to look up at him. "John, you deliberatly disobayed me. You could have been killed!" his father (Michael at this time is twenty-eight) told him sternly. "I know" John said, struggling with his composure. "And what is worse you put Jessica in danger! and she's your best-friend! Michael angrily told his son, who lowered his head, and shook. "I- was just trying to be brave like you!" John gasped out. Michael shook his head, and tried not to smile so fondly, after all what the boy did was very wrong and not to mention dishonest. "Son, I'm only brave whem I have to be. John, being brave dosent mean you go looking for trouble. Many people mix up the terminolgy of bravery and bravedo. Being brave means that you stand up to danger while bravado means that you feel like you have to prove that your brave, so you show your bravery by acting boastful or by putting on a macho-guy attutide but your really not. And tonight that was a show you put on for your friend. You were trying to show off for her. You dont let bravery turn into bravado because when that happens you put yourself and others in danger as you did tonight" Michael explained sternly. "But your not scared of anything" John protested to Michael who chuckled softly at his son's nativity. "I was today" Michael admitted without shame, his heart and soul full of love for his son,the son whom he hoped would oneday be the President Of The United States. "You were?" John asked, in wonder. "Yes" Michael nodded as he spoke. "I thought I might lose you" Michael told him, looking the eight-year-old in the eye. "Oh I guess even adults get scared" John said. "Yes" Michael admitted to his son. "But you know what?" John whispered, cupping his hand over his father's ear. "What?" Michael asked, also lowering his voice. "I think those guys were even scarder" John said, looking at his father who chuckled. "Because nobody messes with your dad, come here you!" Michael said, grabbing his son up into his arms and giving him a noogie. "Aw, oh no, Dad, aw" John grunted as he tusseled with his father, finally getting out of the noogie, beginning to chase his father around the open space. Michael laughed, then slowed down some so his son could catch up a little bit. "Er, gotcha!" John cried in triumph as he landed on his father's backside causing Michael to land on his stomach in the deep grasses (the truth of the matter is that Michael let his son win so the boy could feel that for once he was stronger and braver then his father considering what John had tried to prove earlier that very night).
As the two of them cooled off in the gentle breeze of the slowly-disappearing day, John perched himself on his father's shoulder, lost in thought. "Dad?" John asked after a pause. "Mm?" Michael answered, wonderingly, as he glanced up at his son who lay, looking down at him from his shoulder. "We're pals right?" John asked, smiling. "Right" Michael replied, returning his grin as he looked up. "And we'll always be together, right?" John asked, nativity, excepting his father to agree with him again. Suddenly John felt the mood change and his father propped himself up onto his elbows as he gazed up at the stars. "John let me tell you something my grandfather (the grandfather on his mother's side) told me. Look at the stars. Our ancestors look down us from those stars where they are in heavan" Michael told his son, who was at that moment gazing up at the vast sky. "Really?" John asked, his voice holding awed. "Yes" Michael replied, glancing over his shoulder at his son who gazed back at him, his eyes wide with awed. "And so when ever you feel alone, these ancestors will be there to guide you, and so will I" Michael said, as he to gazed up at the sky.
Chapter 5: "Sealing The Future"
John walked along side his father as they headed back to Camp David where Jessica and the others waited. Diana waited for her husband and son to return anxiously as did Jessica beside her, but for a different reason. Suddenly the two heard voices in the near distance. The voices of a man and a young boy. "Dad will I be among the stars oneday?" John asked, wondering about his place in Life's circle. "Yes but not for a long time" his father told him, smiling fondly. He nodded as Jessica ran up to him, but her path was blocked slightly by his mother. "Well John, what do you have to say for yourself?" his mother asked, trying to be stern with him. She did love the boy it was just that he would let everyone but her get close to him. "It was accident. I didnt mean for it to happen" John told her. "I know" she replied as she looked first at him then at his father. "What happened?" Diana asked her husband as Jessica made her way over to John and looked at him. "Well we talked and I straighten him out nicely" Michael explained as they walked off together for a little private time.
"So what did you guys talk about after Adam and I left?" Jessica asked John who shrugged. "Nothing. he just said that even adults get scared and that acting brave can put you in danger" John said. "Wow, your father sounds very wise" Jessica said, in awed. "Yeah, he even explained what the stars mean" John said, as they gazed up at the sky. "What are they?" Jessica asked, intrugied. "Our ancestors looking down on us" John said. "Cool" Jessica said, glancing at him for a minute. "Ouch my neck hurts" John said, reaching up to rub his neck. "I was thinking about what Adam said today" Jessica admitted, looking at him. "Yeah which thing was that?" John asked. "About you being betrothed to Emma" Jessica said. "Yeah I know" John said, becoming glum at the mere menition of his "mate's" name. "I was thinking about you and I and what would happen if we were betrothed" she said, watching his face. "Us? the queen would never consent to a match" John told his friend, shaking his head. "Jack, your only half royal blood, and that being so, you should be free to live your own life" Jessica told him. He looked at her shocked that she would even say that. "Yeah your right" he said. "But we're friends though" he stated. "I know. We are friends because we have so much in common but I'm also sensing that the things we have in common will also bring us closer, make our bond stronger and this in itself will cause our friendship to deepen into love" Jessica admitted. The two friends stared at each other for a long time, in a way Adam had never seen them do before. John smiled at Jessica who smiled back before leaning over and kissing his each cheek softly. John blushed and returned her kiss. "We should make a promise to love no one else but each other" Jessica said to John who nodded. "Yes. I agree because we will have God's blessing. And I think your very pretty and that there's no telling how much more prettier you will be in the near future" John said, softly, then blushed. "Dont be so shy Jack. We are future mates now. We're allowed to say anything we want to one another" Jessica told him. "Well what if I call you a sissy in front of the others? Will you change our plans?" John asked, worriedly. "No. I'll know your just showing off" Jessica said, as she pounced on him, pushing him onto his back. John jumped up, and tried to pin her but without much success. Then the two began chasing one another around the wide open space, before John colaspsed on the ground. "I'm tired now" he said to Jessica who nodded, seriously. "We had a busy day. You got up early to learn about the circle of life, we got the idea to check out the forbidden place, we ditched Adam, and almost got beat up by those guys, so no wondered your tired" she told him, before giving him a punch in the shoulder before walking up the steps of Lauriel. "Hey can carry me?" John asked with a small grin. Jessica giggled, scampering up the steps; she was playing hard to get. John thought for moment then decided to go after her when his mother picked him up. "I'll carry you" Diana told him. "Thanks mom" he said, with a wide yawn. Adam watched as the family walked up the steps and entered the front door of the cottege called Lauriel.
hi listen this is the first half second hallf coming up in 2-3 minutes
author Ana Cornell a.k.a. Mary Johnson