The Announcement Read online

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  She walked forward to stand among the people, and the one camera lady who was present. Everyone was under the canopy raised in the middle of the City Park. More rain was expected, the clouds were gathered. The crowd was sparse. There was an increasing patter of rain, thunder and flashes of lightening on this mid-afternoon day in Dever, Texas. The rain increased, growing stronger while Katryn waited. Flecks of ice joined in. The wind picked up, and outside, the swirls of rain were blowing hither and yon.

  As she waited, a few more people dashed in. There were twenty people now. And more headed for the light sanctuary provided. Katryn felt the wind increasing. The clouds were growing darker and more threatening. She worried that there could be a tornado. More people came under the tent, most looking bedraggled and well soaked. She counted again, coming up with fifty people. More than I expected. I hope they will listen. Katryn took a moment to gather her courage. I didn't expect to be scared.

  Katryn went to the lectern and spoke.

  "Good evening to all of you and thank you for coming out in this unexpected early storm and staying here. Most of you present know me. For those of you who do not know me. I am Katryn Backtari Johnson I've raised a family, supported, and encouraged a husband, run a household and won National honors as a teacher. I am Black, Asian, White, and American Indian and divorced. I don't think you can get more American than that! I am announcing my candidacy..."

  The storm struck. It was so quick, so violent, no one moved. Four bolts of lightening struck on each side of where Katryn stood. The multiple blasts of white light stunned everyone in the place. The closest to Katryn were knocked down by the blast. Time stood still. Moments later while people were dimly comprehending what had just happened, Katryn rose from behind the smoking lectern, her face and arms covered with branching, tree-like patterns created by the lightening. Her clothes were smoking. She looked like a ghost. The tent cover was gone. The rain had stopped. The sky was blue.

  The audience looked up at her in disbelief.

  "for the Presidency of the United States." She paused to let that sink in. Then she continued, not aware of what she said or that anything unusual had happened. Her well modulated voice showed no effects from the lightening. She spoke clearly and precisely.

  "President Ronald Reagan said 'The one thing our Founding Fathers could not foresee -- they were farmers, professional men, businessmen giving of their time and effort to an idea that became a country -- was a nation governed by professional politicians who had an interest in getting re-elected. They probably envisioned a fellow serving a couple of hitches and then eagerly looking forward to getting back to the farm.' It was true then, it is true today. Is it necessary that politics exist that way? I don't believe it is. It is up to you, the people, to take back your government.' It is up to us."

  The audience looked up at Katryn in awe as her statement sunk in. The camera rolled, panning the audience, catching the many expressions. The camera did miss Katryn Backtari Johnson when she fainted, falling forward, off of the slightly raised podium set up for the event. A doctor in the audience rushed to her side recognizing the red Lichtenberg figures from the passage of high voltage electrical discharges along the skin. Kathryn had been struck by lightning. The camera swung back in time to catch that moment with the doctor at her side and closed with a shot of the clear blue sky full of sunshine. The video went viral after it was posted.