We watch as the storm clouds gather. You can feel it in the air. Change is happening and not for good. It is in the eyes of the children. Fear is blowing in on the wind. It is difficult to see the big picture when the little things take our attention. Politics has always been a blood sport, we tell ourselves. Politicians lie we say as we watch the latest movie. We want to feel safe. We need security. We hope for peace…for us and those we know. Does this mean a lack of security and peace for those we have not met? Is the price of our happiness the unhappiness of the Others?

‘The Opera Houses are full, and the performances are better than they have ever been,’ Claus said. ‘My wife’s dress shop has never had so many customers, Claus continued. ‘Since we removed the Undesirables from our business community, we are flourishing,’ Claus laughed as he held his rotund belly. ‘We just finished moving all our furniture into a beautiful flat with ornate woodwork and a fine art fireplace in each room,’ Claus boasted. ‘The family that resided there before us was very rich and had many works of art on the walls which we are enjoying,’ Claus continued. ‘My daughter Nina wept when she saw her little friend Abigail cry as she was being ushered away to the Camp,’ Claus said. ‘Gretchen told her to weep no more as God in his providence had given us their flat and all that goes with it,’ Claus chuckled.

‘Iran has installed the son of the Supreme Leader as their new leader,’ Chet noted. ‘The king is dead…long live the king,’ Chet noted wryly.

‘A rationale is created to support every hypothesis,’ Neva J said. ‘It is easy to blame someone other than ourselves for our mistakes,’ Neva J continued. ‘We show no mercy, and a generation later mercy is not shown us,’ Neva J whispered. ‘We ask for understanding from those whom we have marginalized and hurt in the hope that they have short memories,’ Neva J noted. ‘Many must die to avenge the death of others, despots tell us as they bomb cavalierly and brag that they will take care of military conflicts over their lunch,’ Neva J wept. Raw power is exalted while quiet diplomacy is an orphan, Neva J noted.

The Old Man saw the dark clouds gather in the Woods. Dark clouds were also gathering in the minds of both leaders and their followers. Night was falling in midday. The birds ceased singing. The leaves stood still. Squirrels returned to their dens and the deer to their place of rest. The music was in a minor key.

Leaders watched in silence as the clouds gathered. They feared mental instability. They feared violence. They feared for their own safety more than the safety of those whom they represented.