Band
a story by Alex Siquig
Ê The results were almost in. William Howard Taft, incumbent President and wonderful man, knew the election was as good as lost. Either Bull-Moose candidate (and former friend) Theodore Roosevelt would crush him, or that no good Democrat Woodrow Wilson was destined to defeat him. Taft wallowed in despair at his personal headquarters, surrounded by a staff that was comprised of two sorts of folk- flatterers and fools. He had yes-men who dared not to tell him the truth and others who wouldn't know the truth if it bit them on their rumps!
Well...Taft thought wistfully to himself, there are two men whom I might confide such a trust in. He made the proper appointments and invited his two most trusted advisors to the last dinner of his Presidency.
Marmaduke Balistreri and Nicodemus Siquig entered, uncomfortable of being in the same room. While both great friends to William Howard Taft, they hated one another with a passion that would burn even the most lovelorn fool.
"Listen and listen good," Taft intoned, "It ain't no secret you two are less than fond for each other. I couldn't give a rat's ass about that when I hired both of you onto the staff. I saw talent, ambition, energy. My whole staff has talent, ambition, and energy. Talent, ambition and energy don't mean nothing. Loyalty is something else altogether. Now...We lost the election surely..."
"No Mr. President," Marmaduke and Nicodemus said in unison looking at one another in disgust.
Their benefactor laughed heartily, a good fat man laugh. "Yes. We've lost. And I will not run for President again. I foresee that within ten years I will be dead. But...It must not end with me. You must continue it. You must...lead the brigade I never could."
"Taft's Brigade sir?"
"Yes."
"Of course Taft died and they never acted on his orders, instead applying for positions on Woodrow Wilson's cabinet.
"Nearly a century later however the great great grandsons of those two men formed a melodic hardcore band that showcased history and decided it was their own special way to pay homage to the best president this great republic has ever seen.
