Porkington Calls

"Um, hello?"

"Dammit!" came the strange reply.

"Uh, excuse me?"

The person at the other end seemed to regain their composure. "Sorry. I'm Porkington, the president's National Security Advisor."

You note he didn't say he was your National Security Advisor.

"How did you know I wasn't the real president?"

He seemed to adopt a lecturing tone. "I've been receiving reports from around the world about heads of state being replaced by doubles with no knowledge of politics. Some strange phenomenon that's been called 'the black void' is thought to be the cause of this, though who or what is behind it is unknown." He finally got to the point. "One of the secret service agents assigned to protect you called me not long after you asked them to order you a pizza. The real president doesn't like Italian. Also, your slight hesitation just now when I called you kind of gave you away."

"So what happens now? Do the press know what's going on?"

"I've contacted the Vice President, and he's cut short his visit to Delaware. He should be on his way, now. As for your other question, the press doesn't know - yet. The affected countries seem to be doing a good job of keeping it under wraps at the moment." His tone changed, and you didn't really like the sound of it. "It will come out eventually, though. When it does, the American public will turn to you and want to know if it's happened here. You'll going to have to try and pass yourself off as the real president. Hopefully the Vice President will arrive before then and be able to help you out."

He hangs up then, and you hold on to the receiver for a few minutes before putting it down. You've gone from the simple task of doing your weekly shop to this. You turn your eyes heavenwards and silently ask what had you done to deserve this, but you get no answer. Not that you were really expecting one.

1. Then you realise, what are you worried about? You are a professionally trained actress, after all.
2. Porkington phones with some bad news. 'The black void' has struck Air Force Two. The VP will now be no help.

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