First Father

First Father is a micro-short story (796 words) that demonstrates the amazing writing skills of former Oprah guest, and past Pulitzer nominee, Gene Cartwright.

Once again, the specter of the ongoing war against the purveyors of global terrorism was front and center. With the eyes of the world riveted on the handsome young president at the White House East Room podium, his firebrand Chief of Staff waited for her boss to conclude his stunning announcement. He was dead. Osama Bin Laden’s successor, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri was dead.

President John Kenneth Gregg, 41, former California Governor, married four years earlier in an elegant, first-ever, White House Inaugural Night ceremony, had just addressed the nation, hours before poll openings in his re-election bid.

Already with sterling national security credentials, Gregg’s stunning revelation was the coup de grâce dooming his opponent. What followed President Gregg's walk back down the red-carpeted corridor was a frantic message from his Chief of Staff about the pregnant First Lady—a message that would make all else fade into insignificance.