Keepin' the Danger Sled on the Down Low

“Sure is bouncy,” Hudson gulped. “I’m ‘bout to lose my lunch.”

“There’s a hole in the fuselage, gotta keep low,” I replied. “Don’t worry, the autopilot can handle the fly nap of the earth.”

“You sure?”

“Sure I’m sure,” I replied. “It’s better than I am. I tell you though, this takes me back to my old Airborne days, bouncing around in a C-130, heading to the drop zone at only a few thousand feet. Funny thing is, some of those guys just slept right through all the bouncing. They didn’t care about the turbulence, they just dozed right until it was time to stand up, hook up, and shuffle to the door.”

I know what you’re talking about, man,” Hudson nodded. “Hicks used to sleep through all our combat drops in the UD4L’s. I could never do it. It always felt like the express elevator to Hell. Ha ha, goin’ down!”

“Same here,” I agreed. “I just couldn’t sleep with all that bouncin’… around…”

I suddenly saw Hudson tear away and float off into the sky behind me. Pieces of the fuselage peeled away as well. Soon, I was flying through the air all by myself with nothing around me. Normally, this would seem pretty disconcerting, but I didn’t feel uneasy at all.

“Don’t worry,” came a voice as someone swooped in from behind and grabbed me. “I’ve got you.”

“You’ve got me?” I asked. “Who’s got you?”

Funny.” He replied. “Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Grover Cleveland, former president of the United States.”

“Nice to meet you,” I replied. “I figured that this was another dream. Do we need to fight now so I can gain your powers?”

“Naw,” he chuckled. “I can just give it to you. You’re worthy.”

“Cool,” I answered. “So what do I get from you?”

“Oh I don’t know. Let’s see, I was the 22nd and 24th president; the only one to serve nonconsecutive terms, you know. You get my stick-to-itiveness.”

“Your stick-to-itiveness?” I asked. “What the heck is that?”

“You know, if at first you don’t succeed, try try again and all that. You know that to be a good president, you’re going to have to stick to your guns no matter what. If you start changing your horses every time you’re in midstream and people don’t like it where you are, they’ll all think you’re wishy-washy.”

“Oh don’t want that,” I agreed.

“Of course not.”

“OK, so I have your stick-to-itiveness, is this the final piece of the puzzle, are you the last president who will visit me?”

“I can tell you this, I am the last president,” he answered. “You are not yet finished with your journey, though. Any other questions?”

“Yes, why are we dressed like this?”

“I don’t know, dude,” he answered. “It’s your dream.”