A few Days Later
Jude was worried and needed to speak with someone. Apart from the chief of the security and Denise, no other person knew his story. Meanwhile, he was not bold enough to give Denise a call and narrate his story. Therefore, he confided in the chief of the security.
“Good day, boss,” he greeted when he got to the office.
“You are welcome, Jude. What brings?”
Jude walked to his desk and he gestured, “Kindly take your seat.”
“Thank you, boss,” he appreciated, and sat down. Now, the chief of the security was able to read his countenance, and discovered that he was downcast. Then, he asked, “You are dispirited, Jude. What is the matter?”
“You are right, boss,” Jude admitted. Then, he narrated his worries in details, and the security officer advised, “I can see your worries. Why not talk to the boss? He would be delighted to hear you out.”
Now, Jude looked at him in defeat, and took his time before answering the question.
“I would have loved to, but I am afraid that he may feel disturbed. I would not mind if you talk to him on my behalf.”
The chief of the security smiled softly, and drew his attention, “I doubt that the boss would like it if he finds out that up to now, you still find it difficult to see him as a big brother. It is better you talk to him directly.”
Now the emboldened Jude cheered up, and accepted, “I will give him a call right away.”
“Go on. I can’t wait to see you do that,”
He looked at his phone that was in his left hand, and swiped to Denise’s number. Then, instead of dialing it, he looked at the chief of the security with a half suppressed smile. The officer giggled and encouraged, “Go on. The least he would do is to correct you if he finds your call disturbing.”
“You are right, Sir,” he stated and courageously dialed the number, and waited for the consequences. Now, the officer’s face beamed, and he looked on. Shortly, he picked, and Jude showed fear.
“Hello, Jude. What is new?” He greeted with a friendly tone. Now, Jude scratched his head, and greeted, “Good day, boss. I have something to discuss with you.”
“Wow! Do you want it over the phone, or would you like to come over to my office?”
“I would like to come over to the office, if you permit me,” he requested, and held his breath.
“It is all right. If you can make it quickly, that will be fine. I have two hours more before I close for today.”
“It is all right. I will be on my way, right now.”
He cut the call, and smiled at the concerned officer. Then, he shouted, and gestured, “Yeee. It worked.”
“I told you. You should be on your way now,” the officer advised, and stood up. Jude stood up, and walked out of the office. Incidentally, none of the driver’s is available.
“You can drive yourself, instead of keeping the boss waiting,” the Manager advised, and the officer saw reason with him. At once, Jude drove off with the operational vehicle.
At Denise’s Office
It had been two weeks after the award, and he had been discussing with the United Nation Security on what was expected of him in the maintenance of international peace and security. Meanwhile, he had his certificate conspicuously enlarged and hung on the wall in his office. In addition to the certificate, he was entitled to hang the UN flag in his office.
“Good day, boss,” Jude greeted when he got into his office.
“So early?”
“Yes, boss. I drove myself,” Jude informed.
“That is good. It makes your work easier now that you are conversant with the roads,” Denise concluded without prejudice. Now, Jude looked closely at his boss, and realized that he was not as tough as he presumed, but a simple man who hated injustice. He had never bothered to ask how Stephen’s Resort Center was bombed, but he could not exonerate him from it, especially when he realized that he was related to Stephen.
“You are right, boss.”
“I’m listening. Make it snappy. I have a Zoom meeting in the next thirty minutes.”
“All right, boss. I wish to let you know that since we returned from the United Dunforn Republic, I have been thinking.”
Now, the lines on Denise’s forehead increased, and he looked steadily at Jude. Then, Jude continued, “I saw the joy that radiated around them as a result of the reconciliation, and the role you played. Then, I thought of my country.”
At that moment, his eyes were moist, and his emotions bled into his voice, so, he paused.
“Go on,” Denise urged. He swallowed hard and continued, “I feel that you can help my country too,” he concluded abruptly and waited for Denise’s reaction. Now, Denise felt guilty. He was like a man, who had a hungry child at home, but was feeding other's children for a charity project. Likewise, he looked sternly into Jude’s eyes and pointed out, “That is very thoughtful of you, Jude. For thinking of the welfare of those who killed your parents and siblings. Give me the details of the warring groups and the much you know about the war. I will also like to have the details of your family in Zingcord Island.” Jude hastily supplied the many details that he could, and appreciated, “I am most delighted, boss.”
“It is all right. How far have you gone with your school?”
“I am through with the registration at the University of Kent,” he informed happily.
“That is good. Do not hesitate to call my attention where you need me or father.”
“I got it, boss. Thank you, Sir.”
“You are welcome. You can leave.”
“Good night, boss.”
“Good night.”
In Denise’s acceptance speech as a Peace Ambassador, he promised to promote peace as much as it lied on him. He would be most delighted to start work immediately, and defend his promise. He goggled about the war in the country, and married it with the details that Jude gave to him. Thereafter, he discovered that Zingcord country is composed of eroded gneiss formations, with granite intrusions forming massifs, and has numerous extinct volcanic cones surrounded by basaltic flows, especially around Jalin, the capital city of the country in the south and around the west, including several containing crater lakes.