Chereads / Those capable of Leading / Chapter 8 - Chapter 10

Chapter 8 - Chapter 10

As Edward walked through the town center he saw that a wooden platform was set up.

A large crowd was there watching a man standing on the platform. "We cannot simply stand by while the mayor robs our children of their happiness. He has forced so many into poverty, how many of you live ration to ration forced to go hungry just to feed your children."

As the man continued to give his rousing speech edward heard voices from within the crowd talking.

"Did you hear, little Emily passed away last night."

"I was told they didn't have the money to buy any medicine."

"Something needs to change"

"something needs to be done."

"Someone should do something"

The words rang inside Edwards's head like a bell.

Everyone's anger welled up inside him reminding him of the pain he had endured in his early life. He also wanted something to be done, and he wanted to do something himself.

Edward walked up to the platform and saw that the man on the platform was the old man from the night before. The man noticed Edward and extended a hand to pull him up.

" I believe we need to do something; we the people have the power to change our town for the better."

A voice came from the crowd. "But what can we do?!"

Edward spoke confidently backed by the anger of his past. "The person you call leader won't change anything, He needs to be thrown out of this town!"

The crowd were a little shocked but didn't show any sign of hating or liking the idea. "The so-called mayor just stays in his office all day eating and drinking in luxury while you work day-in and day-out trying to buy food for your children.

Then he taxes what you do make so much that we all go hungry! Who here is tired of starving yourself so your children can eat?"

A few voices from within the crowd began speaking in agreement. "Why should he get to stay in a nice house and collect other people's money while many are starving and dying in the streets. We should be supporting each other not working until death to fill someone else's quota."

Edward paused to gauge the crowd's reaction, he could that while they were obviously angry. Now, they agreed with him. He had directed their anger towards the right person. He was doing the right thing. Finally.

The crowd now in agreement look to Edward looking for what to do next, before edward can answer, the town guards appear.

"No public protests get back to work!" the crowd began yelling back at the guards in anger.

"Piss off! Why don't you run back to the mayor!" Then for just a moment there was a silence, it was deafening, Edward thought. A rock was thrown. Both groups broke into chaos as a fight ensued. In the midst of this new panic Edward stood above it all, on the platform he could see that the people were angry he wanted to guide that anger. A choice came into his mind, on one hand he could slip out from the fray and run from the consequences or, he could step into that chaos, he could choose to direct it in his image.