Chapter 10: Joe

Joe finally pushed back through the door to the hallway and hurried out of the building. He walked down the steps toward his truck, and as he reached its door, he looked to the keys in his hand and then to the streets around him. He shoved the keys into his pocket, then turned toward the sidewalk and made his way to the end of the block.

When he reached the corner, the sights and sounds of the city washed over him. Local restaurants filled the air with their sweet aromas of fresh bread and pastries, and the salesmen outside the city market bellowed out their calls for "fresh strawberries!" The cars that drove by occasionally beeped their horns, and the flow and bustle of the city surrounded him.

Joe made it to the corner at the end of the block and stood to watch what seemed like the whole city pass by. Groups of people made their way down the streets, heading into the heart of the city. He studied the crowds, wondering about their destinations. He sat there for about ten minutes, taking in the world before glancing back to his watch. He grabbed up his things and put his camera strap around his neck. Joe disappeared into the crowd as he pointed himself toward the capitol building.

When he'd finally covered the remaining blocks to his destination, he hurried up the long row of limestone steps to the main doors. He approached the giant wooden doors at the entrance and grabbed the large brass handle. He made his way inside and negotiated the maze of long hallways, hurrying past the aids and staffers as they rushed around on what he was sure were some trivial errands for the politicians.

When he finally made it to the press room, he walked inside and found it empty. He glanced around, wondering if Mike had sent him to the wrong spot. He reached in his bag and pulled out his assignment sheets. Joe knew he was in the right location, but doubt began to build in him. He contemplated heading over to the governor's staff area to see if they had moved the meeting, but he avoided that place at all costs.

He decided to give it a few minutes. He walked up to the front of the room near the podium and found a seat. He grabbed his notebook, busying himself by reading through his notes from the assignments he had covered the week before. Joe would occasionally look up, glancing around the room and hoping someone else would come in. As he waited, he looked to the podium, wondering what news the governor had for them. Joe didn't usually have to attend the weekly meetings, as they were normally uneventful, but he was sure his editor knew there was to be some big announcement.

Joe didn't mind the meetings; the governor was usually entertaining, to say the least. Last time he had attended one of the meetings, the governor had decided to enthrall the captive audience with how he had met his wife while she was walking a cow on a country road in South Dakota. Joe wasn't sure what the governor's wife walking a cow had to do with politics, but it was rather humorous.

As the minutes ticked off the clock, he contemplated getting up and going to find one of the aids. As he glanced at his watch one more time, he heard voices coming from the hall. He looked to the doorway and, to his relief, several politicians entered. Joe saw some familiar faces from past events, and he was sure they had recognized him too, but he put his head down and turned his attention to his camera.

He fiddled with a few of the dials on top and looked at the lens. He checked the picture counter in the little window; the number showed nine. Joe made a note in his logbook that picture nine would be the first of his governor photos.

More people filled the room, taking seats around him. After several more minutes passed, he heard a commotion coming from the hall. He turned and looked to the door, and this time he saw a well-dressed young man enter the room. Joe watched as he stopped in the doorway and adjusted his cufflinks as if pausing to announce his own arrival. Joe had heard mention of a new advisor joining the governor's staff, and he could only assume this was him.

A strange energy entered the room with him as everyone that followed appeared to want to meet him. Joe watched as he confidently greeted everyone. The room seemed to work itself into a mild political frenzy, but it immediately calmed as Governor Johnson entered the doorway. Joe watched intently as the guests took their seats and the governor made his way to the front of the room. When he took to the stage, the room seemed to fill up with what Joe was sure were concerned citizens. He pulled his camera bag from the seat next to him and made room for others to sit.

As the governor took up his spot near the podium, the room fell silent. Joe could hear the occasional shutters closing on the cameras of the other photographers. He knelt on the floor in front of the chair and brought the camera to his eye, focusing in on the governor.

Click.

The shutter on his camera closed as he captured his first shot.