by Mark Goodwin
Cassie placed the plate of pancakes on the table. “And you’ll probably be too tired to run tonight after standing up all day.”
“We’ll wrap up the protest at 5:30. The courthouse will clear out by then. I’ll come straight home and go for a run.” Noah brought the syrup to the table as he sat down. He prayed to bless the food, and they began eating.
Cassie said, “I was going to pack us a lunch to take, but Becky texted me and said she’d make sandwiches and drop them off around noon.”
“That’s nice of her. Is she coming to the protest?”
“For a little while, but she has Lynette, so she can’t stay long. What time do you want to be at the courthouse?”
Noah poured a little extra syrup on his pancakes. “No later than 8:30. That’s when everyone starts showing up for work.”
The Parkers finished breakfast and got dressed for the day ahead. Noah finished getting ready first and flipped on the financial news while he waited for Cassie.
The reporter was giving an update of the recent turmoil in the global markets.
“One week after the computer glitch that paralyzed the BRICS nation’s ability to use their independent system for international trade, the problem still has not been solved. Asian stocks took a steep decline this morning at the market open.
“India’s financial regulatory agency, SEBI, has closed all markets in the country. The DICGC, the depository insurance arm of India’s central bank, issued strict limitations on withdrawals this morning. The announcement has triggered a massive run on the banks in India. Fearing a similar response, South Africa has declared a banking holiday for the next three days. This will only intensify the rioting in the major South African cities.
“Brazil’s Ministry of Finance has pledged a fresh infusion of reals in order to keep the Brazilian economy operational, even if it is seriously wounded. Rioting in Sao Paulo turned the city into a total war zone this weekend. Police are completely outnumbered by rioters and gangs. Merchants and suppliers are no longer able to conduct business within the city. If stores are not able to reopen soon, the death toll in Sao Paulo is expected to rise dramatically in coming weeks due to starvation. International aid agencies are setting up relief camps outside of Sao Paulo. Those who are able to flee the city are taking part in a mass exodus, but many of the city’s twelve million inhabitants are too poor and have no resources even to get to the relief camps.
“Gold and silver have dropped precipitously since the metals market opened last night. Silver is now at sixty-five dollars per ounce, representing nearly a forty-five percent drop since last week’s high. Gold seems to have found a temporary support level at $2100. The yellow metal now sits just above support at $2108. It has fallen thirty-four percent since last week.”
Cassie walked into the room. “Wow! That is a huge drop in one week. We should think about buying some silver.”
Noah looked at her. “It’s in freefall. Who knows how low it could go.”
Cassie finished putting her earrings on. “That’s not normal market activity. Someone is pushing the price lower for a reason. Probably so they can load up on it at a cheap price. The world markets are in turmoil. Gold and silver always skyrocket when there’s this much fear in the markets. The precious metals are going to turn around, I promise.”
Noah remembered that he’d vowed to start trusting her instincts, but it was still an internal fight for him. “We can talk about it.”
Cassie smiled. “I’ll take that. What else did the news say?”
“Things are really breaking down in South Africa and Brazil. Riots, bank runs, market crashes, I hope it never gets that bad here.”
Cassie grabbed her jacket. “Oh, I think it will get a lot worse. The global economy is interconnected. This is probably the first domino. Remember 2008?”
Noah turned off the television and grabbed his coat. “Yeah, what about it?”
“The meltdown started in subprime mortgage debt.”
“I remember, but that’s what caused the meltdown in the first place.”
Cassie followed Noah out the door. “True, but those types of market events always start in the most volatile fringe markets and work their way into the mainstream.”
Noah stuck his key in the door to lock the dead bolt. “So you think what’s happening to the stock markets in South Africa, Brazil, and India will spread to America?”
“I do.”
Noah stopped. “Maybe we should sell the rest of our stocks.”
“Okay.”
Noah turned to go back in the house. “Are you coming?”
“You want to sell right now?”
“Don’t you think we should?”
Cassie followed Noah back to the front door. “I don’t know that the contagion is going to spread that fast. In fact, the Plunge Protection Team could very well push US markets higher before a crash comes.”
“That sounds like another one of your conspiracy organizations.” Noah walked in and walked upstairs.
Cassie started laughing as she trailed behind him. “The Plunge Protection Team is the official nickname for the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets. That’s mainstream news.”
“And they get away with manipulating markets in broad daylight?” Noah logged into their Roth IRA trading account.
“It’s the government; they get away with anything they want. Who’s going to stop them? The American people? They’re all asleep at the wheel. Most have no idea what’s going on. What do you think the Fed does when they set interest rates? That’s blatant manipulation of markets.”
Noah started entering sell orders for all of their holdings. “Yeah, I guess that is manipulation of the interest rate market.”
“And everything is tied to interest rates: housing, stocks, commodities, gold, silver, the auto industry. What market can you think of that isn’t affected by interest rates?”
Noah strained to think of something. “I don’t know.”
“Neither do I. Are you going to let all of the proceeds sit around in cash? That’s almost as risky as having it in the market.”
“We should buy some gold and silver?” Noah turned around to look at her.
“I think we should, but you’re the leader of the family.”
Noah paused for a second to wonder if he’d earned that title. “Yes, but you’re the one who’s taken the time to get educated on all of this, so as leader of the family, I delegate this area of decision-making to you.”
Cassie beamed at the compliment. She kissed him on the head. “Hop up; let me get on the computer for a minute.”
Noah gave her the chair, and Cassie went to an online gold and silver dealer that she’d obviously researched ahead of time.
Cassie quickly placed an order. “We just put $5,000 in silver and $5,000 in gold. We’ll watch the market and buy a little more later.”
“That’s it?”
“I have to write a check for the order and drop it in the mailbox on the way to the courthouse.” Cassie took out the checkbook and quickly filled in the amount and appropriate information.
Noah grabbed an envelope, placed a return address sticker and a stamp on it, and then handed it to Cassie. “Why did you split it down the middle?”
Cassie addressed the envelope. “Gold is more stable, but the silver is in smaller denominations, in case we have to use it as a currency someday. I’ll tell you all about it on the way to the courthouse. We gotta hustle; we’re running late.”
Seconds later, Noah and Cassie were on the road. Noah pulled over near the mailbox and Cassie jumped out to drop off the check.
They arrived at the courthouse at 8:25 AM. Isaiah was there with Benny Loomis and around twenty other people from church.
Noah looked on in amazement that so many people were already there. Some had homemade picket signs with various patriotic messages. One man held the Gadsden flag, which was the familiar yellow flag with a coiled serpent and the words, don’t tread on me, written acro
ss the bottom. “Thank you all for coming out. I really appreciate it.”
Isaiah said, “You two almost missed out on the donuts. Benny brought Krispy Kremes.”
Noah looked behind him.
Benny handed him a full box of donuts. “I put this to the side for you. I know Cassie likes chocolate glazed.”
Cassie was greeting some of the other protestors when Benny said the word chocolate. She made an abrupt about face. “Oh, I shouldn’t.” She opened the box and took two of the chocolate glazed donuts.
Elliot Rodgers and Kevin Starkey were next to arrive.
“Glad you could make it. Donut?” Noah handed the box to Elliot.
“I hate being stereotyped like that.” Elliot took a donut and handed the box to Starkey, who also took one.
Kevin Starkey handed the box back to Noah. “Four guys from the department are coming by in uniform.”
“To protest?” Noah asked.
“Yes.”
“Won’t they get in trouble?”
Rodgers said, “They’ll be fired. I already got them jobs at the lodge.”
Noah shook his head. “I hope I’m doing the right thing. I don’t want everyone to ruin their lives because of me.”
Starkey said, “It’s not because of you. It’s for freedom and liberty. But you have to be fully convinced that you’re doing the right thing. You can’t second-guess yourself. This might get very difficult, and if you waiver, everyone is going to see it, the patriots and the tyrants. If you give up, the tyrants will get bolder, and the patriots will lose heart. No sacrifice is too big as long as we see this thing through to the end.”
Noah understood what Kevin was saying. “Yeah, thanks.”
The crowd continued to grow and consisted of over forty people by nine o’clock. Leo Cobb showed up around 9:15. “Noah, good turnout. Is this about what you expected?”
Noah shook his head. “I expected four or five people. I was just hoping we could keep enough people around to collect signatures.”
Cobb looked around. “I’m expecting Channel 8 to be here any minute. They’re coming down to do an interview with us and run it at lunch. That should bring out some more people. I’ll make sure I plug your website and ask folks to come down to sign the petition.”
Isaiah walked over to shake hands with his friend, Leo. “Is he taking good care of you, Noah?”
“Leo is great. I really appreciate you introducing us, Isaiah.”
Cassie tugged Noah’s arm. “You gotta see this.”
Noah turned around to see a chimpanzee with a derby hat, three-piece suit, black-and-white leather shoes, and a cane. “No way!”
The lady escorting the chimp walked over and asked for Noah. She was quickly pointed in Noah’s direction. “Mr. Parker?”
Noah looked at the monkey, then back up at the lady. “Yes, hi.”
“I’m Margaret, and this is Joe. He plays Joe Mendi over in Dayton at our Scopes Monkey Trial Festival every year. I’m sure you’re familiar with the trial and the festival.”
“I’m learning about it as I go.” Noah wasn’t as well versed in the historic trial as folks assumed he was.
“Well I heard about your ordeal and started following your website. I wanted to bring Joe out and show our support. I hope that’s okay.”
Noah tried to process the effect that a monkey dressed in a suit would have on the protest. “Sure. Yes, thank you.”
Leo seemed to have run the same analysis. “Thank you very much for coming out, we’re so glad to have you. I know all about the Scopes trial. I went to the festival several years back. I’m Mr. Parker’s attorney, Leo Cobb.”
“Pleased to meet you, I’m Margaret Simmons.”
Cassie pulled Noah to the side. “This is pure gold.”
Noah whispered. “It’s not too gimmicky?”
“You’re trying to get attention, there is no such thing as too gimmicky,” she said.
Four sheriff’s deputies showed up at ten to support Noah, right around the time that Jim and Sandy Taylor arrived. Introductions were made, then Leo pulled Noah and Cassie away to do the interview with Channel 8. The interview was short, but Leo made sure the message was clear and that Joe, the monkey, was visible in the background.
By noon, the crowd had grown to over sixty people, and it was difficult to navigate the sidewalk in front of the courthouse. Leo told Noah the good news. “I spoke with Margaret, and Joe is going to hold a sign that says ParkerMonkeyTrial.com. I called the print shop, and they’re rushing the sign. It should be ready by 1:00. Every kid that walks by or sees the monkey on television is going to tell their parents to look at the monkey.”
Noah laughed. “Good idea. Thanks. People don’t see a monkey dressed in a suit every day in Sevierville. He’s a good attention-getter.”
Leo patted Noah on the back. “You’ve really pulled off a world class protest, Noah.”
Noah looked around. “I had nothing to do with this. I have to give all the credit to God. I could have never put this together.”
Jim Taylor walked over to give Noah an update. “We’ve collected four hundred signatures already. This is really going to happen.”
Cassie came by with some lunch. “Becky just dropped off some sandwiches. She said they’re praying for us, and she’s sorry they can’t stay longer. David is going to come by right after his shift ends. Maybe around 4:30. Lynette loved the little monkey. I wish Lacy was here to see him.”
Noah’s heart sank. Even though he saw her regularly, he missed his daughter so much. “Me, too.”
By one o’clock, the crowd had swelled to well over one hundred. Protestors were on the sidewalks running along both Bruce Street and Court Avenue. They were gathered on the walkway in front of the courthouse and on the lawn. Pastor Mike stopped by with his wife, Lynn. “Noah, this is absolutely fantastic. I’m so glad you have such a big turnout.”
“Thank you pastor. The signatures are pouring in as well. I guess Channel 8 aired their piece at 12:00. The other local channels from Knoxville are showing up now.”
Pastor Mike gave Noah’s arm a squeeze. “They better hurry up. We had to park three blocks over. The parking lot is completely full. Do you mind if I say a few words and offer a quick prayer?”
Noah nodded. “I’d be honored.”
Pastor Mike walked up the stairs to the courthouse door and stood looking out over the crowd. “Folks, I’m Pastor Mike Barnes of Faith Church where Noah attends. I see a lot of people here today from Faith Church and several others that I haven’t met before. I want to thank you all for showing up today to show your support for Noah and for liberty. This is how our country started. It was people just like you who’d had enough of being told what to do and how to live their lives. In 1776, Pastor John Peter Muhlenberg gave a sermon to his congregation from Ecclesiastes three. He read, ‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.’ At the end of his sermon, he said ‘In the language of the holy writ, there was a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away.’ He went on to remove his robe and reveal the military uniform he was wearing underneath.
“It is my hope that the time to preach and the time to pray have not yet passed for our present crisis, but that season is certainly waning. If we are to avoid another period of violent revolution, then we must act swiftly. Time is short. Pastors, like myself, have sat quietly by as the winds of tyranny have slowly eroded the foundations of liberty. I regret the time I spent being quiet, but that time is over. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to turn back the tide and regain our lost freedoms. I hope you are as well.”
The crowd applauded Pastor Mike’s short address. He bowed his head and prayed aloud. “Father God, through the blood of our forefathers you have granted us a land of unprecedented freedom. We’ve been complacent and derelict in our duty of preserving that freedom. We pray that you’l
l forgive us and grant us the strength to regain what has been lost. Amen.”
The crowd clapped loudly as Pastor Mike stepped down. Soon a chant spontaneously arose. “God gave us our rights, so you can’t take them.”
Over and over, and louder and louder, the chant grew to a roar. “God gave us our rights, so you can’t take them.”
By 2:30, the crowd easily exceeded four hundred people on the grounds of the county courthouse. Additionally, people were driving around the surrounding streets and honking their horns.
Several deputies walked to the courthouse stairs, and one called out over a bullhorn, “This gathering is creating a safety hazard, and we’re going to have to ask you to disperse.”
Six other deputies made their way to the center of the crowd. The one who appeared to be in charge addressed the four uniformed deputies who’d come with Rodgers and Starkey. “Gregory said you guys are all fired. You need to go to his office and hand in your badges and your service weapons immediately.”
One of the four, Kyle Harding, said, “You’ve got no authority to fire me. If Gregory wants to fire me, tell him to bring his cowardly tail down here and do it himself.”
The leader of the six said, “If I have to call him, he’s going to have us arrest you.”
Harding’s face changed. “If you assault me, I will be forced to defend myself. You have absolutely no reason to arrest me. I’ve done nothing in violation of the law. You, on the other hand, have just threatened a law enforcement officer.”
The other three deputies participating in the protest fell in close behind Harding and placed their hands on their weapons.
The leader of the six deputies looked Harding up and down. As he turned away, he said, “You’ll regret that.” He changed his attention to Noah. “Do you have a permit for this protest?”
Noah looked at Cobb.
Isaiah spoke up. “I do; it’s right here with my concealed carry permit.”
“Let’s see it.” The man demanded.
Isaiah handed the leader a copy of the Constitution. “The Bill of Rights is on the back. The First Amendment guarantees my God-given right to peaceably assemble and petition my government for a redress of grievances. That’s precisely what we’re doing here today.”