Responding to Reena’s prompt #255, based on the above image.https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2022/11/03/reenas-xploration-challenge-255/
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He glanced casually at the TV screen, always switched on for background noise, and jumped up pumping his fist in the air, “Wow! What a beauty and she has just thrown her hat into the ring to compete for leadership of the party. She has my vote anytime.”
His wife looked exasperated, ” so, an unknown wants to become leader, and according to you her main claim to leadership is her beauty. Give me a break”.
Her husband’s fragile ego, starting to take a beating, responded vehemently, ” It’s not only her looks, did you hear her speech, she is so eloquent, passionate, and that melodious voice, it could sink a thousand ships”.
At the supper table later that evening his wife observed.” I looked your candidate up on Wikipedia. Her name is Leonore Charybdis, she’s of Greek descent and inherited wealth, her great-grandfather made his money from salvaging shipwrecks.”
Her husband nodded wisely, he had already completed his research and decided that Leonore would receive his vote. He was truly smitten and had watched every YouTube video he could find on her life.
A year later, Leonore Charybdis, and her party, came away with a landslide victory to begin their four-year term as rulers of the country. Her victory speech was hailed as the speech of the century, as she beguiled the population with the improvements she would make to their living standards, and how she would go about improving their position on the world stage.
Two years later and the husband and wife were enjoying their cocktail hour on the porch of their new house, both having had substantial raises due to the prosperity of their company, mirroring the overall prosperity in the land.
The husband was in a celebratory mood, ” let’s drink a toast to our Prime Minister, Leonore Charybdis, long may she reign, and bring increased prosperity to our land”.
His wife clinked her glass against his and after a thoughtful silence, decided she needed to give vent to her frustrations, ” aren’t you a little alarmed about how much of the country’s prosperity is based on “defense” spending, and the new legislation restricting the use of social media, and the new euthanasia laws for the disabled”
The husband’s expression darkened, ” why are you spoiling this lovely evening, with all your doom and gloom, enjoy your prosperity, Leonore Charybdis, is the leader our country needs at this time, she is strong, articulate, and charismatic, and we are no longer a country that others can push around”.
Two years later the husband kissed his wife goodbye as he boarded the train to take him to the front. He was in the trenches looking fondly at the photo of, Leonore Charybdis, his Prime Minister when the bullet shattered his skull.
Lensdiary 
Love the ending. Does the story come true? Lol
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There is no ending to this story, it just goes on and on.
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If Ms. Charybdis’s opponent was Scylla, the populace may have, as so often happens when it comes to voting, been forced to choose between a rock and a hard place. 😉 A thought-provoking tale and makes me wonder if you had anyone in mind at the time.
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We’ve had many sirens, haven’t we?
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Too true, Gary. Throughout history they seem to regenerate themselves.
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That’s right on, Doug. I was actually going to name the P.M. Scylla Charybdis but decided on Leonore, the lost love from ‘ The Raven’. I was thinking along the lines of a female Hitler in the present day.
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This is eerily true of so many leaders – both male and female. They mask dictatorship with charisma, and buy loyalty of those who can deliver with a few sops.
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The older I get the less respect I have for many politicians.
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👍
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena and commented:
The Siren’s Song by imnobodywhoareyou
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Thanks, Reena.
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You are welcome.
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Haha, the ending is great… It reminds me of a book I read about WWII, which has a German soldier’s diary, which says something like this–he had admired his leaders, but only to be sent to the front to die…
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I know, I was thinking of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while writing this, and wondering what a waste of human life it all was.
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Excellent ending. Powerful message.
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Thanks for visiting and commenting Abi. I think it’s you Abbie, but I may be wrong. I saw your comment on Lens Diary which was an old blog, and so refollowed.
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Hi, yes it’s me. Thanks for the follow. Hope you find it a meaningful read.
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Such loyalty…Well, some really are that loyal whatever the end. Excellent story.
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Yes, politics seems so divisive today. Blind loyalty to a party no matter what the policies, and everyone who does not belong to the party is wrong.
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bravo! riveting story, and this happens too often that it becomes chilling. the charm and magnetism these type of leaders carry especially when you see them on the news is immense. they do have the capacity to hypnotize so many many people and have these people blindly follow them, all in the name of power, the country’s pride, and so-called “development”. reminded me of Germany as well and state of Elijah 😄.
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Elijah hears god as the whispering of a gentle breeze, as opposed to the rant and ravings of most politicians. Where are our prophets today, I wonder, presumably not on Twitter or Facebook, though I think they have a better chance of being heard on WordPress.
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This was soooooo good!!!!!
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Thanks for visiting and commenting, Belladonna, glad you liked it.
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