The Experiment

By Larry Porter

The Experiment is an epic history of the United States of America in verse poem form. It starts with the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. It moves to the writing of the Constitution, and every president, from Washington to Obama.

It is written through each presidential term, telling what each did and what cabinets they formed. It also notes all of the important legislation passed during their terms and describes what congress did to bring each piece to a bill. It also talks about each Supreme Court opinion handed down, that affected the US in a major way.

The attempt of the writer is to give an overall picture of the complete history of the US in a thought provoking, interesting manner. Hopefully, it will not only make the reader, if not already interested in history, enjoy history, as well as bring forth questions to the point of researching for themselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Larry Porter
• Release date: Mar 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301177356

Larry Porter

Larry Porter has been writing since 1976, when he had his second project, a children’s play, Treehouse, produced in Atlanta, Ga. He has written fourteen full-length plays. Another, The Gospel According to Jesus, was produced in Asheville, NC. He has written numerous short stories, eight novels including Chance Mountain, Ivan the Backward Man, True Globalization, The Carousel, The Blue Barrel, The Visitor, and After America: Rebuilding. He has a memoir, Self-Storage Business and a collection of short stories titled Heaven? dealing with the afterlife. He has written four screenplays. His latest project is writing history in verse. A compilation of four epic poems titled History in Verse includes The Experiment, a history of the US, The Reconstruction of a Nation, a history of the Civil War, The Quest for the West, a history of the settling of the US west, and The Sixties, a history of the decade of the 1960s in the US. Look for a new series of totalitarians of the twentieth century coning soon. He lives in the North Carolina Mountains where he continues to write.

Book preview

Heaven ?

By Larry Porter

Copyright 2013 by Larry Porter

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Table of Contents

Is This Heaven?

Heaven? Not Yet

The Cop

Jeanette

Babies

Sam and Millie

War

The Girls

The Celebrity

This Surely Can’t Be Heaven

This is Heaven

The Fireman

The Washing Machine

Hell! No!

The Politician

The Rain Storm

NASCAR

The Seniors

Is This Heaven?

Hiram awoke to an endless horizon. It was daylight but there was no sun visible in the sky. The ground looked like it was made of a brushed finish gray metal that looked to be stainless steel or titanium. He tapped his foot on it but instead of a metallic sound it should have made, it gave a dull thud like it was some sort of stone composite. Whatever it was, it was level in all directions to the horizon, not so much as a dip anywhere. He looked all around and saw nothing, not a tree, not a building, just endless space. As he was completing a three hundred sixty-degree turn he slipped and nearly fell. A man caught him by the arm just before his knee hit the surface. Hiram was sure he was having a dream.

Be careful there. This material is slippery. He had a deep, resonant voice. He was of average height and weight. His features reminded one of the hundreds of TV anchors in all the third tier markets that were out of reach of major markets. He wore, not a dress suit, but something akin to pajamas. They were gray, the bottoms loose fitting while the top looking more like a Nehru jacket, sporting eight buttons and dropping nearly to his knees. The clothes blended into the floor they stood on. He wore what Hiram always called Jesus shoes, opened toed sandals.

Hello. Hiram said in a low, unthreatening voice. Welcome to my dream.

Oh, you’re not dreaming this, the man said in a timbre that would have fit nicely with his TV personality. He spread his arm across the expanse as he spoke.

Really? Hiram laughed. Then what do you call this because it certainly isn’t the world I know?

Of course it isn’t. You’re dead. Or at least your earthly body is dead.

Hiram laughed even harder. So where am I, heaven? Uh oh, or is it the other place? Are you Old Saint Peter himself, or the devil? His laugh was nervous; he wasn’t sure what was happening.

Now the man chuckled. No, I’m not either one. And no, this is neither heaven nor hell. You died last night.

Funny, I don’t remember anything about that. I wasn’t sick. I didn’t have any ailments. I did have that heart attack over a year ago but they seemed to have fixed that. Besides, I had no symptoms.

You died in your sleep. I don’t know the cause.

Now that is interesting. So who are you?

I’ve been sent to give you some simple instructions and to answer what questions I can. But only to a point, mind you. I don’t know much more than you except that I’ve been here for quite awhile.

A rush of questions was filling Hiram’s brain. Was this real or was he really dreaming? Who are they? was his first question.

I don’t know? he answered, showing no emotion.

But you said they sent you.

Yes, he replied, whoever they are.

But you’ve never meant them?

He looked Hiram directly in his eyes. Let me give you a brief rundown. Then, perhaps, after many of your questions are answered, you may still have another one or two I can answer. I receive a telepathic message. It’s not like a voice or anything, just a feeling that I’m going to be transported. The mission comes to my brain then I’m whisked to the new location.

So you’ve done this before, come to meet new people?

Yes, he replied. That and other missions as well. In your case, as with all new people, I’m to explain to you where you are and how you make this place work for you.

So this really is not the Earth?

He held a hand up before he spoke and when he did, he wasn’t short or rude. Allow me to finish my little spiel. Then you may ask anything you wish. That doesn’t mean I can answer. But if I can, I will. No, this is not Earth. I don’t know where we are. And you may be summoned after a bit to do what I do as well. I figure I was here for about a year before they summoned me.

How long… He held up his hand to stop Hiram.

I’ve been here about forty years. You are the age you were when you died. You won’t age anymore but you also cannot go back in time. You look to be what, late sixties, early seventies?

Seventy on the button, Hiram answered.

He spread his arm, indicating the surroundings. "You have the power to change all of this. But please don’t do that until I am gone. You will create the world you want, including people, I might add, through your own mind. You can summon up anyone who lived with you on Earth. That does not mean they must die to join you. At least, I don’t believe that’s the case. Of course, I can’t be sure of that since I’ve never been back.

I’ve brought my children and wife to my world. Lord, I hope they didn’t have to die to join me. But they remain the same age. No one grows older here. I’ve envisioned my old house and am living my old life. But I must add that I experimented at first. I’m sure you’ll do the same.

Hiram put his hand up like a second grader. I don’t mean to interrupt and won’t ask anything else, I promise. I just wanted to know your name. And you’re doing a great job, I might add.

He laughed. Thank you. My name is George. No need to know the last name. Anyway, I’m about finished. I just want you to know the basics. Make whatever world you like. Your mind dictates what that is. You can change it anytime you like. You will never meet anyone else in this place again unless you summon someone you knew or strangers to join your world. But, like I said, I don’t think that will bring them from their world. Okay, I’m sure you still have some questions.

Yes, a few. You mentioned others who might be here from my past. Does that mean I can summon my parents?

Absolutely. They will be the age they were when you last saw them. And I might add, they do not talk about being here as their own world if, I imagine in your case, they are dead as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if my parents haven’t summoned my siblings and me. But that didn’t change anything here for me. I have not had any hint that I left my own world other than the fact that I, like you now, were introduced to this world by another and told I also had died.

When you leave, I’ll never see you again?

He put his hand over his heart. Aw, that’s nice. You would like me to visit. No one’s said that to me. He gave a big laugh.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. You seem like a nice fellow, George. I guess I’m thinking how lonely it will get when you leave.

You haven’t grasped what this is as of yet. But don’t feel badly. It takes awhile for everybody. You will have the ability to summon so many people you’ll grow tired of many of them. One thing you won’t be is lonely. But be warned: no one, including you, ages. Nice meeting you, Hiram. With that, he vanished.

So he knew my name, Hiram thought. Wow! I have to think awhile on this. But I sure could use a cold beer right now whilst I think. Just then, a cold beer in a frosted mug appeared in his hand. He took a long drink then started talking out loud. I would like to have the best recliner Lazyboy makes. With that, his wish popped up directly behind him so that he didn’t even have to move to sit down. Now this is the way it ought to be.

He plopped down into the chair and began thinking what he’d like. He didn’t talk out loud this time but just thought that he’d like to be on the sugar white beach of Pensacola, Florida, his favorite beach, with the deep blue Gulf water sparkling a thousand little mirrors of sunlight off the ripples the light breeze produced. There it was. And along with it, he realized there was now a sun in the sky creating the sparkle.

He was thrilled. Wow! he shouted to no one. This has got to be heaven. And just for good measure, how about a half-dozen or so bikini-clad beauties on the beach. I know, have them playing sand volleyball. I always enjoyed that. It was no sooner said and they appeared as asked. Hiram sat back enjoying his beer and the sights.

He didn’t know how long he had sat mesmerized by his surrounding and relishing his good fortune when his stomach started rumbling. Girls, he called out, how about something to eat? They all looked over at him for the first time sitting in the recliner. They all nodded in unison. Whatcha all want? he shouted. They all came over and stood in front of him. Each girl was different, redheads, blonds, brunettes, and one prettier than the other.

They all started telling him what they wanted, speaking over each other. Hold on, hold on, girls. What say I summon a waiter and you can each give him your order? So Hiram did that. The girls each gave an order and Hiram ordered a Ruben and another beer. When he left, Hiram looked the girls over. Ladies, he began, I’m a seventy year old codger who can’t perform diddley. But I haven’t lost my interest, so after lunch, what say you all go back to your game and I’ll just sit here drinking my beer and admiring each one of your fabulous talents?

Hiram enjoyed this through another meal and realized the sun hadn’t moved. He discovered