God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are waiting when Karl Rove enters Heaven. God seems distant and unreadable, Jesus distressed and the Holy Ghost serene and understanding. Karl lived by his wits and clever tongue but now finds his mind and mouth are speechless. Karl feels, rather than hears, the Holy Spirit's welcome as he is lifted up in God's all-encompassing embrace.
Karl has a busy schedule on his first day in Heaven. Cradled by the Holy Spirit, Karl sees an endless line of people waiting to meet him. Jesus takes the hand of the first in line, a serious ten year-old boy with a radiant brown complexion, and leads him closer to Karl.
"Karl," Jesus says, "this is Sean."
"Hello, Mr. Rove. Do you know first aid?" the boy asks.
"Yes," Karl says, puzzled by the question.
"Good. I'm going to need your help later." Sean's tense features relax slightly. "The first day in Heaven is the toughest. Mine was. I had baggage. I hated you and President Bush, hated a lot of people when I first arrived. Jesus helped me get past the anger and focus on the facts. You engineered a phony war to re-elect George W. Bush. You lied about the war's purpose. You did not prepare effectively, trying to win the war `on the cheap'. You sent me to Falluja without body armor. I died. I forgive you, Mr. Rove."
Instantly, Karl lunges back with arguments: WMDs, 9/11, jihadists, Rumsfeld. No words are heard. The Holy Spirit whispers to Karl. Easy. You're in Heaven. You're not here to defend your life. You are here to understand the consequence of your actions. So much to do. Many mansions, remember Karl? You'll understand it better, by and by.
Karl watches as Sean changes from a boy into a soldier. "Here in Heaven", the soldier says, "We all have to clean up after ourselves. We have to accept responsibility for what we've done. Better get started, Mr. Rove. There are many people waiting to meet you. I'm Sean, an infantry grunt from Oklahoma."
Sniper fire hits Sean twice in the back. Sean screams as his chest explodes, splattering Karl with arterial spray. Jesus grabs a first aid kit and Karl's hand, pulling him to Sean's side. Jesus slaps a bandage across Sean's ruined chest, guiding Karl's hands to apply pressure. "Press harder, Karl" Jesus cries, "We're losing him."
Karl bears down on the pressure bandage and tries to push Sean's life back into his body, crying, crying.
"He's gone." Jesus says, crying with Karl as He lifts Sean's body in His arms. "We'll take care of Sean. He'll be fine. You go on and meet your next guest. This is Sandy, Karl. She was in the Green Zone."
A thin little girl with brown eyes and freckles looks up at Karl. "Hello Mr. Rove. Are you afraid of fire?"