Rapp Reynolds

Rapp Reynolds pushed open the door with some effort and emerged from his workplace to find that it was raining. He ducked back inside. “Welcome to KCDC Home of the Rapp Reynolds Show" was stenciled on the door backwards, facing out.

His Town Car was already late. That was not a surprise to him, nor did it matter. The staff at the hospital was always friendly and courteous. Besides, this round of chemotherapy would take three days. It didn't really matter if he got there at 2:00 or 2:30.

The weather reminded him of his first day here. He forgot his umbrella, and the skies opened up just as he parked his car. His suit took all morning to dry out as he read the news headlines twice an hour. Eventually, he was given a shot at filling in for a vacation host now and again. Within three years, he had his own show.

Now, these years later, after syndication and the amassing of a personal fortune, he was able to think about how he had changed. He had created an on air character, full of bombast and confidence. Gradually, the real Rapp became that character. It wasn't decided or calculated. He just slid into him like a soft shoe.

These days, it wasn't much fun anymore. Not just because of his ill health. Not because of the diabetes that had taken three of his toes, or the cancer that had taken part of his stomach and intestine. It had become all instinct, no invention.

In the early days, he loved to be challenged by a caller. He relished the chance to make up a creative nickname for a politician or social movement. That didn't happen anymore. Now he opened some newspapers, surfed the web a bit, and turned on the autopilot in his brain.

It didn't matter which party was in or out of power. Rapp had ridden the wave of a few political cycles. It was rote. The president hates America. Senator X is trying to make us weak. He hardly ever took a phone call anymore.

Now, he was dying from the inside out.

The car finally arrived. The driver walked around to open the door, but Rapp beat him to it. He threw himself into the backseat, raised his left foot, and loosened his belt.