The maintenance crew had just finished polishing the hardwood stage, leaving a sharp smell of citrus floor wax in the stale air.

General Thomas stood at the center podium, reading from a thick white binder.

He projected his voice into the cavernous room without a microphone.

“Candidate Morgan,” General Thomas called out.

“You’re walking out of step.”

I marched down the center aisle and stopped at the foot of the wooden stairs.

“Apologies, sir,” I said.

General Thomas adjusted his collar brass and looked down at me.