High Hopes

"A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on."
 * ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

thumb|A picture of JFK On the 22nd of November 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald was ready to kill the president. Hidden in the 6th story of his work place, the Dal-Tex building, his rifle was loaded and sighted. It was 12:27 PM - Kennedy was supposed to arrive at 12:30. Gripping the rifle, Oswald began to sweat, his mind racing. Would his employer find him? Would Kennedy even show up? Ere were so many ways this could go wrong. Gritting his teeth, Oswald began to fidget with the sight of his rifle. All it would take is one shot, he tried to remind himself. After that he could pack up and be on his way.

It was 12:29. Kennedy, still in his car, was enjoying his trip to Dallas. He had arrived earlier that day, and was hoping to raise support for the upcoming election, as well as iron out some party tensions. Everything was set up for a successful trip: most of the groundwork was laid, and at this point the outcome of the visit was basically certain. Nellie Connally, sitting in the front of the car, was also pleased with the visit. Turning back to Kennedy, she said "Mr. President, you can't say Dallas doesn't love you." Kennedy, not hearing what she had said, leaned forward. "Sorry, what was that," he asked, somewhat embarrassed.

Then the shots rang out.

In Our Timeline, Kennedy was killed by the incoming bullets. But what if he hadn't been? What if the bullets had been an Inch away from killing the President?

Because he had leaned forward, the first shot Oswald had fired hit his shoulder, shattering the bone, and then hitting Governor Connally, but leaving Kennedy alive. The second shot, fired in panic, merely dented the car. Within moments, the President's car was surrounded by secret service agents, some having already located Oswald. Oswald, thinking Kennedy to be dead, was forced to fall back into the building. Later, he would be caught for the murder of J.D. Tippit - But not the murder of the president.