Chapter 1
Daniel searched around the group and couldn’t help but hide a grimace. Each of the stoney faces he saw looking back at him normally focused in on his infectious smile and upbeat happiness.
Tina and Dave each looked away uncomfortably. No one likes to stare at the gimp. I have seen military action in four separate countries, seen friends die and disappear, seen my family look at me with reverence, seen my loved ones look at me with pity, watched children’s bodies lay on the side of the road, witnessed families suffocate from biological warfare whilst my unit could only watch and I still cringe and tense up from my friend’s squeamishness.
I am less than a man; I am a half man. And yes I understand that I am not as cool, charismatic or caring as a certain midget lion.
Fighting my way to the front of the restaurant near the bathroom I move forward slowly, carefully not to run over any of the wait staff scurrying underfoot. The building is older than most in the city, which means that it is anything but ideal for a cripple like myself.
As usual, I sit here waiting for a man to finish shitting in the only wheelchair accessible stall. Plastering a grim expression on my face, I fantasize about how good it would feel to go back to just a year ago where I could have kicked. I murmured in appreciation a the idea... yes kicked right through flimsy stall wall and literally beat the shit out of this guy for the humiliation. There were four stalls all told in the bathroom, but this guy had to take mine.
Waiting there fantasizing about good old fashioned beatings, the man finally walked out of the stall. he took his time leaving and almost seem to slow down as he saw me. I gabe him my best frosty expression and he returned a smirk. Fantasy aside, this guy really needed to be taken down a peg or two. Before walking all the way past he put his hand, unwashed hand might i add, and murmered, “warmed it up for you boyo”.
?Without much thought I grabbed his shit stained hand, okay there wasn’t any visible stains on it, twisting his wrist until he yelped in surprise. Holding his arm at an impossible angle I twisted his arm until his back was turned to me and I knew that I had the power to fully break his wrist. without breaking his wrist I pulled him into me so that I could whisper into his ear. He naturally fell down to one knee on the ground so that he was completely level with me in my chair. I reached down and grabbed his balls viciously.
He screamed bloody murder as I held him in a vice grip. There was nothing to be said at this point because he went hearing it anyway so I released his balls and he dropped to the ground. I politely rille around his righting body and proceeded to take the best shit in my entire life.
Sitting there on my favorite chair, I pondered how truly gruesome what I had just done was to those who have never seen war. The man on the ground still whimpered from the ground and he was probably wondering when the pain would ever end. Have you ever been kicked in the balls before. I think the body warns you psychologically for hours if you are stupid enough to let someone injure you there. Its like a defense mechanism protecting the most natural form of immortality, procreation.
Back at the Table Mike and Tina looked at me funny as I returned. The smile on my face belied the sense of excitement I was experiencing and I slipped into the stall with a renewed vigor. “Food” sensing my excitement they nodded enthusiastically and dug in. Tina reached down, pulling her red hair away from her face and murmured something into Mike’s ear. I pretended to ignore this and Mike finally set down his cheeseburger and stared me down.
“Was that the greatest shit in the world or did somebody give you a bj in the bathroom?” he smiled at the wittiness of his accusation. Tina colored a little at the bawdiness, but her snort seemed real and brought my smile even wider. Setting down my own burrito, I looked up deadpan in Tina’s eyes to defend myself, “best shit ever” my voice resonated and attempted to stop the contest there.
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Mike and Tina laughed at my response. Both of them knew me well having served with me over in Afghanistan and both represented two of my best friends in the world. Tina and Mike were high school sweethearts and both of them served in the medical side of the corps. Tina was a physician and Mike was a nurse. One of my happiest times with Serene was when I was stationed in Japan. Serene and I were enamored with this younger couple and we spent much of my rec time getting to know each other and building a solid friendship. You can never underestimate the value of couple friends to a strong marriage. I think this is especially true where your in the military and stationed in another country with a different and distinct culture.
“Earth to Danny!” Tina’s voice broke my concentration and she smiled. Her smile never reached her eyes as she saw what I must have been thinking about. Keeping up the fun I try and change the subject, but come up short and sit there with my mouth hanging ajar. Not to be undone I bring my burrito up and proceed to stuff my face.
“So tell me about this game you just bought Daniel” Mike looks to change the topic and I can’t blame him at all.
“True Death Online” I supply mulling over how much Mike and Tina really want to hear about how I am planning to spend life as a widower and cripple locked up in a virtual reality. “According to the videos and information I found online its supposed to be completely lifelike.” Looking down at my legs I remember that I am still scared about the prospect of feeling their effect again because it will fill me with regret and make me realize how helpless I feel. “The launch is in just a few days.” My hand absentmindedly strokes the metal replacement I have for a left kneecap and continue somberly. “I will be running through a cheap version of middle earth from the hobbit or some such nonsense by next week.”
“Excuse me sir” a weak voice breaking with fear gives off to my right. Its not quite a little girl’s voice, more like that of a teenage boy. Turning I see my friend from the restroom again with a red face like he has been crying. Well I guess I knew he had been crying. Giving him a death stare and placing my left hand, the one I reckon he renamed ball crusher, on the table for him to see. My eyes look down slowly at my left fist which has begun closing around air. My smile is finally back as I look him back in the eye.
“I waa-nt to-to apologize for the way I behaved earlier.” there was a moment of silence as Mike and Tina looked at me with confusion and tried to fathom who the hell this idiot was trying to apologize to me and looking ready to piss himself. Behind him, our waiter came up with a new round of beverages. Stepping aside to let the waiter in, the man turned and introduced himself to Mike and Tina. Shaking hands he finally turned back to me and I noticed his hands has calmed and my drink was refilled.
“Jimmy Benson, I hope these drinks are enjoyable and I bid you all a great evening.” It was strangely formal, but it seemed to work for this guy who goes back up to someone who kicked his ass and buys them alcohol. This guys not half dumb.
Tina is just happy for the beverage. “Would you please join us Jimmy, I am sure that Danny won’t mind.” I look at her funny and shrug my shoulders. Jimmy seems really happy and plops down in the chair at the end of the table not considering asking me to scotch down the bench.
The conversation started out awkwardly as Jimmy was asked all of your typical stupid questions like a strange questionnaire. When he mentioned that right now he was really excited about the launch of the new virtual reality both of them looked at me like this idiot was going to be my new best friend or something.