Post by drboomboom on Jan 13, 2008 19:33:49 GMT -5
A crime story, violence, language, but not real bad.
David and Ann
David Russell felt like going for a drive.
"I'm off to the store to get those filters for the air conditioner. You
need anything while I'm gone?"
Ann thought for a while, "Could you get some bananas and that soymilk?
I think we've got plenty of bread."
"OK" David replied. He went into his workshop and removed one
plywood panel revealing the wall safe. Nimble fingers spun the dial and
soon the door was open. "Hmmm which one for the store?" he thought. It
could be the Czech 9mm. No, too warm today. Maybe the Kel-Tec .380?
Not that one either, that's more of a back up gun. "Ahh" he said as his
fingers glided over the cool stainless steel of the Smith and Wesson snubnose .38 special revolver. David slipped it into a pocket holster from the second shelf
and it soon disappeared into his Dockers.
The drive to the shopping center was pleasant. He could listen to
whatever he wanted. David chose the oldies station. The Trashmen sang,
"Poppa Ooh Mow Mow" and David harmonized as loud as he could, sounding much
worse than he thought he was. It was late spring in Georgia and
everthing was in full bloom. Maybe it was the song, or maybe the spring, or
maybe even the pistol in his pocket, but David thought back to the days
long before his retirement. A day like this, he'd be be riding with his
partner unable to enjoy any music because the radio would be giving
instructions. He sometimes felt like a pawn in a chess game, told to
drive here and talk to these people...see why they're fighting and get them
to stop. Watch his partner's back while his partner watched his, and
pray to God nothing gets out of control. And nothing was every really in
his control to begin with.
Alex slapped her again.
"You like that? You want more?" He didn't care about the marks, he
didn't care about the judge, she wasn't going to bust his balls. Virginia
was sobbing, a stream of bloody snot striped her cheek in the direction
of Alex's blow. He took her by the hair and pulled her out of her
chair. Virginia's high heel caught the back of her calf, scraping her leg
and causing her to pitch forward. This made Alex's anger heat up. He
squeezed his fistful of hair and pounded her on top of the head, then
thrust his arm upward pulling her screaming to her feet. A forward shove
sent her spawling on the floor. Alex lined up his foot to kick.
Ann took some clothes from the dryer. She carefully folded them and
brought them into the bedroom to arrange them neatly in the drawer. She
should have told David, but no need to worry him. He seemed so happy and
carefree. Who would have thought retirement would suit him so.
Retirees. Empty Nesters. They sounded so...so tame. Not like Law Enforcement
Officer, or Policeman's Wife. She used to worry. He never spoke about it.
But he didn't have to. The other wives let her know. "David's a hero."
or "Didn't it scare you that he almost got shot." She'd smile, but her
heart would leap to her throat. Closing the drawer she looked at the
pictures on the dresser. Their wedding with him in his dress blues, then
last month at the lake with a stringer of smallmouth bass. He took to
retirement like a duck to water and now Ann could sleep soundly all
night.
David pulled into the strip mall. There was a hardware store and a
small convenience market. He'd get the filters and the bananas, but they
probably wouldn't have the soymilk. Well, he'd get a quart of two
percent. That would last until Ann could get to the Super Wal Mart.
The hardware store was David's personal paradise. Maybe he'd look at
the multi-tool table. It could be a table saw or a drill press or even a
joiner, all using the same motor. What a honey. David would measure it
in his mind to see if it would fit in the corner of the garage with
the car. He'd done this at least a half a dozen times before, and knew
he's do it a half dozen times again before he just bought the darn thing.
Then of course he'd have to take Ann to the garden center and let her
go wild. These things have to balance out.
"Hey officer, how's the simple life?" Harry was a nice kid, friendly to
everyone. David was sure he'd end up managing the hardware store.
Harry knew every piece they sold, and knew every customer, if not by name,
then by details of their lives. David smiled. "It sure beats police
work, Harry. Say, where do you keep the air conditioner filters?" "They're
over here, sir, what size?" David thought for a second, "Oh I think
20x20x1."
The old car stopped with a screech. Alex picked up the .40 caliber
Glock pistol from the seat next to him and stuck it into his belt.
finishing the can of malt liquor and crushing it, he cut the palm of his hand.
"Son of a pregnant dog...d**n pregnant dog...son of a pregnant dog." He opened the car door
and stumbled out into the sunlight squinting. "You've had it you
not a very nice person." He shouted to the few empty cars in the parking lot.
Virginia tried to get up off the living room floor. She looked at her
blood on the carpet and sobbed, heaved a heavy breath and deflated like
a blow up doll, dead.
Holding the pictures to her breast, Ann danced into the living room.
She wouldn't tell him. Not until the tests were certain. Why worry him,
that wonderful man. He's happy, and relaxed, and peaceful. Let's not
spoil that just yet.
There were filters packaged in threes on the bottom rack. David bent
down and he tapped his fingers on the weight in his right pocket,
shifting it with a practiced move so the revolver wouldn't fall on the floor.
Harry went up to talk with a customer, so David thought it would be
nice to get lost in the power tool aisle.
What a little punk. He looked like a college kid, smiling like some
goofy monkey. He wouldn't be smiling soon. He wouldn't me screwing around
with anyone's wife anymore. He wouldn't be doing nuts. "Hey, you know
Virginia Watson?" Harry shook his head, "Yeah, Mrs. Watson, she just
bought a bunch of paint." Alex sneered, "Did her husband say it was ok to
buy that paint?" David frowned and stayed crouched in the aisle. "No
sir, she came in by herself." Alex stared at Harry's knee. "I'll bet she
came, didn't she come you little punk?" Harry shook his head,
"What, what are you talking about?" his voice got higher and cracked a
little. Alex pulled out the Glock and shot Harry's kneecap.
Ann thought about it. It wasn't right, she shouldn't hide it from
David. Sometimes she hated that he kept things to himself, she shouldn't do
the same thing to him. But then, that's what he did. He protected her.
To serve and protect. A tear welled up in her eye. "I'm blessed to have
such a man, thank you God." Ann made up her mind, she'd wait on
telling him until it was really time. No need to worry him. She looked at the
pictures again and kissed her wedding ring.
David exploded out of the aisle sending bolts and washers flying across
the floor. His snubnose revolver was in both hands in the turret position. "Drop
the weapon!!NOW!!" Alex spun around with the Glock still in his hand.
David put two bullets into the center of Alex's chest knocking him
backwards onto Harry. Harry screamed as Alex's weight hit his wounded knee,
it was dead weight.
Ann woke up on the couch to see David in the living room carrying some
packages. "Sorry I'm late honey, I had to go to another store to get
the soymilk." "Oh that's ok dear," Ann said with a sleepy yawn. It's just
good to see your handsome face. As David bent down to kiss her, he saw
the wedding picture. He said,"I should have just worn the tux like
your mother wanted. "
Ann made a funny frown. "Never you mind about that, David Russell, I
love you just the way you are."
_______________________________________________
David and Ann
David Russell felt like going for a drive.
"I'm off to the store to get those filters for the air conditioner. You
need anything while I'm gone?"
Ann thought for a while, "Could you get some bananas and that soymilk?
I think we've got plenty of bread."
"OK" David replied. He went into his workshop and removed one
plywood panel revealing the wall safe. Nimble fingers spun the dial and
soon the door was open. "Hmmm which one for the store?" he thought. It
could be the Czech 9mm. No, too warm today. Maybe the Kel-Tec .380?
Not that one either, that's more of a back up gun. "Ahh" he said as his
fingers glided over the cool stainless steel of the Smith and Wesson snubnose .38 special revolver. David slipped it into a pocket holster from the second shelf
and it soon disappeared into his Dockers.
The drive to the shopping center was pleasant. He could listen to
whatever he wanted. David chose the oldies station. The Trashmen sang,
"Poppa Ooh Mow Mow" and David harmonized as loud as he could, sounding much
worse than he thought he was. It was late spring in Georgia and
everthing was in full bloom. Maybe it was the song, or maybe the spring, or
maybe even the pistol in his pocket, but David thought back to the days
long before his retirement. A day like this, he'd be be riding with his
partner unable to enjoy any music because the radio would be giving
instructions. He sometimes felt like a pawn in a chess game, told to
drive here and talk to these people...see why they're fighting and get them
to stop. Watch his partner's back while his partner watched his, and
pray to God nothing gets out of control. And nothing was every really in
his control to begin with.
Alex slapped her again.
"You like that? You want more?" He didn't care about the marks, he
didn't care about the judge, she wasn't going to bust his balls. Virginia
was sobbing, a stream of bloody snot striped her cheek in the direction
of Alex's blow. He took her by the hair and pulled her out of her
chair. Virginia's high heel caught the back of her calf, scraping her leg
and causing her to pitch forward. This made Alex's anger heat up. He
squeezed his fistful of hair and pounded her on top of the head, then
thrust his arm upward pulling her screaming to her feet. A forward shove
sent her spawling on the floor. Alex lined up his foot to kick.
Ann took some clothes from the dryer. She carefully folded them and
brought them into the bedroom to arrange them neatly in the drawer. She
should have told David, but no need to worry him. He seemed so happy and
carefree. Who would have thought retirement would suit him so.
Retirees. Empty Nesters. They sounded so...so tame. Not like Law Enforcement
Officer, or Policeman's Wife. She used to worry. He never spoke about it.
But he didn't have to. The other wives let her know. "David's a hero."
or "Didn't it scare you that he almost got shot." She'd smile, but her
heart would leap to her throat. Closing the drawer she looked at the
pictures on the dresser. Their wedding with him in his dress blues, then
last month at the lake with a stringer of smallmouth bass. He took to
retirement like a duck to water and now Ann could sleep soundly all
night.
David pulled into the strip mall. There was a hardware store and a
small convenience market. He'd get the filters and the bananas, but they
probably wouldn't have the soymilk. Well, he'd get a quart of two
percent. That would last until Ann could get to the Super Wal Mart.
The hardware store was David's personal paradise. Maybe he'd look at
the multi-tool table. It could be a table saw or a drill press or even a
joiner, all using the same motor. What a honey. David would measure it
in his mind to see if it would fit in the corner of the garage with
the car. He'd done this at least a half a dozen times before, and knew
he's do it a half dozen times again before he just bought the darn thing.
Then of course he'd have to take Ann to the garden center and let her
go wild. These things have to balance out.
"Hey officer, how's the simple life?" Harry was a nice kid, friendly to
everyone. David was sure he'd end up managing the hardware store.
Harry knew every piece they sold, and knew every customer, if not by name,
then by details of their lives. David smiled. "It sure beats police
work, Harry. Say, where do you keep the air conditioner filters?" "They're
over here, sir, what size?" David thought for a second, "Oh I think
20x20x1."
The old car stopped with a screech. Alex picked up the .40 caliber
Glock pistol from the seat next to him and stuck it into his belt.
finishing the can of malt liquor and crushing it, he cut the palm of his hand.
"Son of a pregnant dog...d**n pregnant dog...son of a pregnant dog." He opened the car door
and stumbled out into the sunlight squinting. "You've had it you
not a very nice person." He shouted to the few empty cars in the parking lot.
Virginia tried to get up off the living room floor. She looked at her
blood on the carpet and sobbed, heaved a heavy breath and deflated like
a blow up doll, dead.
Holding the pictures to her breast, Ann danced into the living room.
She wouldn't tell him. Not until the tests were certain. Why worry him,
that wonderful man. He's happy, and relaxed, and peaceful. Let's not
spoil that just yet.
There were filters packaged in threes on the bottom rack. David bent
down and he tapped his fingers on the weight in his right pocket,
shifting it with a practiced move so the revolver wouldn't fall on the floor.
Harry went up to talk with a customer, so David thought it would be
nice to get lost in the power tool aisle.
What a little punk. He looked like a college kid, smiling like some
goofy monkey. He wouldn't be smiling soon. He wouldn't me screwing around
with anyone's wife anymore. He wouldn't be doing nuts. "Hey, you know
Virginia Watson?" Harry shook his head, "Yeah, Mrs. Watson, she just
bought a bunch of paint." Alex sneered, "Did her husband say it was ok to
buy that paint?" David frowned and stayed crouched in the aisle. "No
sir, she came in by herself." Alex stared at Harry's knee. "I'll bet she
came, didn't she come you little punk?" Harry shook his head,
"What, what are you talking about?" his voice got higher and cracked a
little. Alex pulled out the Glock and shot Harry's kneecap.
Ann thought about it. It wasn't right, she shouldn't hide it from
David. Sometimes she hated that he kept things to himself, she shouldn't do
the same thing to him. But then, that's what he did. He protected her.
To serve and protect. A tear welled up in her eye. "I'm blessed to have
such a man, thank you God." Ann made up her mind, she'd wait on
telling him until it was really time. No need to worry him. She looked at the
pictures again and kissed her wedding ring.
David exploded out of the aisle sending bolts and washers flying across
the floor. His snubnose revolver was in both hands in the turret position. "Drop
the weapon!!NOW!!" Alex spun around with the Glock still in his hand.
David put two bullets into the center of Alex's chest knocking him
backwards onto Harry. Harry screamed as Alex's weight hit his wounded knee,
it was dead weight.
Ann woke up on the couch to see David in the living room carrying some
packages. "Sorry I'm late honey, I had to go to another store to get
the soymilk." "Oh that's ok dear," Ann said with a sleepy yawn. It's just
good to see your handsome face. As David bent down to kiss her, he saw
the wedding picture. He said,"I should have just worn the tux like
your mother wanted. "
Ann made a funny frown. "Never you mind about that, David Russell, I
love you just the way you are."
_______________________________________________
