by Jim Plautz
The words and song were irrelevant, what mattered was the unnerving impact upon Yury who jumped back, waiting to be attacked. He turned and fired at a noise behind him but missed all the coins that Matthew had thrown. Too late, Yury recognized his mistake. Matthew was on top of him before he could turn back. His gun went flying harmlessly and Yury gave up all fight when Matthew’s fist drove into his kidney.
“Matthew, are you all right?” the SWAT team leader asked from a safe distance.
“I’m fine, come on in, it’s over.”
Twenty minutes later the SWAT team escorted Yury out of the building to a cheering crowd of reporters and law enforcement officials from various agencies. Matthew’s role in the capture was never fully reported, which was fine with Matthew. The hostages had waited for Matthew to appear, including the 800 that had been released much earlier. They rose as one entity when Matthew came and out the school door and serenaded him a rousing ‘We Kicked Ass’ cheer. That was all the thanks he needed.
A week later Ken and Chris joined Jim and Rosann Simpson for dinner. Chris showed off her CIA medal and accepted congratulations on her promotion. Coach showed off the letters he received from the Governor and President of the United States. It was all in good fun.
Rosann put their accomplishments into perspective. “You know, as great a job as the two of you did, and you did do a great job, it pales to what Matthew did. Forty free throws in a row without touching the rim is unbelievable.”
“You know what he said to me,” Jim added. He said,” Coach, I didn’t make forty in row, I made one in a row 40 times. Each time I said the names of the five kids and teachers that stood under the basket, and told myself that I had their lives in my hand – they were depending upon me. The free throws kept going in.”
“That’s beautiful,” the friends agreed.
Chapter 22 - Graduation Ceremony