AWOL: A Character Lost

by Anthony Renfro

  “No.”

  She smiled. “I just wanted to say it. I hate days when we are so busy we don’t say it to each other.”

  “I know, love you too.”

  Outside they could hear kids screaming with joy. Someone had just hit a home-run in the makeshift baseball game.

  Barbara exited out the front door and Danny made the long walk to Michael’s room. While Danny walked and climbed the stairs, he thought about the day, thought about the number on the card in his pocket, thought about the red haired guy he saw in the garage. What did it all mean? He was unsure, but he knew it meant trouble, bad trouble.

  Danny reached the door to his son’s room and stopped.

  This was a normal bedroom door, leading into a typical kid’s room; but beyond this door was something Danny thought he would never have to deal with, a difficult son. Don’t get me wrong, Michael wasn’t a law breaker or anything like that. He didn’t deal drugs or set houses on fire, at least as far as Danny knew. He was, for the most part, a good kid who was just trying to grow up and assert his independence. He was 14, and boys that age always find a way to push their parents out. They are almost up to driving age, about to have sex for the fist time, able to earn money with small jobs, and do so many things a normal adult can do. However, at that age, they aren’t adults; and they still have to be treated as such. It ways heavy on a teenage boy as he tries to deal with all he has to deal with. Michael was no exception, and Danny had to keep telling himself that.

  He knocked on the door and his son, of course, didn’t answer. Show of wills, Danny understood that because he was just like his son at that age.

  “Michael, dinner is on the table.” Danny was trying to remain calm.

  “Not hungry.”

  “You need to come down and eat. This isn’t a discussion.”

  “I said I’m not hungry. Leave me be.”

  Danny sucked in his breath, calmed his nerves, exhaled, and continued. “I’m coming in.” The door was of course locked. Danny smiled, oldest trick in the book. “What have I said about locking the door?”

  “I ate earlier.”

  Danny controlled his anger, and reached for the key. The lock popped, and the door opened before he had a chance to use it.

  Michael walked back across the room and sat down in front of his video game, something involving zombies and a lot of shooting. He was dressed in jeans, dark shoes, and a tee shirt that had a death metal band on it. This was how Michael was trying to rebel, music wise. Because his dad was a heavy metal guy, he couldn’t really kick up the Iron Maiden or Judas Priest to piss off his dad when his dad loved those bands. So he had to go darker and more evil – death metal was the answer, something his dad hated and really never understood the attraction to. What Michael didn’t realize was that if he really wanted to rebel, he should have gotten into disco or hip hop. That would have really driven his old dad crazy, because at least with death metal (as bad as it was) it was still some form of metal. Danny never pointed this out to Michael, but he always kept it in the back of his mind, just in case he really wanted to mess with the kid.

  Danny put the key back, and walked over to where Michael was sitting in a bean bag chair.

  “Your mom made a nice dinner, and she wants all of us down there to eat it. It would mean a lot to her. She doesn’t get a chance to do this very often.” Danny looked at the screen for a moment as Michael zoned out. A zombie got his head wasted, blood and brains splattered.

  “I’m really not hungry.”

  “I know you are. You can finish this once you’re done.”

  “Fine,” Michael replied, never taking his eyes off the screen. He shot four more zombies and a pedestrian as Danny watched.

  “I’ll see you down stairs in five minutes.”

  Michael ignored him, and Danny left the room, leaving the door open. He descended the stairs only to see Johnny come running past him, his mom on his heels.

  “The game has been called due to dinner. Once Johnny was pulled, the rest fell like dominoes.”

  “Michael is on his way down.”

  “Was it that easy?”

  “Easiest we’ve had it in a while.”

  “Maybe he’s starting to soften.”

  “Maybe he’s just hungry.”

  Danny and Barbara made their way to dinner. A clean Johnny joined them moments later followed by Michael minutes after that. I can’t say all four of them ate and talked like some perfect family, but at least, for this night, they were all seated at the table at the same time. That in itself was a miracle.

  Dinner finished, they all returned to their normal distractions.

  The night arrived, and the night passed.

  *

  Danny was standing at the foot of the class, looking up into all those eager young faces. He did this every day, studying their eyes and expressions, trying to see if they had gotten the meaning of the day’s lecture. He could see the ones who had gotten it and the ones who didn’t.

  The clock clicked.

  Time was up.

  He dismissed them, collected his things, and erased the board. He wondered while he cleaned if today’s lecture on Super hero movies, why they worked and why they didn’t, was actually something he should be teaching. Most professors who taught film went with the classics like Citizen Kane or Casablanca, both fine movies, cinema turning points, but Danny wanted to do something different. He wanted his class to be more modern, and less about the ancient black and white past.

  The board cleaned and the desk cleared of his work. He made his way over to the teacher’s area. This wasn’t a grand area by any stretch of the imagination. It was small and compact with enough room for a few tables and chairs, a coffee pot, a refrigerator, a microwave, a small TV that was rarely used, and several vending machines. There were no windows in this basement room, just four white walls with overhead fluorescent lights and pictures of a mountain and a beach. These pictures were supposed to take your mind off the fact that you were in such a sterile looking room. Danny often looked at those pictures when he sat in there drinking his coffee or when he worked on his poetry. The beach picture took him away most of the time. It was a tropical locale, perfect sunset, perfect white sand, perfect waves lapping perfectly onto a perfect shore, and perfect palm trees all perfectly placed. It almost seemed photo shopped because of its perfection.

  Today, the room wasn’t all that full, only two people in there when Danny walked in. He made his way over to the fridge, in order to get a snack, eaves dropping on their conversation, but not meaning to.

  Mitchel or Mitch to his friends and family, the talker of the two, was a portly professor with salt and pepper hair aged about fifty years. He had a wife and two kids, along with an affair or two in his pocket. Mitch was a die hard Republican, and he was talking with Bobby (twenties, not married, fit, part time professor) who was an obvious Democrat right down to the eco friendly car that he drove. The two were having a heated debate about the Middle East Nuclear Arms Association.

  Danny collected his lunch bag from the fridge, grabbed a soda, and watched the two men argue.

  “I think we ought to nuke them all and let their God sort them out,” Mitchell replied, as he made himself a cup of coffee.

  “Their God, what do you mean by that?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Nuke em, that’s your party’s answer to everything, isn’t it?”

  “It’s the logical choice. What happens if they just want to let the world burn? Have you ever thought of that?”

  “They’re not going to do that,” Bobby replied, rolling his eyes.

  “Why not?”

  “It would mean killing the world they live in as well. Who would want to do that? Who could be filled with so much hatred that they would rather see their world dead than alive? I can’t imagine a soul like that.”

  “I can’t imagine it either, but these guys don’t think like you and I. They’ve made their peace, and they are ready to die
in a moment’s notice.”

  “What happens if we go in there and just light up that part of the world? If we just nuke this entire group? Don’t you think there would be more like them to rise up out of the ashes? This would give others a chance to make this group of terrorists martyrs. Can you imagine what it would be like then?”

  “I still say we nuke em. Teach them and the world a lesson. Let everyone know they can’t mess with the old red, white, and blue,” Mitch replied, confident.

  “This is a volatile situation. It won’t be answered with just one simple push of a button.”

  “Funny thing, we are talking about using violence to stop violence. It seems kind of wrong to me.” The two guys stopped and looked at Danny. Danny looked at them. They had been going on for so long on this conversation that they didn’t even know he was there. “I’m just saying,” Danny replied, not sure if he should join in or not.

  “We can’t talk these guys out of this. These aren’t the kind of guys you just talk to and reason with.” Mitchell finished his coffee and grabbed another cup. “So, what’s your take on it?”

  “I honestly don’t have an opinion. That’s really the only thought I have on it. The whole thing just scares the hell out of me. What happens if this time is the time? What happens if this is the group that is going to turn the world nuclear?”

  “Typical Democrat,” Mitch replied.

  Danny didn’t take sides all that often, the best man or woman should always win when it came to politics. That’s the way he looked at it, but if he had to lean, was forced to lean; it would be towards the Democrats. They always seemed to have a well rounded view of the country and the world at large, so this wasn’t an insult.

  “I honestly don’t think that will ever happen,” Bobby replied.

  “You never know. I’ll let you guys get back to it.” Danny made his exit and left the two guys staring at each other in silence for a moment. As Danny walked down the hall, he heard them start up again.

  Danny emerged outdoors seconds later to see that the day was sunny and warm. He ate his lunch, and watched all the college girls frolicking about in their skimpy attire. It was warm days like this that made him happy to be a college professor, hell, it made him happy to be a man.

  While he ate, his mind went from the girls to the 5K he had to run tomorrow, which should have been the 10K (6.2 Miles) because he was more than ready for that distance. He figured he would wait and do that race later. Little did he know, on this warm spring Carolina day, that he would never have the chance to run that distance. The world would be in ruins long before he did a 10K race.

  A Haiku popped into this head, while he sat there, and he quickly wrote it down.

  Blue skies and no clouds

  A warm, bright, and beautiful

  Carolina Day

  He finished his lunch and made his way home to a quiet house, which would be that way until dinner time. Danny watched a movie – Halloween III: Season of the Witch – and relaxed.

  Barbara arrived with pizza a little later. The boys came home and ate most of it. Then they all went to their separate corners, to do their separate things. The evening melted into night, and the night into the next day.

  *

  Danny woke up early and looked towards the window in the bedroom.

  It was still dark.

  He looked at the clock.

  It was almost 5 a.m.

  He got up out of bed, as Barbara stirred momentarily, and then fell back asleep. He grabbed his running clothes, and made his way down stairs in just a t-shirt and boxer shorts. He went into the living room and put his running clothes near the other stuff he would need for the race, which he laid out last night, shoes, socks, a water bottle, watch, hat, race bib, safety pins, and snacks.

  Confident he was ready; he took a seat in his chair, a big blue cushioned number that had built in leg support with the flip of a lever. A perfect friend for his body when the big game was on or the day was just a little too rough. Today it wasn’t sports that caught his attention, but more talk of the growing controversy in the Middle East. Danny usually didn’t watch the news because it depressed him, but this story was catching his attention more and more these days. He stomached just enough of it in order to get caught up.

  TV ANCHOR:

  In foreign news today, The Middle East Nuclear Arms Association had more harsh words for not only the United States, who were among the first nations to criticize them, but also for the nations supporting the United States. This group, which the media is now calling T.M.E.N.A.A., promises a reaction soon to the ever growing presence of resistance around them. They released a statement earlier stating that soon all the world will know their power and might. That the world would suffer for their meddling. That it was time to show everyone what they were capable of. The president had this to say when asked about it . . .

  Danny turned the channel and found a sitcom worth watching. He settled in and relaxed. After the episode was over, Danny made oatmeal and poured a big glass of water. This was what he ate before he ran in the mornings or before races. He found oatmeal to have the right amount of substance to fill him up, but not weigh him down. Some of his best runs had come after a hot bowl of oats.

  Once breakfast was over, and a couple more episodes of the sitcom completed, Danny shut off the TV and prepared for the 5K. He placed the water bottle, watch, hat, and snacks into a bag and put it by the front door with his keys, phone, and wallet on top. The running clothes, shoes, socks, and bib he took with him into the half bath.

  Moments later, Barbara’s voice startled him. “Are you about ready to leave?”

  Danny turned to see Barbara standing there, sleep like a blanket across her face, eyes drooping, yawning. She was dressed in pajama bottoms and a long sleeve top – one of his old Jimmy Buffett concert shirts. He thought he could just skip the race and have her right then and there. She looked that good. He controlled those urges and pushed them back. He would use that for fuel when the race got a little bit tough.

  “What are you doing up?” Danny was almost fully dressed, but he was having trouble with the race bib, which always gave him fits. He could never get it straight across his chest when he did it himself.

  “I didn’t want you to leave without saying goodbye and wishing you luck.”

  “You really didn’t have to. I know you’re not a morning person.”

  She stepped into the bathroom and slid in front of him, butt against the sink. “Who else would fix your bib?” She finished her work, and it was perfectly placed across his chest. “There, all better.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Nervous?”

  “Somewhat. I know I’ve run this distance a couple times before, but I still get the butterflies before I go. I think it might be the crowds. So many people just gathered in one spot. It’s intimidating.”

  “You know, you have about fifteen minutes before you have to leave.”

  “I can’t. I need my energy. It helps, believe me.”

  “Are you sure?” She leaned over and kissed his neck, his ear, and then his lips. He returned the kiss with passion, and she returned it back. Danny could feel himself getting larger in the shorts. Man he wanted her so bad.

  “Just a little,” Barbara replied, as she slid her hand down inside his shorts and grabbed it, massaged it, encouraged it.

  She really wasn’t playing fair, and Danny, of course, was done for. He couldn’t help it. This time he was going to have to break his no sex before a race rule. He slid his shorts down, revealing himself to the bathroom (running shorts are a lot like swimming trunks with a mesh lining inside so you don’t have to wear underwear), and to Barbara. She slid off the sink and slipped off her bottoms. She then jumped back up onto the sink and opened her legs. A second later Danny was kissing her and she was guiding him inside.

  It took about six minutes to complete.

  They cleaned up and dressed.

  “That was fun,” Danny replied.

&
nbsp; “Sorry if it messed you up today. It just seemed like -”

  “The perfect moment, I know. We don’t get them as much as we use to.”

  “After twenty years of marriage, you take it when it presents itself.”

  “I better go.”

  “I’ll see you to the door.”

  They walked out of the bathroom hand in hand. At the door she kissed him long and deep, he returned it.

  “I love you,” he replied.

  “Love you.”

  He collected his stuff and made his way out to the car.

  Barbara thought about going back to bed, but decided against it. The kids weren’t up yet, so she thought a good cup of coffee and a TV show would be better than sleep. She went into the kitchen and got her day started.

  *

  Danny arrived at the 5K, which was being held in Cary, NC, and it seemed to him that this town always had a big turn out when it came to running races. He had run a few other races in a few other spots; but this town, when it held a race, it really brought out the crowds. Today was no different.

  Danny parked his car, turned off the engine, and sat there a moment. He said a silent prayer, checked his nerves, and stepped out of the car.

  The brisk morning air hit him all at once. He rubbed his arms, stretched his legs, and tried to warm up. He then fought the crowd to the start/finish line.

  This area was set across a road, which ran between two large brick buildings. This created a wind tunnel effect, which only increased the cold of the morning. Danny shivered and ran in place to stay loose and warm, trying to slip his mind into race mode. He watched the countdown clock clicking down with big red numbers. He felt his nerves tighten, as he looked down to make sure the timing chip was tight on his shoe. It was.

  The race started, the runners bunched, and filed through the tight start/finish line.

  Danny started out slow, letting the pack go ahead; time was no issue for him. He just wanted to run and enjoy it.

  Mile 1:

  Danny’s legs were tight and hurting. His shins were also screaming at him because he didn’t warm up enough. He thought about stopping because of the pain. He pushed on.