Just Another Job

by Casey Peterson

  “What's up? You were fucking fast to get here.”

  “Yeah, I —“

  “I ran into Chris a little earlier and we just stuck together for the last part of the game to make things easier. Why did you want to sit with me too?” said Johnykin.

  Chris looked away.

  Frank didn't believe them. He knew when Chris was lying, but fighting back a side of him he let it go. Chris was surprised to see Frank not confront him. This job did mean a lot to Frank, thought Chris.

  “Alright, let's go,” said Frank.

  Their ride waited patiently outside the security gates. Nothing was said as they piled in. Frank took his phone out as he sat down to show Chris how much he did not want to chat. Chris pulled out his own phone, but before he could even unlock the home screen Frank blurted out.

  “Shit.”

  “What?” asked Johnykin, while whipping her head around to find more meaning behind the single word.

  Frank held up his phone. Johnykin lowered her eyebrows at the screen, read quickly, and turned back around with only one comment, “That's terrible.”

  Chris looked up to the front windshield to catch her reflection. He was ready to say something consoling, thinking she was hurt by whatever was on Frank's phone. Instead her face was stone angry. Chris looked back to Frank who was scrolling on his phone again. Forgetting Frank's icy demeanor towards him, Chris grabbed the phone to see what it was all about.

  Frank was surprised by the decisive act and held back a laugh before reaching for his phone.

  Chris read the headline out loud, “Cubs Win but Supers Save Game,” just as Frank regained control of his phone.

  “It was a terrorist attack,” said Frank. “Or rather an attempted one. Grant and Alan took them out before the bombs could go off.”

  “What the hell?” said Chris, to himself more than anyone.

  “Look it up on your own phone,” said Frank.

  Chris’s mind jumped back to his eavesdropping from earlier, but thought better of saying anything out loud after taking another look at the boiling fury in the front seat that was Johnykin. He had to get it out, though.

  Chris typed into his phone, “I heard Erik and Johnykin over the radio. They were planning something.” He sent it to Frank.

  Frank's phone buzzed in reply. He saw Chris's name and immediately looked over, but Chris was trying to play it cool. Chris's eyes were out the window; his thumb tapped up and down on his phone's screen waiting for the private conversation to continue.

  Frank typed the fewest words he could. “Planning what?”

  Chris's phone rattled in his hand even after trying to muffle it against his thigh. “Don't know. She called it off. He sounded pissed. Now she's pissed cause of what happened in Chicago. You know something?”

  Frank didn't try to cover up his phone's vibration and ended their dialogue with his next message, “Don't know anything. You're paranoid and our texting is FUCKING OBVIOUS.”

  Chris glanced at his screen casually when his phone received the text. Their texting probably was obvious and he dropped the idea of pushing Frank for more information.

  The traffic leaving the park made the normally short trip to the labs agonizingly long. No one talked again, vocally or electronically, and Chris had worn out his usual stomping grounds for internet chatter. The lack of input made Chris's head droop several times, but he forced himself to stay slightly awake amidst the present company and circumstance.

  At the labs, the SUV pulled up to the entrance and the three hopped out. It was getting close to five. Chris wondered if he could duck out early and was answered rather promptly.

  Erik stepped through the main doors and into the direct path of the moody trio. His outstretched arms and beaming grin were jarring to behold. Chris sped up to try to make it past the Walmart greeting, but only put himself in a position to take the most of Erik's exuberance.

  “Chris, my boy wonder,” said Erik, while grabbing Chris's shoulder to make any escape impossible.

  “Great game you missed,” said Frank, who stopped to talk out of a sense of duty to the boss.

  “I heard, I heard,” said Erik. “I'm so glad everything went without a hitch. A little downtime can be so helpful in building camaraderie.”

  Johnykin took the longest to reach Erik's roadblock. When she finally did step up her truculent pose screamed hostility. Erik picked up the pace of his planned speech but relished the emotions on display.

  “Sad, terrible news came in while you three were enjoying yourselves, unfortunately. In Chicago —“

  “We heard,” said Johnykin.

  “I bet,” said Erik and smiled. “This really shined a spotlight on our – you're – potential for doing good in the world. I think this little team can be just as special and recognized as any other Supers out there. So what the heck. Get cleaned up and take the rest of the day off. Big things lie ahead. I can feel it.”

  Erik clapped his hands together at the end to signal his release on them.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Just like every news story surrounding the Supers, the coverage was epic in its scope. Special news casts in the middle of sitcom reruns showed exclusive video caught by amateurs with cellphones. Interviews with baseball players about how they felt being protected doing what they love on ESPN. Bored teens shared their reactions on YouTube as they watched the daring clips of the almost tragedy on YouTube. Mothers and other Facebook addicts created memes of support for these American heroes. The Supers were bigger and more loved than ever.

  Even at home with every media blaring device put away, Chris dealt with the news in an old fashioned manner.

  “Hey Dad, did you hear —“ said Louise, before her father put his hand up to stop her.

  “Yes, honey. I heard,” said Chris.

  “Crazy right? Mom's going to be pissed.”

  “Why is she going to be pissed?”

  “Are you sure you heard?” Louise paused, not wanting to be cut off again. “People are putting up petitions online and stuff about sending the Supers overseas. They've only found Supers here in America and think we should be helping out around the world more.”

  Chris wanted to respond. He knew he was working with a frail connection with his daughter. She wanted her voice to mean something to him. “Uh, wow. Mom is going to be pissed. What do you think?”

  Again Louise waited. This time partially to think about an answer but still to check if this was going to be a real conversation or not. “It's asking for trouble. Just because they can jump and are strong and whatever doesn't mean they all want to be soldiers. I know you fought that guy in the mall, but you're not really a fighter. Are you, Dad?”

  “Uh, no. I don't want to fight, but sometimes I think it might be necessary.”

  “When do you know it might be necessary? You might just be making more problems than there were before. Gerry acts all proud of you, but just like Mom we don't want you out there fighting. You're not even a Super.”

  “Hey, I hold my own.”

  “You don't need to.”

  “It's a job. It takes care of us.”

  “Maybe it's not the right one.”

  “How would you know what the right one is?!” Chris's words weren't loud enough to echo through the house, but they were clear enough to end any more discussion with his daughter. He tried anyways, “I’m sorry. I just…”

  Before the tears could leave her eyes she turned and ran to her room. Chris was glad the questioning had stopped but knew he needed to fix the damage before it got worse. He moved slowly down the hallway with his eyes tracking the floor and his brain running through apologies. At Louise's door, he looked up ready to knock but caught Sadie out of the corner of his eye.

  She took her time also walking over and then shook her head 'no' in the direction of Louise's door. Continuing her unnaturally slow movements, Sadie grabbed Chris's hand and led him back to their bedroom. She sat him on the corner of the bed and closed the door.

/>   It was her turn to question and possibly yell. Chris looked in her eyes; definitely yell. Her lips opened slowly. He clenched the bed sheet in anticipation.

  “What…” It wasn’t loud and it stopped right there. Chris was confused. Then she cried and slumped into his lap. He cradled her, believing it was the right thing to do even with an adult that never wanted to be treated like a baby in all her life.

  Thinking on it, Chris gently pulled her up and pressed his forehead into hers to end the uncharacteristic moment. Sadie opened her eyes to look at him and closed them again as more tears came. Chris put her chin on his shoulder in order to pull her in for another embrace, but she dug her brow into his chest instead and pushed away.

  Sadie wiped her cheeks and then clenched her fists around his shirt in a posture primed to pummel him. One hand came down hard on his chest and then the other, yet softly.

  Chris couldn't keep going along. “I'm sorry.”

  “For what?” Sadie stared red-eyed.

  “For taking this job. For leaving you and the kids here.” A part of him wanted to add some bite to the end, but clearer thoughts stifled it down.

  “That's not something to be sorry about. You don't have anything to be sorry for.”

  “Yes, I am. I shouldn't have ever went along with this. It's ridiculous to play around like a kid fighting bad guys.”

  “What? Fuck! Are you —What is going on with you? Is that what you think you're doing? What are we talking about here?”

  “My job. Leaving to another country. I thought we were...”

  “Yes, but how can you say that now. Especially when we both know you're still going to go. You can't think like that.”

  “Why not? You've been thinking of it that way. Haven't you?”

  “Yes. I have. That doesn't mean you should too. You need to make your own decision on this. God, Chris! This is not what I want to hear.”

  “What do you want to hear?”

  “Aaaaahhh! I can't tell you. It means nothing if I tell you. No! How can you leave us if you don't even know?”

  “Who knows if I'm going? It's just a guess. I'm only a sidekick.”

  “Of course they're going to send you. Don't pretend or try to make me feel better that it might not.”

  Chris slapped his knees in frustration. He had no idea the direction the conversation was going. He wasn't even sure about what was said or not said in the first place.

  “You need to make a decision,” said Sadie.

  “About what?”

  Sadie threw her head into her hands to muffle a scream.

  “What do you want from me? What do you want me to say?” said Chris.

  “I just told you!”

  It was too much. Sadie couldn’t keep herself next to a living indecision. She made her way past the door and into the living room in what seemed like two loud steps. Chris sat by himself, puzzled.

  The moment was difficult. An emergency or some sort of brainless responsibility would have felt like a godsend right now to Chris, but instead he was given time to ruminate.

  What does Sadie want? No. What do I want? I don’t know. How long should I sit here? Does she want me to go talk to her? I don't know what to say to her still. What the hell am I doing? I'm sitting here, thinking. No, I mean with this job. It's not me. I can't quit. We need the money. What about Johnykin? Frank? Fuck. No. Decide. Just choose.

  “Hey, Dad,” said Gerry. He stood at the door, unsure if he was welcome.

  “Hey, son. Come over here.”

  “What’re you doing?”

  “What am I doing? What’re you doing?”

  “Umm, talking to you, I guess.”

  “I was just thinking.”

  “Okay.”

  Chris felt off and terrible at the same time because he was throwing his son for a confused loop. “How was school? Got any dates yet?”

  “Nooo. School was fine. Are you going somewhere?”

  “Well, I don't really know yet... Why do you think I'm going somewhere?”

  “Simone said his dad was going somewhere to fight terrorists. I figured you would go with him. Wouldn't you?”

  “That’s some heavy stuff…Yeah. Maybe. I don't know yet. That's what I was thinking about.”

  “Why do you have to think about it?”

  “Uh. You have some difficult questions little kid. It's like you're trying to make me think overtime.”

  “I didn't mean to. I was just asking.”

  “Oh, I know. I know...” They sat. Chris stumbled through a couple more attempts at small talk until his son made up an excuse to leave.

  Strike three, thought Chris. Alone again with time to think didn't necessarily lead to anything new or profound. Really it didn't lead to anything except Chris giving up and moving to the kitchen to start dinner. One thought did pop up in the kitchen: would Sadie get even more mad if he suggested a barbecue? Chris made chicken Caesar salad.

  Dinner was quiet. After dinner was quiet too, except for the television. Goodnights were brief. In bed just before ten, Chris stared up at the ceiling. Sadie stared down at her iPad.

  They both waited, one more actively than the other. Sadie kept Chris's every movement in her peripheral vision. She needed him to do something. The suspense boiled in her and at times she enjoyed it. This wasn’t one of those times. A resolution had to form. Sadie couldn’t wait any longer. She shut her eyes, threw down the iPad, and began to turn over to her husband.

  Chris was already facing her. Sadie jumped and grabbed at her chest. “Shit, you scared me.”

  “I’ve made a decision. Erik is gonna have us leave on some mission. I don’t want to abandon my job.”

  “Abandon? Like you’re abandoning your family.”

  “Please, let me finish.”

  “Go ahead. Finish.”

  “I’m going wherever he asks us and then I’m done. I’ll quit. In fact I’ll tell him before, like a two weeks’ notice.” Chris was proud of himself. He had come to a decision nearly on his own.

  “Really?” It wasn't the ecstatic response he expected.

  “Yeah, really. I thought...” Chris thought better this time and didn't finish the sentence.

  “Good. I'm glad you think that's what you should do.”

  Again Chris made the wise decision and didn't comment further. He just burned holes in the ceiling with his eyes while Sadie turned away, finishing what talking they actually did.

  Chris felt like he barely slept and didn't want to believe his phone’s alarm when it jingled to life. He turned it off and lied dangerously on his back. Five more minutes he thought. He could wake himself up.

  Then a heavy arm fell across his chest, followed by a leg entwining itself around his own, and finally a forehead snuggled roughly into his cheek. Chris put his free arm on top of Sadie’s and opened his eyes. At least he didn’t have to worry about falling asleep again. The side of his face became damp and he felt a drop on his ear. Sadie pulled away to lie on her back.

  This only made the tears fall in streams making wet blotches on the pillowcase. Now it was her turn to burn holes in the ceiling. He didn't know what to say yet, so he wiped away one of her cheeks and nuzzled his head between it and her shoulder. Sadie did the rest. She pulled his arm across her chest and held on tight.

  In the car down the familiar highways and traffic, Chris thought the morning went well. Most of the parts felt familiar, but his and Sadie’s words were like a cold reading. There wasn’t any anger or frustration from last night, just a script to run through that ended with the normal ‘I love you.’

  The lab and even the parking lot were creating their own nostalgia by now. A couple months of work and this setting sucked in emotions earned or not. Chris tried to fight back as he walked through the double doors, but lost the battle as soon as Johnykin ran into him.

  “Hey, good morning,” said Chris.

  “Morning,” said Johnykin, in a far less eager tone. “Erik wants to see us.”

  �
��Yeah. I figured.”

  “We all did.”

  Chris's news of putting in his two weeks stood on the tip of his tongue ready to jump out. It wasn't the right time. He clamped up awkwardly. Johnykin noticed, but she wasn't in the mood. Erik's office was around the corner.

  Frank and Klaus stood at attention inside with Erik already moving quickly through orders. Chris didn't realize Klaus had recovered already. He hadn't thought of Klaus at all lately.

  Erik didn't stop to welcome Chris and Johnykin. He kept racing ahead. “It's obvious this would escalate to the point it has. I wish, personally, that what was discovered and worked on here could have been used towards different goals, but this is a worthy aim. Promises are only given as a necessity of the past, after all. We're going to be moving ahead of the actual call. I've been given the command from my superiors to set you in a position to act immediately.”

  The energy behind Chris's big speech that he choked down earlier found its way back up through an obvious but necessarily, confirming question. “Act on what?”

  Everyone gave Chris the 'duh' look. Then Erik smirked at the foolishness and teeter-tottered between keeping him in the dark and enlightening the child in the most pedantic way possible.

  “Well Chris, act on a peacekeeping mission in Syria. You do know where Syria is, don't you? With the recent atrocities, it’s only right for us to pursue in this direction. You...” Erik paused on Chris to dramatize his next words. “You all have special gifts. And with those gifts should come a certain duty to the world. A duty to those less capable of fighting for themselves.”

  “I thought we were keeping the peace, not fighting,” said Johnykin.

  “You are,” said Erik. “But as dealers in peace, sometimes that means you have to stand up for the little guy.”

  Erik waited only the tiniest moment for Johnykin to reply but she knew better than to tangle with him over words.

  “Everything you need will be packed up for you. You should take in a little training and then I recommend relaxing before we fly out.” Erik clapped his hands together as a signal to disperse.