In Rememberance (standard:drama, 1008 words)
Author: Thomas Keister	Added: Feb 22 2001	Views/Reads: 3452/2092	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A disillusioned war veteran prepares to take a chilling last stand for the memories of that which he fought for.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

on the previous March. This time he found himself smiling, eyes misting 
nonetheless, as the years rolled by in various shades of gray, sepia, 
and grainy color. One minute, he was in his beat-up Packard popping the 
question while Jimmy Cagney blazed across the screen before them, the 
next he was storming Omaha Beach, trying not to drown, get shot, or 
shit himself. Two out of three wasn't bad, he figured. By the time he 
got to the last book, he was laughing more than crying, and the feeling 
was oddly settling. 

Throwing on a sweater and a jacket, Arthur grabbed his keys and went out
to warm up the Eldorado. Backing out of the driveway, Arthur knew he 
was really going to miss that house. There had been some great 
memories, of course, like the time Henry Feldman had passed out in the 
shrubs that one New Year's, or the time Aaron, his punk-ass nephew, was 
visiting and ended up whipping the neighborhood bully's ass in the 
front yard. Maureen had been mad, sure, but boy did she raise holy hell 
when Arthur had taken him to Baskin Robbins to celebrate. Arthur had 
shrugged it off because that was a proud moment for him and Aaron, even 
if he was a punk-ass. 

Meeting the Mayor's aide, he shook hands as firmly and sincerely as
anyone else, slipping his hands back into his jacket pockets 
afterwards. The button was right there and ready. He knew the news 
would whore the whole mess out for everything it was worth, and his 
family would be pestered beyond belief, but at least they would be 
forced to take stock of things. No one had any respect anymore, but 
that would change. Sometime the battle was a losing effort, but it 
always had to be fought to the end. 


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