Please note the that story below was constructed for entertainment purposes. Cracker Jack makes no attempt to infringe on copyright or make a profit from the following story.
The Rookie - By Cracker Jack
Summer 2017
Richard Stabler sucked in a deep breath and looked down at his immaculately shined dress shoes. Pinching his eyes closed for a brief moment, he willed himself to calm down. It wasn't working.
He straightened the gold cufflink on the left sleeve of his pressed shirt, before quickly pulling a piece of lint from his black dress pants with one white-gloved hand.
Why couldn't he stop fidgeting?
Jesus, why couldn't he calm down?
The excitement was just too much to bare.
Graduation Day. He had been working toward this for over 5 years.
Two years at Bronx Community College. Another two years at NYU, studying pre-law. Months of waiting; background checks; tests. Then, finally 6 months at the Academy in College Point, Queens.
Richard looked back toward the main stage. Soon it would be official. Soon he would be reciting the oath of office with his fellow cadets. Soon the NYPD honor band would march toward the main stage, and officially announce the successful completion of his training, and admittance into the ranks of the NYPD.
He was excited... and nervous. He was feeling everything, really.
For a brief moment he wondered if this was how is father felt when he graduated from the Academy all those years ago.
He glanced quickly over to the stadium seating on the right side of the auditorium. There just inside the aisle at the fourth row of the elevated section, sat Elliot Stabler. His father, sporting a short beard and his per usual closely cut, high-&-tight, wore a blue suit. This was the first time he had seen is father in this level of dress attire in over 5 years. It was a bit jarring.
Elliot had clearly placed himself to be seen by his son, while also making a pointed effort to position himself near his familyÖ but, he chose not to sit with them. It was the polite kind of gesture that Richard would expect from his father. His parents had been divorced since 2013. No doubt his mother would have felt a bit awkward making small talk with her ex at their son's graduation ceremony.
Kathy sat two rows ahead clearly unaware that Elliot had positioned himself a couple rows back. Maureen and her husband Mark were there, too. Kathleen was slouching over her phone just to left; her current boyfriend, Bryan-something or other, draping his arm behind her. Elizabeth was seated just to the other side of her mother, with her partner, Trish. A 9-year old Eli having been squarely placed between the two of them.
Eli, looking very uncomfortable, fidgeted with his tie. He was clearly unsatisfied with what his mother had made him wear to this auspicious occasion. Richard smiled, feeling a certain kinship with Eli in that moment.
His dress blues were itchy.
Looking back to his mother. Kathy, smiled softly. She then nodded toward the front of the auditorium as if to say to him, pay attention.
Richard quickly faced forward, ever the dutiful son.
When he had told his mother that he would be applying to the academy over a year ago. She had protested at first. She had said that he would end up just like his father. Alone. His mother had corrected herself immediately after that saying this. Apologizing...
"I'm sorry, Rich... I don't mean to speak poorly of your father. He's not a bad man. I just... you saw what that job did to him, to our family.?
Richard stooped his head to look his mother in the eye. The last year of high school and first year college had been generous in terms of Richard reaching his full height, and he now stood at 6 ft 2 in. His mother stood squarely at 5 ft 5. When he caught his mother glance, he followed up softly. "I know. I'm not dad. Besides, I'm not doing this for him."
He turned toward the living room where the sounds of his twin sister, Elizabeth, gently speaking to his 7-month old son could be heard. "I'm doing this for my family. For Benny, and Jess. It's a good job, with benefits. And, it will help me save some money for Law School. I'll be out of there by the time I'm 30, mom. I swear."
"Uh huh." Kathy Stabler wiped her soapy hands on a dish towel just to the left of the sink. A resigned look taking hold of her features. "Famous last words, Rich. But you, ah, do what you need to do, okay. Whatever you want, I will support you."
Richard rounded the kitchen counter and wrapped his arms around his mother. "Thanks. That means a lot."
Ignoring her still damp hands she pressed her palms to his shoulders, and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Regardless of how things ended between your father and I, he was an excellent cop." She chuckled before letting go. "Makes sense that you wouldn't be half bad at it, yourself."
"Thanks, Mom... I think."
"Atten Hut!"
As if moved by some invisible force. Richard rose to his feet. Months of conditioning told him to do so.
It was time! Everything from here on out was about two things for Richard. Providing for his wife and son, and saving for law school. Nothing was going to get in the way of that.
This was a bold choice, he knew. One with risks, but also with rewards.
Richard would learn from his father's mistakes. Being a cop was not going to be his life; it was going to serve his life... by putting him on a path to achieve his goal of becoming a lawyer.
He would not allow himself to fall in the same traps as his father. He was going to do better.
This was the start of something great!
"Raise your right hand, and repeat after me." A thickly accented Brooklyn Deputy Commissioner stated firmly from the corner of the main stage. "Ready, move!"
Over 800 cadets moved in sync, all raising their right hands at once.
"I do hereby pledge and declare...
... to uphold the constitution of the United States...
...and constitution of the state of New York...
... To faithfully discharge my duties as a police officer...
... in the New York City Police department..
... to the best of my ability, so help me God...
"Congratulations!"
In that moment, Richard looked back to the stands. His wife Jess rose from her seat, their toddler son perched on her hip. She waived enthusiastically.
Behind her, in the fourth row, Elliot Stabler stood tall, still looking a like the giant Richard believed him to be when he was a boy. His father clapped firmly; a broad smile stretched across his face.
Thanks for Reading. More to come.
