Cat Snack


I am a warrior.


"Who is that?" I ask my father. The shadowy figure remained at the horizon. It did not live as if it was watching me. Watching my father and I. The sky continued to look gloomy. The clouds darkened blocking the majority of sunlight.

"I don't know." He answers shrugging his shoulders. "Come sit." He says putting his hand on my shoulder.

I turn and see my father sitting in a booth. I look around and see that we are back at Pops' diner. I look around. At first jumping into my memories was pretty cool but it has lost its luster. I ignore my father's gaze.

I'm still angry. Not so much at him but myself. I just yelled at and pushed my dead dad. I feel like I'm losing my damn mind.

"You're late. You've been coming here everyday after your run." He says but I continue to ignore him.

"Where's Jack?" Helen asked smiling as Diane continuously stared at door.

"I'm not sure. Maybe he's just running late." Diane explains still staring at the door.

"How'd the dinner go?" Cindy asked smiling at Diane.

"I thought it went really well." I could hear the self doubt in her voice.

"Maybe Dad scared him away." Helen said looking at herself in the mirror.

"No." Diane snapped back.

"Have you slept with him yet?" Helen asked nonchalantly.

"Helen!" Diane said blushing. I feel my own cheeks get hot.

"You haven't?!" Helen said with a giant smile. "You had him meet our parents before he got a piece of the cat snack?" Helen asked while fighting her own urge for laughter.

"Oh my god, Helen." Diane snapped back turning the reddest I've ever seen her. Diane shakes her head as she walked to the nearby payphone. I assume to call me.

"Oh my god yourself, Dee. You've been out of the game now for a while. I figured you would've hopped on that a lot sooner." Helen chuckled.

"Maybe he had something to do today." Cindy said playfully slapping Helen in the arm. Diane hung up the phone looking disappointed.

"He would've said something." Diane says worried. She stares at the phone thinking. The bells on the door jingled as it opened. Diane turned her head disappointed. "Wait, your friends with Jack right?" She says asking John Bradley, my team leader, he smiles at her boldness.

"I am." He says taking his headgear off.

"Have you seen him? He's usually here by now." She asks trying to hide her worries.

"No ma'am, I haven't. If I do though, you'll be the first to hear." He said with a smile.

For the next couple hours I watch Diane battle between feeling empowered and independent who doesn't need anybody to feeling hurt and vulnerable. She had a rollercoaster of emotions running wild in her head. Diane stared at the clock counting down until her shift ended.

"Go. I'll cover for you." Helen said as she wiped down the table.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Go. Let me know if we gotta burn his apartment down." Helen teased.

I followed her to the bus as she hopped around the bus line. Diane would walk to the diner for work and used the buses when the weather was spotty. I'm surprised that she is able to remember where I live. She has a better sense of direction than most butter bars fresh out of the academy.

As she makes her way up the stairs I find myself inside my apartment. I'm arguing with someone on the phone. I can't remember what the argument was about. I'm wearing a suit and my hair is combed. I shake my head ignoring the person on the other end of the phone. I hear a knock on the door.

"Diane?" I say with a smile. I feel an immense relief. I give her a tight hug and kiss her forehead. "Come inside." She smiles reluctantly coming inside. "Dad, I'll call you back later." I say hanging up the phone.

"I missed you at the diner." Diane said looking around at my near empty apartment.

"Sorry, I had a last minute job interview this morning. I totally forgot about it. Almost missed it." I say nervously when in reality I was at local CIA outfit getting reinstated. "Is everything alright?"

"I just got worried that's all. Did you get the job?"

"I did." I said taking my tie off. I try and tidy up.

"Doing what?" She asked and I want to tell her the truth and the secrecy I am sworn too. I look down at the magazines, and old newspapers.

"Traveling bathroom tile salesman." I say confidently like I did not just make it up from various words I collected from ads and headlines.

"Oh,"

"Where are my manners? Would you like anything to drink or eat?"

"No."

"Diane, is everything alright?" I ask touching her shoulders looking at her.

"Yeah... I just panicked and thought that my baggage was too much." She says rubbing her face. I hug her tight. I had no idea that not showing up at the diner could cause this.

"I'm sorry. Come on, now. I told you I don't scare easy." I explain. I lifted her face up so she could see that I was serious. I go to further reassure her but she kisses me. I feel my heart somersault in my chest.

I do not want to make it sound like she was a prude. We've kissed plenty of times. Even made it out and followed around on a couple times, but we have not gone all the way.

Diane was special. She was not some broad you bring home for one night of fun. She was also a very intricate delicate puzzle that captivated my simple mind.

However I won't lie. I've been looking forward to this moment right here. I was a little wound up. I was returning from a stressful six month tour and as soon as I got home in began my two month chase of Diane. Without going into too much detail I was working with quite a dry spell for a 27 year old version of me.

"Wait," she says pulling away but I continue to smile at her. I feel the spirit take ahold of me. I slowly reach up and take ahold of her blouse. I slowly unbutton the top button. I see her fight a smile as I continue down. Right as I get to the third or forth button she covers my hand with hers. "Not here," she whispers with a smile. I smile even more.

I take her by the hand and lead her to my bedroom. Luckily my room was not terribly disgusting. I had some dirty clothes on the floor and my bedroom was unmade.

I gently lay her on he bed and kiss her again. I begin to unbutton her blouse again as she giggles gently rubbing the back of my head.

"You waited for that?" My father chuckled from behind me. I feel myself getting angry again. One moment I am in pure bliss and then I was dragged back to this. I hope that if I keep my eyes close I can ignore my father.

"Not that I have to explain myself to you, but I did. It was great. She worked a ton and seeing each other was difficult." I explain. I feel an overwhelming need to defend Diane to him.

"Why are your eyes close?" He laughs.

I turn to face him to tell him I don't want to leave and I'm immediately blinded by a bright light. Brightest I've ever seen. Brighter than white phosphorus. Brighter than an eclipse. I shield my eyes and turn away. The light disappears and I immediately panic.

Am I dead? Was that it? That's my last memory. This is how my legacy ends. I take a deep breath ready to accept death with open arms. I open my eyes and see myself laying motionless in a hospital bed at a military hospital.

I've got a tube coming out of mouth and one out of nose... another coming out of my chest. I've got stickers all over. Fancy doctor stickers with wires on my face and chest. The doctor is shining a light in my eyes before taping my eyes shut. The doctor than inspects many torso which is covered by he biggest bandage I've ever seen. It looked like a giant sponge wrapped like a towel. The doctor then nods to the nurse. The doctor puts his penlight in his pocket.

"He's stable enough for transfer to Heidelberg Army Hospital. Should be an hour ride in the C-130." The doctor tells Mac and the team.

The kid looks alright. He kind sunburned. He's struggling to sit still in the wheelchair. He's in a hospital gown and has a cast on his hand and an IV in the other.

"So, he's going to be alright?" Mac asks pointing at my almost lifeless body.

"I don't know. His injuries are severe. When he gets to Heidelberg he will get another surgery. We've stopped the internal bleeding but he needs to see a cardiothoracic surgeon." The doctor explains. "I can't tell you he will be alright. His injuries are severe. I'm surprised he's made it this far... I'm sorry. I have to finish the paperwork so he can be transferred. Mac covers his face hiding his emotions.

"Thank you, Doctor." Matty says, I feel a new sense of worry. Matty's back in the field. I must really be hurt. "I've called his sister. She will be meeting us at Heidelberg as soon as she can." Poor Cricket. I never wanted my work to effect her. My sister will be devastated.

"I should call my Ma." Riley said walking away quietly.

"What was the op?" My father as and all I can do is shrug my shoulders.

"I... I... I don't know... I can't remember."


I think slang names for private parts are hysterical. Hits the funny bone everytime. I couldn't not include it. A little comic relief. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the story. What do you think? Please Review!