Autumns Past
Lunchtime
Kevin and Milton were sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch. With Milton was his new girlfriend, Lisa, a classmate in his shakespeare class. She read her homework for that days class while the guys talked.
"I'd like you to explain this new hairdo of yours." Kevin said referring to Miltons new head of curly locks.
"Whats to explain?" Milton said self consciously touching his head. "I needed a little change."
"A little?" Kevin laughed. He pointed at Milton. "Weeks ago, he had hair longer than most rock singers." He said to Lisa. "All the way down his back. He almost looked like a girl, an ugly girl but a girl." Milton glared at Kevin. Lisa hid a giggle. "Now he suddenly wants a change."
"I do." He said. "Yearbook photos are in a week or so, I want to look dignified."
"Why?" Kevin asked. "If you arent dignified now, whats your chances for next week?"
"I want to be a teacher." He said proudly. "Those who can teach..."
"And those who can't jerk off in the teachers lounge. What is this hairdo called?"
"The Micky Dolenz." He said. Kevin started to laugh. "Seriously."
"It's seriously scary, man." Kevin said as Harry plopped down next to them. Lauren laid her tray next to him.
"So whats up?" Kevin asked. "I hear you've been drafted."
"I have. They want me to be all I can be." Harry said. "They obviously don't know me." Harry looked at Milton. "Apply for clown college? That hair will go over real well. Ronald McDonald himself couldnt love it more."
"This is not Ronald McDonald. This is Micky Dolenz." Milton said getting slightly angry.
"Oohhohh. He's getting mad. His hair might come after us." Harry said.
"Never tease the man with the Monkee hair." Kevin said. "You know what happens."
"What happens?" Lauren asked.
Kevin made a move to say something. "I forgot."
"Uh oh, Guber alert. Pretend to say something socially profound." Lisa said.
"I plan on buying pork bellies." Harry said as Guber approached their table.
"Why?" Lauren asked.
"I want to have a BLT later." Harry said. "Maybe some fries."
"Students. Good Afternoon." Guber said standing behind Harry.
"Good Afternoon Mr Guber." The students replied. Harry made a "gag me" gesture with his finger.
"I saw that Mr Senate." Guber said. "And it surprises me since I hear that you are about to join our fine armed services."
"Where did you hear that?" Harry said turning to him.
"I have eyes and ears everywhere." He said.
"That I'll believe." Harry said. "I gotta go." He said clutching his bag. "I just lost my appetite."
"Not so fast Senate." Guber said. "I just want to extend my hand to you."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"To congradulate you." He said. "I am sure you will make a fine soldier."
"I'm sure." Harry said. "But I'm also sure it will surprise you to learn that I do not intend on going to that war."
"What?"
"Thats right. I do not believe in participating in a war for god knows what with god knows who for god knows what result. Its a bad idea. We should not be over there at all but the US can't keep its nose out of other countries business." Harry said. "I refuse to go in fact, and do something that goe against my belief system."
"I thought you might say that." Guber said. "It doent surprise me as much as it dissapoints me."
"Whys that?" Harry asked.
"I also thought you would make yourself better than where you came from." Guber said. "But it looks like my first impression of you was right all along."
"And what would that be?"
"That you would make nothing of your life. To be content to roam and contribute nothing to society. A cancer, a dangerous growth." Guber said his voice turning slightly cruel. Harry felt himself drop his lunch bag on the floor. The contents spilled out onto the floor. He could feel anger building up in him as Guber continued to speak. "And ultimately you will turn out exactly like I think you will. You will be just like your father, rotting away in jail. Maybe you will even share a cell with him. Wouldnt that be lovely...after all, family must stick together."
With that Harry could take no more from the man, he balled up his fists. Before Guber could figure out what Harry was doing Harry socked him hard in the gut. Guber crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
"Harry!" Lauren said, shocked at this move.
"You never mention anything about my father again." Harry hissed. Guber was crouched on the ground. He was clearly out of breath. "You understand.
Guber gasped and panted. "Security!" He called out haggedly. "Security!"
"Security?" Lauren asked. "Why does he have security here today?" She asked the guys as two guards ran down the hallway.
"Must be for the rally." Kevin said. "HArry you have to get out of her or you'll be busted."
"Right." He said. "Lauren." He said to her.
"I know. I'll meet you later." She said.
"Make it sooner." He said. "This question is more important than ever." He kissed her on the cheek. "Meet me in the library in the anthropology section. In half an hour." He squeezed her and let her go. He ran off in the opposite direction. The guards stopped to help Guber up.
"Not me! After him!" He yelled out as the guards picked him up. They set him on his feet before going out the cafeteria door. "Damn keystone cops." He muttered. He looked at the crowd of students watching him. "What do you want? Detention? Back to class!" He thundered.
"But we're not done eating!" One student called.
"Thats just too damn bad." Guber said. The two guards he sent after Harry came back empty handed. "And they call you guards." He sniffed. "You cant even guard a donut shop." He said as he straighted out his suit. "He can't have gone far." He said looking at Lauren. "Not far at all."
Harry stopped inside the stairwell to the second floor. He huffed and puffed from breathing hard. He sank to the floor and closed his eyes while he caught his breath. He sat there a moment when a hand touched him from above. Thinking it was Guber he shot up into a defensive pose. It was oonly Harvey.
"Mr Lipscultz." He said. "You scared me."
"Sorry about that Harry." He said. Harry wiped his face on a sleeve. "You look troubled son." Harvey said.
"I am. I just been drafted and I just punched Guber in the cafeteria." He said.
"Did you really?" Harvey said. "Did it hurt him?"
"Plenty, he was out of breath."
"Good." Harvey said. "He been trying to boot me out of here for ages. Nice to see he got a little something. Next time though, kid, try a nice uppercut. He won't forget you then."
Harry laughed. "I don't think he will forget me now."
Harvey nodded. "Are you going to go?"
"No." He said.
"Well its your life, even though I don't entirely agree with the things you do, except now, its your choice to make." Harvey said. "Be careful whatever you do." Harvey said.
"Thanks." Harry said. "I think you made me decision a lot easier."
"To do what?" Harvey asked.
"You'll see." Harry as he ascended the stairs to the library. "You will see."
to be continued..
Lunchtime
Kevin and Milton were sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch. With Milton was his new girlfriend, Lisa, a classmate in his shakespeare class. She read her homework for that days class while the guys talked.
"I'd like you to explain this new hairdo of yours." Kevin said referring to Miltons new head of curly locks.
"Whats to explain?" Milton said self consciously touching his head. "I needed a little change."
"A little?" Kevin laughed. He pointed at Milton. "Weeks ago, he had hair longer than most rock singers." He said to Lisa. "All the way down his back. He almost looked like a girl, an ugly girl but a girl." Milton glared at Kevin. Lisa hid a giggle. "Now he suddenly wants a change."
"I do." He said. "Yearbook photos are in a week or so, I want to look dignified."
"Why?" Kevin asked. "If you arent dignified now, whats your chances for next week?"
"I want to be a teacher." He said proudly. "Those who can teach..."
"And those who can't jerk off in the teachers lounge. What is this hairdo called?"
"The Micky Dolenz." He said. Kevin started to laugh. "Seriously."
"It's seriously scary, man." Kevin said as Harry plopped down next to them. Lauren laid her tray next to him.
"So whats up?" Kevin asked. "I hear you've been drafted."
"I have. They want me to be all I can be." Harry said. "They obviously don't know me." Harry looked at Milton. "Apply for clown college? That hair will go over real well. Ronald McDonald himself couldnt love it more."
"This is not Ronald McDonald. This is Micky Dolenz." Milton said getting slightly angry.
"Oohhohh. He's getting mad. His hair might come after us." Harry said.
"Never tease the man with the Monkee hair." Kevin said. "You know what happens."
"What happens?" Lauren asked.
Kevin made a move to say something. "I forgot."
"Uh oh, Guber alert. Pretend to say something socially profound." Lisa said.
"I plan on buying pork bellies." Harry said as Guber approached their table.
"Why?" Lauren asked.
"I want to have a BLT later." Harry said. "Maybe some fries."
"Students. Good Afternoon." Guber said standing behind Harry.
"Good Afternoon Mr Guber." The students replied. Harry made a "gag me" gesture with his finger.
"I saw that Mr Senate." Guber said. "And it surprises me since I hear that you are about to join our fine armed services."
"Where did you hear that?" Harry said turning to him.
"I have eyes and ears everywhere." He said.
"That I'll believe." Harry said. "I gotta go." He said clutching his bag. "I just lost my appetite."
"Not so fast Senate." Guber said. "I just want to extend my hand to you."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"To congradulate you." He said. "I am sure you will make a fine soldier."
"I'm sure." Harry said. "But I'm also sure it will surprise you to learn that I do not intend on going to that war."
"What?"
"Thats right. I do not believe in participating in a war for god knows what with god knows who for god knows what result. Its a bad idea. We should not be over there at all but the US can't keep its nose out of other countries business." Harry said. "I refuse to go in fact, and do something that goe against my belief system."
"I thought you might say that." Guber said. "It doent surprise me as much as it dissapoints me."
"Whys that?" Harry asked.
"I also thought you would make yourself better than where you came from." Guber said. "But it looks like my first impression of you was right all along."
"And what would that be?"
"That you would make nothing of your life. To be content to roam and contribute nothing to society. A cancer, a dangerous growth." Guber said his voice turning slightly cruel. Harry felt himself drop his lunch bag on the floor. The contents spilled out onto the floor. He could feel anger building up in him as Guber continued to speak. "And ultimately you will turn out exactly like I think you will. You will be just like your father, rotting away in jail. Maybe you will even share a cell with him. Wouldnt that be lovely...after all, family must stick together."
With that Harry could take no more from the man, he balled up his fists. Before Guber could figure out what Harry was doing Harry socked him hard in the gut. Guber crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
"Harry!" Lauren said, shocked at this move.
"You never mention anything about my father again." Harry hissed. Guber was crouched on the ground. He was clearly out of breath. "You understand.
Guber gasped and panted. "Security!" He called out haggedly. "Security!"
"Security?" Lauren asked. "Why does he have security here today?" She asked the guys as two guards ran down the hallway.
"Must be for the rally." Kevin said. "HArry you have to get out of her or you'll be busted."
"Right." He said. "Lauren." He said to her.
"I know. I'll meet you later." She said.
"Make it sooner." He said. "This question is more important than ever." He kissed her on the cheek. "Meet me in the library in the anthropology section. In half an hour." He squeezed her and let her go. He ran off in the opposite direction. The guards stopped to help Guber up.
"Not me! After him!" He yelled out as the guards picked him up. They set him on his feet before going out the cafeteria door. "Damn keystone cops." He muttered. He looked at the crowd of students watching him. "What do you want? Detention? Back to class!" He thundered.
"But we're not done eating!" One student called.
"Thats just too damn bad." Guber said. The two guards he sent after Harry came back empty handed. "And they call you guards." He sniffed. "You cant even guard a donut shop." He said as he straighted out his suit. "He can't have gone far." He said looking at Lauren. "Not far at all."
Harry stopped inside the stairwell to the second floor. He huffed and puffed from breathing hard. He sank to the floor and closed his eyes while he caught his breath. He sat there a moment when a hand touched him from above. Thinking it was Guber he shot up into a defensive pose. It was oonly Harvey.
"Mr Lipscultz." He said. "You scared me."
"Sorry about that Harry." He said. Harry wiped his face on a sleeve. "You look troubled son." Harvey said.
"I am. I just been drafted and I just punched Guber in the cafeteria." He said.
"Did you really?" Harvey said. "Did it hurt him?"
"Plenty, he was out of breath."
"Good." Harvey said. "He been trying to boot me out of here for ages. Nice to see he got a little something. Next time though, kid, try a nice uppercut. He won't forget you then."
Harry laughed. "I don't think he will forget me now."
Harvey nodded. "Are you going to go?"
"No." He said.
"Well its your life, even though I don't entirely agree with the things you do, except now, its your choice to make." Harvey said. "Be careful whatever you do." Harvey said.
"Thanks." Harry said. "I think you made me decision a lot easier."
"To do what?" Harvey asked.
"You'll see." Harry as he ascended the stairs to the library. "You will see."
to be continued..
