Chapter 4
It had been several, well, Joxer couldn't really say 'days', but it
had been several somethings since he'd come here. He'd done a lot
of thinking in the interim, and had been back many times to 'the
pool' since his initial contact.
On one hand, he was ecstatic that the girl of his dreams, his Gabby,
was possibly in love with him. But another, and now far larger,
part of himself was ashamed of it. What good could come of it for
Gabby? Her loving him, or possibly loving him, was only causing her
more and more pain. And the knowledge that it was he who was causing
it was more than he could bear. So, though it tore him up to think
it, he wished Gabby didn't love him, so as not to hurt. For Gabby's
well being, he'd sacrifice his heart's desire.
And perhaps, just perhaps, that one unselfish gesture is what led
to what was to come.
But a man can only dwell on the same thing for so long until the
rest of his mind starts to rebel. And for all the weighty thoughts
he had 'thunk', and the good food and company he had, he was
beginning to get bored. He felt the need to do something. And he
said as much to Ollie while they were eating.
Ollie could sympathize, he'd been there himself. A thoughtful look
passed over his face as he looked Joxer over, as though for the
first time again. Having done that, he placed his bowl down and
stood up. And still wearing that thoughtful look he asked Joxer,
"What do you know about archery?"
Caught off guard, Joxer could only answer with a mumbled, "Not
much."
It seemed to Ollie that he'd hit upon a solution to all their
problems. Well, all except how to get out of here.
He was no Richard Dragon, but he could throw a roundhouse right as
well as the next guy, and from what he'd gleaned from Joxer's past,
coupled with Ollie's own assessment of the kid, all Joxer needed
was someone to give him a chance. All he needed was some training.
He had all the tools, just no one'd ever taken the time to show him
how to use them.
They sure had plenty of time now, and training would take both
their minds off their worries.
"Hell," Ollie thought to himself, "it might even be fun."
And though you'd be hard pressed to find a worse role model, Ollie
had done the 'mentor' thing a time or two. Having already decided
on it, he answered Joxer's depreciative reply with a hearty,
"That's about to change."
And with that, their education and the exorcism of both their
private demons began.
It had been several, well, Joxer couldn't really say 'days', but it
had been several somethings since he'd come here. He'd done a lot
of thinking in the interim, and had been back many times to 'the
pool' since his initial contact.
On one hand, he was ecstatic that the girl of his dreams, his Gabby,
was possibly in love with him. But another, and now far larger,
part of himself was ashamed of it. What good could come of it for
Gabby? Her loving him, or possibly loving him, was only causing her
more and more pain. And the knowledge that it was he who was causing
it was more than he could bear. So, though it tore him up to think
it, he wished Gabby didn't love him, so as not to hurt. For Gabby's
well being, he'd sacrifice his heart's desire.
And perhaps, just perhaps, that one unselfish gesture is what led
to what was to come.
But a man can only dwell on the same thing for so long until the
rest of his mind starts to rebel. And for all the weighty thoughts
he had 'thunk', and the good food and company he had, he was
beginning to get bored. He felt the need to do something. And he
said as much to Ollie while they were eating.
Ollie could sympathize, he'd been there himself. A thoughtful look
passed over his face as he looked Joxer over, as though for the
first time again. Having done that, he placed his bowl down and
stood up. And still wearing that thoughtful look he asked Joxer,
"What do you know about archery?"
Caught off guard, Joxer could only answer with a mumbled, "Not
much."
It seemed to Ollie that he'd hit upon a solution to all their
problems. Well, all except how to get out of here.
He was no Richard Dragon, but he could throw a roundhouse right as
well as the next guy, and from what he'd gleaned from Joxer's past,
coupled with Ollie's own assessment of the kid, all Joxer needed
was someone to give him a chance. All he needed was some training.
He had all the tools, just no one'd ever taken the time to show him
how to use them.
They sure had plenty of time now, and training would take both
their minds off their worries.
"Hell," Ollie thought to himself, "it might even be fun."
And though you'd be hard pressed to find a worse role model, Ollie
had done the 'mentor' thing a time or two. Having already decided
on it, he answered Joxer's depreciative reply with a hearty,
"That's about to change."
And with that, their education and the exorcism of both their
private demons began.