Chapter 2 – Where Everyone's Been
Writers note – The series ended its run in 2000, so the dates make sense if you assume the anniversary takes place in 2010 C.E..
Peter looks around his office for no particular reason as Josh follows him in. It was most likely a habit developed from years of kids waiting in his office. He turns around to look at Josh.
"You always did have a talent for taking the joy out of the room," says Peter with a touch of resentment.
"Thank you," says Josh with a complete lack of expression. "Here's your check," says Josh handing Peter a check from his wallet. Peter looks at the check.
"Most people choose a round number you know and this isn't even your name," says Peter.
"I've never been most people and I changed it. It's not like I have strong family ties," says Josh. Peter looks at Josh hoping for a glimmer of insight into the answer he asks for,
"Where have you been for twelve years?"
"A lot of places Peter, I've been to most of the worst places on the planet. It all really depends on where I've been needed," says Josh.
"Let me guess, Iraq and Afghanistan are obvious, but where else…" says Peter. He pauses for a moment, and says "Bosnia," in a kind of half guess.
"Kosovo 2000. Don't ask about the rest. Let's just say I'm a Boisfeuras these days," answers Josh.
"A what," asks Peter with a look of befuddlement.
"Peter, just take it as one of those things that I will and you'll never understand. You've had enough practice at it. Granted you may be rusty at it these days," says Josh.
"Are you happy," asks Peter.
"I don't think in my case that really applies," says Josh.
"Do you enjoy what you do," asks Peter.
"I find fulfillment, a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Some people build houses, you help wayward children, I kill people. We both aim to achieve the greater good. I just do it differently. Robert Kaplan once said something great about Machiavelli's morality. He said that Machiavelli's morality may not be your morality or my morality or Judeo-Christian morality, but it is morality nonetheless. Don't judge me by your standards or I'll start calling you Piero Soderini," says Josh.
"Who," says Peter.
"Piero Soderini. He was the subject of a poem by Niccolo.
'The night Piero Soderini died,
'He left for Hell via the common stair.
'But 'Not for your sort!' was what Pluto cried;
''We have a Hell for little boys. Go there!'" says Josh reciting the poem.
"Why is it I always feel like you're just messing with my head," asks Peter somewhat rhetorically.
"Imagine you are a child again, barely old enough to walk and your mom takes you to a lecture on String Theory. Now you're in this room and you need to understand it. That's kind of what you're doing with me; you just don't want to admit it because you're the child. I understood it when I was three, you still don't," says Josh. He turns to leave.
"Are you going to stick around," asks Peter.
"No, if you don't mind I'm going to pop into the old dorm, shower and change. Please do mail me Daisy's number when she asks. The address is on the check," replies Josh as he walks out of the office.
While Peter and Josh were talking in the office, everyone had gathered in the lodge. The fireplace had been started. Peter walks in, unaccompanied by Josh and walks up to Sophie. He kisses her on the cheek.
"Where is he," she asks not seeing Josh.
"He's going to shower and change, then he's gone," says Peter.
"Good riddance," says Kat.
"I don't know, there was something about him that I found fascinating," says Daisy.
"You would," pipes in Shelby.
"What he said in that room," asks Scott unable to think of the rest of his question.
"Probably the most I've ever heard him say about himself in any given year, so I wouldn't know," says Peter hoping to end the discussion there.
"You ever read The Power Tactics of Jesus Christ," asks Sophie. The collective heads shake. "It's an essay collection on psychology. In one of the essays there's a description of how patients used to provoke there doctors to try and create a response. Before medications came into play, psychiatrists were taught to avoid giving off any tone of voice or facial expressions. Patients would be on the couch laying down facing the other way from the doctor and occasionally they would say things like 'I killed and ate my mother last night,' and then turn around to see the reaction."
"You're saying he tried to provoke us," asks Daisy.
"I don't think we'll ever know. It's in his nature to be cryptic and alluding," says Sophie.
"Who are we talking about," asks Kat's husband Hank with two kids in tow.
"Josh," says Kat.
"The Josh? Where is he," asks the incredulous Hank with an involuntarily shiver.
"Gone," says Sophie.
"I'm working the night shift, so I'm going to leave the kids with my beautiful wife and head into town," says Hank releasing his tension with the news. He kisses Kat and hugs the kids' goodbye.
"You two seem happy," observes Daisy.
"Well, we got married after I finished school and Peter needed a counselor here so everything just worked out," says Kat. "What about the rest of you," she asks.
"Well, staying here meant Scott had to walk-on for football in college, but we had an apartment together and after a couple years he went early into the draft. Played in the pros for a few years, went back to school and now he works at our local high school coaching. I stayed in school and work in medical research. No kids," says Shelby with almost a glow to her until she says she has no kids.
"I work in the D.C. morgue as a pathologist. I guess Peter didn't accomplish much by seizing my copies of Mortuary Sciences Monthly. No husband or kids," says Daisy with a smirk in Peter's direction.
"Auggie and I went to school together. He became an engineer and I became a nutritionist." She pauses for the inevitable chuckles. "We got married and have three kids who are visiting their grandparents this weekend," says Juliette.
"Where's Ezra," asks Kat. Peter glances at Sophie, and then speaks.
"He died in a car accident last year. We didn't find out until we sent out the invitation."
"Where's Jessica," asks Juliette looking at Shelby.
"She would rather forget," says Shelby with a wisp of regret in replying to the subject of her sister.
"What's she doing," asks Juliette with her perpetual perkiness.
"Can we drop it Jules," asks Scott.
"She was in our group for a year. I want to know," says Juliette.
"An exception that should never be made even in the most unusual circumstances," points out Kat.
"Come on, those two were going to have to deal with so many issues together there was no way to get around it," remarks Auggie.
"If she wanted you to know, she'd be here," says Shelby with the perturbed tone of old.
"Drop it Jules," says Scott with an authoritative tone, barely stopping Juliet before she could say anything else.
"I think this is a subject for another time," interjects Sophie stepping towards the middle of the two.
"Okay guys, enough," says Peter imperatively, and then laughs. "No matter how old you get, I think I'm always going to think of everyone who I oversaw here as my kids," he says by way of an explanation.
"Daisy, why don't you catch Josh before he leaves, he'll be in the old Ridge Runners Boy's Cabin," says Peter in a half suggestion.
"Sure thing," she says and heads off. The silence lasts a moment before Daisy leaves the room.
"You're really playing matchmaker with those two. Peter, there are days when I think you have no idea how bad people can be," says Shelby. Pausing for a moment, she seems incapable or unwilling to say the words.
"Spit it out Shelby," says Sophie. The reaction of those nearby is shocked not at the words, but at them coming out of her mouth. Sophie had pushed, but never used that tone before to anyone's recollection. It was a sort of flippant, yet imperious tone.
"He scares me. I haven't seen a single person that has scared me since Walt died. He does. It has been over ten years since I felt that," Shelby says in a moment of sharing.
"I saw him up for his workout this morning, that guy is a little nuts. Weighted pull-ups and dips in Peter's garage gym mixed with single leg squats. Then he finished with work on the heavy bag. I know guys who've been to prison who wish they could train with that intensity and they had nothing to do for years but train," says Auggie.
"I have to admit I caught the tail end of it and it was quite intense. Peter isn't that intense and exercise is his addiction. That and helping the kids," says Sophie. Seeing that Peter has shot her a look she says, "Come on, you don't exercise and you get antsy. A couple days and it might as well be withdrawal."
"I saw it at the beginning. It's not intensity, it's focus. He came in with a plan, set it up, got ready and then started without saying a word except to ask me what I would be using after I was done doing what I was doing, but still, that's not that special. It just means it's not haphazard for him. I saw it all the time in the league," says Scott.
"That's just it, you played football, he," Shelby pauses, "What does he do exactly," she asks.
"He's military. 'Same employer different branch' is what he said. He left this place for the Marines," says Kat.
"He kills people doesn't he? It's been almost nine years since 9/11. He doesn't strike me as a desk jockey. He kills people professionally and I'm guessing pretty damn well. He's been doing it for a long time. The number of bodies on his ledger can't be small," says Shelby.
"I suggest we change topics," says Peter with a tone implying it being more than a suggestion.
"As you well know, Peter and I got married. We've been here the whole time. We started the process to turn the place into a non-profit about two years ago. It only happened about a month ago. Alumni donations are always appreciated," Sophie pauses for the laughter before continuing. "Lots of kids, just none we've conceived." The regret in her eye is still there on the subject all these years later and Juliette immediately sees it and starts a group hug.
"What do you say we all go to dinner," says Peter to a largely silent, but unanimous agreement.
Chapter 3 – Scars…
Chapter 3 – Scars…