FF – Pushed Too Far
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Na’ama Yehuda.
He’d found the bauble in a bin. Not the meal he’d hoped for, but still… looked nice over his sleeping bag.
The sharp crack of an air rifle woke him. Around him lay his shattered bauble. A lad – no more than twenty – stood, laughing.
“Alright, grandpa!”
The lad lifted the air rifle and shot again, again. The snow spurted to the left, the right.
“Run, useless tramp!”
He fumbled in his bag, retrieved a souvenir from a long forgotten war, and blew the lad’s brains out. They looked kinda pretty in the snow.
No respect. Sometimes he wished he’d died in the Gulf.
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draliman on life 
Fair enough!
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He thought so!
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Don’t mess with Grandpa! Sad that there are so many homeless veterans.
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It is 😦
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Oh, coo. Savage retribution, Ali. You set up the situation admirably. The line, “and blew the lad’s brains out. They looked kinda pretty in the snow” brings a depth of moral indignation that is palpable. Well done!
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it 🙂 He’s feeling pretty empty by now I think.
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Wow! ‘Grandpa’, took care of that problem vehemently! Good story, well done!
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Thanks, there’s no messing with “grandpa”!
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No kidding!
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Can you blame him? He’s right. There is no respect from these young hooligans!
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Exactly! Good job he had his war souvenir handy!
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Yes!
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Oh my, I was NOT expecting that, but oh my, am I pleased he fought back. I feel bad for the homeless, starving veterans at the cruel hands of so many of our youth today. The governments they served under should feel shame for treating them so shabbily.
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That’s one youth who won’t be bothering anyone else, anyway.
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A long forgotten war from the early 90’s. Now I feel OLD!
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Heh, me too!
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Dear Ali,
I didn’t see that ending coming. Always best to keep your souvenirs loaded.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
In his situation, he’s learned to be prepared for anything.
Ali
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Powerfully done…feels very real, and one finds oneself supporting the ex serviceman…
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Yes, obviously he shouldn’t have shot the lad but I’m glad he did.
BTW I enjoyed your story, quite philosophical dialogue 🙂
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I think a better punishment would have been to shoot off the lad’s “baubles.” Lasting memory there. 😁 😲
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Ha, yes, let him live with what he did 🙂
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That was a very matter of fact dispatching. He doesn’t take any prisoners, does he?
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He doesn’t. I think he’s rather lost touch with his emotions.
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Wow! What a twist in that tale!
And the portrayal of the cocky youngster and the vet with PTSD are so real too.
Yes, I do think the vet’s reaction is real.
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Thanks, I tried to imagine what it would be like to have done so much and then return home emotionally damaged and discarded by the world he’d fought to protect.
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This is why I hate guns – everything gets blown out of proportion.
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It does. And everything can become very final.
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Love the dark humour in this. No messing with grandpa, as it should be.
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He deals with nonsense in a very permanent way.
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i guess the lad didn’t know what was coming. 🙂
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No, not a clue.
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A sad testament to how we treat our vets in some places. Have to say the lad deserves it…
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He did. Maybe not anything so permanent but I’m on the vet’s side still.
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Powerful story! So sad.
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Thanks, yes 😦
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Wow! Didnt see that ending coming! Hugs! Xo
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Me neither – what a shocker 😮 🙂
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