New excerpt, new story
Storm Troopers of Unity
“What?”
As David’s yelled question worked its way from the table to the rest of the cafeteria, his friends just sat there, stunned. This was not the first time that one of their number had attracted everyone’s attention with a verbal outburst, but that David should do so was somewhat shocking. However, the shock quickly wore off as 60 sets of eyes turned to investigate the source of the yell. They all reacted to the sudden scrutiny in ways that a psychologist would have called “predictable”. David, in keeping with his usual calm and shy nature, stared at his plate, while blushing uncontrollably. Heather glared at the people around them, as if daring someone to say something. Jack kept on looking around, as if trying to find the person who had yelled. Finally, Raphael, who had caused David to yell in the first place, just sat there and looked bored.
After everyone lost interest in them, David looked up and asked, “What makes you think you could get them to be friends? I mean, you’re not exactly on good terms with either of them.”
Rapha answered: “I know, but I have my methods.”
“Have you been drinking, boy? What methods could you possibly use that would get Anne Scott and Bennet Jackson into the same room, much less into a friendship? We are talking about the Anne and Bennet that I know, right?”
“If the ones you know are the leaders of the campus Republicans and Democrats, respectively, then yes.”
David looked at Heather and Jack, as if pleading with them to make some sense of the entire ridiculous conversation. Heather, in turn looked at Jack and said, “You’re his oldest friend, you get to talk some sense into him.” For emphasis, she picked up her tray and started to leave, motioning for David to follow her. “Bye guys, I’ll see you later. Jack, call me and tell me when you want to meet in the library to work on our project. David, come on!”
“You know, I kind of want to see how this one turns out.” He looked at Heather, “But, I guess I could go study for that test. See you tomorrow Jack. Bye Rapha.”
Rapha and Jack waved as their friends moved off. Once they were out of earshot, Jack turned and asked, “Are they going out and I just managed to miss hearing about it?”
“No, why do you ask?”
“Well, did you see the way that David just jumped up and followed her? Seems like a case of romance to me.”
“Jack, have you ever tried arguing with Heather? I once saw one of the ROTC guys try it. He ended up curled into the fetal position, crying like a baby. By the way, weren’t you supposed to talk some sense into me?”
Jack thought for a second, and then he began: “Rapha, you know I love you like a brother…”
“Yeah, irmao, I know.”
“Anyway, don’t you think that this plan of yours is a little crazy? I mean, you’re talking about uniting a Reagan fangirl and a guy who wants to be the next Bill Clinton. I don’t think that they’re going to be very enthusiastic about ending their personal war. Rapha, what are you laughing at?”
Rapha had all of a sudden broken into one of the seemingly causeless laughs for which he was becoming known throughout his dorm. “Jack, would you cut the crap?”
“And talk to you like we normally do?”
“Uhh, yeah.”
“Okay, what’s the score? I know you well enough to know that your plan must have some logical foundation.”
“Quite right, lad. It all begins the way most good plans do, with a visit to Vladimir’s room.”
“Did you place an order?”
“Yep, a liter of Vlad’s finest.”
“What exactly did you have in mind?”
.........................................
With the players and equipment more or less in place for his coup, Rapha now set about preparing himself for the event itself. A consumate plotter, Rapha had been toying with this idea for some time, continuously making adjustments and tweaking the details as new information or better ideas occurred. Six months of planning were about to be subjected to the withering fire of a field test, so he was understandably nervous.
“What?”
As David’s yelled question worked its way from the table to the rest of the cafeteria, his friends just sat there, stunned. This was not the first time that one of their number had attracted everyone’s attention with a verbal outburst, but that David should do so was somewhat shocking. However, the shock quickly wore off as 60 sets of eyes turned to investigate the source of the yell. They all reacted to the sudden scrutiny in ways that a psychologist would have called “predictable”. David, in keeping with his usual calm and shy nature, stared at his plate, while blushing uncontrollably. Heather glared at the people around them, as if daring someone to say something. Jack kept on looking around, as if trying to find the person who had yelled. Finally, Raphael, who had caused David to yell in the first place, just sat there and looked bored.
After everyone lost interest in them, David looked up and asked, “What makes you think you could get them to be friends? I mean, you’re not exactly on good terms with either of them.”
Rapha answered: “I know, but I have my methods.”
“Have you been drinking, boy? What methods could you possibly use that would get Anne Scott and Bennet Jackson into the same room, much less into a friendship? We are talking about the Anne and Bennet that I know, right?”
“If the ones you know are the leaders of the campus Republicans and Democrats, respectively, then yes.”
David looked at Heather and Jack, as if pleading with them to make some sense of the entire ridiculous conversation. Heather, in turn looked at Jack and said, “You’re his oldest friend, you get to talk some sense into him.” For emphasis, she picked up her tray and started to leave, motioning for David to follow her. “Bye guys, I’ll see you later. Jack, call me and tell me when you want to meet in the library to work on our project. David, come on!”
“You know, I kind of want to see how this one turns out.” He looked at Heather, “But, I guess I could go study for that test. See you tomorrow Jack. Bye Rapha.”
Rapha and Jack waved as their friends moved off. Once they were out of earshot, Jack turned and asked, “Are they going out and I just managed to miss hearing about it?”
“No, why do you ask?”
“Well, did you see the way that David just jumped up and followed her? Seems like a case of romance to me.”
“Jack, have you ever tried arguing with Heather? I once saw one of the ROTC guys try it. He ended up curled into the fetal position, crying like a baby. By the way, weren’t you supposed to talk some sense into me?”
Jack thought for a second, and then he began: “Rapha, you know I love you like a brother…”
“Yeah, irmao, I know.”
“Anyway, don’t you think that this plan of yours is a little crazy? I mean, you’re talking about uniting a Reagan fangirl and a guy who wants to be the next Bill Clinton. I don’t think that they’re going to be very enthusiastic about ending their personal war. Rapha, what are you laughing at?”
Rapha had all of a sudden broken into one of the seemingly causeless laughs for which he was becoming known throughout his dorm. “Jack, would you cut the crap?”
“And talk to you like we normally do?”
“Uhh, yeah.”
“Okay, what’s the score? I know you well enough to know that your plan must have some logical foundation.”
“Quite right, lad. It all begins the way most good plans do, with a visit to Vladimir’s room.”
“Did you place an order?”
“Yep, a liter of Vlad’s finest.”
“What exactly did you have in mind?”
.........................................
With the players and equipment more or less in place for his coup, Rapha now set about preparing himself for the event itself. A consumate plotter, Rapha had been toying with this idea for some time, continuously making adjustments and tweaking the details as new information or better ideas occurred. Six months of planning were about to be subjected to the withering fire of a field test, so he was understandably nervous.