Purpose in Life-by policepenguin
Title Purpose in Life
Author'dRamen
Prompt 002. "Beginnings"
Fandom NBC's Heroes
Rating R for Violence, Language, and awful, awful, awful people.
Characters/Pairing Matt Parkman.
Summary How and why Matt Parkman decided to become a cop.
Notes This idea came to me, and it was just too damn cute to not write out. The guy strikes me as the kinda kid who got picked on as a young kid. Hence...this. *waves a hand*
The situation's a little massive, but...I don't condone what happens, and it seems like it might take something kind of big to make Matt decide to become a cop. I'm of the opinion that most everyone feels a compulsion to help people.
Think about it. Hiro wants to be a Hiro, Nathan's a politician and Peter's a Nurse (Both positions where they want to work for the betterment of mankind) Matt's a cop, Niki and Claire provide entertainment and inspiration (...In some cases it might be the wrong kind of inspiration, but c'mon) D.L wants to do right by his family, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to save somebody before he was a convict.
Watch out for stray Meta btw. ;)
*cough*
"Thank you Gregory. I'm sure you'll make an excellent actor. You did such a fine job playing The Toaster in our Christmas play." Mrs. Ramirez dropped her notes, "...Oh fudge, I dropped my list, one moment children..."
Gregory beamed at his teacher and bounced back to his seat as Matt piled papers up around himself, "-You're up next-" Greg slid into his seat and grinned back in Matt's direction, "-Dork."
"...Matthew?" Mrs. Ramirez checked her roster again, "-Sweetheart, it's your turn." She smiled that old-lady smile that Matt found mindnumbing as she twisted her hands into a knot. Clearly she thought this would go as badly as his report on the declaration.
Matt shot Greg a nasty look, "Mrs. Ramirez Ma'am I didn' finish it." This was always a passable excuse. She knew he had issues and stuff with reading and writing-his Mom had come in and patiently explained it (over tears. Which made Matt feel just awful.)
Mrs. Ramirez had been teaching school for several years now. She fixed her pupil with a hard glare, "...Alright Matthew. Be ready to give your report tomorrow."
He sank back into his seat dejectedly.
The rest of the day was little better. Bonnie refused to talk to him again, and then Joe ate his lunch by accident in the cafteria. Joey called it payback for stealing his Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich, but in all fairness both their parents packed them lunches in identical brown bags-
"What'samatter stupid?" Joey grabbed his bag, shoving it in Matt's face, "See this? This says Joey. Can't you read?"
And then everybody laughed. Gregory laughed the loudest of all as Bonnie giggled politely with the other girls. (...Girls were still as foreign as the moon itself, but that didn't mean that Matt and the rest of his classmates at 6th Street Elementary didn't chase them, tease them, or try to rub boogers and leaves in their hair. It was a sign of affection)
There it was. Right straight through the heart, and he'd always liked Joey.
He'd spent the rest of the day miserable and humiliated in the nurses office. 6th street was old and overcrowded. The office was being renovated so he got to spend the rest of the afternoon not only lying down-but with Mr. Pizza.
His name was actually Pizzitzi, but he told all the students that it was perfectly ridiculous and just to call him Pizza and save themselves the trouble. He kept candy on his person at all times, and Matt was one of his favorite students.
"Chin up cornflake." Mr. Pizza said after handing him a snickers bar, "Things can only get better from here."
For once, as the bell rang and Matthew bolted down the street-Mr. Pizza was absolutely right.
Wednesdays his mother worked late at her second job. She hadn't wanted to, but she supported both her son and her husband's mother, so she'd leave Matt in the care of Nana Carmicheal who basically let her grandson do whatever he wanted.
"No spending your dinner money on comicbooks and candy Matthew." Matt said as he skipped to the minimart near their home, "-This is for dinner only. Buy something for you and for your Nana. But here, take-take five bucks. Get yourself something special huh?"
He grinned. Every wednesday he'd come home with Bazooka Joe or a Dick Tracy Comic. The other stuff about superheroes and X-Men that old Man McGuinness had at the drugstore were perfectly ridiculous. He'd only thumbed through the Hulk once, and even then the print was so small and he kept messing up some of the words...
Don't think about that
Matt's mind strayed to the dumpster where he'd thrown the two scribbled sentences about his ideal career profession. Even now he couldn't remember what exactly he'd penned, something about wanting to become some other school's Mr. Pizza.
The Mini-Mart had seen better days, but it served as the lifeblood for the Parkman family. Rosaritos Mexican, Doug's Donuts, McGuinness's drug store with authentic old soda fountain.
They were friends.
More then friends. They were extended family. When Matthew Parkman Senior had walked out on his wife and baby son, Juan and Anita had cooked for an unconsolable Joleen. When Matt broke his arm falling off the roof, Doug called the paramedics.
"-Hola Matt!" Juan stood in the door of his restaurant, "-Where you off to nino?"
Matthew could barely contain himself. He blazed across the intersection waving frantically, "...Today's Wednesday! I want a carne asada burrito and three stuffed tacos with-" He tripped over his shoelace, spilling papers and Dick Tracy comics all over the parking lot.
Pain announced itself throughout his body, his knees screaming. He let out a wail as footsteps thundered across the treacherous concrete and strong arms helped him back to his feet.
"...Matt! Matt!" Juan put a hand on his shoulder, "You okay lil' fella? Gracias Senior for helping him-"
"-S'okay." a strange voice said, "...Poor fella. Where's the fire lil' buckaroo?"
Matt turned to sniffle, wail for more attention-when he realized he was looking at a cop.
Big Shiny Badge, Blue Uniform, they even had a real squadcar. Dick Tracy had lept off the pages of his books and been given life by his pain.
The cop grinned, reaching down to pick up one of Matt's lost comicbooks, "...Dick Tracy huh? I used to read these all the time."
"He still reads them." Matt jumped as a pretty brunette handed him a stack of papers, "-Here ya go kid."
"...TH-than-thank you-" He wiped tears out of his eyes, he was not going to let real policemen see him crying!
"...No problem son." The woman patted him on the head as the man rose to his feet, "Serving and protecting. That's what we do."
He couldn't stop staring as Juan led him back to the store to see to his wounds.
----
An Hour Later Matt had a new comic book, bandages on both of his knees and four stuffed tacos along with his burrito. Whistling to himself he walked home, trying to ignore the stinging in his kneecaps.
...Those cops were so cool. Sure you saw "Officers of the law" around all the time, but they were usually too busy, or they looked at him funny.
Those two...they hadn't seen the "Fat kid" Like that dumb say no to drugs cop. They really wanted to help people.
His musings gave way to the comic book in front of him. Dick Tracy had nice big print that made it easy to read. And Tracy used simple words with all the action of any superhero and-
Something shattered the calm of the street.
Matt stopped. He was two doors away from his house.
It happened again.
That's a cat!
It sounded like Houdini.
Houdini wasn't his cat. He belonged collectively to the housing complex. But he always rubbed up against Matt's legs and did that funny paw thing whenever Matt would pet him. Houdini was in trouble!
The Yowl was louder now, more insistant and filled with pain.
He ran to his apartment, threw the food at Nana, and bolted back out the door to the Alley.
The yowls were everywhere, and the alley was way too dark. The super kept saying he was gonna fix the light-
...S'nothin' to be scared of..
It flickered uncertainly, casting Matt's shadow across the far off fence.
..No-nothin' to be scared of..
"...Heh. Stupid Cat."
"...Christ on a fucking cross it stinks." Something thumped and Houdini yowled again.
...Okay. Turning around now... Matt backed up a step, ...Turning around-going back-going back-
His heart was pounding.
"...Here Kitty Kitty-"
"FUCKIN' CAT!"
"Got you good didn' he Frank?"
"Shut the fuck up!"
"...Okay Matt. Options."
He was not Dick Tracy.
Momma had a gun. She kept it in the top of the closet, but he couldn't shoot somebody-kill somebody right?
No.
That wasn't right.
But Houdini was in trouble!
"...Go get Nana."
Nana was almost 80.
"...It's just a cat." Matt was almost out of the alleyway and back to the apartments.
Houdini Yowled again.
"...He's just a cat." He stood on the first step back home.
Matt remembered the soft feel of the animal's fur in his hands. Houdini..Houdini listened.
"Hey! You stupid badguys!" He meant to sound tough. Strong. Like Dick Tracy when he busted in a door, "...Stop-hurtin..houdini?"
The Alleyway was lit by a lighter. Houdini was a half-burned former shell of himself, yowling and hissing, lying his side between three high school punks.
"...Oh...shit."
He was in way over his head.
Indulgence of his family and friends proved the death of him. One of the high school punks pointed, and his friends moved like shadows to catch him. Matt screamed, jogging for the stairs-
"...What've we got here huh? Big 'tuff herow gonna save the kitty?"
Houdini, apparently grateful, struggled to limp toward the boy.
"...Aww. Ain't it sweet." One of the goons kicked him, "...Goodyear blimp wants ta be the big tuff man."
The insult rolled off Matt like his tears, "...Please-Please just let me go-I swear-Keep the cat-I-WhyWhy are you doing this??"
"Shaddup." The Leader hit him, a full on suckerpunch to the face, "You'll speak when you're spoken to goodyear."
"...Hey Frank. Let's Burn Him."
"..S'good idea. I was thinkin we try to be a little more helpful. We're close ta beverly hills goodyear. I'm gonna give you your own makeover."
Matt did not remember his mind giving the order to scream.
Something...Something deep inside of him reared up and he started screaming. He swung a fist at the goon holding his arms-the boy grabbing his wrist and bending it backwards in surprise-
All the while screaming.
Everything went slow then. Something big and white and black and blue and red sped out of the darkness.
Matt fell back against the garbage can, sitting in a cheesy stain, too...too shocked to sob or demand attention and consoling.
The cops.
The one from the donut shop. The ones who'd helped him up.
The guy had the leader and his friend pinned before Matt could blink. His partner handed him another pair of cuffs as one of the goons dropped to his knees and started bawling.
"...You okay son?"
"...They were hurting Houd-Houdini an-" Matt realized the cat was no longer making noise or moving, "...Houdini!"
The animal was broken, it's limbs twisted. What little fur remained to the poor creature had been singed away.
"...Houdini?"
The injustice of life consumed him, all of his problems rushing out in one unbreakable wave as Matthew Parkman cried, grabbing the police officer around her neck and holding on tight-wishing he never had to let go.
------
Days later Matt stood in front of his class, holding his report as best as he could with his left arm in a sling. Crunching his nose made him sound funny, and it still kinda hurt to breath, but he wanted his teacher to see the results of his labors.
"....Several weeks ago." Matt breathed deep, "I was attacked by high schoolers from Leob High School outside my apartment building."
His mother'd helped him, Nana lending her own words of encouragement whenever Matt got stuck. He could barely read. Writing was...
"They were attacking and torturing the neighborhood cat, Mr. Houdini, who passed away later that evening. They-"
The teacher twisted her hands in a knot, licking her lips. Torture was not an acceptable subject in the public school system of America. Institutes of Learning were Bastions of safety.
Yeah right.
"...They hurt him. Really bad." Matt drew in a shuddering breath, "...The strong...the strong prey on the weak. That's nature. But-But humans are better then that."
He swallowed, "...We are better then that. Because-because despite what we might do to other people,"
Gregory and Joey were staring at each other ashamed.
"...Because despite what we do to other people, there are superheroes out there. Not just X-Men or the Incredible Hulk. Real human beings. Everyday, cops are out there protecting us. Why?"
His hands shook the paper, "...Because we're all capable of extraordinary things. Because a bunch of old dudes sat down eons ago, and said-let's have law. Let's set down rules. You can't pick on people. You can't hurt animals. They, enforce those rules. Remind us we're 'upposed to be better and um-"
He'd finished it up with "That's why when I want to grow up and become a Los Angeles Police officer" But it didn't...It didn't seem right. Even that stupid little cartoon notation "Hold for Applause!" seemed ridiculous.
"...We all have a purpose." Matt dropped the papers to the floor, "Most people go their whole lives without discovering it, unburdened by the knowledge that their purpose on earth is a destiny far greater then anything they can concieve. The truth, the absolute truth is that we are here to live."
He pointed to the back. His mother had invited the two officers to school, the two people who had saved his life, "I can think of no greater and noble calling then to help protect that purpose. To save lives is the noblest of callings. And I want to dedicate my life along with these fine men and women to that purpose by becoming a Los Angeles Police officer. Thank you."
Matt bowed as the class sat in stunned silence.
Gregory rose with all the dignity that he could muster and began to clap.
The rest of the class followed suit as Matt beamed, basking in the glow of the praise of his peers. His teacher and his mother grinned as the class congratulated him.
Years later, just out of the academy he sought the officer who'd saved his life. The old man invited him to sit, serving him tea.
"I owe you." Matt grinned, "What you and your partner did for me, I-I didn't have a purpose. You helped me find...some part of myself I didn't even know existed."
"...I knew son." The cop smiled, "...Minute I heard you give that report I knew you'd end up wearing the same uniform I did."
Matt grinned, "How'd you figure?"
"...You got it." The cop nodded to him, "You understand why we do this. It's for them. Kinda weird comin' from a kid who was eight. You'll do great things kid. I promise."
Author'dRamen
Prompt 002. "Beginnings"
Fandom NBC's Heroes
Rating R for Violence, Language, and awful, awful, awful people.
Characters/Pairing Matt Parkman.
Summary How and why Matt Parkman decided to become a cop.
Notes This idea came to me, and it was just too damn cute to not write out. The guy strikes me as the kinda kid who got picked on as a young kid. Hence...this. *waves a hand*
The situation's a little massive, but...I don't condone what happens, and it seems like it might take something kind of big to make Matt decide to become a cop. I'm of the opinion that most everyone feels a compulsion to help people.
Think about it. Hiro wants to be a Hiro, Nathan's a politician and Peter's a Nurse (Both positions where they want to work for the betterment of mankind) Matt's a cop, Niki and Claire provide entertainment and inspiration (...In some cases it might be the wrong kind of inspiration, but c'mon) D.L wants to do right by his family, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to save somebody before he was a convict.
Watch out for stray Meta btw. ;)
*cough*
"Thank you Gregory. I'm sure you'll make an excellent actor. You did such a fine job playing The Toaster in our Christmas play." Mrs. Ramirez dropped her notes, "...Oh fudge, I dropped my list, one moment children..."
Gregory beamed at his teacher and bounced back to his seat as Matt piled papers up around himself, "-You're up next-" Greg slid into his seat and grinned back in Matt's direction, "-Dork."
"...Matthew?" Mrs. Ramirez checked her roster again, "-Sweetheart, it's your turn." She smiled that old-lady smile that Matt found mindnumbing as she twisted her hands into a knot. Clearly she thought this would go as badly as his report on the declaration.
Matt shot Greg a nasty look, "Mrs. Ramirez Ma'am I didn' finish it." This was always a passable excuse. She knew he had issues and stuff with reading and writing-his Mom had come in and patiently explained it (over tears. Which made Matt feel just awful.)
Mrs. Ramirez had been teaching school for several years now. She fixed her pupil with a hard glare, "...Alright Matthew. Be ready to give your report tomorrow."
He sank back into his seat dejectedly.
The rest of the day was little better. Bonnie refused to talk to him again, and then Joe ate his lunch by accident in the cafteria. Joey called it payback for stealing his Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich, but in all fairness both their parents packed them lunches in identical brown bags-
"What'samatter stupid?" Joey grabbed his bag, shoving it in Matt's face, "See this? This says Joey. Can't you read?"
And then everybody laughed. Gregory laughed the loudest of all as Bonnie giggled politely with the other girls. (...Girls were still as foreign as the moon itself, but that didn't mean that Matt and the rest of his classmates at 6th Street Elementary didn't chase them, tease them, or try to rub boogers and leaves in their hair. It was a sign of affection)
There it was. Right straight through the heart, and he'd always liked Joey.
He'd spent the rest of the day miserable and humiliated in the nurses office. 6th street was old and overcrowded. The office was being renovated so he got to spend the rest of the afternoon not only lying down-but with Mr. Pizza.
His name was actually Pizzitzi, but he told all the students that it was perfectly ridiculous and just to call him Pizza and save themselves the trouble. He kept candy on his person at all times, and Matt was one of his favorite students.
"Chin up cornflake." Mr. Pizza said after handing him a snickers bar, "Things can only get better from here."
For once, as the bell rang and Matthew bolted down the street-Mr. Pizza was absolutely right.
Wednesdays his mother worked late at her second job. She hadn't wanted to, but she supported both her son and her husband's mother, so she'd leave Matt in the care of Nana Carmicheal who basically let her grandson do whatever he wanted.
"No spending your dinner money on comicbooks and candy Matthew." Matt said as he skipped to the minimart near their home, "-This is for dinner only. Buy something for you and for your Nana. But here, take-take five bucks. Get yourself something special huh?"
He grinned. Every wednesday he'd come home with Bazooka Joe or a Dick Tracy Comic. The other stuff about superheroes and X-Men that old Man McGuinness had at the drugstore were perfectly ridiculous. He'd only thumbed through the Hulk once, and even then the print was so small and he kept messing up some of the words...
Don't think about that
Matt's mind strayed to the dumpster where he'd thrown the two scribbled sentences about his ideal career profession. Even now he couldn't remember what exactly he'd penned, something about wanting to become some other school's Mr. Pizza.
The Mini-Mart had seen better days, but it served as the lifeblood for the Parkman family. Rosaritos Mexican, Doug's Donuts, McGuinness's drug store with authentic old soda fountain.
They were friends.
More then friends. They were extended family. When Matthew Parkman Senior had walked out on his wife and baby son, Juan and Anita had cooked for an unconsolable Joleen. When Matt broke his arm falling off the roof, Doug called the paramedics.
"-Hola Matt!" Juan stood in the door of his restaurant, "-Where you off to nino?"
Matthew could barely contain himself. He blazed across the intersection waving frantically, "...Today's Wednesday! I want a carne asada burrito and three stuffed tacos with-" He tripped over his shoelace, spilling papers and Dick Tracy comics all over the parking lot.
Pain announced itself throughout his body, his knees screaming. He let out a wail as footsteps thundered across the treacherous concrete and strong arms helped him back to his feet.
"...Matt! Matt!" Juan put a hand on his shoulder, "You okay lil' fella? Gracias Senior for helping him-"
"-S'okay." a strange voice said, "...Poor fella. Where's the fire lil' buckaroo?"
Matt turned to sniffle, wail for more attention-when he realized he was looking at a cop.
Big Shiny Badge, Blue Uniform, they even had a real squadcar. Dick Tracy had lept off the pages of his books and been given life by his pain.
The cop grinned, reaching down to pick up one of Matt's lost comicbooks, "...Dick Tracy huh? I used to read these all the time."
"He still reads them." Matt jumped as a pretty brunette handed him a stack of papers, "-Here ya go kid."
"...TH-than-thank you-" He wiped tears out of his eyes, he was not going to let real policemen see him crying!
"...No problem son." The woman patted him on the head as the man rose to his feet, "Serving and protecting. That's what we do."
He couldn't stop staring as Juan led him back to the store to see to his wounds.
----
An Hour Later Matt had a new comic book, bandages on both of his knees and four stuffed tacos along with his burrito. Whistling to himself he walked home, trying to ignore the stinging in his kneecaps.
...Those cops were so cool. Sure you saw "Officers of the law" around all the time, but they were usually too busy, or they looked at him funny.
Those two...they hadn't seen the "Fat kid" Like that dumb say no to drugs cop. They really wanted to help people.
His musings gave way to the comic book in front of him. Dick Tracy had nice big print that made it easy to read. And Tracy used simple words with all the action of any superhero and-
Something shattered the calm of the street.
Matt stopped. He was two doors away from his house.
It happened again.
That's a cat!
It sounded like Houdini.
Houdini wasn't his cat. He belonged collectively to the housing complex. But he always rubbed up against Matt's legs and did that funny paw thing whenever Matt would pet him. Houdini was in trouble!
The Yowl was louder now, more insistant and filled with pain.
He ran to his apartment, threw the food at Nana, and bolted back out the door to the Alley.
The yowls were everywhere, and the alley was way too dark. The super kept saying he was gonna fix the light-
...S'nothin' to be scared of..
It flickered uncertainly, casting Matt's shadow across the far off fence.
..No-nothin' to be scared of..
"...Heh. Stupid Cat."
"...Christ on a fucking cross it stinks." Something thumped and Houdini yowled again.
...Okay. Turning around now... Matt backed up a step, ...Turning around-going back-going back-
His heart was pounding.
"...Here Kitty Kitty-"
"FUCKIN' CAT!"
"Got you good didn' he Frank?"
"Shut the fuck up!"
"...Okay Matt. Options."
He was not Dick Tracy.
Momma had a gun. She kept it in the top of the closet, but he couldn't shoot somebody-kill somebody right?
No.
That wasn't right.
But Houdini was in trouble!
"...Go get Nana."
Nana was almost 80.
"...It's just a cat." Matt was almost out of the alleyway and back to the apartments.
Houdini Yowled again.
"...He's just a cat." He stood on the first step back home.
Matt remembered the soft feel of the animal's fur in his hands. Houdini..Houdini listened.
"Hey! You stupid badguys!" He meant to sound tough. Strong. Like Dick Tracy when he busted in a door, "...Stop-hurtin..houdini?"
The Alleyway was lit by a lighter. Houdini was a half-burned former shell of himself, yowling and hissing, lying his side between three high school punks.
"...Oh...shit."
He was in way over his head.
Indulgence of his family and friends proved the death of him. One of the high school punks pointed, and his friends moved like shadows to catch him. Matt screamed, jogging for the stairs-
"...What've we got here huh? Big 'tuff herow gonna save the kitty?"
Houdini, apparently grateful, struggled to limp toward the boy.
"...Aww. Ain't it sweet." One of the goons kicked him, "...Goodyear blimp wants ta be the big tuff man."
The insult rolled off Matt like his tears, "...Please-Please just let me go-I swear-Keep the cat-I-WhyWhy are you doing this??"
"Shaddup." The Leader hit him, a full on suckerpunch to the face, "You'll speak when you're spoken to goodyear."
"...Hey Frank. Let's Burn Him."
"..S'good idea. I was thinkin we try to be a little more helpful. We're close ta beverly hills goodyear. I'm gonna give you your own makeover."
Matt did not remember his mind giving the order to scream.
Something...Something deep inside of him reared up and he started screaming. He swung a fist at the goon holding his arms-the boy grabbing his wrist and bending it backwards in surprise-
All the while screaming.
Everything went slow then. Something big and white and black and blue and red sped out of the darkness.
Matt fell back against the garbage can, sitting in a cheesy stain, too...too shocked to sob or demand attention and consoling.
The cops.
The one from the donut shop. The ones who'd helped him up.
The guy had the leader and his friend pinned before Matt could blink. His partner handed him another pair of cuffs as one of the goons dropped to his knees and started bawling.
"...You okay son?"
"...They were hurting Houd-Houdini an-" Matt realized the cat was no longer making noise or moving, "...Houdini!"
The animal was broken, it's limbs twisted. What little fur remained to the poor creature had been singed away.
"...Houdini?"
The injustice of life consumed him, all of his problems rushing out in one unbreakable wave as Matthew Parkman cried, grabbing the police officer around her neck and holding on tight-wishing he never had to let go.
------
Days later Matt stood in front of his class, holding his report as best as he could with his left arm in a sling. Crunching his nose made him sound funny, and it still kinda hurt to breath, but he wanted his teacher to see the results of his labors.
"....Several weeks ago." Matt breathed deep, "I was attacked by high schoolers from Leob High School outside my apartment building."
His mother'd helped him, Nana lending her own words of encouragement whenever Matt got stuck. He could barely read. Writing was...
"They were attacking and torturing the neighborhood cat, Mr. Houdini, who passed away later that evening. They-"
The teacher twisted her hands in a knot, licking her lips. Torture was not an acceptable subject in the public school system of America. Institutes of Learning were Bastions of safety.
Yeah right.
"...They hurt him. Really bad." Matt drew in a shuddering breath, "...The strong...the strong prey on the weak. That's nature. But-But humans are better then that."
He swallowed, "...We are better then that. Because-because despite what we might do to other people,"
Gregory and Joey were staring at each other ashamed.
"...Because despite what we do to other people, there are superheroes out there. Not just X-Men or the Incredible Hulk. Real human beings. Everyday, cops are out there protecting us. Why?"
His hands shook the paper, "...Because we're all capable of extraordinary things. Because a bunch of old dudes sat down eons ago, and said-let's have law. Let's set down rules. You can't pick on people. You can't hurt animals. They, enforce those rules. Remind us we're 'upposed to be better and um-"
He'd finished it up with "That's why when I want to grow up and become a Los Angeles Police officer" But it didn't...It didn't seem right. Even that stupid little cartoon notation "Hold for Applause!" seemed ridiculous.
"...We all have a purpose." Matt dropped the papers to the floor, "Most people go their whole lives without discovering it, unburdened by the knowledge that their purpose on earth is a destiny far greater then anything they can concieve. The truth, the absolute truth is that we are here to live."
He pointed to the back. His mother had invited the two officers to school, the two people who had saved his life, "I can think of no greater and noble calling then to help protect that purpose. To save lives is the noblest of callings. And I want to dedicate my life along with these fine men and women to that purpose by becoming a Los Angeles Police officer. Thank you."
Matt bowed as the class sat in stunned silence.
Gregory rose with all the dignity that he could muster and began to clap.
The rest of the class followed suit as Matt beamed, basking in the glow of the praise of his peers. His teacher and his mother grinned as the class congratulated him.
Years later, just out of the academy he sought the officer who'd saved his life. The old man invited him to sit, serving him tea.
"I owe you." Matt grinned, "What you and your partner did for me, I-I didn't have a purpose. You helped me find...some part of myself I didn't even know existed."
"...I knew son." The cop smiled, "...Minute I heard you give that report I knew you'd end up wearing the same uniform I did."
Matt grinned, "How'd you figure?"
"...You got it." The cop nodded to him, "You understand why we do this. It's for them. Kinda weird comin' from a kid who was eight. You'll do great things kid. I promise."