(Untitled)

[yo_babe]

In the rec room, a slightly sunburned Babe Heffron carefully lines up a shot on the pool table with his pool cue and puts another ball into the corner pocket. It plucks into place as it always does. Babe's good at pool, but not as good as other people, one of whom isn't here anymore. Doing this now feels pretty damn flat. It ain't like he's got

Comments

[not_a_quaker]

For a while there, it seemed like the men just kept showing up, one after the other. Now though, we're five down - George, then Bill, then Buck, and now Doc and Joe - disappearing one after the other. Buck's disappearance hit the hardest for me, a fellow officer, a good man and one of my best friends. I don't want to think this way, but I can't help but wonder if I'm next...or Nix.

I'm finally used to not having an agenda and purpose every waking moment, so I'm not headed anywhere in particular when I hear the familiar clack of billiard balls from the rec room and head that direction. My lips curve into a hint of a smile when I see that it's Babe; I appreciate more than ever the men who are still here. "Out of practice?" I remark as I approach.

[yo_babe]

When Winters is around, there's always the instinctive urge to snap a crisp salute to his temple, to stand up straight like someone's shouting attention on deck! Babe resists the urge, although his full attention goes directly to Winters at once. He shrugs, shifting the pool cue to his left hand. He offers it over, unable to help his own smile, however slight it may be. "Yeah, a little," he admits. "How 'bout you?"

[not_a_quaker]

"Well, I don't think I've ever played more than once or twice," I say with a small chuckle. "I generally leave this game to...others." A name is on the tip of my tongue, but I elect not to say it. I think Babe knows who I mean, anyway.

[yo_babe]

Yeah, he does, and he shifts uncomfortably at the mention, but only just. Instead of holding the pool cue out anymore, he uses it to lean on and rubs at the back of his own neck. "How ya been?" he inquires because he just doesn't know what else to say and there's always that default.

[not_a_quaker]

I wish I can say that everything's five-by, but I think Babe would know I'm lying anyway. One quality all the Easy men share is the ability to endure, and that's what we're all doing and what we'll continue to do. "All right, considering," I say, a statement I know I don't need to qualify. "Signed up for some classes at the school. What about you, Babe?"

[yo_babe]

Babe pauses. Sure, he could tell Winters a big ole story about London and how things are there in Eden's time or world or whatever you call it when the island decides to send you to someone else's home for a weekend. He opts out of a long story, and just says, "I asked Eden to marry me."

[not_a_quaker]

My eyes widen in pleased surprise at that, and the news is so unexpected and good that I can't help but smile at it. "That's great, Babe, that's great," I say sincerely, punctuating it with a nod. "She said yes, I take it?"