*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* That click was resonating through the streets. For most of us, when that sound is heard, you drop your mag and replace it. You got to do it, or someone will get to it before you.
*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*
But someone wasn’t dropping their mag. They kept pulling the trigger. Why didn’t they stop shooting?
I ran around the corner and saw that moment. That moment when you put down your own gun and feel sorry. That moment when you realize what you are in isn’t for everyone. That moment when it hits you again, that you are in a war, and not just working a job. Time makes these moments harder and harder to get through.
*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*
You could tell the kid was new. Uniform had no stains, and the M9 he was clicking had a brand-new slide on it. You could always tell who was new and old based on how much paint is still on your slide.
You can’t surprise these people like that kid. You risk getting shot or jumped yourself. First days are not easy for anyone, and some take it way harder than most.
*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*
“Hey kid! You feeling alright!?”, I cried out while putting my hands in the air. He didn’t seem to hear me. He kept looking down at the UNION, still clicking his M9. He was never going to hear me at that distance.
*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*
I walked slowly towards him. No need jumping him. He wasn’t going to be a threat.
*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*
“Kid. You got him. Give me the gun.” I whispered to him while placing my hand on the gun. He didn’t hold onto the gun that hard; I was able to gently pull the gun from his hands. However, he was still standing there, shaking.
“He isn’t dead. I need to shoot center of mass until he is dead.” He peeped out. “I need to kill him. My job is to kill him.”
“You killed him kid. Why don’t you come with me? Let’s get you some food and a drink. We cleared out this area. We can come back tomorrow.”
“No. I need to keep fighting. I need to win the war. You keep fighting too. We win the war, then we go home. We all go home then.”
“Kid. This is a multiple year war at least. You need to stop for today. They want you to fight without food in your belly. They want you to fight with a gun without bullets. They are expecting you to be like this. If you stay like this, they will kill you and try to kill me too.”
“But we can win this.”, he whispered to himself while looking at the dead UNION. Blood was now seeping into his boots, frayed and torn as it was taken from the last guy who died before him. “I can win this.”
“You can’t win this alone”, I said as I grabbed him and forced him to look at me. “We can win this war, but I need you at your best. And right now, you’re not at your best. Let’s get you a little breathing room.”
He got visibly angry towards me and shouted, “I’m not leaving! Let’s win this! Let’s kill the fuckers! Kill em all!”
“Then let’s eat here.”, I calmly rebutted while pulling a loaf of bread from my bag. “I keep this because of stubborn bastards like you.”
I put the loaf in his hands and then calmly, but firmly sat him down on the curb. He started to feast upon the loaf.
“Take five, and I’ll go on one more go around the area with you. But after that we are going back. We can’t win the war today, but we can help.” I opened my flask and took a long swig, calming my own nerves.
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
That click was resonating through the streets. For most of us, when that sound is heard, you drop your mag and replace it. You got to do it, or someone will get to it before you.
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
But someone wasn’t dropping their mag. They kept pulling the trigger. Why didn’t they stop shooting?
I ran around the corner and saw that moment. That moment when you put down your own gun and feel sorry. That moment when you realize what you are in isn’t for everyone. That moment when it hits you again, that you are in a war, and not just working a job. Time makes these moments harder and harder to get through.
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
You could tell the kid was new. Uniform had no stains, and the M9 he was clicking had a brand-new slide on it. You could always tell who was new and old based on how much paint is still on your slide.
You can’t surprise these people like that kid. You risk getting shot or jumped yourself. First days are not easy for anyone, and some take it way harder than most.
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
“Hey kid! You feeling alright!?”, I cried out while putting my hands in the air. He didn’t seem to hear me. He kept looking down at the UNION, still clicking his M9. He was never going to hear me at that distance.
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
I walked slowly towards him. No need jumping him. He wasn’t going to be a threat.
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
*CLICK*
“Kid. You got him. Give me the gun.” I whispered to him while placing my hand on the gun. He didn’t hold onto the gun that hard; I was able to gently pull the gun from his hands. However, he was still standing there, shaking.
“He isn’t dead. I need to shoot center of mass until he is dead.” He peeped out. “I need to kill him. My job is to kill him.”
“You killed him kid. Why don’t you come with me? Let’s get you some food and a drink. We cleared out this area. We can come back tomorrow.”
“No. I need to keep fighting. I need to win the war. You keep fighting too. We win the war, then we go home. We all go home then.”
“Kid. This is a multiple year war at least. You need to stop for today. They want you to fight without food in your belly. They want you to fight with a gun without bullets. They are expecting you to be like this. If you stay like this, they will kill you and try to kill me too.”
“But we can win this.”, he whispered to himself while looking at the dead UNION. Blood was now seeping into his boots, frayed and torn as it was taken from the last guy who died before him. “I can win this.”
“You can’t win this alone”, I said as I grabbed him and forced him to look at me. “We can win this war, but I need you at your best. And right now, you’re not at your best. Let’s get you a little breathing room.”
He got visibly angry towards me and shouted, “I’m not leaving! Let’s win this! Let’s kill the fuckers! Kill em all!”
“Then let’s eat here.”, I calmly rebutted while pulling a loaf of bread from my bag. “I keep this because of stubborn bastards like you.”
I put the loaf in his hands and then calmly, but firmly sat him down on the curb. He started to feast upon the loaf.
“Take five, and I’ll go on one more go around the area with you. But after that we are going back. We can’t win the war today, but we can help.” I opened my flask and took a long swig, calming my own nerves.
LA/MED/CROSS/HECU