Enforcers

I can’t believe this shit. I knew I’d have to deal with some fucking stupid twats over the course of my training but I wasn’t expecting to have to take a goddamned babysitting job to boot.

My boss wants me to teach this fucking dweeb which I’ve just met, and normally I’d consider this total bullshit, but since he is my boss, it’s not like I really have a choice in the matter.

Well, I can’t quite say I don’t have a choice. I chose to enter this job even though my parents would have loved for me to have gone to any other job instead, so in the end, if the boss makes some decision—even if it’s a fucking stupid one—I’ll still do the job because I like my job, as hard as it might be to believe for many people when I’m here seated in this seedy-ass bar.

Doesn’t mean I have to like teaching this fucking dweeb though.

But anyway, the boss definitely ain’t gonna like me moping around like some prissy bitch with rich parents that have way too much time on their hands, so I’d better get a move on.

(Turning to face the new recruit, the man proceeds to ask the recruit for his name.)

“Look, let’s not make this any harder than it needs to be. What’s your name?”

The recruit replied “Jack, sir”.

“I see you know your place. That’s good. I’m Connor.”

Jack then said “I was told that you were gonna be my trainer for a while and that I pretty much needed to do whatever you told me to do, so let’s just go and do whatever you want me to”.

“You definitely got the right message” began Connor before continuing “but before we really get started I need to do something”.

“And what might that ‘something’ be” Jack inquired.

“Honestly, I’m gonna break for a cig. That’s what” said Connor, somewhat resignedly.

“Alright then” replied Jack nonchalantly.

(Both men, who at that time were inside a seedy bar in a bad neighborhood, stepped outside. Despite the fact that it was nighttime, it was surprisingly quiet for a neighborhood of its nature. Once outside, Connor sat down first on a nearby bench, followed by Jack. Once they were seated, Connor grabbed the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took out a cigarette, stored the pack, and grabbed a lighter, lighting up his cigarette.)

“Want a cig, kid?” Connor asked.

“Sure” Jack smirked.

(Connor took out the pack of cigarettes, grabbed one, and then gave it to Jack, who put it in his mouth. Jack, for his part, grabbed his lighter from his pocket and lit the cigarette. Before long, both men were smoking, and a sort of camaraderie washed over them as some of the tensions from earlier faded.)

“Wasn’t expecting you to have a lighter on you. Or for you to smoke a cig” started Connor, a bit surprised.

(Connor took a drag, inhaled, and then exhaled. White smoke from his cigarette wafted up into the air.)

“I’m not a total loser. I heard what you said earlier ‘bout me being a dweeb, and though that was true most of the time, it’s not like I was a total dweeb 100% of the time, as that’d make me a total bore, so I did live a little. Had my first crush, my first girl, lost my virginity, went to parties, started a band, did some drugs and stuff. I’m glad I did all that stuff since it was definitely a ton of fun, but everything has to come to an end at some point” Jack said, before inhaling the cigarette smoke and then slowly letting it out.

“Yeah, I can definitely relate. I know I was a pretty wild teen in my day. Hell, I’d constantly leave my folks behind and leave them wondering where I’d be for days at a time. I’d fuck with anyone that popped up and basically do a whole bunch of drugs and stuff. It’s a wonder that I wasn’t kicked out of school, since I’d barely pass any of my classes, let alone show up for them. And yet, whenever we’d have to take tests like the SAT and the ACT, I’d get ridiculously high scores in all the sections.  My parents weren’t very happy at the fact that I slacked so much, and in hindsight, they probably were right, but I don’t regret anything” Connor said.

(Connor inhaled the cigarette, took a long drag, and then slowly exhaled it. As he exhaled it, white smoke came out of him.)

“I’d have agreed with your parents to be honest” Jack began, before continuing “but it’s not really my place to say what you should or shouldn’t do. After all, you’re three to four years older than I am, and I know that authorities can be a pretty big drag, especially when you don’t like them any. Sometimes you just have to learn things through the school of hard knocks, and all the ranting and complaining from your parents ain’t gonna make you any more likely to follow their will than it’d make you more likely to all of a sudden turn into a goodie-two-shoes”.

(Jack at that point took a long drag on the cigarette, inhaled it, and then slowly exhaled the smoke. He stared at Connor for a brief moment before redirecting his focus elsewhere.)

“Kid, what the fuck are you looking at” demanded Connor. He then continued “If you want to fucking stare at me, go right ahead—I don’t give a damn—but don’t stare out like you’re some kinda lost puppy dog. It’s kinda weird.”

“Aw, I didn’t know Satan’s burly enforcer guy had a soft side. Should I send out the wedding invitations?” smirked Jack.

“Haha. Very funny” said Connor, grinning as he said it. “Even if I wanted to date you—which I don’t—I’d have to get permission from my boss first, and I’m sure he wouldn’t be too happy to have one of his enforcers dating a trainee. So I think you’d best think of something else altogether if you know what’s good for you.”

“I guess“ Jack said, somewhat resignedly.

(After that, a silence washed over the two men as they continued on smoking their cigarettes in silence, eventually putting them out as both cigarettes started to reach their ends. At the point at which both men put out their cigarettes, they continued on sitting for a while longer. Clearly, one of the men would have to break the silence in order for anything to go on past that point. Ultimately, Connor decided that he would be the one to break the silence that had descended between the two of them.)

“So, dude, we have to get a move-on at this point. We can’t just stay in here forever, after all” spoke Connor.

“To be honest, I was kinda wondering when we were going to leave. We’d been seated here a while, and I was about to ask you, but I decided it’d be better to let you do the honors since I didn’t want to piss you off” replied Jack.

“Well, you definitely didn’t do that, but anywho, let’s go” stated Connor.

“Alright then” responded Jack.

(Connor at that moment stood up from the bench they had been seated at, followed shortly after by Jack. They both walked for a while until arriving at a nearby parking garage. Walking through the levels of the garage, Connor eventually found his car in one of the garage’s levels. At the moment that he found it, he unlocked the car with his keys, and at that moment, both of its doors opened. Connor sat in first followed by Jack, at which moment both closed the doors. Connor then started the car and began driving. Before long, they were out of the garage and driving out of the area. However, both men remained silent—neither one speaking to the other—until Jack broke the silence that had prior to that time reigned between them as they walked with five simple words.)

“So, where are we going” inquired Jack.

“Given that we’ve just met, my boss hasn’t really given me any assignments for you on the first day. My job is to get to know you and prepare you mentally to work with me” declared Connor.

“So basically, we’re not really doing any substantial things today” asked Jack?

“Pretty much, yeah” said Connor, with a relaxed tone.

“That’s great and all....” began Jack, before continuing, “but you still haven’t answered my question. Where are we going?”

“We’re headed to my home, that’s where. I have a futon set for you so we don’t have to share the same bed, as that’d be weird. There’s only one bathroom though, so we’ll have to take turns, ‘cause I definitely don’t want to share a shower, and I have a feeling you probably don’t want to either” stated Connor.

“That’s good that you have a futon set up. The turn thing is a bit annoying, but it’s fine” replied Jack.

“I’m glad you think that way” said Connor.

(At that point, another period of lengthy silence washed over the two men as Connor left the city and went on the highway in his car to head to his home. In the dark night, various lights shone, providing some illumination as Connor rode on through the highway. After a while driving, Connor finally saw the exit to his house. He then went down the exit. Once outside the highway, he made a left, and proceeded to keep on driving for a while longer.)