Protect and Serve

Jameson’s 09 Dodge Magnum is clean as the day he bought it. He’s finally had the extra money to spring for the black wax kit at the Auto Mart.
Jay bought the car about two months ago, he has got most of the minor work done to it. Flushes and fluid changes. It still needs a window regulator in the driver’s window.

That window won’t go up or down and it’s slightly inconvenient.

Normally Jay’s weekends are strictly work, he has been doing extra shifts in order to buy a car. The time has come to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Headed to see his city’s women’s basketball team represent. He isn’t the biggest fan of WNBA basketball but the local team is doing a charity for a food bank. As a result the price of admission is canned food. He sprung for 10 cans of veggies that cost $10.  Jameson is excited. Everything in life has been on hold in order to get the all black Hemi purchased and repaired. Takes his time with the black wheels 26 inch rims probably wouldn’t have been the direction that Jay would have gone but he’s in no hurry to get rid of them either.  It took 3 hours to detail his car to his satisfaction.  A half hour less to get showered and dressed.

Careful to use the hands free device Jay calls his friends letting them know he’s on his way. Just at that moment blue lights flash behind him.

Jay is almost excited about the stop. Knows all of his paperwork is legal and in order, knows his insurance is current and paid, it should be easy no matter what reason the officer has for stopping him. Jay’s sister has been watching his profile as he drives, her baby brother has been animated and expressive. Joking and being silly as he does. When the police pull him over Jay actually jokes about his broken window.  Say’s the police will have to write him an “anti-ticket” because of how proper and in order his paperwork is.  The officer approached on the left hand around his pistol. Jay attempts to let down the passenger rear window an action that looks odd and out of the ordinary to the young officer doing the traffic stop. When he can’t quite reach the window Jay opens his door.

The rain of gunshots makes Jameson’s sister cry out and she watches as her brothers eye’s go wide and the realization of his death hits him. The police officer calls for back up his frantic calls echoing through the video call. She watches as the ambulance comes to pick up her younger sibling and as the officers on scene discuss how the young cop can explain what happened.

Fight

Jarring breathtaking pain shoots throughout his body.

The fist landed in the false ribs pulling at the cartilage attached to his sternum.

It was followed by a shot to the first rib creating a deep bruise to his clavicle.

A knee to his thigh shakes his femur, the strongest bone, the same force would have broken anything else.

His defensive punches have lost much of their power.

Oxygen starvation is making him weaker. 

Somewhere millions of miles away a bell rings and he staggers to his corner.

“I can’t beat him he’s too strong!”

 He protests to no one in particular as he spits out the mouth guard.

 It’s difficult to breath and he’s certain that at least four ribs are broken. The urge to urinate is strong and painful cluing him to the fact that his kidneys have sustained damage. The water sprayed into his mouth has a distinctive coppery taste.

Multiple teeth have been loosened.

It’s not a boxing match.

It’s a no holds barred fight and the cost is too dear if he loses.

The bell sounds again.

Agony runs the length of his body as he rises to continue the melee.

His opponent’s flurry of blows are evaded, and he concentrates his return blows on cutting off the huge man’s oxygen.

Each swing is a Herculean effort starting from deep within, his thigh muscles tremble with exertion.

A well timed kick brings the massive man to eye level, and a head butt stuns him.   

All of his fear of losing the fight, the pain that has been inflicted on his body and the realization that this might be his last opportunity to win are poured into the fever pitched jabs. Each one is delivered with devastating effect, landing on the heavier man’s eyes, nose, and mouth.

He claps hands to ears and uses a knee to the chin to finish the fracas.

A bellow leaves his diaphragm as his win is announced.

He watches the guards dispatch his unconscious adversary.

It saddens him to see the warrior killed so callously, it gladdens him as well knowing that he has avoided the same fate.

One more fight.
Just one.
Win this one and he will never have to fight for his dinner again.