“Do it then man, do it.”
“I'll do my best, Everett; I'll do my best.”
“I'm glad you still remember some of your combat medical training now that you're a vet,” I said with a grin as he gathered some things together. “How'd that happen, anyway? You were a great field medic.”
“Well, how come you’re not a SEAL anymore?”
I shrugged.
“Just needed a big change in my life.”
“See? That's why I'm a vet. I just couldn't treat any more soldiers with bullet wounds, shrapnel, limb
s blown off, skin burned off... It just got to be too much. Now I'm happy, living a relaxed life, making sure dogs and cats are okay. Way less stress, way less – until you waltzed in here, bleeding out from a gunshot wound!”
“I know, man, I know. Sorry to wreck your Friday evening.”
“Jeez, Ev, don't apologize,” he said as he started to get to work. “It ain't your fault you got shot... or wait, was it?”
“Uh, yeah, it kinda was.”
“What just happened then, man? How did my old buddy end up getting capped right outside my veterinary practice on a summer evening?”
“Well, I'm the principal of JFK High now.”
“No kidding?”
“Yeah, I just started this week.”
“Sheesh, and what a way to start! You must have some rough kids there if they're shooting the principal. In our day, we shot spitballs at our teachers, not freakin' nine mil rounds!”
I had to chuckle.
“Yeah, Jimmy, only thing is, it wasn't a kid who shot me.”
“Well, who was it then?”
“Drug dealer.”
“Everett, you're a high school principal, what the heck are you doing getting involved with drug dealers? Tell it to me straight, man, are you on something? You taking something to help with flashbacks? You can be honest with me, and I can help you to get off whatever it is.”
“No, no, nothing like that. See, at JFK High, and a number of other schools in this town, there's an epidemic with this new, nasty drug called Rocket.”
“Oh yeah, I've heard of that stuff,” he said. “Bad, bad stuff. And the kids love it, huh?”
“Yeah, unfortunately, they do. And that's who these dealers are targeting – kids.”
“Ugh. Scumbags!”
“You're telling me.”
“So you're out there like Batman, trying to shut 'em down, huh?”
“Yeah. I got word earlier that one of the kingpins was gonna be here. I raced out, witnessed a drug deal – and it turned out that I'd been in such a rush to get there that I hadn't brought either my phone so I couldn’t call the police to handle it.”
“Oh, man,” he exclaimed with a chuckle. “You're the worst Batman ever!”
“Tell me about it.”