Old Bones: A Collection of Short Stories

by Steve Campbell

  #

  Tales for Adults

  Dragon Slayer

  TALL AND LANKY Leo Nash followed short and shapely Emily Umberto from the library to the faculty lounge. It was ninth and final period at Ridgewood High School. It was also a free period for both teachers, and each of them carried a colorful wrapped gift. Leo sat at the center table and smiled when the gorgeous dark-haired woman sat opposite him; he tried not to appear anxious as he slid the long box of chocolate covered cherries to her.

  “Happy birthday,” he said.

  Emily smiled and said, “To you, too,” as she slid a longer and larger gift-wrapped box to him. “Open it. Hurry.” She was dressed in a simple white tunic blouse and a gray flared skirt. Her long, shiny hair and bright emerald eyes lit up her otherwise drab attire.

  Leo paused, spellbound by how bright in color her eyes were. Their gorgeous green had taken his breath the first day they met a month ago August when she arrived to teach seventh grade algebra.

  He pulled away his gaze, studied the gift for a moment, and then tore away the green wrapping paper that had HAPPY BIRTHDAY written on it in colorful bursts of printing. He kept his surprise and exuberance low-key when he took the gift out of its box. “You shouldn’t have,” he said as he opened the silver lid of the laptop computer.

  “Turn her on. The battery is charged and she’s ready to go. She has everything, too—including some games for when you need a break.” She lowered her voice. “I added one of my favorites. I know you’ll do well at it.”

  Leo powered on the computer and said, “You really shouldn’t have. These things are expensive and all I got you was—”

  “Never mind what it cost. I know you need a new one, so…”

  Leo grinned when the screen came on and Emily’s youthful face filled the space. “I love the desktop background,” he said. He looked around, ready to show off his gift to the two other teachers in the room. But as usual, neither seemed to notice him. Kathy Richards leafed through a Readers Digest at the beat-up brown sofa in front of the far wall. Behind her, the room’s only window wore a slatted blind that seemed to have been installed during the Nixon era. Her expensive Princess Diana hairstyle, cosmetic face and ruby red fingernails had attracted recently divorced Frank Hallstead, who had just poured himself a cup of coffee and now advanced on her like a walrus to tuna. He wasted no time trying to talk her into his leased Porsche after school.

  “He’s such a pig,” Emily whispered. “Do you know he hit on me my first day?” She shook her head. “But I knew right away that you were the one for me.”

  Leo blushed.

  “Take her for a spin,” Emily said, nodding at the computer and smiling flirtatiously. “Just don’t show the others the photos I put in your pictures folder.”

  “Oh?” Leo looked puzzled. Then, “Oh!” His cheeks reddened deeper.

  Emily rose from the table and fetched her unopened chocolates. “I left my gradebook behind at the library. I’ll be back in a few.” Before she strode away, she said, “Definitely try out the game I put on there. It’s called Dragon Slayer, my favorite game of all.”

  Leo looked down at his gift and knew he had found someone who truly loved him. His long fingers slid over the sleek computer and he was gladdened to know that Emily planned to stay awhile. Maybe into old age.

  Grinning wide, Leo went through the menu of games: Solitaire, Hearts, Freecell, Minesweeper, as well as some he had never heard of. Then he found Dragon Slayer and opened it.

  CHOOSE YOUR SKILL LEVEL, the computer screen said.

  He chose BEGINNER from the options offered.

  The screen came to life as a red, fire-breathing dragon swooped down from a velvet star-filled sky and laid to waste in a fiery breath the Tolkien-esque village below. Elflike people ran screaming from wooden houses and stone buildings into the cobbled streets.

  Leo marveled the lifelike graphics while, within seconds, the dragon destroyed the living. Red words filled the screen as the dragon and village disappeared into blackness. GAME OVER—0 POINTS.

  Leo clicked a key and brought the dragon’s fury to life again. He pressed the Ctrl keypad. A centaur stepped out of the shadows and shot gold arrows from a gold bow at the dragon. Every shot missed and the dragon destroyed the village again.

  GAME OVER—0 POINTS.

  He tried again with Ctrl and Alt. The centaur sent an arrow into the dragon’s tail. It screeched and banked away into the yellow glow of a full moon. Then it veered back. Little people ran. The centaur shouted orders to unseen comrades. A maiden stepped from an armament shop and gave the centaur a blue arrow.

  “Shoot at its heart,” the dark-haired maiden said.

  Leo was stunned to hear Emily’s voice come from the computer’s speakers. He looked up. Frank had pulled his attention from Kathy and was looking over at him.

  “What’cha doin’, Nash?” the almost-bald man called out. “Playing one of those new computer games? I’m surprised. I took you for a book nerd only. Never thought you were a game nerd too.”

  “Well, I … it’s a birthday present,” Leo said and smiled modestly.

  “From Emily Umberto,” Kathy said from a disapproving face. “They’ve been dating.”

  “Dating? No way.” Frank came and clapped Leo on the back. “You dawg! Good for you. No more blisters on your putting hand, if you know what I mean.”

  Leo stabbed the Pause/Break key on the keypad and wished he had a button that could pause Frank’s nasty mouth too.

  Kathy joined Frank and stood on the other side of Leo. She admired the computer, though her face looked like she had just tasted something bitter. Frank, on the other hand, looked like a kid in a toy store.

  “What’cha playin’?” he asked.

  “It’s called Dragon Slayer.”

  Frank leaned over and touched the keypad. “What’s this button do?” He thumped on the spacebar with a middle finger. “Make it work. I wanna see what this game does.”

  “It’s on pause,” Leo said. “Stop hitting it.”

  Frank pulled the laptop away. “Lemme see it for a moment … I’ll give it right back.”

  Leo sighed and resigned the computer to Frank. Kathy smirked at the fat man. “You? A dragon slayer, Frankie? Yeah, right!” She chortled and returned to her seat and the three-year-old copy of Readers Digest. Frank followed with Leo’s computer and returned to his spot next to her.

  “Whoa! Check out the dragon and these characters,” he said. “These graphics are awesome.” He attacked the keypad and made explosion sounds with his mouth. “Take that, dragon. And that … and that.” His stumpy digits blurred. Bombing noises from his flatulent lips and cheeks drowned the sounds of the game. Spittle showered the computer in his lap. The dragon sounded angry.

  Leo looked at the door. Emily would be back any moment. What would she think if she saw Frank with his gift?

  “Okay, Frank,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Then he raised his voice. “Okay, Frank. I think it’s time you give it back.”

  “In a minute.” Frank bounced in his seat and made more bombing noises. Then, “Crap, I’m dead … I mean, you’re dead, Nash.” He thumped at the keypad and said. “You were playin’ at the Beginner level, for cryin’ out loud. Everyone knows you don’t learn a game ’less you go full speed. Lemme show you what a Master can do.”

  Frank returned to attacking the computer with his hands and spittle. Leo winced and waited for Frank to finish.

  “Damn,” Frank cried, “I’m out of arrows.” He thumped the Enter key. “Hey, this maiden with more arrows looks like Emily,” he said and sounded delighted.

  “Shoot at its heart,” the computer said in Emily’s voice. Frank looked over at Leo and grinned. “Awesome, dude.” Then he looked at Kathy. “Why don’t you do something like that for me?”

  Kathy frowned and glowered at Leo. He looked away. She flipped a page of her Readers Digest and returned to reading.

  “Shoot at its heart,” the
computer repeated. “Hurry, before he kills you.”

  “I’m tryin’,” Frank said.

  “Hurry,” the computer said. “The dragon is coming for another attack. Shoot!”

  “Shut up. I’m hurryin’.”

  “He’s coming.”

  “Shut up I said.” Frank’s fingers were a blur once more. Sweat appeared on his cheeks.

  A terrible roar sounded from the computer. Kathy jumped and looked annoyed. “You guys and your stupid toys,” she said. She glowered and Leo looked away again.

  “It’s not a toy,” Frank said. Sweat covered his reddened face.

  “Kill the dragon,” the computer demanded.

  “Shut up already,” Frank said. He panted and pounded the keypad. The screen emitted a green glow that billowed like a sudden fog around Frank’s body. Kathy spun in her seat and shouted at Frank, but no sound came as the glow swallowed her as well.

  Leo stood, transfixed by the glow until it exploded in a flash of white light that sent Leo falling backward over his chair. When he scrambled up, Frank, Kathy and the green glow were gone. His computer rested on the cushion where Frank had been sitting.

  “Game over,” the computer said. “You lose.” He thought he heard Emily’s voice snicker.

  He stared at his gift, uncertain of whether to go near it.

  He picked up his overturned chair, sat, and watched the door.

  Why wasn’t Emily back yet?

  I need answers!

  He waited for her, uncertain if what he had seen had really happened. But it must have. There was Kathy’s Readers Digest next to his computer.

  He replayed the scenario in his mind several times and shook his head every time. What kind of computer does that to people? How?

  Questions riddled his mind while he watched the door and waited. Five minutes later, he paced the room.

  Maybe he should go look for Emily.

  He started toward the door and stopped.

  Should he leave the computer here? Would Emily be upset with him if he did?

  He paced and pondered what to do.

  He jumped and held back a cry when the faculty lounge door opened. Emily smiled at him as she strolled inside. The smile froze. Then it vanished as she stepped back and studied his concerned face. “I’d never do anything to hurt you,” she said.

  “But Frank and Kathy … what happened to them?”

  “It’s okay. It’s only temporary.” Emily pointed at the computer. “They’re safe. Inside. See?”

  She waved a hand and the computer turned until Leo could see that the game had started again. Frank was part of the game now; he busily shot arrows at the red dragon.

  Leo peered at Emily. “What are you?” he asked.

  “I hope I’m the best thing to ever come into your life.” She laughed a sweet laugh.

  Leo looked again at Frank.

  “Die, you bastard,” Frank screamed at the dragon that flew above him. Then he turned and looked at Leo from inside the screen. “I don’t know how you did this, you geek,” he said, “but I’m gonna—”

  “Shut up, Frank,” Emily said. “You just fight those dragons and try to rescue Kathy if you two ever want to get out of there.” She winked at Leo, but he still frowned at her.

  “Don’t be frightened,” she said, “or mad at me. I promise no harm will come to them … or you. I love you, Leo.” She took a step toward him and he backed away. Tears welled in her eyes. “Do you love me, Leo?”

  Leo rubbed his forehead. “I … I—”

  “Answer the bitch,” Frank yelled. “I want outta here.”

  Leo looked at tiny Frank Hallstead ducking from a stream of dragon fire. He suddenly needed to laugh. “Yes,” he said to Emily amidst his laughter. “You are the best thing to ever come into my life.”

  Emily rushed into his embrace, her lips meeting his.

  “Get a room,” Frank yelled.

  Leo went to his computer and closed the lid. Frank and the game were silent. “Shut up, Frank,” Leo said and laughed again.

  “You have a contagious laugh, Mr. Nash,” Emily said. “You should use it more often.”

  Leo nodded. Emily took him by the arm and led him to the door. He saw by the old clock on the wall that last period was almost over. He looked at the computer and said, “As much as part of me doesn’t want to, I think it’s time to let Frank and Kathy out.” He sighed. “Frank’s never gonna stop harassing me over this.”

  “Don’t worry,” Emily said. “They won’t remember a thing that happened. And every time Frank gets out of line, I’ll send him back inside to fight dragons.” She opened the door, waved a hand, and then took him by the arm again and led him into the hall.

  Before they left, Leo glanced into the room and saw Frank and Kathy reappear on the sofa. There was no green fog or white light this time. Both yawned and stretched and looked like they had awakened from a nap.

  Leo and Emily went arm in arm from the school, almost skipping into the warm afternoon air and sunny daylight outdoors, and laughing the way all lovers do when their futures look brightest.