About Mentor: A Jarheads Short

by Sean Michael
11 pages / 3345words
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf

Rig, Rock and Dick are on their way to a very special graduation party. A young man who Rock mentored out of his punk kid ways has made good on his youthful promise, and the Jarheads couldn’t be more proud. All those young people make Rock feel a little old, though, and it's up to his men to make him feel young again. Can Dick and Rig live up to the challenge?

Sample

"Who is this kid again, Blue?" Rig finished ironing Dick's shirt, then grabbed Rock's. His had gone to the cleaners for a starch and was hanging. This time of year he was always attending something or congratulating somebody.

Made him feel a little old, really, but that was what old dudes did. They shook hands and congratulated young kids.

"Jason Peterman. You remember, the kid we caught flinging rocks at the gym windows. Hard to believe he's old enough to be graduating from college now." Rock shook his head. "Makes me feel old."

Dick jumped at Rock from behind, arms wrapping around his waist. "You're only as old as the one you feel and I'm still a spring chicken."

"Jason Peterman? No shit? Damn." Rig started in on the collar. "Is he the one with the brother that died? Some drug-related thing?"

They all had such complicated lives, kids. So much different than when he was younger.

Oh, God. He really was old.

"Yeah. And his mother had kicked him out because he was gay and he wasn't allowed at the funeral. It was pretty ugly."

"He's a good kid," Dick put in. "Thanks to you, Rock."

Rock grunted.

His Jim was a good man. "So, what'd he get a degree in and who's throwing the party?"

"Business administration and the party's at the gym. Jane's done most of the work to set that up."

"Jane and the kid's new boyfriend." Dick kissed Rock's cheek and then came over to give him a kiss, too.

"Oh, ho!" Rig chuckled, shook his head. "Good for them, hmm?"

"Maybe." Rock took his shirt, putting it on. "The boyfriend's a vegetarian."

Rig chuckled. "Tofu dogs for all!"

Rock shuddered. "No, I warned Jane if she wanted to keep her job there'd be real food at this thing."

"Did I need to bring anything besides myself?" They could stop on the way, get tortilla chips and salsa.

"Nope. That was the point of making Jane organize it. We can show up, shake the kid's hand, and come home." Rock fixed him with a look. "Shake other stuff."

"You sure I'm not too old for shaking?"