It works for them... why not?

World's Greatest Dad

World's Greatest Dad

Lonnie Byers, in his late twenties, slept in what could only be described as an interrogation room, his head bowed on the table.

He looked very restless and tossed and turned. Suddenly, an image flashed in his mind: the face of his youngest son, foaming at the mouth.

The door opened, and Lonnie sat up, rubbing his face. He saw a blond man enter the room, with very short hair, indigo blue eyes, and an elegant suit.

Lonnie stood up and said -Um, hi... were you able to get my file?- The man replied -Yes...- and stared into his eyes for what seemed like a full minute.

But he continued -If you want to fire me or call security, you're perfectly within your rights...- Lonnie asked -Huh?- confused.

Suddenly, the man punched him square in the face, knocking him to the floor.

Offended, Lonnie asked -What the hell is wrong with you, Chris?- rubbing the bruise.

Chris Chambers, still visibly upset, bent down and yanked him up by his shirt, forcing him back into the chair and angrily demanded -What the hell is wrong with me... WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?... HOW COULD YOU?-

The man formerly known as Gordie LaChance replies -IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, DAMMIT! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THAT?-

But the blond man immediately retorts -YOU DISLOCATED YOUR 4-YEAR-OLD'S SHOULDER!-

Lonnie retorts -IT WASN'T MY FAULT... I FINALLY GOT A DECENT JOB AND THAT LITTLE KID...-

But Chris responds -IF YOU FINISH THAT SENTENCE, I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING...- Lonnie falls silent.

And he sat down in the chair at the other end of the table.

Then he took a breath and continued -You also assaulted your wife...- in a tone that tried to sound professional.

Lonnie, clutching his head in frustration, replied -I just pushed her... she attacked me with a boiling pan. What was I supposed to do?... I don't even remember exactly- his voice suddenly lowered and tinged with guilt.

Chris looked at him with open disgust and asked -Of course, with the whole bottle they say you drank at the bar that night?-

Mr. Byers asks, annoyed -Can you help me get out of this damn hole or not?-

The lawyer stares at him blankly and asks -What the hell happened to you?... Not even your father, not even mine, would have dared to go this far... How did you end up... like this?- his gaze sweeping over him.

The non-Gordie in front of him responds by asking -What do you want? An apology for not being a whiny and weird anymore?-

Chris looks at him with something a little too close to pity for his liking, so he asks again, more angrily -For not being a Pulitzer Prize-winning, best-selling author?-

The blond man didn't answer, but looked at him with clear bewilderment. He was about to open his mouth, but Lonnie stood up and asked -JUST FOR BEING ANOTHER POOR DEVIL IN A SHITTY, FUTURE-LESS JOB WITH DEBT UP TO HIS EARS?-

Chris retorted -I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE DAMN JOB... you could be a sewer worker and I'd never look down on you. What I can't believe is that...-

But Lonnie cut him off, retorting -Sure, easy for you to say, the Chambers who managed to get ahead despite everything, like some self-help movie... and you come here in your fancy suit judging the poor wretch from the lower middle class- clinging to the excuse.

Chris looked at him and, with effort, regained his composure, and proceeded to explain -So that's it? Envy of the one who escaped?... This suit was a gift from a client I helped with her husband's inheritance. I was about to refuse it, but when I saw her crying, saying that I looked too much like her late son in it, I had no heart-

Lonnie fell for that and Chris continued -you know? It's funny... whenever I was offered money for information on a case, or to not do my "best," or when I was assigned cases that were clearly lost causes, I always wondered, "What would Gordie do?"... now I know-

The man who was once Gordie LaChance couldn't answer that. Chris, hiding the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes as best he could, replied -If anyone had asked me yesterday... I would have told them beyond a doubt that you would be the World's Greatest Dad-

His old friend didn't know what else to say, he just waited for him to continue, and Chris, trying to regain his composure, added -I'll do what I can-

Then he turned and walked to the door, explaining in a professional tone -I'll call you when there are any changes... I recommend, Mr. Byers, that you maintain exemplary behavior as much as possible. You were very lucky that the local jail was full and they had to assign you to this treatment center. You'd better make the most of it and not miss any therapy sessions, The therapist's opinion is usually what tips the scales with the family court judge-

The other man replied with a curt -thank you- Chris turned to look at him, almost expecting to see Gordie, the boy he had known, but now there was only Lonnie, the man he had become.

And with a soft, controlled click, the door closed.

Almost like a mirror image, both men took a deep breath, held their foreheads, and rested their heads against the closed door, and then left.

"A few days later I received a call that changed everything..."

Lonnie stared without real interest at the screen broadcasting a baseball game; he seemed openly bored.

When a guard announced -Byers... your lawyer is calling- he stood up and walked to the black phone hanging on the wall.

He held it to his ear and asked -Chris?- Chris, without greeting him or anything, simply stated -You're being released tomorrow-

Lonnie, confused, asked -What?- Chris sighed and replied -It all just vanished... the case must be in someone important up there's worried about-

The non-Gordie asks -So what now?- Chambers replies -In cases like this, it's best to just take the bone they throw you-

Lonnie asks -So can I... go home?- Chris replies -Your wife has the right to ask for a divorce, the house, custody, alimony, and a restraining order... but it's her decision-

Byers begins -Well, thanks for...- but the dropped call made the situation clear.

"And that was the last I heard of him... until a few days ago when I saw a news report in the paper. Last week he entered a fast food restaurant. Just ahead of him, two men got into an argument. One of them pulled a knife. Chris who would always make the best peace tried to break it up. He was stabbed in the throat. He died almost instantly"

Okay, I know I made you suffer a lot, diverting your questions and setting a few plot holes, but you have to understand that this is THE SCENE, the first one that came to mind when I decided to turn Lonnie into Gordie.

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Criticism and comments are welcome.