Free Old Bones: A Collection of Short Stories by Steven L. Campbell Page B

“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