《At The Lions Gate》The Broken Dream -- Chapter III
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After two weeks of on-the-job training Jim began patrolling the Tenderloin, one of the more dangerous areas in the city. Having been a veteran – he fought with the French 4th Army during the Meuse-Argonne offensive – shop keepers and street people alike felt safer when the Irishman with the kind face and the ready smile was on patrol.
One Saturday afternoon, before he hit the streets, Jim came in to the kitchen wearing his policeman’s uniform. Susan brought soup to the table as Jim sat down beside his son. She noticed the magazine that Josh was reading.
“Interesting article?” she asked.
Josh continued reading as he spoke. “Actually, it’s about the war in Europe.”
“The Germans are at it again,” said Jim. “We thought the last war
would end it.”
Josh looked up from the magazine. “Dad, how come you won’t talk about the Great War?”
“There isn’t much to talk about. People killing each other doesn’t make for good conversation. Better to forget about it.”
“What if we end up in this war?”
“If we do, and if you’re old enough, you’ll do what you believe is right. Until then enjoy your victories on the football field.”
Jim Sanders finished his soup, stood up, took his policemen’s revolver from the drawer near the table, and put it into his holster.
Susan handed Jim his dark blue overcoat. He kissed her on the cheek, then turned to his son. “Josh, you help your mother prepare dinner.”
“Dad, let me go with you. Just for the first hour or two.”
His mother immediately intervened. “Josh, that isn’t a good idea.”
“The neighborhood I patrol isn’t one of the best,” said Jim.
“I know, but I’m curious,” replied Josh. “I might want to be a cop someday.”
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“No, you won’t be a policeman,” said his mother. “You can do better; I mean, you can do something a little safer. You want to be a professional football player, remember.”
His father relented. “He’s old enough, and it might do him good to see what goes on in those streets.”
Josh stood up and put on a bold face. “I’ll be okay mom. I’m not afraid.”
“But I am,” replied his mother. “There’s been more crime since the depression…the streets aren’t safe.”
“The boy has to know what the real world is like,” said Jim.
“He has time to know what the world is like. He doesn’t have to walk the streets to find out.”
“I’ll bring him home after my first round on patrol…I promise.”
She looked at them both, and finally gave in. “All right, but no later than nine o’clock.”
That night Jim Sanders patrolled the run-down streets of the Tenderloin district. With Josh at his side he walked slowly, resting one large hand on his gun holster as he swiveled his head from side to side. His large eyes flickered back and forth, ever alert, as they scanned the darkness.
Near mission and seventh, leaning against the door of an old closed-down pawn shop, a figure stood in the shadows, his long dark fingers wrapped around a Styrofoam cup filled with hot coffee. His hands shook as he raised the cup to his dark puffy lips and sipped the coffee. A ragged man in ragged clothes, his tattered brown overcoat hung loosely from his broad shoulders; the heels on his black shoes were worn to the bone. The sunken eyes looked straight ahead, seeing only darkness.
“Chuck?”
The familiar voice encouraged the man to turn his head, as Josh and his father came walking toward him. His large black lips began to part but without a smile. Jim stopped in front of the man and extended his hand. “How are you Chuck?”
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Josh watched the two men closely as they shook hands. He recognized the name, but not the man who stood alone, a scarecrow in the night.
“I’m gettin’ by.” The man had a deep, hoarse voice. He spoke slowly, as if his words were formed in slow motion.
Jim Sanders gestured toward his son. “Chuck, this is my boy Josh. I brought him along for a little stroll through the neighborhood. Josh, this is Chuck Nagel; we used to work together on construction jobs. He was a crackerjack welder.”
“Yeah, until the country fell apart. It needs to be welded back together,” said Chuck.
Jim quickly switched subjects. “Is Janie still in town?”
“No, she took the kids and went back East to live with her folks. She couldn’t handle this no more.”
“I’m sorry to hear that Chuck. I wish things could have turned out different. This depression’s been dragging on too long. Jobs will come back, I know they will.”
Jim reached in his coat pocket and handed Chuck a five-dollar bill. “This’ll help a little.” Jim patted him on the back, then he and Josh moved on down the sidewalk. When they reached the end of the block Josh turned to his father.
“Is that man living on the street?”
“I’m afraid so. He sometimes sleeps in a flophouse nearby, when they have room.” Jim Sanders paused, and looked back at the lonely figure in the shadows. “Chuck is a good man. We were good friends. I lost track of him until a few weeks ago, when I saw him out here on the street. You never know what life is going to throw at you, Josh. Wherever you end up, it might not be where you thought.”
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Beyond?
Author's Comment: I was asked about reading my work on other sites. The answer is simple: Currently I am not active in any other networks than royalroadl.com. Only here, I correct mistakes and errors. If you read it anywhere else and have to pay for it, or have to deal with an annoying amount of advertisement, You Are Being Betrayed. You would do good if you make other people in that network aware of it. This is a free project of mine for the purpose of having fun. And if people try to make money with it you shouldn't bother visiting their website. The only one whom I actually allowed to have my work on his website is Armaell who invested the time to compile them into pdf. (http://armaell-library.net/author/andur) ——————————————————————————————— Reading Order of the Multiverse-Books ——————————————————————————————— My world faced its end, but I refused to perish with it! So I intercepted a summoning ceremony from another world. One moment!? My summoner tried to summon a demon? Fuck it, I think it's better to break the contract and do my own thing... or not? Why is Mrs. Sacrifice hugging me? And why am I suddenly a child!? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am not entirely sure how this fiction will turn out. And I am not sure on the tags either. They may change. Bear with it. As always, how chapters turn out is up to my mood.
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Promises are meant to be kept, but a promise to save a beloved sister leads a group of high school magical girls into a dream of many literary landscapes. Out of this dream of Carroll’s wonderlands and Baum’s fairylands and Poe’s nightmares comes a monster that threatens to invade the waking world. Their promise forms the opening act of a play they can’t stop, so to prevent this monster’s debut into their world, they must play their parts to the end at all hazards to their lives. If you love quirky magical girls, bloodthirsty femme fatales, fight scenes, love scenes, twisty plot lines, fantastic settings, the possibility of dreams, and the uncertainty of nightmares, this story is for you.
8 159The Final Judgement
Meet Mekato Ludoshi (Male), leader of squad B-16. He works with his childhood friend Fudo Aridoku (Male), his old college friend, Shimona Fujika (Female) and a new friend, Tumotu Rinkato (Male). They work with The Lost Judgement (T.L.J in short). Their main enemy is The Fallen Vex (T.F.V in short). The leader of T.F.V is Kuruki Katumi(Male). And they had a long fighting war against each other. Their angers has pushed each other off the limits, So high that it has grown into another war... Note from SakkaKuro: This is my first Web Novel, so there is doubt to be things I will miss. But if you liked it you can give it a review and tell me what was good or what was bad. I'll react as soon as possible to your review and see if I can do anything about it. Was there a cover you liked? Or do you like some sneak peaks? Go check my twitter @fbmonsterboy If there is something you want to tell my private (For some reason) DM me from my twitter and I'll react as soon as possible. PS: Every Volume has a different cover, once again, if you want to find the old Covers: Check out my twitter: @fbmonsterboy or DM me! Most of the covers are pictures from different artist, which is either fanart from an anime, manga or their own custom character. If you see your own art and don't want me to use it, please tell me and I will remove it as soon as possible. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Copyright: "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair"
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After a fight with a witch leaves Arlyn mortally wounded, the newly appointed templar knight unexpectedly awakens in the village he was sent to save. His wounds healed, he continues his search for other dark creatures lurking in the forest. His investigation will start with this mystery healer.
8 99I'll be happy as a monster
The MC lived alone for 25 years. No family, no lover, no friend. He lived all alone in his abandoned apartment. But it all change when he died because of an accident. His soul was reincarnated as a monster by a god and transferred to a different world. The MC determined to live happily as a monster in the different world.
8 192Fursuit In The Making
HEY This is GONNA BE LIKE AN ART BOOK JUST WITH FURSUIT STUFFI did NOT make the cover lmao
8 93