It's hell growing up in a small town, Johnny thought to himself, as he passed The Watering Hole. He hadn't been in the pub in many years, and he longed to go inside. He knew a lot of the guys he grew up with would be in there right now. A cold winter Saturday, with nothing else to do, so that's where everyone would be. Everyone except Johnny. He imagined them talking about him. He could practically hear the schoolyard taunts. Scaredy Cat Callahan, that's what they used to call him. All because of...well, never mind. He just wouldn't go there, that's all.
He continued down the street, heading for the The Lamplighter, because that's where he felt welcome. Ralph never went to The Lamplighter. Feeling the anger well up in him as he thought the name, he stopped in his tracks. Enough is enough. Maybe it was time to put an end to it all. Fingering the contents of his coat pocket, he imagined how it would be if he could just get up his nerve. Boy, they sure would be surprised if he walked in there and did it, wouldn't they? He'd be the talk of the town, he would. He'd be the man! R-e-s-p-e-c-t, that's what he'd get, and he'd get it in spades.
Hesitating, he turned the collar of his pea coat against a sudden strong, icy gust and turned and retraced his steps. Staring at the front door of The Watering Hole, he gritted his teeth, pushing his way through. The smoky room was packed, and the chatter died down slowly as people turned and saw who had come in.
Standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets, Johnny looked around defiantly, searching for the one face he had avoided all this time. Ralph looked up as the room got quiet and couldn't believe his eyes. Johnny Callahan. In The Watering Hole. His mind racing back in time, a slow grin spreading.
"Well as I live and breathe. If it isn't ol' Scaredy Cat Callahan. Hey, everybody, look!"
"Hello Ralph. Can't you see they're already looking? You blind or something?" Ralph couldn't believe those words had come out of his mouth.
Ralph got up and met Johnny half way across the floor. "No, Scaredy Cat, my eyes are fine. I see you still need glasses though. Can't afford contacts?"
Johnny ignored the muted laughter, his face flushing. "Things have changed, Ralphie," he sneered. I ain't no scaredy cat anymore."
Ralph's eyes narrowed. "Oh yeah? Well you don't look so tough to me. If you're so brave, how come we haven't seen you in here before? Hell, you even cross the street just to avoid me whenever I see you in town."
Johnny started shaking when more laughter rose. "Oh yeah? Well, you're wrong, Ralph. You don't know me. You..."
"Oh, I know you, Scaredy Cat." Ralph shoved his finger in Johnny's chest. "You're the guy who ran away when the time came to put up or shut up." He turned to the room. "Hey, Al, you were there, you remember."
Al gave a nervous laugh and took a sip of his beer. "And you, Bev, you remember that day."
"It was a long time ago, Ralph, I mean, really..."
Pacing now, Ralph waved his arms. "So what? He's come in here talking all brave. You people think i'm gonna let that go? No way!" He turned back on Johnny. "So what's the deal, Scaredy Cat? You got something to prove?"
Figuring it was now or never, Johnny put his hand in his pocket and felt for it once more. "Yeah, Ralph, I got something. I got what it takes. I've got a surprise for you, Ralphie boy. I've been working on it. Working on it real good. My mind is sharp. Sharper than yours, I bet!"
Ralph got in Johnny's face. "Oh yeah? So you wanna do this thing? Right here? Right now?"
Jutting his chin, Johnny sneered, "Yeah, Ralphie. Let's do this thing."
He walked over to the nearest table and swept the beer coasters onto the floor and sat down, indicating the seat opposite. He pulled the brand new deck of cards out of his pocket and began shuffling as Ralph spun a chair around and dropped into it."
Fixing Ralph with a deadly stare, he leaned across the table. "This is War, Ralphie boy, and you're going down."
