The Game Master
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The Game Master.
This is Belle. This story comes a local computer game maker.
Hello all you good Souls. I am called Jack Doe. I know that Jack is also
a name for John. I like to be called Jack better. (You should see the
problems I have when I try sign in to a hotel.)
This tale started at a company picnic that I was asked to host. I wanted
to know a few things. How many people, the age ranges, and food choices.
The amount of people was simple. I needed to know how much food to order.
For the most part, I stick with traditional Bar B Que foods. Beer, soda,
and lemonade to drink. No hard stuff.
Food choices went along the same lines. Any vegetarians would feel more
relaxed if there was fruit and vegetable dishes at hand.
The age factor only went for children. The real young I could keep happy
by letting them play on my mini beach near my pond. I would have a
trained life guard there.
Anyone who was between 8 and 18, I would let them try their luck in my
pond fishing for Sunfish and Perch. Any thing that they would catch, I
would cook for them on the grill. I did stock the pond, but also would
let nature take her hand. Bass did make some head way there and I was not
about to stop that. Grilled Bass does taste good.
I am single, but for some reason, most of the gals dont like me. For
events like the company picnic, I would ask a secretary to be by my side.
I would tell her the truth. For the most part, Barb Gordan likes to be
with me. She is single. Yes I am straight, but at events like company
picnics, it is best that I have a date with me.
This story is not about me but about the son of one of the company's
newest hire. The new hire was called Connor MacLeod. His wife was called
Heather. Their son was called Duncan. Duncan was 12 going on 13 at the
time.
Now to move on ward, I could hear shouts coming from the beach area. Five
of the boys were picking on Duncan. They were being led by Frank Carver.
Frank was called "The Butcher" because of his aggressive play on the
football field. Frank along with his younger brother Joey, the Johnson
twins, Dave and Fred, plus Mike Carlin were teasing Duncan. They had
"pants" him and Frank's girl friend, Sahra Howard put Duncan's jeans on
her. She removed her skirt and the boys were trying to put Duncan in it.
Just before I could reach the scene, Dr. J C Wang stopped me. Dr. Wang is
the founder and president of the company I work for. The company's name
is Anna Tech Co. Dr. Wang is not into broadway musicals. He named the
company after his mother Anna. Anna Technical Company. Yes he did see the
show Fiddler On The Roof. Dr. Wang said, "Ease up Jack. You know that
boys will be boys."
I said with a heavy sigh, "Yes I know. At that age you are trying to make
friends and stunts like this can shut the door on you. Dont fight back or
dont fight hard enough and you are a weakling. Fight too hard, and it
looks like you cant take a joke. It is worse when it is done in front of
the girls."
Dr Wang said after a few minutes, "Yes your right. It is worse if you are
into things that seem nerdy or geeky. I forgot how cruel childhood can
be. What is your solution to this problem?"
I said, "If they want to fight, then let them fight. But on an even
scale."
Dr. Wang asked, "Just how do you want to do that?"
I smiled as I said, "Remember that flight simulator we are developing for
the military? We let the boys give it a field test. We will use only WW
II era aircraft. It is the fun part of the package. It is the part that
we can also put out for the arcade side part of the house and allows a
way for some of the ground crews can feel the fun of flight and the test
of the dog fight.
Dr. Wang said, "Then you want to level the playing field. Good. Let the
best player win."
Before we could reach the boys, Ellen Gordan, who is Barb's daughter,
slamed Frank and said, "You bunch of Bullies. Cant you pick on some one
your own size?"
Dr. Wang saw my thoughts. It was Oh shit, out of the fat and into the
fire. But Dr. Wang said, "Now listen up. Jack here has a plan. All you
boys will fight on a level field. Sahra and Ellen may join in. I am for
the game, God."
Just then George Carver (Frank's father) asked, "Just what the fuck do
you mean?"
I had to stop a bigger fight. I said, "It means your sons and their
friends cant pick on people four years younger and half thier size. Dont
fuck with me George. I stuffed you twice in a trash can in high school.
The last time, you went into the dumpster."
George went pale on that. He was a Half Back and I was a Cross Country
Runner.
George then asked in a calmer tone, "What is the deal?"
Dr. Wang said, "Your son and his friends will fly a plane against Duncan
and his friend. Each player must fly their own ship. All on a computer. "
George asked, "What does that mean?"
Dr. Wang said, "The boys will fight their fight on the computer. The
playing field will be level there. If you dont like it, you must fly a
duel with Jack."
George said, "Your on. I did fly fighters the Air Force."
Dr. Wang said, "The stakes are simple. The losers will wear a skirt or a
dress in public for one day. The winner gets to pick the day. Halloween
is off limits. George will fly only against Jack. Child vs child. Adult
vs adult."
George said, "You know I flew in the Air Force. I think you will look
smashing in a Ball Gown at the Company Dance."
Dr. Wang said, "Dont be picking out outfits until the game is over.
George you and your team take the Red control console. Jack your team has
the Blue side. And Sahra, give Duncan back his jeans."
We sat down at the controls. I saw that George had picked a Zero for his
aircraft. Smart thinking. The Zero was a fast and agile fighter. I
thought well if he wants to play that way, I knew of at least four planes
that can beat the Zero in a dog fight. I went with the Corsair. I knew
that the P 40 was also good as well as the Hellcat and the Lighting
fighters. I just liked the Corsair better.
Duncan's foes went with the Me 109 fighters. Tough planes, but beatable.
Duncan and Ellen chose Spitfires. I sent to Duncan a few tactical tips
about the Me 109. Dr. Wang said nothing about coaching, only that the
adults could not directly fly against the kids.
George and I fought first. He may of been a good pilot for the airforce,
but he knew Jackshit about the Zero. He tried a heads on pass at me. I
just met him head on. We both opened up with our guns. While he hit my
plane, he did little damage. The Zero had little to no armor. I hit his
engine and fuel tanks. His screen went dark and an off beat version of
taps were played on his speaker. Then his screen showed my plane in a
victory roll. My screen showed a victory statement and I heard the Marine
Corps Hymn. All of that was programed into the game.
Duncan and Ellen then had their battle with Frank and his friends. Mike
crashed shortly after take off. He crashed into the Johnson boys. That
left Frank, Joey, and Sarah for Duncan to deal with. A 3 on 2 fight.
Duncan and Ellen followed the tips I sent them. They didn't try a head to
head battle. The Me 109 had 30 mm cannon in it's nose. That cannon could
knock out a tank or shoot down a bomber. A fighter would be like candy to
it.
Joey went down first. Ellen caught him from the underside and sawed his
rudder and stabilizer off his plane. Duncan shot out Joey's engine. Then
Duncan went after Frank as Sarah went after Duncan. Ellen chased Sarah.
Ellen knocked Sarah out of the game just as Duncan blasted Frank. The
only difference that Ellen and Duncan got was God Save the King/Queen was
played with their victory statement. They didnot have to fight each
other. I set the game for team play and for training for real life.
Just then Mike said, "That was not fair. I didn't get to fly."
Dr. Wang told Mike, "I said for the game that I was God. You took out two
of your teammates when you crashed. This game has some real life factors
in it. The only difference is, that in real life is you can't hit a reset
button or throw in a new token. You lost when you crashed."
I said, "The Wellman Clinic is having it's Talent No Talent fund raiser
in ten weeks. All losers will appear then in a singing act."
Dr. Wang said, "Fair enough."
It was then that I called Larry Sargento. I said, "Larry, how would you
like to make some extra cash under the table?" (I knew that Larry had his
Laurie act.)
Larry said, "Well, uh sure. What do I have to do?"
I said, "Just coach two song acts for the Wellman's fund raiser. The acts
are a one time deal unless indivdual members choose otherwise."
Larry said, "I will speak with the acts before making up my mind."
I said, "Fair enough. Meet me at my place tomorrow about 2 P M. I will
have everyone there. Plus any or all needed paperwork to keep your sister
in law happy."
Larry did say, "That sounds fair. Just remember that I am entered as
well. I will also coach my acts to win."
I said, "I will ask nothing less."
The next day at the time stated I had George and all the losers. Shortly
after that Larry Sargento and his friend Billy Bonnie came in. I could
see a tired, worn look on Larry's face. Larry said, "I have been filled
in by Jack about why you are here. I will have an adult with me when I
work with the children. That is my request. When the act is prefomed, the
bet is paid in full. I dont like pedophillia and I am not a pedophile.
This is an act like a Shakespearean play. Keep that in mind."
George asked, "What in the Hell do you mean by that?"
Larry just laughed. Then he said, "First your lessons begin now. So watch
your language. Today you will all be measured for your outfits. George,
since the game dealt with World War Two aircraft, you will do a Vera Lynn
number. And George, your presence wont count. I will have another adult
with me at all times when I work with the kids.
The boys are a different case. I was thinking of them doing 'Boggie
Woggie Bugle Boy of Company B.' but 'You Gotta Be a Football Hero.'also
comes to mind. The last one will be easier to train for and get proper
outfits.
The boys should know one thing. For every place out of first place, Coach
Hessman told me that they must run twenty laps. So unless they wish to do
a lot of running, they best take this in the proper spirit."
Sahra asked, "What do I have to do? I like wearing skirts."
Larry gave her a very serious look on his face when he said, "Your voice
will be my guide. I want this to work right."
Frank asked, "What does that mean Mr. Sargento?"
"It means that Sarha's voice will be the one I coach your voices around.
There will be a few octives in difference but that can't be helped. So I
will use it to your advantedge. I dont want to see you run more than
twenty laps. I am also entered."
I could see Sahra laughing. She had seen Larry sing as Laurie before.
Then she asked, "What will be my team mates names for the act?"
Larry was in deep thought. He gigled abit, then said, "Frank will be
called Franny. Mike will be called Michelle. Dave becomes Davida and Fred
is now Frieda. Joey is for the act, Joanna. George will be called
Georgia."
Mike asked, "Mr. Sargento. What happens if one of team backs out?"
Larry laughed as he said, "That person will run laps as if he came in
last place. It will be done in a skirt. Coach Hessman did agree to allow
the running to be broken up in sixty lap groups. None of you are long
distance runners. Even if you are, Coach Hessman does not want to turn
any of you into marathon runners."
George Carver asked, "How many acts are entered this year?"
Larry said, "About fourty that are allowed to compete. There is two by
both Sheriff's and Police Departments that will be done for fun's sake.
They are not allowed to win, but be given a score to show how well they
did. Their placement will count for the number of laps you run as well."
I thought of the price Coach Hesman set. I knew he is Larry's brother in
law. But making the kids run over two hundred miles in laps did have a
motivational factor for the boys. They would try their best and then
some.
Well over the next ten weeks, the boys did work with Larry. Even George
followed Larry's tips. I saw the outfits that Larry came up with for
their numbers. I wanted to, but could not laugh at George or the boys.
The outfits were tastefull and proper for their acts. I also saw wigs,
bras, and breast forms that they had to put on.
On the show day I went to The Ye Old Irish Inn. I paid the for dinner and
a ticket for the show for both Barb and I. I was asked to be a judge but
I declined. I said, "I watched two of the acts practice and may have a
slanted view. Please let my guest take my place. She has a more fair view
of things."
The commitee allowed my refusal and took Barb as a judge. I watched the
whole show from my seat and Barb had a real close up view.
Larry had been told that he could only sing, but was not allowed to be
scored. He won too many times and was termed a semi pro. The Salem Police
Department and Sheriff's Department were also locked out. So was the
Salem Fire Department. All their acts were scored for show and not for
placment.
The Salem PD did 'Oficer Krumpkie' from West Side Story. The Fire
Department got the Copy Cat award. They did it with the Rescue Squad with
a song and dance act to Achy Breaky Heart. The Sheriff's Department did
'Match Maker Match Maker' from Fiddler on The Roof.
The placement put the boys in sixth place. They did get some laughs.Tenth
if the excluded acts could score. They boys won free running shoes from
the Ladies Footlocker. They would have to run two hundred laps and in
skirts. George Carver did win. His number of 'The Blue Birds of Dover.'
won it. George did give the cash award to the Wellman Clinic.
Dr Wang only said, "Paid in Full. " Then just broke out in full laughter.
Over the next ten days I could hear from the High School the peals of
girls laughter and the shouts of "Way to go Girls. Way to Go." as the
boys ran their laps. Only Mike liked to wear a the bra and breast forms
he had for the act.
Peace. Jack Doe.
Thank you Jack and may you live long and do well.
Belle Starr