LAD Website Original: Family Ties

Family Ties

by Scott Thurlow

Randy sat looking at the old gray revolver. He had no idea how old it might be, but it looked like it had certainly seen better days. Probably kept in a retired cop's desk drawer. Taken out only to show older family members with pride, and sternly warn younger ones. Or perhaps vice-versa. Randy didn't know for sure, all he knew was that he had found this gun, and had used three bullets so far. The first was a test shot he fired off, followed by two more he quickly had to use to kill a creature that was alerted to his presence.

Now, Randy sat and contemplated his options. They didn't seem very inviting. It was clear no one was coming to help or rescue him. He had no idea if his family was alive or not, they were halfway across the country, Westward, so the chances didn't seem very high. Even if he could somehow make it all the way back home, what would he discover there? Randy wasn't sure if he really wanted to find out. He sat for a while longer. Finally, he hefted the weight of the gun in his hand. He felt it, tested it, gazed down at the cold dark metal and into the barrel. He took aim at a tree stump a couple yards away and fired another shot. The round went wide of the stump and kicked up chunks of broken ground a few feet next to it.

Randy sighed. He looked up into the sky, then closed his eyes. He lifted the revolver level with his head, hoping he'd be forgiven. He counted silently to three while thinking one last time of his family, then pulled the trigger. Click. He pulled it again. Click. Click. Randy opened his eyes and stared blankly at the revolver that had betrayed him. No more bullets? Or perhaps the gun was just too old and was malfunctioning now. Randy decided it didn't matter anymore. He flung it in the direction of the mocking stump. Then he got up. It seemed his choice was made for him. He started heading towards what he thought was East, judging by the sun (he was thankful he somehow remembered that fact.) He had always kind of hated his family, anyway, he realized.