Library Security, Episode 3

It was a slow day at the Grand Creek Public Library.  Colton sat at his desk, looking over his monitors.  "All's clear."  Happy with what he saw, he left his office and did a perimeter sweep.

When he got back inside, he noticed a woman standing in front of his office.  She oozed charisma and had an air of maturity about her.  Standing five-foot-six and appearing to weigh about one-hundred and twenty pound, she seemed fit.  Her knee-length black dress with a plunging neckline was a nice touch, as well.

"You lost?" he asked.

"Lost?" she asked.  "Heavens, no.  I was looking for you."

This seemed suspicious.  "What for?"

She smiled.  "I heard there was a handsome security guard working at this library.  I had to see him for myself.  It appears the rumors were true."

"Sorry, lady, I don't date," Colton said.  "This job is both my wife and girlfriend.

"That sounds depressing," the woman said.  Looking around, she said, "That's a lot of cameras.  So you're a man how can handle a lot."

"I manage," he said.  "If you looked for a job, you have to go to Library Security HQ.  I have to warn you, the training is harsh.  They only hire the best of the best."

"Not really looking for a job, but that's nice to know," she said.  "Thanks."  She sauntered away.

He had no clue what that was about.  Oh well, back to work.

Hours later, it was almost closing time.  Colton began his last sweep.  He noticed the vixen from earlier walking, looking suspicious.  "Hold it, young lady."

She stopped and gave him a sensual look.  "What is it, you big, strong security guard?"

"Your purse looks kind of heavy.  I'd like to check it out."

She clutched her purse.  "I'm fine."  She attempted to walk away.

He walked in front of her.  "I just want to check it out."

She gasped.  "You think I stole something?  Do I look like a thief?"

"Looks can deceive."

"But you have all those cameras."

"I can't see them when I do my perimeter sweep," he said.  "And there are a few blindspots in what they can see.  Just let me do a quick check."

Still clutching onto her purse, she reached down with one hand and lifted one side of her dress halfway up her thigh and gave him a flirty look.  "Are you sure you can't let me go?  I'll let you check my whole body this weekend if you do."

His eyes were drawn to her thigh.  It was hard to resist, but he had to.  He was a library security guard first and a man second.  He looked her in the face.  "Please pull down your dress, ma'am."

"Come on," she said, lifting her dress a little more.  "Don't you think I'm hot?"

He shook his head.  "Doesn't matter.  Pull down your dress and hand over the purse."

"This is harassment!" she said.  "I don't have to take this!  I'm leaving!"  She tried to kick him in the groin.

He caught her leg and held it down.  "You're not being very charming now."

"Let me go!"  She whipped her leg from his grip and fell.  The contents of her purse spilled out, revealing a few poetry books that belonged to the library.  She gasped.  "I didn't know those were in there.  I swear."

"You have the right to remain silent," he said.  "Anything you do can and will be used against you in a court of-"

"Rrargh!" she growled as she jumped up and tried to attack him.

He grabbed her arm and flipped to the ground, then knelt down on her shoulder with his grip still on her arm.  "Law," he continued.  "You have the right to an attorney."

She tried to squirm and wriggle free, but it was no good.  "Oww!  This is crap!  Crap!"

"You thought you could flirt your way out of justice," he said.  "You're cute, but the law it the law."

The library manager came over.  "Good catch, Colton.  I'll call the police."

After the police came and took the woman away, Colton and the manager started closing things down.  "That was good work, Colton.  I'll admit...I probably would have fallen for her charms."

"That's why I'm the security guard and you're the manager."  They shared a laugh and went home.

Charming A Princess: The Darkness Girl

Sam was walking through the park when he saw.  She was leaning against a tree, pretending to strum away at her electric guitar.  He had no choice but to stop and stare.

She was pale-skinned with shoulder-length black hair.  Everything she wore was black, as well.  Black tanktop, black miniskirt, black combat boots, black knee socks, and black sleeves up to he elbows.  No doubt about it , she was a bona fide darkness girl.  Not quite a Goth girl, but more hardcore than a rocker chick.

She continued doing what she was doing.  Then, she looked up, seeming to finally notice him.  "What are you looking at, prick?"

Yep.  She was a darkness girl.  "Sorry to bother you."  He started walking away.

"Hey, wait," she said.  "I didn't mean to call you a prick.  I just don't like it when people stare at me."

"I couldn't help it," Sam said.  "You're hot."  Wait.  Did he really say that?

"Ha ha, you're SO corny," she laughed.  "And lame, too."

"Maybe, so."

Then she asked a weird question.  "So, do you worship the Devil?"

He did not worship the Devil, but he'd humor her.  "The Devil's cool."

"You're such a piece of crap," she said.  "But I like you.  I'm performing at a night club later tonight.  Why not come check me out?"

He looked her up and down.  "I'm already doing that?"

"Garbage," she laughed.  "But garbage the I like."  She got in front of him.  "So what do you like most about me?"

He was in a joking mode.  "The Devil worship."

She laughed.  "Asshole."

Grandpa's Foot

The kids all gathered around Claude as he sat on his sofa.  They were of various ages, with the oldest being sixteen.  They all looked eagerly.

"I assume you all are here to hear a story," Claude said.  Normally, he'd just good into a random tale, but he felt generous today.  "Okay, I'll let you decide what story I tell.  What me what you want to here."

"A Christmas story," one said.

"A Halloween story," another said.

All the kids blurted out several things, except the oldest.  That's who would determine the story.  "How about you.  What do you want to hear?"

The young man said, "When did you lose your foot and how?"

The other kids assaulted him with similar questions.

"Yeah, how, Grandpa?" one kid asked.

"Did you lose it in a war?" another asked.

"Okay, brats, shut up and listen.  Grandpa Claude's about to tell you all what happened to his foot.  But if I'm gonna tell it right, I hafta start from the beginnin'.  So get comfortable, because the story's startin'."

It looked like everyone was ready.  "All right.  It was a long time ago, before you or even your parents were thought of.  I was your age, fresh-faced and ready to take on the world.  I only had one thing to worry about.  There was this bully at school.  He walked around like he owned the place and while I wasn't has only target, I was one of his favorites."

"What's this got to do with your foot?" the oldest kid asked.

"I'm gettin' to it," Claude said.  "Anyway, this kid used to do all sorts of things to me, all throughout middle school.  My mother would keep tellin' me he wouldn't be around forever.  Unfortunately, he wasn't goin' away fast enough for my likin'.  Still, I took it all through middle school, because he wouldn't be there to bother me in high school.  At least that's what I thought at the time.  Yet when I got to high school, there he was.  He was determined to pick up where he left off in middle school.  As you can guess, I got tired of that mighty fast.  That's when it happened."

"And he cut off your foot?" a kid asked.

"Shut up, boy.  Anyway, I was walkin' home with some of my friends when he showed up.  He began his usual routine, but I wasn't takin' of no more.  I fought back and good.  At some point during the fight, I he him bent over against a wall and was putting' my foot to his ass.  Then, after a particularly hard kick, something felt weird.  I realized that I'd shoved my foot straight up his ass and got it stuck up in there.  It didn't matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get it out."

The kids had various looks on their faces.

"This wasn't gonna fly.  I had to get home and watch some cartoons.  So I kept at it until I got free.  I fell down and felt a sharp pain in my ankle.  When I looked, my foot was gone.  It had broken clean off in his ass."

Everyone's jaw dropped.

"Anyway, I was cryin' and he was cryin'.  Our parents came and took us to the doctor's office.  The doctor offered to remove the foot so they could reattach it, but I refused.  As much as I liked that foot, I wanted him to keep it as a reminder of what happens when you mess with Claude.  I'd broken my foot off in his ass and still had another one I could break off in there.  Never heard from that bully again.  And that's what happened to Grandpa's foot."

Everyone was silent.

"Well, kids, see you next week.  Come back for another story."

Charming a Princess: The Runner Girl

It was a glorious day.  The sun was shining.  Flowers were in full bloom.  Cats were sunbathing.  Most importantly, women were out running.  Harvey yawned and sat on a bench in the park.  "Life is good."

Tank tops, running shorts, skorts.  All these things were apart of his routine after work.  Everyday, he bought some chocolate milk, went to the park, and ogled the women.  Why did he do it?  Because they women were hot and he didn't have the courage to approach them.  That was okay.  He was fine just watching, thinking of things that would never happen.

He reached for his chocolate milk and took a big sip.  After overcoming the brain freeze, he said, "Oh yeah.  That's good stuff."

Then, he saw her.  She was five-foot-six with bronze skin and black hair done in shoulder length pigtails.  Her legs were long, her shorts were short, and her top was little more than a white bra.  She was a regular runner in the park and it made his day when she would trot past without a care in the world.

Today was different, though.  She wasn't just trotting past.  She was coming toward the bench, looking at him.  Oh no.  He stared too long, too hard, and too often.  Now she was coming to confront him.  It was time to leave.

As he was standing to go, she asked, "Leaving already?  What's wrong?  Did you run out of drool?"

"I don't what any trouble," he said.  "I just want to enjoy the park in peace."

"You mean you really want to enjoy all the scantily-clad women," she said.  "I see you here everyday, looking at any woman that passes by, myself included."

Maybe he could still play dumb.  "I don't know want you're talking about."

"Relax," she said.  "It's okay to admit it.  Better that sitting here like a creeper."  She sat down.  "Come on.  Sit."

Reluctantly, he did.

"So, which girl do you like the most?"

He stiffened.  Was she serious?  There's no way he could take to her about stuff like that.  "I don't know," he said nervously.  "There's so many cute ones."

She chuckled.  "Stop being so weird about it.  Let tell you a secret.  A lot of these girls are single.  Some of them are looking for a good guy."

He refused to believe it.  "Really?"

"Yeah, sure.  Give it a try."

"I don't know.  I'm not sure if any of them will talk to me."

"Hello," she said.  "There's a runner girl sitting right next to you.  Practice makes perfect."

Was this okay?  Was this really okay?  There was no telling when or if he would ever talk to another hot woman again.  He'd go for it.  "Hey!  Nice ass!"

She giggled.  "Bzzt!  Try again."

Okay.  "I like your like legs."

"Wrong," she laughed.

He'd never talked to a woman before.  He was at a loss.  "That rack, though."

"This rack is attached to a woman who has a name," she said.  "You may want to start by asking want it is."

It was worth try.  "So, what's your name?"

"I'm Stacy," she answered.  "You?"

"Harvey," he answered.

"Okay, nice.  Do you run, Harvey?"

"Not like you."

"So how often do you run?"

"Maybe twice a year," he said.

She looked at him in disbelief.  "Really?  You seem to be in such good shape.  You must have a good diet."

He conversed with her for a few hours with her, the longest he'd talked to any woman besides his mother.  He learned much about her and told her a lot about herself.  It almost felt like she was interested in him.  Should he go for it?  Why not?  "So...do you wanna have sex?"

"What?" she laughed.  "I can't believe you asked that.  But, I do like your honesty.  No BS, just straight to the point.  Try again after a few dates."

Was it true?  "You want to go out with me?"

She nodded.  "You're not a bad guy.  I've got nothing to lose.  Neither do you.  You're going to have to start running, though."

It was hard to believe.  He went from not being able to talk to a woman to dating the hottest runner in the park.  He didn't have to run game or pretend he was bigger than he was.  All he had to do was meet her halfway.  "I guess it's time to get some running shorts."

Library Security, Episode 2

Colton was sitting at his desk, watching his monitors as usual when his phone rang.  Looking at the caller ID, he saw it was from Library Security Headquarter.  It must have been his handler.  He answered, "Colton McGarrick, here."

"There's young woman on her way to the library to help you out," a man said.  "Try to be nice to her."

Were they sending backup?  "I don't need the help, sir."

"Maybe not," the man replied, "but she's a fresh graduate and needs experience.  Who better to learn from than my best man?"

Colton ground his teeth.  His handler always knew what to say.  He didn't like it, but he had to oblige.  "What's her ETA?"

"She's due to arrive at two this afternoon.  I'm expecting to hear good things.  Good luck."  The phone clicked and the call ended.

Colton hung up and went back to watching his monitors.

After a few hours of nothing happening, the phone rang again.  Caller ID said it was the library manager.  "Headhunter, here," Colton answered.

"Your backup is here," the manager said.  "I'm walking in with her right now."

Colton looked at the monitor focused on the front door and the manager walked in with a woman in a security uniform.  "Roger that.  I'm on the way."  He hung up the phone and made his way to the main hall.

There they were.  The manager and the woman.  She was a black woman, average height, with her black hair done in shoulder-length braided pigtails.  She was baby-faced, almost appearing to be fresh out of high school.  Her mouth was smiling ear to ear, showing off some of the whitest teeth he'd ever seen.

The woman stepped forward and salute.  "Aisha White, reporting for duty.  I look forward to working with you, sir."

That was cute.  Too cute for Colton's liking.  "Okay, kid, listen up.  I'm going to whip you into shape.  If you want to be a successful library security guard, you need to know the lay of the land."

"The manager told me all about it, sir," Aisha said.  "The Grand Creek Public Library is an impressive structure, containing five floors and three basements for a total of eight level.  There are three elevators, two for staff members and one for the public.  One staff elevator is located in the area behind the service counter and the other is located near the back of the building.  The public elevator is located near the middle of the building.  The first floor is-"

"Yeah, yeah," Colton said.  "So you know your stuff.  Let me walk you around for a more personalized tour.  If you have any questions, ask me or the manager."

The three of them walked throughout the building, exploring every nook and cranny.  Eventually, they returned to the main hall.  "Well, any questions, Ms. White?" the manager asked.

"No, sir.  I have a thorough grasp of the library.  Thank you for the tour."  Suddenly, she looked toward the AV room.  "Halt, thief."

Colton looked as well.  There was a man walking out of the AV room with a handful of music CDs and running for the door.  He fought every instinct to leap into action, for he wanted to see how she'd perform.  If she couldn't handle it, he'd jump in, but this would be a trial by fire.

The man kept heading for the door.  "I said stop!" Aisha said, running in front of the door and blocking it.

"Get out of the way!" the man shouted, dropping the CDs and throwing a punch at her.

She ducked the punch, grabbed his arm, flipped him to the ground, and twisted his arm until it broke.

The man screamed in pain.

"You have the right to remain silent, insect," she said.

Colton and the manager looked at each other and said, "She'll be just fine."

After the police were called and the man was taken away in handcuffs, things went back to normal.  Colton went back into his office with Aisha in tow.

"You did good work," Colton said.  "A ten-year veteran couldn't have done it better.  I should know.  I've worked with some.  That's why I work alone these days."

After a brief silence, she asked, "What was your first day like?  Were you nervous?"

He was almost insulted.  "Nervous?  No.  I have been in some tough predicaments, though.  If you've got time to share a beer after work, I can tell you some stories."

"Um...I can't drink, sir.  I'm only twenty."

"Then let's make it a root beer."

She smiled.  "I'd like that, sir."

He was stuck with her for an unspecified amount of time.  He may as well make the most of it.  "Just try not to get too scared."

She laughed.  "As if."

Library Security, Episode 1

Colton was surrounded by monitors, like a villain from a Saturday morning cartoon.  From here in his lair, he could see everything.  If a fly took a piss on the wall, he'd know it.

As for what he actually did see, a person was acting shady in the AV room.  The boss had to know about this.  He picked his walkie-talkie up of the desk and radioed the library manager.  "Top Dog, the is Headhunter.  Suspicious activity in the AV room.  I'm on my way to check it out."

"Roger that," the manager said.  "Take 'em down if you have to."

He smiled.  "Will do.  Headhunter, out."

He stood and examined himself to make sure his weapons were in place.  "Billy club."  He looked at his left hip, where the club was hanging.  "Check.  Pistol."  He looked at his right hip, where the gun was holstered.  "Check.  It's time for action."

He stepped out of his office and into the main hall.  People were wandering around, enjoying the library and all of its services.  Directly ahead was the main entrance.  Next to the main entrance, a set of stairs rose up to the next floor.  Behind him was the rest of the library, except the AV room.  That was across the hall near the stairs.  He made his way over

Once he entered the AV room, he looked around.  There were a number of tall shelves, all filled to the brim with DVDs and CDs.  According to the camera the suspect was in the DVD section.  He walked down the edge of each aisle, taking note of everyone in the room.  When he got to the last aisle, there was the suspect, doing his thing.

The man was a white male with a medium build and appeared to be in his late twenties.  He was dressed in dark clothes and wearing a backpack, which he was shoving DVDs into.  Busted.

"Freeze, maggot," Colton said.  "Library Security.  Take off the backpack and raise your hands slowly."

Without looking, the suspect took off.  The was only one exit.  All Colton had to do was cut him off there.

Colton made it to the exit in time to see him at the end of the aisle, looking like a rat caught in a trap.  "There's no escape.  You may as well give up."

The man ran back the way he came.  What was he trying to accomplish?  As Colton said, there was no way out.

Then Colton thought about it.  There was another way out.  His fears were confirmed by the sound of glass breaking.  There was a large window at the front of the AV room.  By the sound of if, the suspect jumped through it.  This was the first floor as there was a grassy hill outside the room, so any damage he suffered would be minimal.

Colton ran over and looked out the broken window and saw the suspect huffing it into a city park across the street.  "You won't get away!"  He then dove through the window himself, tucked in midair, rolled down the him, and sprang up to continue the chase.  "Halt!"

The man looked back, then looked ahead, and cut on the afterburners.

Colton was in shape, but his target was at least fifteen years younger than him.  Compounding that, it had been a few years since his last foot pursuit.  "Shit," Colton said through labored breathing.  "Have I really lost that much?"

No.  So far, no suspect had ever escaped his grasp.  This guy wouldn't be the first.  He dug down deep and found that extra gear he needed.  He was gaining on him.  "I said HALT!"

The man looked back again.  "You're crazy!"

"And you're a thief," Colton shot back.  "Surrender or be beaten to the fullest extent of the law!"

The ran looked ahead and screamed as he slammed into the side of an idle bus.  Down he went, like a fly being swatted out of the air.

By the time Colton caught up, the man was still on the ground hurting.  He yanked him up by the arm, making him stand.  "You're under arrest for the stealing of library property, destruction of library property, and fleeing arrest.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

"This is bullsh-"

Colton punched him with his free hand.  "You have the right to remain silent  I suggest you exercise that right."  So, he dragged him all the way back to the library, punching him anytime it looked like he wanted to talk.

The manager was waiting outside for them.  "Still as fast as ever," the manager said.

Colton nodded.  "Yep.  This maggot thought he could crawl away."  He ripped of the man's backpack.  "Not sure what all he took, but it should all be there."

The manager looked at the man.  "The police are already on the way.  You're doing some hard time for this.  Was it worth it?"

"You people are crazy," the man said.

Colton punched him.  "Right to remain silent, remember."

After the police arrived and took the man away, everything returned to normal.  Colton went back to his office and vigilantly watch the monitors.  "I love my job."

A Barbarian and His Underwear

Where were they?  He couldn't find them.  Where did he put them?  "Mein Untervear!" Cone cried out .  "Vhere ah mein untervear?"  He couldn't pillage and kill without them.

Wait.  Maybe his wife knew.  "Honey!  Come quick!"

A portly woman with long red hair shuffled into the room, huffing and wheezing.  She wasn't always fat.  Back in her pillaging and killing days, she was muscular and hot.  All the male barbarians wanted to be with her.  Then she had two kids, gained wait and never lost it.  "Yes, dear?" she asked through labored breathing.

"Have you seen mein untervear?  I'm getting together with other barbarians to pillage in a half hour.  I need mein untervear?"

"Which ones?" she asked.

"The ones vith the fur." he answered.

"Can't you wear a different pair."

"But those ah mein best ones," he complained.  "They go vell vith mein muscles.  I need them."

She rolled her eyes.  "Oh, you need them, huh?  Underwear are underwear.  Just wear another pair.  In fact, the ones you're wearing now are fine."

He looked down.  "These ah mein lounging untervear.  I can't pillage in these.  They ah too comfortable.  Also, they don't have fur, so they look too plain.  Regular untervear don't strike fear in the hearts of villagers.  I vill be laughed at by fellow barbarian and villagers alike if I vear these."

"Just wear them," she said.

He couldn't just wear anything.  "Every good barbarian needs three things.  Big muscles, a scary veapon, and furry untervear."  He pointed to his abs.  "I have the muscles."  The he pointed the broadsword sheathed around  his waist.  "I have the veapon."  He pulled the waist band of his lounging underwear out and let it snap back to his waist.  "I don't have mein furry untervear."

She sighed.  "Will my chainmail bikini work?  You can borrow that."

He was getting angry.  "I.  Vant.  Mein.  Untervear!"

"Fine, fine," she said.  "I think I washed them last night.  They might still be in the dryer."

A few minutes later, she hobbled in with the underwear in hand.  "Here they are," she wheezed.  "Happy?"

He grabbed the underwear and hugged them.  "Mein untervear!  Thank you, honey.  I can probably still make it to pillage on time."

"Okay," she said.  "Have fun."  With that, she hobbled out of the room.

He hurried out of his lounging underwear and put on his pillaging underwear.  Uh oh.  Something felt off.  They must have shrank in the wash.  "Mein Untervear!  They ah too tight!"

Justice IRL

It was just another typical morning for Mort.  Wake up, eat breakfast, shower, head for work.  As he step outside to go to his car, he noticed a middle-aged man standing outside of another car in the driveway.  He'd never seen the man before, so he asked, "Who are you?"

The asked, "Do you have a Someone Tube account called 'Young Pro'?"

He did have a profile by that name.  How did this man know that?  Mort asked again, "Who are you?"

Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind, wrapped in the arms of someone large.  "I've got him, dad."

The boy was strong.  Mort couldn't get free.

The man asked again, "Are you Young Pro?"

He didn't know how to answer.  What would this man do if he knew he was Young Pro?

"Not gonna answer, huh?" the man asked.  "It's okay.  I know you're him.  I just wanted to see if you'd come clean."  The man opened his back seat door.  "Put him on in, Jerry."

Jerry wrestled him over to the car.

"This is bullshit!" Mort shouted as he tried wriggling free.  "Where's your evidence that I'm Young Pro?"

The man let out a short laugh.  "You'll see.  Now cooperate or Jerry's gonna get rough with you."

No.  He couldn't let himself be put in that car.  He fought even harder.

"I warned you.  Do it, Jerry."

Mort was lifted off the ground and slammed down.  That took the fight out of him.  "Urgh..." he moaned as waves of pain rippled through his body.  It wasn't over yet, as he was picked up and slammed down again.  Jerry was now standing over him with his foot raised.  Then the foot came down and he was out.

***

Mort awoke.  He found himself tied up in a wooden chair in what appeared to be a basement of some sort.  Sitting across from him was the man.

"Finally awake, huh?" the man asked.  "It's lunchtime I took the honor of making you a sandwich.  It's a BLT.  The "B" stands for beatings, in case you were wondering."  He stood, walked over, and reared his fist back for a punch.

"You crazy," Mort cried.  "I've done nothing wrong."

The man lowered his arm.  "So you're gonna play stupid to the bitter end, huh?  I guess I'll have to educate you, Young Pro.  Are you familiar with a Someone Tuber called Alice Dawning?"  He let out a short laugh and continued, not let Mort answer.  "Of course you are."

"I don't know any Alice Dawning," Mort said.  "I assure you, I don't."

"Your assurance means nothing when I have proof of the contrary," the man shot back.  "You see, boy, you can't lie to me.  I've been tracking your online moves, collecting proof.  You know Alice Dawning, whether you know her name or not."

Mort was starting to get pissed.  It didn't matter that he was tied up and at this man's mercy.  He would not be lied on.  "I don't know Alice fucking Dawning!"

The man was eerily calm as he walked over to the chair he was sitting in and pulled a laptop computer out of a black bag next to it.  "Look familiar?"

It was Mort's laptop.  "What the hell?"

"You see, Alice Dawning is my daughter.  She's a twelve-year old girl who does cheerleading workouts on Someone Tube.  Her intent is to show other kids how to do moves they might be struggling with.  She was having fun...until someone called Young Pro started saying lewd thing in her comments section.  Naturally, she came to me came to me and I did some digging.  I traced those comments back to this computer.  Based on your earlier reaction, it's yours.  Of course, I already knew that, but seeing that reaction was worth the effort."

Anger gave way to fear.  "It wasn't me.  I swear."

The man started rattle of random things.  "Mort Galloway.  Age thirty-two.  Works as an account at the local bank.  Single, never married.  No kids.  No family in town.  No reason for neighborhood kids to come over."  He looked at Mort and smiled.  "After some digging, I found that Young Pro is also a thirty-two year old single male who works as as an account at the local bank.  He also has no kids and no family in town.  Hell of a coincidence, huh?"

Then the man flipped open the computer and pressed the power button.  "Password?  Fluffy, named after your pet cat who died when you were in six grade."  He fired up the browser and went to his daughter's Someone Tube channel.  "See this girl?  She look familiar?  That's Alice Dawning.  You probably didn't see the name but you were on this channel saying all kinds of sick shit to this girl."

Mort was on the verge of tears, as the man started a video and showed him the comment section.  "It wasn't me....I swear."

The man set the computer aside and walked over to a toolbox.  He fiddled around, pulled out a hammer, and examined it.  Then he looked back at Mort.  You can either talk to me or my hammer, but you're going to come clean either way."

The tears came streaming down.  "Oww..."  He hadn't been hit yet, but he was antipating the pain.

"You left a comment saying you wanted to screw my daughter's brains out.  That was one of the cleaner ones."  The man approached, giving the hammer a few test swing at the air.  "Do you think that crap is appropriate for a thirty-two year old man to say to a twelve year old girl?"

At this point, Mort had to admit it.  Maybe he could avoid getting beat with a hammer if he gave up the façade now.  "I...I'm sorry..."

"For what?" the man asked in a demanding tone.

"F-for the t-things I said to your daughter."

The man gripped the hammer harder.  "Why did you do it?"

"I-I don't know..."

"You did it because you thought you could hide behind a keyword and say foul crap.  You saw a cute girl you knew was too young and thought no one would find out who you are.  That's why you said it.  Admit it, you piece of dirt."  He raised the hammer.  "Admit it!"

"I thought she was cute and that I was hidden," he whimpered with tears in his eyes.  "I'm sorry...I'll never do it again..."

"You're darn right you won't," the man said.  "I'll make sure of that."

He was going to hit him with the hammer.  "No...I'm sorry.  Please...plea..."  Mort saw the hammer and felt it.  Then he saw and felt nothing.

***

Mort awakened as he was being shoved out of the backseat of a car.  He was in more pain than he knew could exist.  He remembered being hit in the face with a hammer.  Was he still alive?  How?

One of the windows rolled down and the man poked his head out.  "You've got twenty-four hours to leave town.  It doesn't matter where you go.  Just don't be here when I come back tomorrow.  I'll be monitoring your internet activity and if you try anything like this again with anyone's daughter, you'll seeing me and my hammer again."  He put his head back in the car and drove off.

A chill ran through Mort's body.  He knew what he had to do and, most importantly, what not to do ever again.