The Saga of Hard Luck Gomez At some point each of us comes to one of those moments in life that change everything, where the future course of one's whole existence can take this path or that, and there's no ducking it. When that moment came for Hard Luck Gomez, he may have made the wrong choice; or maybe not. See what you think.
He could see it creeping up on him as the seasons came and went. He used to chat about it with his old buddy Chris Aliss as they hung around the dusty shop. Chris hadn't been out to the field for a long time, and was begining to recognize that his own career was over. Sometimes when HLG would come back from the field, he would fill Chris in with stories of what was happening out there, and HLG's stories made Chris nervous. "HLG," said Chris Aliss, "don't talk to me about those new guys spinnin' around and whirlin' up in the air outa sight. If I'm gonna launch, I want to see where I'm goin' and no spinnin' or none of that new-fangled stuff for me." Hard Luck didn't argue, but he was tempted to point out that Chris hadn't left his shelf for over a year. Still, Hard Luck was himself sticking to the old ways, and had never spun or whirled in his life. The very thought of it made him dizzy. He saw how the others did it, how excited they looked when they came down, and heard their chatter; but he clung to the idea that it just wasn't for him. It wasn't for him, that is, until the fateful sunny spring day when he met Daisy Lee. Hard Luck was lounging in the pits, trying to spit out a bit of grass that had slipped into his hatch, when a slinky composite with six servos sat down next to him. She was so close that she was almost touching him, and HLG felt a quiver in his boom. His mind raced. How could he start a conversation with this fox? Finally, he just blurted it out. "Whoo, you look sleek! I'm Hard Luck Gomez. What's your name?" She answered in a soft purr. "Hi. I'm Daisy Lee Glitz," she murmured. "My friends call me Diz." "Pleased to meetcha," HLG offered. The ensuing silence was deafening. He had to think of something.... "So, Diz, I have to ask. What is it like?" "What's what like, Hardy?" she said in her throaty voice. "I mean, what's -- what's it like to do all that spinning and zooming?" "Why Hardy," she replied. "Are you one of those straight-ahead Boy Scouts? Not that there's anything wrong with that," she added quickly. "Hey, big guy, if you've never tried it, you should. I mean -- it's a rush." She flicked her flaps demurely. "Look," she volunteered. "Watch me. I'm about to take off. Oh Hardy, just watch. See how I do it. It's so wonderful. Really." HLG stared transfixed as DLG stretched her wings and began to spin. Faster, faster -- zowie, what velocity! And then, with just the slightest fetching wiggle of her shapely tail, she was gone. Whooof! Look at that! Adrenalin surged through HLG's skinny frame. He knew that there was no turning back. When Daisy Lee returned, she was flushed with excitement. Her servos were buzzing. HLG could stand it no longer. Mustering up his courage, he whispered to her excitedly. "Diz, can you show me? Do you think I can do it?" "It's easy," she assured him. "Come on to the disco with me, Hardy. We'll spin together. It'll be fabulous." "I dunno, Diz" he faltered. "Nobody has ever touched my tip -- that way, you know...." his voice trailed off. "Hardy....Hardy....give me your tip....spin with me...." Daisy Lee's voice was entreating, very soft, but Hard Luck heard nothing else. "Let's get high, Hardy, really really high. Let me take you up." HLG felt his fears melting, replace by a sudden resolve, a passionate desire... "Okay," he said forcefully. His spar was as stiff as carbon. "Let's give it a whirl." The rest was just a blur. He seemed to see the world revolving at the speed of light, the horizon rising and falling like a carnival ride, and then -- just when he thought his body would fly apart -- he felt himself rising, not like before, but rocketing, zooming, far above the floodlights where he used to level off, up, up, up --- weeeehaaaah!! Back in the shop the next day, HLG slumped next to Chris Aliss. He ruefully surveyed his body. He had a break at one poly joint and incipient cracks in numerous other places. His tail was ragged, his horns were partly pulled out, and his fuse was blown. "I guess I just wasn't made for it, Chris," he groaned. He waited for the burst of disapproval that he was sure Chris would register. But to his surprise, Chris gave him a kind look. "Oh, what the hell, Hard Luck," he said in a reassuring voice. "Never regret it, old friend. You did what all of us ought to do. You went out with one last great fling." And he raised his tail and gave HLG the V-sign. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! http://auctions.yahoo.com RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
