The Decision
by Adam Drake
“Two
roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one
less traveled by…”
“What?”
“It’s
a poem by Rober.... Nevermind. This is not an
easy choice. Just give me a minute to think.”
Michael paced
the length of the living room, drumming his
fingers against each other.
“Dude,
you’re not seriously thinking of picking him
are you?”
Every bit of
Max’s 6’ 3” frame vibrated with
the impatience of a 5-year old as he sat on the
couch, trying to cover the Kool-Aid stain he had
created two months ago. Max’s self-control
had never been strong, but he harnessed every bit
he had trying to sit still. Unfortunately, even
at his best he could only control half of himself.
While his hands were tucked under crossed arms,
his knees bounced out of control. He threw his
head to one side, casting the mop of brown hair
out of blue eyes that begged to be the chosen one.
Over the past
six months, Michael’s roommates had
progressed from getting on each other’s
nerves to full fledged war. When Max found that
all the deodorant in the house had disappeared
right before his first date with Cassie, he
programmed the tv so that it would only play the
original Ghost Busters movie for two weeks
straight. Michael hated being forced to choose
between the two, but he could not take it anymore.
“Look Max,
I know that whatever I decide, it’s gonna
suck for someone, but I am sick of being in the
middle of your little war and there is only one
room besides mine. Now shut up and let me think.”
Max continued
to plea like a puppy begging for a treat.
“You
won’t be able to play Call of Duty with him.”
“I also
won’t find his boxers in the kitchen sink.”
Michael never
missed a stride as he shot Max a look intended to
convince him that talking was not in his best
interest at this time, or for that matter, ever.
Max could only
fight his instincts for so long before bursting
out with another attempt to tip the scales in his
favor.
“He
won’t ever bring any hot girls over.”
“Dude.
Neither will you.”
“Bro!
That was cold. Low blow dude.”
“Will you
just let me think?”
Max’s
energy had been contained for too long and
bounded off the couch to match Michael’s
pacing. He desperately searched for anything that
might help him win.
“We’ve
had some great times together. We have a Super
Bowl tradition.”
“Well, we
have a Halloween tradition.”
Michael
stopped and turned to look at his friend in one
motion. Max’s ears perked up, sensing that
this could be the moment that decided everything.
“Look man,
here’s the deal. You both are great in your
own ways, but if all you’re gonna do is
fight I can only have one of you here. I’m
sorry dude, but I’m choosing him.”
Max threw his
arms wildly in the air as he screamed, “ARE
YOU SERIOUS?”
“It’s
nothing personal. We can still hang out together
sometimes. It’s just that times are tight
right now and…”
“But
he’s a ghost!”
“Yeah,
but he’s a ghost who pays his rent.”
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