A Sloan Christmas

A Sloan Christmas.
By SEF, Christmas, 2008

It was snowing again.
Great. The already crappy driving conditions would get worse.
Not that I really cared, I wasn't going anywhere.
I had my spot at the end of the bar already staked out.
I had paid my tab and was well on my way to running up another one, or at least that was the plan.
It was also Christmas eve.
I hated this time of the year. All the good people got all high on Peace On Earth and Good Will Toward Men while down here, survival continued to be the name of the game.
My name is Sloan and I'm a survivor.
Jack was my partner tonight. If he died, he always came back for the next round.
Not like Hank Limkey.
His blood staining the dirt and sand as I held his head in my lap screaming for a medic.
Or Dominic Lorenzo.
His body painting the inside of the APC after the mine went off under it.
Or John Gleason.
Dead in the street, pistol still in it's holster.
So much blood on my hands, so many good men dead around me.
The ghosts of Christmas past were many
I took a swig and put the glass down, empty again.
The door opened and a blast of cold filled the bar.
She walked in, snow covering her narrow shoulders, her light denim jacket not doing much to keep her warm.
She looked around and walked over to me.
She was maybe 18, if that.
Slim, almost gaunt face reflecting the harshness of the street.
“Buy me a drink?” she said in her best grown up voice
“Not in this lifetime sweetheart. Find another john”
“Please?”
“What part of no don't you get?”
“You gay or something?” she asked, suddenly getting all puffed up
“Or something” was my reply.
“Asshole”
“So I have been told. Now get lost kid” I filled the glass back up from the bottle next to me.
She turned and walked away, over toward the two guys sitting near the old dart board.
One was smiling a crooked smile at her like Santa had just delivered a new bike to him.
The barkeeps name was Link something. He was about 200 years old. And he owned the place.
“Keep right on walking girl” He yelled at her.
“Take your business elsewhere” He said, as he wiped down the glass in his hand.
The one guy glared at him like he had stolen his lunch money.
She stopped and glared at Link and walked out the door.
The guy got up, threw a 5 on the table and followed her out.
His partner stalled for a minute, and did the same, a look of guilt on his face.
Deck the Halls indeed..
I drained the glass and refilled it.
I don't know how much time had passed when Link came over to me and put the empty bottle down behind the bar.
“Go home Sloan”
“I am at home”
“Fine. Try to remember to lock up”
He put another bottle on the bar.
“Merry Christmas Sloan”

I drained my drink in reply.
A few hours passed. Or a few lifetimes. Don't really remember which.
The door opened again. I had forgotten to lock it.
The cold air swept in like death, then was blocked by the shape in the doorway.
He was over 6 foot tall, 350 pounds, clean shaven head, dressed in jeans and a leather vest over a short sleeve shirt.
There was only one person I knew that looked like that.
Hog.
The meanest human alive.
And the closest thing I had to a friend outside of a bottle.
“It's Christmas morning you know” He said, his voice booming in the empty bar.
“So what” I said.
“It is time for the spirit of the season to fill you Sloan”
“Did you bring another bottle?” I asked.
“Link put away the good stuff' I said, gesturing toward the back of the bar.
“No, my alcoholic friend, I bring tiding of joy”
“Fuck off”
He grabbed me and stood me up.
“I have come to save you from a life of sin and depravity”
“You are too late”
I twisted away and sat back down.
“I don't need saving. I need a drink”
“No, I disagree. You are coming with me”
Normally when Hog said that to someone, it happened.
One way or the other.
He grabbed my arm again.
“We are going to go forth and save the weak and down trodden, now come”
“We can't save them all you know” I said, following him out.
“No, just you” He exclaimed, guiding me toward his big Mercedes, which sat at the curb, engine running.
“I am taking you to breakfast, and then to the mission to help serve dinner. I told the Padre I would bring help.”
“Great. Community Service” I muttered.
I looked at him as he pulled away from the curb.
He was positively beaming with joy. This was not usually a good thing.
I turned at looked out the window.
“I sent money to Gleason's kids again” I said.
“I know. I talked to Joan last week”
“You're a good man Sloan.”
“That is the worst thing anybody has ever said to me”
“You make a difference you know” Hog said, suddenly serious.
“No I don't. There is too much evil in the world. I can't stop it.”
“Nobody says you have too”
“Inside here does” I said, pointing toward my chest
“You do what you can. We all do” he replied.
“One at a time” He added.


We drove for a few moments in silence.
“Stop the car” I said suddenly
He did. The big sedan sliding a bit in the snow.
“Wait here” I said as I got out, the bitter wind off the lake taking my breath away for a moment as I stood up.
She was laying in the alley, I almost didn't see her, covered in a piece of cardboard and a plastic bag, like so much refuse.
It was the girl from the bar, she had been beaten pretty good, her face puffy and swollen, a huge bruise filling one side of her face.
I helped her up and threw my coat over her shoulders.
Hog met me after few steps.
“Do you know her?” he asked.
“Yea. I turned her down last night” I said, guilt filling my heart.
“She left with two guys from Link's”
We helped her into the car, laying her on the back seat, as she faded into unconsciousness.
We climbed into the Benz and Hog romped on the gas, fishtailing into the street.

We pulled up in front of the hospital and Hog went in to get help.
He returned with two nurses and a gurney.
They helped us ease the girl on the stretcher and rushed her inside.
A thousand questions followed, none of which I had answers for.
She was taken away for xrays and I was told they would do whatever they could for her.
At least she was warm and safe for now.
Sure, she would probably end up back on the streets, but at least today. Christmas Day, she would be taken care of.
“You can't save them all Sloan” said Hog as we walked back out to the car.
I looked at my hands. The blood had faded a bit. Maybe someday.
“No, but I saved this one. That's what matters”