Random Socks

 

A "Crowd Hoot" Story

 

By Thelma Mary Caroline

 

 

 

When Otto got home from work that evening, he plopped down on the couch, a beer in his hand.

 

Kyle was still awake, and quietly sat down next to him.

 

"What a day, huh?  Make you wish you still had an office job?"

 

"I've never seen her so angry."

 

Otto laughed.  "Oh this was nothing.  She's got a helluva mean streak."

 

But Kyle didn't think it was funny.  "She broke Charley's nose and her cheekbone!"

 

"Yeah, and she'll have hell to pay for that.  But it doesn't affect you, so don't worry."

 

"I just want to know.  That's all."

 

"Curiosity killed the cat," the man quoted.

 

She responded, "A lack of curiousity leads to a lack of life."

 

Otto raised his eyebrows.  "I'm not familar with that one."

 

He took a slow drink from his bottle.  "L J's got Hell coming to her.  She broke about a dozen rules this afternoon.  And yeah, breaking Charley's nose was one of them.  They've got this really important rule that it's alright to beat people, if they deserve, so long as you don't leave any permant marks, or break any bones.  But that's probably one of the lesser rules that she broke."

 

"So they're going to beat her for it?"

 

"Probably.  She's got to learn, Kyle.  Don't give me that look."

 

"She does know better."

 

"She seems to forget!  Ruling your team by fear isn't acceptable -- how does that teach them to be a better person?"

 

Kyle sat in silence for awhile.

 

Otto said, "She'll still lead the team, if that's what you're worried about.  Like I said, she's done worse.  They only put up with it because she's so good at what she does."

 

"Will everything be okay between her and Charley?"

 

"Charley has no right to say anything against L J."

 

"At work," the woman agreed.  "But what about at home?"

 

Otto raised his eyebrows quizzically.

 

"They're together, aren't they?"

 

"Well ..." he breathed a long sigh.  Relationships between team members was strictly prohibited.  "I'm things will sort out, espcially when Charley finds out why L J freaked out."

 

"Why?"

 

He chuckled.  "You never quit asking questions, do you, sweetheart?  Hannah got promoted."

 

"What?  Really?"

 

"Yeah, really.  The Center thought maybe Hannah would behave better if the captain of the team was male.  L J takes that as a personal blow, that she can't handle Hannah."

 

"Wow.  I don't blame her."

 

"But it makes sense.  They suspect Hannah is acting out because of L J's relationship with Charley.  I don't know how Hannah identifies, but I know that L J's slept with her one more than a handful of occasions.  But I don't think Charley knows, so don't say anything."

 

"Does The Center know about their relationship?"

 

Otto shrugged.  "They pretend not to.  After all, when they first got together, Charley was supposed to have been transfered within a month.  The right circumstances just haven't come up."

 

"So ... L J's upset because she wants them to transfer Charley.  So their relationship can ... come out of the closet."

 

Otto nodded seriously.  "Yeah."