FICTION

SUPER NANNIE

Eileen - Penn.

I had been out of the Marines for about six weeks, and still no job. It wasn't that there weren't jobs available, it was just that nothing sounded very interesting to me. After two years in the service, and a combat tour, I just couldn't see a nine to five job, or just returning to the inactivity of college. So like so many other veterans, I just wandered the streets, and spent the evenings in bars, talking to the locals, and searching for something that I was not sure of.

I had settled in the small upstate New York town, by chance. I had just gotten off the bus, one morning, and not feeling like travelling any more, had used part of my savings, gotten a small apartment, and moved in. I still wasn't acquainted with the area too well, but the beauty of the area, and the surrounding countryside started me exploring.

One evening, I was sitting in one of the more plush downtown lounges, talking to my neighbor on the next bar stool, and as all strangers are prone to do, telling him the story of my life, and my lack of purpose. He seemed to be really interested, and started asking detailed questions about my military service, and scrutinized me carefully.

"You know, Bill, from your background, I'd say that you would make a fine bodyguard and companion for someone."

"Really, why?”

"Well, you have the military experience with weapons and unarmed combat, and at the same time with a liberal arts degree, and an ability

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