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The Better Part of Valor

July 26, 2017 by Summer Writing Contest 23 Comments

This story is by Joslyn Chase and won Third Place in our 2017 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the Summer Writing Contest stories here.

Joslyn writes suspense fiction and released her first novel, a thriller titled Nocturne in Ashes, July 2017. She is also a classical pianist, music teacher, public speaker, and storyteller. She loves American History and holds a degree in American Studies. Sign up for Joslyn’s email list to receive bonus material and stay up-to-date at joslynchase.com. Or connect with Joslyn on Facebook.

The Better Part of Valor

Nobody ever walks into a dive like this. It’s the kind of hole to steer clear of, unless it’s the only beacon in your stretch of inky night, a slice of flotsam, a quivering straw.

Unless you’ve got nothing left to lose.

Mark Crandall felt the sawdust underfoot, damp with spilled beer, matted and caking the treads of his combat sneakers, his fighting shoes. Their cracked leather tops sported crusty brown splotches from bloodied noses and split lips. The buzz of impact still echoed in his bones, but it hadn’t been enough. Nothing was ever enough.

He straddled a barstool, swiping a jacket sleeve over the pitted surface in front of him, sweeping away peanut shells, obliterating the oily, wet circles overlapping like an Olympic icon. Clearing the slate.

“What’ll it be?”

The barkeep cocked half an ear in Mark’s direction, the rest of his attention riveted to a crooked rectangle in a corner above the bar, filled with running men chasing a black-and-white ball. A rockabilly ruckus droned out from a beat-up jukebox outside the men’s room, drowning the muted roar of the tiny fans on the flat screen.

Mark pulled the wallet from his hip pocket and placed it on the bar.

“Whatever’s on tap.”

The man filled a glass, running the amber liquid along the inside, gauging the level by ear, never taking his eyes off the game. Mark glimpsed the ID pinned against the red polo. Jerry. He nodded and downed a long swallow, the sour tang stabbing his tongue. He wiped his mouth and tapped a knuckle against the barkeep’s elbow.

“Man walks into a bar.”

Jerry snorted. “Heard it.”

Two stools to the left, a tattered patron rested face-down on the scarred wood, a greasy hank of hair falling over his crossed wrists. He stirred, a buzz-saw snore rising into the yeast-stained air. Jerry spared him a glance and a shove, dropping the snore into low gear.

Mark needed Jerry’s attention. It was the only thing left in the world that he needed, beyond the contents of his jacket pocket.

“I don’t think you’ve heard this one, Jerry. The guy’s got a dead wife. Suicide.”

Jerry dropped his gaze to the bar, wiping a yellowed cloth down the length of it.

“Doesn’t sound very amusing.”

“No? Let me tell you the rest of it. See, the guy shipped out. Afghanistan. World’s largest sand trap. He’s doing his thing, clearing desert villages of bad guys, and his unit comes under fire. A couple of his buddies go down. Still breathing, but unable to move under their own steam.”

The bartender’s rag stopped moving. “When’s the funny part coming?”

“Hang in there, Jerry. A crapload of bullets rain down on this guy and somehow he dodges them all. But then, a grenade comes in through the window and he wants to split out the back door. Problem is, there are three men alongside him that can’t move. And there it is, the moment every combat soldier thinks about and hopes they’ll never have to face. Am I willing to eat a grenade to save my brothers in arms?”

Jerry stood face-forward, both arms braced against the brass rim of the bar, TV screen forgotten. “Was he?”

“Willing? He thought he was. He ran toward the grenade, but instead of throwing himself on it, he scooped it up and lobbed it back where it came from. He scored a hit and won the day. All four soldiers lived to tell the story.”

Jerry’s eyebrows rose an inch up his forehead. “That’s nice, but I expected a stronger punchline.”

Mark gave an approving nod.

“As you should, Jerry. There’s more. The guy got a Medal of Honor for his act of valor, but he never felt like he deserved it. He doesn’t remember a conscious act of courage, just mindless instinct and a huge stroke of luck. But he accepted the thanks of a grateful nation. His hometown newspaper ran a front-page article, made a big deal. His wife sent him a letter, said she was real proud. Life seemed pretty great.”

Overhead lighting picked up a sheen of perspiration on Jerry’s upper lip. He swiped at it.

“Why’d she kill herself?”

“Now we’re getting close to the funny part. See, while hubby sweated overseas, the wife got a job tending bar. She could make a little money, pass the time until her husband returned so they could start the family they’d always talked about. Her boss kept her on the late shift with him. He kept touching her, pressing her for “favors,” and one night, when she told him to back off, he raped her.”

The soccer game went into overtime, but Jerry was oblivious, his pale face glowing like a dim bulb.

“She never told anyone what happened. She quit and stayed home. All the time. Doused in shame, blaming herself. When she got word about her husband’s act of valor, she knew she couldn’t face him, didn’t deserve him. She left him a note and an empty pill bottle.”

Jerry looked like he was using the bar to hold himself up.

“Ready for the punchline, Jerry?”

Mark’s hand wandered to his jacket pocket, crinkling the single sheet of scrap paper, coffee-stained and covered with his shaky penmanship. His own farewell apology. It shared space with another object, and he gripped cold metal. The solid shape felt good in his hand.

These, the last things in this world he had need of—the note, the gun, and Jerry’s attention. Nothing else mattered now.

The drunk stirred, the game ended. Jerry trembled like a sheet in the wind, eyes wide and unfocused with shock.

Mark meant to pull the trigger, like he’d meant to die on that grenade. But again he surprised himself with a diversion tactic, tipping the balance toward life.

He left Jerry standing, and walked out of the bar, hand-in-hand with the better part of valor.

Filed Under: 2017 Summer Writing Contest, Drama, Hot

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Comments

  1. David Safford says

    July 19, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Gripping, tense, and bursting with poetry! Great story and great win!!!

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      July 20, 2017 at 1:32 am

      Thanks, David!

      Reply
  2. William J. DeProspo says

    July 21, 2017 at 3:29 am

    The industry says, another Rowlings, we say another Chase…. great story. As usual, an easy read. Congratulations.

    William J. DeProspo

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      July 21, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      William, you are more than kind and always a super boost when I need it. I appreciate you!

      Reply
  3. Trish Perry says

    July 25, 2017 at 9:02 pm

    Congratulations. Great story!

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      July 26, 2017 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Trish,

      Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

      Joslyn

      Reply
  4. Victor Phillips says

    July 26, 2017 at 10:47 am

    Joslyn, you really cut to the chase with this winner! Beautifully constructed, raw with emotion, and a powerful punch. Excellent read! Big congratulations!

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      July 26, 2017 at 1:53 pm

      Hi Victor,

      I’m so pleased you liked the story and so happy you took the time to tell me. Thanks very much.

      Joslyn

      Reply
  5. Daniela says

    July 26, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    Great story!
    Congratulations!

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      July 26, 2017 at 1:54 pm

      Hi Daniela,

      Thank you. I’m glad you liked it.

      Joslyn

      Reply
  6. Peggy Ernest says

    July 26, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    Joslyn: Great story and unexpected ending. You rock!

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      July 26, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      Hi Peggy,

      Thank you so much. I’m very glad you liked it.

      Joslyn

      Reply
  7. Heidi Ferber says

    July 27, 2017 at 1:17 am

    Whooooo!
    Great tension and flow. Loved the story.
    Wanted so badly to know the ending that I had to read it a couple of times because I raced through it too fast.
    Have you written any alternate endings?
    Such a fascinating story that you probably could do several.
    Well done!!

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      July 28, 2017 at 4:08 am

      Hi Heidi,

      Thank you so much! I thought about some alternate endings, but only wrote the one. Perhaps that’s a project I could tackle one day!

      Joslyn

      Reply
  8. Trinity says

    August 10, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    Wasn’t expecting the turn with the sexual assault. Hits close to home with me because of my work. I was relieved when Mark took the high road, but saddened that his road had led there in the first place. Beautifully constructed story with poignant insight into such a devastating event. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      August 18, 2017 at 12:01 am

      Hi Trinity!

      Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments, especially in light of your expertise on the subject matter. I hope you are well. Hugs and hellos for the family.

      Joslyn

      Reply
  9. Terry says

    August 13, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    Another great and interesting story from a creative and talented author. Thanks for sharing your craft.

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      August 18, 2017 at 12:02 am

      Hi Terry!

      You are most welcome. I’m so happy you liked the story.

      Joslyn

      Reply
  10. Justine Cho says

    August 16, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    I loved the choice of the words you used to set up the story. There was tension even before Mark sat down on the stool. You knew something was coming but unsure what. Mark’s story threw me off at first because it was unexpected. I didn’t know where he was going until he talked about the wife and the bartender. When Mark was done, I wanted Mark to shoot Jerry and I thought he will. But he didn’t.

    Great writing. Loved every bit of it. Congratulations!

    Reply
    • Joslyn Chase says

      August 18, 2017 at 12:03 am

      Hi Justine!

      Thanks so much for reading. I’m very pleased that you liked the story and felt the tension in it from the beginning. I appreciate your comments so much.

      Joslyn

      Reply
  11. Pam says

    May 31, 2019 at 7:54 pm

    Very good. Really holds readers attention and builds up to the end. Glad he decided not to shoot the bartender. That made him a hero again. I want an epilogue that says bartender arrested for rape and manslaughter after deathbed confession of victum given to police. Rape victums need to stop feeling guilty. A lot of story in so few words.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Nocturne In Ashes, now available on Amazon! - Story Chase Story Chase says:
    July 22, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    […] Part of Valor, took third place in the Short Fiction Break summer contest. Please swing by to read the story. It’s very short and will only take you five or six minutes to read. Why not read the first and […]

    Reply
  2. Introducing a new bonus for Joslyn Chase readers - Joslyn Chase Joslyn Chase says:
    June 29, 2019 at 10:34 pm

    […] story, “The Better Part of Valor,” won third place a couple years ago in a writing contest sponsored by The Write Practice and was […]

    Reply

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