For Nick: The Adventures of Lucky Haskins, Chapter 1

  

 Join me on my first venture into the world of fictionalized writing! This tongue-in-cheek story is dedicated to good friends of mine. I hope it blesses and entertains you, Nick and Nikki, and everyone who reads it!

 

The Adventures of Lucky Haskins

For Lucky Haskins, no day is ordinary and nothing is ever set in stone. Follow the journey of one man who has the power to change history but not always the wisdom to know when he should.

 

Chapter 1

 

For all the patrons at the bar, it was just another night. Another call for Closing Time and a forced, slow retreat back to the real world. Of course, here in Toledo, Ohio the "real world" in April is marked by cold winds, freezing rain, and dark empty streets. But for Lucky Haskins, it isn't just another night. Not just another time to wipe up the bar, clean the glasses, and kick the usuals out. He had only 30 minutes before his next assignment began.

 

He grabbed his jacket and didn't even bother to put it on before pushing open the heavy door. He walked swiftly to his car, careful not to slip on the slush covered concrete. The last thing he needs is to go into this assignment with an injury. It was bad enough that time a pimple got mistaken for leprosy-- almost blew the whole thing.

 

Just then he heard Mike, the bar owner yell out to him.

 

"Hey, Lucky, you forgot your check!" Mike yelled as he jogged out to meet him. "If you are like me, you will need all the money you have at those casinos."

 

"Oh, yeah," Lucky said, remembering his cover story. He had figured a weekend bachelor party in Vegas was the perfect excuse to avoid answering any questions about his  absence. He chuckled at the obnoxious and very overused "What happens in Vegas" cliche. "Thanks."

 

"Yeah, there is a letter there, too, that came for you today. Don't go giving out the bar address to spammers. I'm in over my head with paperwork as it is."

 

Confused, Lucky nodded his head.

 

"Of course. Hey, I have got to go. Early Flight." He stammered, anxious to get on his way. He had already planned to have some extra time tonight. Leave it to Mike to make him pull a double shift on this important night.

 

"I gotcha," Mike backed away. "Hey, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

 

Lucky made sure to turn away before rolling his eyes at yet another ridiculous cliche. He headed straight for his much loved silver Saab. Of course it looked awful in this dim light of the parking lot, covered in a coat of road salt. He shook his head in disappointment. At least it wasn't bird poop. He still had another month till that became his nemesis. Even birds know its still too cold up here.

Opening the door, he threw his jacket in the backseat before sitting down on the cold leather. He opened the glovebox and shoved the envelopes inside. He wouldn't need his own money. Chances are it wouldn't be any good where he was going anyway.

 

He started to pull out of the parking lot with the windshield still covered with the freezing rain. He didn't have time to scrape it. Besides, he'd taken the scraper out of his car last week during the warm spell, sure the cold was over. Only in Toledo, he thought. Hopefully his wipers could clear it off before he hit I-75. He used his drive home to contemplate what his mission might be this time. He was thankful for his jobs. He loved the excitement of not knowing where he might be at any moment. And he loved the power he felt. He had changed the world for the better, time and time again. Not many people could say that. Sure they might tell themselves that, but it is impossible to know if the decisions they made actually made the world better or worse.

 

He also loved working at the bar. It gave him a chance to be normal, to hang around normal people. His regulars were like friends to him in a way, which was good because he was in short supply otherwise. Close enough to give him entertainment and a few laughs, but not enough to miss him should something go wrong. He would hate for anyone to really care for him, really need him, because he knew there would come a time when he didn't return from a mission.

 

It would be hard enough on Brutus. People always treated the Boxer, Greyhound, Pit Bull mix like he was a menace to society, but he is a big baby really. He never liked it when Lucky left. The dog sitter was a cat lover and did nothing more but feed him and let him out. As sad as it was to know Brutus was lonely, it was necessary because Mrs. DeMarco never asked any questions about his trips. He'd learned that lesson from Sarah, the high school student from next door. She had loved Brutus. She had taken him on walks several times a day, brought him to what she called a "puppy playdate" (whatever that is), and had even brought some dog treats she had made in Home Economics class. The problem only came when he had returned with a major bruise across his cheek and a bad limp. She had returned the next day with cookies and a homemade Get Well card, complete with glitter and stickers. On the inside, she had tucked two of her senior pictures. In the first she was in a cheer position in her uniform. In the second, she was standing in a field of wildflowers in a sundress so short, he doubted it would pass her school dress code.  On The back of the picture she had written, "Lucky and Brutus, all my love, Katie XOXO".  After a brief panic, he dumped the cookies down the garbage disposal and shredded the pictures and the card. Then he had arranged a "chance" meeting between Katie and Justin, a good looking agent from the local college. After one date she had moved her focus away from Lucky and he was in the clear.  That was almost three years ago now. Last he heard, they were engaged and Justin was quitting the force to provide stability and security for his future wife and family.

 

Hmmph, thought Lucky. Must be nice to have someone. As he pulled into his driveway, he imagined what it would be like to walk into his home on nights like this and climb into bed next to the woman he loves and just be at peace with the world. But that was a different life and a different time.

 

As he unlocked his door, he was greeted by the patter of paws on the wood floor.

 

"Hey, buddy. I'm sorry, but I don't have much time with you tonight. Work calls."

 

There, beneath the entryway table, sat a large box with a manila envelope placed on top that read, "The time has come, Special Agent Haskins."

Check back here next Wednesday for the next chapter!! Enjoy Virginia Beach, Nick. We will take care of Nikki!