50/50

A choices matter Flash Fiction.

“Don’t touch anything.” the voice over the radio squawked, “don’t move, don’t even breathe if you don’t have to.”


Not even a year ago I was graduating from high school.

“What are you going to do now, Jack?” my best friend Kyle had asked as we were leaving the stage.

“I don’t know, there’s got to be something. I got perfect Ds across the board to earn this ticket out of here, but that probably won’t land me in college. Couldn’t afford it anyways.” I said, getting ready for the cap toss.

Kyle leaned over and lightly jabbed me in the arm, “I’m joining the Army. You could too. If we refer each other I even think there is a bonus. Plus, they pay for school, I think.”

“Join the Army? Aren’t we at war right now?”

“Yes sort of, only a few thousand casualties, not much when you look at like World War II.”

“So, yes we are at war, but it isn’t as bad as World War II, yet.”

“Exactly!” Kyle said, as we tossed our caps as high as we could.

I signed up the next day with Kyle at the recruiter’s office a few towns over. We didn’t even get to go to Basic Training together, no idea where he is now. My unit was already on orders to deploy overseas and I was joining the company last minute. So, the day I reached my unit I was called into the lieutenant’s office. Told I had two choices, I could stay, or I could deploy with my unit. Choice seemed simple then. Yes or no. One or zero. Left or right. And now.


“How many wires do you see, private?” the voice of my lieutenant over the radio sounded cold and distant, serious.

“Just two.”