A reblog from 2015….I was just thinking of Johnny and decided to share his story again.
I once knew a Vet named Johnny
that is to say
I made his acquaintance
I’d wager no one really knew him
not after the war
he came back different
as many do
he rarely ever spoke
and never about the things he had seen or done
we worked for the same company for a time
though I don’t know what he did there
all I know is that his office was always cloudy with smoke
from his habitually chain smoking unfiltered Pall Malls
we weren’t friends
in fact I doubt he even knew my name
our encounters were usually limited
to meeting at the office coffee pot
till that one night
that one night
after closing
after everyone had gone
I stopped by the Circle K next door
before starting my walk home
as i was walking by our building
a man from my past
who refused to take no for an answer
stepped out from the shadows
with threats to end my life
we threw obscenities at each other
and he threw a couple punches
but I was holding my own
till he pulled out a crowbar
just as he was raising it above his head to strike
I saw headlights and heard the screech of tires
with the car still running and the door flung wide open
Johnny was out of his car
and in one fluid motion had taken the crowbar away
I looked on in awe and disbelief
as he proceeded to beat him bloody
Johnny never said a word
never broke a sweat
and never dropped the lit Pall Mall
from between his lips
When it was over
all I could say was
“Thank You”
but I’m not sure if he heard
cause he just got back in his car
and drove away
~Melanie Thomason
Wordifull 
