                         Disclaimer

What follows is a work of fiction.  Things have been
completely made up by the fevered mind of the writer.  It
is posted in entry to the ASSTR Anniversary Song Stories
Festival of 2002 in the "Mood Challenge" category.  As
such, it is a sex story meaning that it includes
descriptions of sex acts and so you should most likely not
be reading it, especially if doing so will result in
prison, spankings, restrictions of privileges, or excessive
numbers of "Hail Marys."

In no way does the posting of this work on the Usenet imply
that the writer has waved any rights under international
convention and copyright law.  The use of this story on any
web-site, both commercial and free, is prohibited without
advance permission.  The archiving of this story by
ASSTR/ASSM (including the Festival Webpage) and Goggle is
understood and encouraged.  Come-ons for penis enlargement
systems and hair replacements can be sent to the address
below, where they will be deleted without being opened.
The occasional piece of fanmail will not be deleted, but
instead, will be read, answered, and saved forever.

Thank You and Good Day,
Kenny N Gamera
turtlemeat69@hotmail.com
Original Post Date: 10 Nov 2002 

              In the Clearing, Stands a Boxer
              An ASSTR Anniversary Song Story
                            by
                      Kenny N Gamera

He sits on top of the picnic table watching as she flirts
away with a guy.  Tall and big, the guy is everything that
he is not, and he wonders why he ever bother.  He turns to
the cooler that his frat buddies dropped on the table's
bench.  After a search in the ice, he pulls a beer out and
flips the tab.

   The two are gone when he look over after a first long
swallow from the can.  He drinks again.  He puts the can
down and rubs his eyes.

   It has been a long time he reminds himself, but in a way
not long enough.  Again, he thinks that he shouldn't bother
with the games.  He should just pull his horns in and let
the world and love and all the rest go to hell.

   The beer he's been drinking all day starts to cry to be
released.  He walks to a tree away from the party.  To the
other side he can see a meadow just below the lip of the
hill that they have set the party.  The girl is there and
so is the big, tall guy.  She is on her knees in front of
the guy.

   He closes his eyes and leans his head against the tree.
He listens to the guy's voice encouraging her on her task.
He shakes and turns and walks away.  The cry of pain he
wants to shout dies in his throat.  He walks past the table
with his beer.  He waves off his friends and head to his
car, his one way of escape.

   A girl leans against he SUV next to his old junker.  She
smiles.  He looks into her green eyes and fight the urge
for just a moment.

   "Hi, my name is Greg."

                       Authour's Notes

This is one of five flashes based on the Simon and
Garfunkle song _The_Boxer._  I wrote the one, "Asking Only
Workman's Wages," for the Summer Solstice Rom Festival, but
thought better of it and didn't post it then.  When the
Anniversary Song Fest was announced, I thought to post it
and complete the series with one flash for each stanza of
the song.  They have no order and are not connected to each
other in any way.  As with anything they vary in quality,
but each captures the mood of the verse.  I hope you enjoy.
