Part 375: The Trials fo Locke Part 1
March 7th, 2006
The day started like most days did. Locke got up and shut off his alarm clock. He proceeded into the bathroom and immediately started to take a shower. When he was done, he got dressed in his best clothes. The older man stared in the mirror, and then gently massaged the mustache he had grown. Should he keep it? He wasn’t sure. For some reason, he felt the need to act his age.
Breakfast came in the form of cheese bagel and a cup of coffee. The morning news mentioned a traffic problem up on the east side of town but Locke didn’t mind. He had been in this city for quite some time and knew the back ways toward work. He’d be able to cut off his travel time by twenty minutes.
Locke secured the door to his apartment and began to go down toward his car. He gently waved to his neighbors as he past them in the hallway, picking up the morning paper and seeing their kids off to school. The older man arrived at the parking lot and swiped the cat that seems to have made the roof top of his Avalanche truck it’s sleeping place. Locke stepped in his vehicle and quietly left the apartment complex.
As he drove to work, he often thought of his life and his life back on the Island. Three months of his life in a magical place. A place that had given him the use of his legs back. He wondered if he should have stayed on the Island but then again, he would have broken a few hearts of the friends he had acquired in his stay there. However, as he managed to get to his work place, he could help the overwhelming sensation that his life was empty. On the island, he had purpose. Here in the real world, he was just another cog in the machine.
Locke walked up to the door and rubbed his badge on the sensor, allowing the door to pop open. He strode through the lobby and walked past the receptionist, Maggie. The young black woman walked to the bald man in passing. The one thing that Locke was thankful for, was the attention he got when he returned home. True, he had to make up an excuse for why he was able to walk again. Most of them bought it. Even his buddy, Gordon Leggett or commonly known as GL12 during game play.
Locke stepped into the break room and smiled at Gordon already in there. Like any typical day, he was munching on his Bear Claw and sipping his Diet Coke, reading the latest edition of GamePro Magazine. “Gordon, isn’t eating that Bear Claw and drinking a diet coke, sort of a moot point?” he chuckled.
“I have to cut corners where I can, Colonel,” he smirked, “We on for today? 1300 hours?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He smiled, as he helped himself to some coffee.
Locke turned around and paused as a certain brunette walked into the room. Her name was Ellen and it always threw the older man how much she looked like a 26 year old version of his own Helen. Even their names were similar. He often wondered if she was a ghost, sent to test him. She had been working here for two months and Locke did notice she was making every effort she could to get to know him. “Hey, John, “ she smiled as she walked past him.
“Morning, Ellen,” he smiled, as he continued walking.
“Are you guys playing Risk today?” she smiled.
Locke looked to Gordon, who just gave him a wild eye expression. The older man then smiled and shook his head in agreement. “Oh! Oh! Can I watch?” she smiled.
Locke was curious why a young woman would find a game of Risk so stimulating. He was curious enough to find out the why behind it. “Gordon, you have any objections?” he asked.
“No, sir,” he munched on his Bear Claw.
“Then sure, you can stop by. We’ll be in here at 1 pm.”
“Excellent,” she said, almost filled with joy.
Locke smiled, as she turned around to get some coffee. Gordon then made a wild face and waved his hands madly, like the old man had just scored. The bald man just smirked, waving his friend off. Locke went into the hallway toward his desk, blowing on his hot coffee and occasionally stirring the sugar within it. As he big his co-workers Good Morning, he then turned the corner and saw his desk insight, only to find someone already there. Locke grunted at the sight of the man. He would have thought being able to see him face to face would have made Randy leave him alone. However, it only seemed to make it worse.
Locke walked up to him as he stood, blocking his hair. “ Is there something I can help you with, Randy?” he asked.
Randy smiled at him and then back to the picture he was looking at. Locke’s inner being filled up with rage as he saw that it was a picture that Randy removed from his desk. “Who is the cutie?” the supervisor asked.
Locke then immediately snatched the photo from his hand. “This is the second time you’ve taken something from my desk,” the older man hissed, “There will not be a third time.”
“Ooh, so testy, John,” the supervisor sneered, “Is it possible your balls came back with your spinal surgery?”
“Why is it you make it a habit to invade my business?” Locke countered.
“Because you are the easiest to torment,” Randy said, stepping out of the way, “ Because I am bored. Because I enjoy it. Anything else you need to know?”
“If you don’t lay off me, I’ll be talking to Stevens about this.”
“Stevens? Oh, give it a rest, Old man.” Randy walked away, “The most he is going to give me is a reprimand and you know it.”
Locke then sat down at his desk, placing his coffee to the right of the computer. Randy came over and leaned on the outside of Locke’s cubicle. “I need those TSP Reports by 11 am by the way,” he smirked.
“You’ll have them, “ was all Locke said.
“You never answered the question,” the supervisor smirked, “The cutie? Who is she?”
Locke sneered up at him again. He wanted to punch him badly. The older man took a deep breath and exhaled. “Just to make sure you drop it,” he whispered, “She’s my daughter. And she’s married, so get it out of your head that you have any chance with her.”
“Oh, my God,” Randy laughed, “I never imagined you as a dad. You must have been a wild man while you were crippled.”
Randy then left, laughing the whole time. Locke took a deep, vowing not to let the bastard get the better of him. He slowly opened his eyes and picked up the red thumb pin and placed the photo back onto his cubicle wall. It was taken at Christmas last year. Hurley wanted to start a tradition that they meet every year for Christmas like a true family. Locke stared at the picture and remember the love he felt that day. Mia had surprised him. Eddie was about to take his picture but she snuck up and wrapped her arms around him. She was holding onto him like he was her true father. Afterwards she mailed the photo to him with the words, Love You, Daddy, written on the back in magic marker. She was not his daughter by blood but she was the daughter of his heart and that was enough.
Locke missed Mia. They would often talk by phone but it wasn’t the same. He missed looking her in the eye when would have the conversations about ancient Native American culture, not to mention other historical events. Mia had once invited Locke to come live with her and John. He felt it wasn’t right. They had only been married two years and he felt he would be invading their privacy. Still, he often had to fight the pain of being alone. Locke took another deep breath and decided to concentrate on his TSP reports. He was anxious to give them to Randy.
Actually, he wanted to shove them down his throat.
One o’clock had rolled in and Locke proceeded to break room where Gordon would be waiting for him. He hoped he had gotten him the burger without mayonnaise this time around. As Locke walked into the break room, he could hear some giggling along with Gordon laughing. There he saw Ellen talking with his friend about something and they were laughing severely. Locke walked in and set down his coffee cup. “Hey, Colonel,” Gordon laughed, picking up a white paper bag and putting it near him, “Onion Rings and double cheeseburger, no mayonnaise.”
“Thank you,” he smiled, “I am pleased you got it right this time.”
“Hey, John, “ Ellen said, getting up from his seat.
“No, please, sit down.” He motioned, as he brought over another chair, “I’ll eat my lunch and we can chit chat for a while before we play the game.”
“Actually, I would love to but . .my boyfriend called at the last minute and wanted to go out for lunch. I think he’s going to propose to me.” She giggled.
“How long have you been seeing this guy?” Gordon asked.
“Six months,” she said, picking up her purse, “I’ll give you guys a hint. He helped me get my job here.”
“Ellen?” Randy said from the doorway.
Locke and Gordon looked over toward the door and saw the smug swagger of the supervisor looking at him. Ellen giggled and patting the older man on the shoulder as she walked over to join Randy. The supervisor then put his arm around her hip and walked out of the room with her. Gordon sipped on his Red Bull and paused at the sight. “Ellen . . .and Randy???” he asked in disbelief.
“I can barely believe it myself,” Locke coughed.
“What the hell is a nice girl like that doing with that bastard?”
“Who knows?” the older man whispered, eating his onion rings, “I only hope she finds out what a vile scumbag he is and dumps him.”
“She was kinda digging on you, colonel.” Gordon mentioned.
“How so?”
“Before you got here, she was asking all sorts of questions. Like what music you liked, what movies you liked, what books you read.”
“Really?” he asked, amazed.
“You should so totally steal her away from Randy.”
“Don’t be stupid, GL12, “ he said, moving a piece across the board, “I am sure Randy can provide her with what she is looking for. Not to mention, she’s half my age.”
“I thought two minutes ago you were hoping she was going to dump him?”
“Your move.” Locke grunted.
“Hey, guys!” Sweeny said as he entered the breakroom.
“Hey, Sweeny, what’s up?” asked Gordon.
The younger man came over, and sat next to Locke. He pulled up a bound portfolio and showed it to them. “They are finally passing out the folders for last years figures and who made the most sales,” he then flipped to a page, “Your stay on that crazy Island is in here, John. And how the company welcomed you back.”
“Oh, I am sure that is old news by now.” He said, munching on his burger.
“Plus, they posted up the owner of our company,” Sweeny said, flipping toward the specific page, “ And this guy, I swear. Someone needs to tell him 1991 called, they want their hair back.”
Gordon picked up the portfolio and took a look. “Wow,” he whispered, “Looks like this guy can’t lay off the Twinkies either.”
Locke then blinked. All the little snippets Sweeny and Gordon were telling about this guy sounded incredibly familiar. He then reached over and took the portfolio from his war-gaming friend and looked at the picture. When Locke saw who it was, he couldn’t help but smile. He still has his shoulder length hair and was still overweight. He didn’t seem right wearing a business suit cause the bald man always imagined him with t-shirts and shorts. Apparently the business letter showed that the owner had acquired all the stock shares and began the majority share holder, thus the owner of the company. His name identified him as Hugo Reyes.
“You’re right, Gordon,” Locke smiled brightly, “He does like Twinkies.”
The day started like most days did. Locke got up and shut off his alarm clock. He proceeded into the bathroom and immediately started to take a shower. When he was done, he got dressed in his best clothes. The older man stared in the mirror, and then gently massaged the mustache he had grown. Should he keep it? He wasn’t sure. For some reason, he felt the need to act his age.
Breakfast came in the form of cheese bagel and a cup of coffee. The morning news mentioned a traffic problem up on the east side of town but Locke didn’t mind. He had been in this city for quite some time and knew the back ways toward work. He’d be able to cut off his travel time by twenty minutes.
Locke secured the door to his apartment and began to go down toward his car. He gently waved to his neighbors as he past them in the hallway, picking up the morning paper and seeing their kids off to school. The older man arrived at the parking lot and swiped the cat that seems to have made the roof top of his Avalanche truck it’s sleeping place. Locke stepped in his vehicle and quietly left the apartment complex.
As he drove to work, he often thought of his life and his life back on the Island. Three months of his life in a magical place. A place that had given him the use of his legs back. He wondered if he should have stayed on the Island but then again, he would have broken a few hearts of the friends he had acquired in his stay there. However, as he managed to get to his work place, he could help the overwhelming sensation that his life was empty. On the island, he had purpose. Here in the real world, he was just another cog in the machine.
Locke walked up to the door and rubbed his badge on the sensor, allowing the door to pop open. He strode through the lobby and walked past the receptionist, Maggie. The young black woman walked to the bald man in passing. The one thing that Locke was thankful for, was the attention he got when he returned home. True, he had to make up an excuse for why he was able to walk again. Most of them bought it. Even his buddy, Gordon Leggett or commonly known as GL12 during game play.
Locke stepped into the break room and smiled at Gordon already in there. Like any typical day, he was munching on his Bear Claw and sipping his Diet Coke, reading the latest edition of GamePro Magazine. “Gordon, isn’t eating that Bear Claw and drinking a diet coke, sort of a moot point?” he chuckled.
“I have to cut corners where I can, Colonel,” he smirked, “We on for today? 1300 hours?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He smiled, as he helped himself to some coffee.
Locke turned around and paused as a certain brunette walked into the room. Her name was Ellen and it always threw the older man how much she looked like a 26 year old version of his own Helen. Even their names were similar. He often wondered if she was a ghost, sent to test him. She had been working here for two months and Locke did notice she was making every effort she could to get to know him. “Hey, John, “ she smiled as she walked past him.
“Morning, Ellen,” he smiled, as he continued walking.
“Are you guys playing Risk today?” she smiled.
Locke looked to Gordon, who just gave him a wild eye expression. The older man then smiled and shook his head in agreement. “Oh! Oh! Can I watch?” she smiled.
Locke was curious why a young woman would find a game of Risk so stimulating. He was curious enough to find out the why behind it. “Gordon, you have any objections?” he asked.
“No, sir,” he munched on his Bear Claw.
“Then sure, you can stop by. We’ll be in here at 1 pm.”
“Excellent,” she said, almost filled with joy.
Locke smiled, as she turned around to get some coffee. Gordon then made a wild face and waved his hands madly, like the old man had just scored. The bald man just smirked, waving his friend off. Locke went into the hallway toward his desk, blowing on his hot coffee and occasionally stirring the sugar within it. As he big his co-workers Good Morning, he then turned the corner and saw his desk insight, only to find someone already there. Locke grunted at the sight of the man. He would have thought being able to see him face to face would have made Randy leave him alone. However, it only seemed to make it worse.
Locke walked up to him as he stood, blocking his hair. “ Is there something I can help you with, Randy?” he asked.
Randy smiled at him and then back to the picture he was looking at. Locke’s inner being filled up with rage as he saw that it was a picture that Randy removed from his desk. “Who is the cutie?” the supervisor asked.
Locke then immediately snatched the photo from his hand. “This is the second time you’ve taken something from my desk,” the older man hissed, “There will not be a third time.”
“Ooh, so testy, John,” the supervisor sneered, “Is it possible your balls came back with your spinal surgery?”
“Why is it you make it a habit to invade my business?” Locke countered.
“Because you are the easiest to torment,” Randy said, stepping out of the way, “ Because I am bored. Because I enjoy it. Anything else you need to know?”
“If you don’t lay off me, I’ll be talking to Stevens about this.”
“Stevens? Oh, give it a rest, Old man.” Randy walked away, “The most he is going to give me is a reprimand and you know it.”
Locke then sat down at his desk, placing his coffee to the right of the computer. Randy came over and leaned on the outside of Locke’s cubicle. “I need those TSP Reports by 11 am by the way,” he smirked.
“You’ll have them, “ was all Locke said.
“You never answered the question,” the supervisor smirked, “The cutie? Who is she?”
Locke sneered up at him again. He wanted to punch him badly. The older man took a deep breath and exhaled. “Just to make sure you drop it,” he whispered, “She’s my daughter. And she’s married, so get it out of your head that you have any chance with her.”
“Oh, my God,” Randy laughed, “I never imagined you as a dad. You must have been a wild man while you were crippled.”
Randy then left, laughing the whole time. Locke took a deep, vowing not to let the bastard get the better of him. He slowly opened his eyes and picked up the red thumb pin and placed the photo back onto his cubicle wall. It was taken at Christmas last year. Hurley wanted to start a tradition that they meet every year for Christmas like a true family. Locke stared at the picture and remember the love he felt that day. Mia had surprised him. Eddie was about to take his picture but she snuck up and wrapped her arms around him. She was holding onto him like he was her true father. Afterwards she mailed the photo to him with the words, Love You, Daddy, written on the back in magic marker. She was not his daughter by blood but she was the daughter of his heart and that was enough.
Locke missed Mia. They would often talk by phone but it wasn’t the same. He missed looking her in the eye when would have the conversations about ancient Native American culture, not to mention other historical events. Mia had once invited Locke to come live with her and John. He felt it wasn’t right. They had only been married two years and he felt he would be invading their privacy. Still, he often had to fight the pain of being alone. Locke took another deep breath and decided to concentrate on his TSP reports. He was anxious to give them to Randy.
Actually, he wanted to shove them down his throat.
One o’clock had rolled in and Locke proceeded to break room where Gordon would be waiting for him. He hoped he had gotten him the burger without mayonnaise this time around. As Locke walked into the break room, he could hear some giggling along with Gordon laughing. There he saw Ellen talking with his friend about something and they were laughing severely. Locke walked in and set down his coffee cup. “Hey, Colonel,” Gordon laughed, picking up a white paper bag and putting it near him, “Onion Rings and double cheeseburger, no mayonnaise.”
“Thank you,” he smiled, “I am pleased you got it right this time.”
“Hey, John, “ Ellen said, getting up from his seat.
“No, please, sit down.” He motioned, as he brought over another chair, “I’ll eat my lunch and we can chit chat for a while before we play the game.”
“Actually, I would love to but . .my boyfriend called at the last minute and wanted to go out for lunch. I think he’s going to propose to me.” She giggled.
“How long have you been seeing this guy?” Gordon asked.
“Six months,” she said, picking up her purse, “I’ll give you guys a hint. He helped me get my job here.”
“Ellen?” Randy said from the doorway.
Locke and Gordon looked over toward the door and saw the smug swagger of the supervisor looking at him. Ellen giggled and patting the older man on the shoulder as she walked over to join Randy. The supervisor then put his arm around her hip and walked out of the room with her. Gordon sipped on his Red Bull and paused at the sight. “Ellen . . .and Randy???” he asked in disbelief.
“I can barely believe it myself,” Locke coughed.
“What the hell is a nice girl like that doing with that bastard?”
“Who knows?” the older man whispered, eating his onion rings, “I only hope she finds out what a vile scumbag he is and dumps him.”
“She was kinda digging on you, colonel.” Gordon mentioned.
“How so?”
“Before you got here, she was asking all sorts of questions. Like what music you liked, what movies you liked, what books you read.”
“Really?” he asked, amazed.
“You should so totally steal her away from Randy.”
“Don’t be stupid, GL12, “ he said, moving a piece across the board, “I am sure Randy can provide her with what she is looking for. Not to mention, she’s half my age.”
“I thought two minutes ago you were hoping she was going to dump him?”
“Your move.” Locke grunted.
“Hey, guys!” Sweeny said as he entered the breakroom.
“Hey, Sweeny, what’s up?” asked Gordon.
The younger man came over, and sat next to Locke. He pulled up a bound portfolio and showed it to them. “They are finally passing out the folders for last years figures and who made the most sales,” he then flipped to a page, “Your stay on that crazy Island is in here, John. And how the company welcomed you back.”
“Oh, I am sure that is old news by now.” He said, munching on his burger.
“Plus, they posted up the owner of our company,” Sweeny said, flipping toward the specific page, “ And this guy, I swear. Someone needs to tell him 1991 called, they want their hair back.”
Gordon picked up the portfolio and took a look. “Wow,” he whispered, “Looks like this guy can’t lay off the Twinkies either.”
Locke then blinked. All the little snippets Sweeny and Gordon were telling about this guy sounded incredibly familiar. He then reached over and took the portfolio from his war-gaming friend and looked at the picture. When Locke saw who it was, he couldn’t help but smile. He still has his shoulder length hair and was still overweight. He didn’t seem right wearing a business suit cause the bald man always imagined him with t-shirts and shorts. Apparently the business letter showed that the owner had acquired all the stock shares and began the majority share holder, thus the owner of the company. His name identified him as Hugo Reyes.
“You’re right, Gordon,” Locke smiled brightly, “He does like Twinkies.”
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