Four of Chalices | The Squids

It all started on the playground of the Kala* Elementary School.

Georgy started it with Ralph, “My dad can beat up your dad any day of the week!”

“Oh, yeah?” Ralph countered. “I doubt that cuz your dad’s a weenie!”

“Is not!”

“Is, too!”

“Nuh-uh!”

“Oh, huh!”

“You better take that back!” Georgy threatened.

“Make me, Weiner!”

“I’m gonna go get my dad!”

“Me, too,” Ralphie said. “I’ll be back!”

Both Georgy and Ralph’s fathers were Navy Squids (similar to American Navy Seals) in the Hellenic Navy. Both dads were badasses on land, sea and air — made no difference. They were also good friends, although most people didn’t know that because fraternization was frowned upon by the Navy.

As both boys returned to their respective homes and told their dads about the big fight that was supposed to happen, both boys were promptly grounded.

The two fathers’ ran into each other on their way to the playground.

“Hey, Mike,” Georgy’s father greeted Ralph’s.

“Steve, what’s up?” Ralph’s father said. “How do you want to handle this?”

“I grounded my kid.” Mike said.

“Yeah. me too. Where do these kids get this stuff?”

“Beats me. I try not to bring my work home, but …”

“You can only do so much.”

“Okay, so recess is over. Kids are back in class. No point in us staging a fake fight when nobody’s looking.”

“True. Let’s go have a couple shots and discuss our differences like adults.”

“Sounds good. Then we’ll tell the kids how we settled things without bloodshed, and they’ll learn a valuable lesson… Maybe.”

“Or not!”

They both laughed.