Roman Fever Rewrite

11th grade I had this assignment. Read the short story "Roman Fever" by...i forget who, i will look it up later...And rewrite it from a modern perspective with males as the main characters. That was the extent of the instructions. Pretty much after that was up to us and our imaginations. So i took the basic ideas of 'Roman Fever" and came up with my own story. I was going through old documents and came across it. Thought you might like it.

[apologizing again for lack of posts, i have been busy and tired, you can still check out flickr though]

In matching plaid pants with dark green and khaki colored sweaters stood two middle-aged men. One steps forward and grabs a shiny club from a case of many. He walks towards a ball on the ground and lines up his club, the ball, and the hole. With a graceful swing he hits the ball, launching it into the air with a perfect arc. It lands and rolls into the hole with a plunk.

“Nice one old man. Remember what you used to be like back in the day. You couldn’t play for your life.” Remarked Chester with a chuckle.

“Hey, you weren’t much better Chester. At least I had all the girls watching me; they couldn’t see you as you chased your ball fifty feet off course.”  Harold countered.

After finishing their game the two men moved over to a bench under a nearby tree. The shade from the tree covered the bench and a slight breeze was blowing through the leaves. The taller thin man leans back and settles himself into his seat. Sitting on the bench the two men contemplated the scene before them, young and old alike, men throughout the course played the greatest pastime of all time, golf.

            “Remember when we were 18 and playing on this golf course with the big players for the first time Chester? I feel like it was just yesterday.”

            “It’s been a few good years since then huh, we’ve been through quite a bit together.” Chester replied.

            As Chester looked at everyone playing happily he began to remember those good times, and then what else they had been through. It had been almost 12 years since Harold’s wife had passed away and about 14 since his had. They had all met at a golf championship when they were 20 and had connected right away.

            “Hey Harold…remember when we first met?” Chester inquired.

            “Yeah, how could I forget it? It was the first time I met Katherine. I knew right away she was the one for me, and you met Julie. It was fate that we all ended up at the same place on that beautiful day. You don’t get many days like that anymore. I will always remember it.” Harold responded.

            “Yeah, the youth these days take everything for granted; they don’t appreciate what they have at the moment. It could be gone at any time.” Upon saying this Chester relapsed into silence.

Harold looked at him and realized what was going through his mind. He began to think of his wife Julie. She was a charm; you couldn’t find anyone else like her. She was a handsome woman with a great sense of fashion. Wherever they went people would watch her as she walked by them with grace and elegance. Katherine, Chester’s wife, was also fascinating. She could have the shyest people talking and laughing with her like they had known each other for their entire lives. She was always the life of the party. It was really a tragedy when they both lost them to sickness. Looking at Chester, Harold began to really see him for what he was without his wife. He was quiet and shy. He never partied anymore and rarely talked to his old buddies. Harold believed himself to be one of the only ones he did talk to still and that’s just because they shared a love of golf.

“Hey Chester, are you just keepin’ me around because I play golf?” Harold questioned.

“Why would you say that? Of course not, you’re my old buddy. I like to hang out with you; ya know spend some quality man-time together.”  Chester said to Harold.

“I was just thinking about our wives and about how ever since Katherine died you haven’t been the same. I’m like the only one you talk to and you never go out anymore.” Harold remarked.

“I’m out right now aren’t I?” Chester responded

“But it isn’t the same, because we always go out on Sunday afternoon to play golf, we have for as long as I can remember.”

“Are you trying to say I don’t like coming out with you Harold? I mean I could go home right now if that’s what you want!”

“No, no, no I just meant that…oh forget it Chester, we’re like old geezers fighting over a chess game. I’m sorry. I understand what you went through and I’m sure you’re still saddened by the thought of your wife, just like I am.” Harold said with an apologetic glance in Chester’s direction.

“It’s okay old sport, and who said I was sad, my wife told me before she died that she didn’t want me to stop living just because she did.”

“But…you’re not following her directions, so how are you not sad?”

“ Hey, you’re the one who said I never go out anymore, and I am following her directions,” He said as he glanced down at his watch, “as a matter of fact I have to get going now.”

“Where are you going?” Harold demanded.

“To go see my lady friend of course.” Chester said with a grin as he sauntered away, across the green golf course.

Harold sat back on the bench with a bewildered expression upon his face as he realized that, in actuality, he didn’t know his old friend as well as he thought he did.