SURGERY
A short story by Mick Macve
Part 1
"Murderer!"
"Murderer!"
Steven joined in and shouted at the top of his voice.
"MURDERER!"
Mr. Harris looked frightened. He knew that he was a murderer, but he was surprised to realise that other people objected.
"Look, you just don’t understand. It’s not as simple as you make out."
"It’s very simple. You’re a murderer. Your victims never had a chance."
Steven glanced at Zoe as she shouted this into the man’s face. She really was very good looking. Her long dark hair kept blowing across her face and she had to hold it back with one hand as she shook her fist at the butcher. Her face was glowing red with anger and her eyes glistened. Steven really really fancied her.
"I’m just trying to earn a living, that’s all."
"By murdering defenceless animals. Murderer! MURDERER!"
If the truth were known, Steven had eaten a bacon sandwich before leaving to come on the animal rights demonstration outside the local butcher’s shop. If the truth were really known, Steven had complained to his father only last Tuesday when he had been given a vegetable lasagne for tea.
"Dad! Where’s the meat? Where’s the protein in this? I need meat!"
However, this was before he had overheard Zoe Johnson talking to his mate John about animal rights. She had given John a ten minute lecture about the dinner he had just finished in the College canteen.
"....stuffed full of antibiotics. I’m organising a demonstration next Saturday morning outside the butcher’s shop in the High Street. You will be there won’t you? Two o’clock. What do you mean, you’re going to football? Huh! You boys are all the same."
As she flounced off, Steven became a vegetarian. He had never actually spoken to Zoe; she was a year younger than he was and had only recently arrived at the Sixth Form College. he thought that he would be able to impress her if he showed that he was really a caring individual, like herself. He would be the epitome of the sensitive man, strong in his beliefs, caring for all forms of life, be they human or animal.
"Murderer!" he shouted for the twentieth time. However, this time he shouted it in Zoe’s ear, as the crowd of thirty students jostled to get nearer the entrance to the butcher’s shop. Zoe turned and looked at him, but didn’t say anything. To be honest, now wasn’t really the best time for a casual conversation about the moral dilemma of being a teenage consumer in a capitalist society. Although Steven knew more about football, he was sure he could engage Zoe in witty conversation, given the right circumstances.
"If you don’t go, I’m calling the police!"
As Mr. Harris closed and bolted the door, Steven could see that his bald head was perspiring. He looked worried. Steven wondered what was going to happen next. Were they going to liberate the dead carcasses hanging at the back of the shop? It all seemed a bit pointless and that rack of lamb looked quite tasty.
"Hypocrite! The pigs will help you, but you never help pigs!"
Steven was quite pleased with that. He looked at Zoe to see if he had heard his little joke, but she was pushing against the door of the butcher’s shop. Steven could see Mr. Harris making a phone call. Good! That would be the end of the demonstration. Nobody would want the police to be involved. Everybody surely wanted to enjoy their Saturday afternoon didn’t they? Maybe they would go for a drink in the Rose And Crown. That would give him a chance to get to know Zoe.
"Don’t think you’re getting away with it, you murdering swine." Shouted a voice from behind Steven.
Steven felt two arms pushing against his back and turned to get a glimpse of dreadlocks, torn jeans, a tee-shirt advising you to "Say It And Mean It" and hundreds of badges fixed to an old denim jacket. Steven tried to resist and was about to shout at the lad to stop, when another ten demonstrators helped push Steven into Zoe, who was forced against Mr. Harris’ door, which finally gave way with a large cracking sound. Steven fell on top of Zoe and when they picked themselves up, they found Mr. Harris with the largest carving knife in the world, waving it just above their heads.
"Don’t you two move a muscle until the police arrive."
Surgery part 2
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last modified: December 4, 1998
URL: http://www3.mistral.co.uk/mmacve/surg1.html