The Gunner’s Crook

 ‘Gunner99’ was going to catch a private jet from the old hangar on Friday! Peter’s joy knew no bounds… Gunner99 was the nickname of his favorite hero from those childhood cowboy movies. He had grown up dreaming of becoming one of Gunner99’s crooks; he had day-dreamt thousands of risky missions with Gunner99 and he had even saved Gunner99 in a couple of missions from the fierce enemies! Although Gunner99 didn’t work anymore in films and maintained a low profile, Peter always had die hard feelings for him… Friday could give him a chance to see Gunner and that would be a chance of his lifetime…

                On Friday, Peter reached the hangar pretty early. “I’m not sure whether the Gunner would even look at a shoe-polish guy. Probably the security personnel would even shove me off! But I’ll still try to catch him at the gate itself. The moment he arrives, I’ll ask whether I can polish his shoes and also offer him this bottle of port wine as a present… Gunner never drinks anything else!”, recalled Peter from one of those movies feeling proud that he could still remember all that vividly. He kept staring at his watch nervously waiting for his hero to arrive… Suddenly, he heard a swish of a distant car. His heart started pounding…“The Gunner should be here any moment now. No crowd here at all though! They must have kept it confidential to avoid the fans’ downpour! Good that the security chief of the hangar is my friend and knows about my love for the Gunner…”

                A limo stopped by. Leaping ahead, Peter opened the door, bowed his head and said, “Peter the crook ready for your orders Gunner! Can I polish …” His sentence remained incomplete. From the limo, descended an electric wheelchair. “These days I ride on the electric wheelchair…not horses. I lost both my limbs in an accident and now they are shifting me to the Liberty Hospital for planting the artificial feet. Walk with me my crook. Be alert. The enemies are on prowl!” said the Gunner and gave a smile! Although old, Gunner’s voice was the same. The old-age had affected his body but not his soul!

                Just before crossing the security checkpoint, Gunner turned his wheelchair and shouted, “Hey crook… you planning to gulp that port wine alone leaving me thirsty eh? ‘Cause the Gunner drinks nothing but….” “…Port Wine!” completed Peter and smilingly handed over the bottle to the Gunner. Gunner sipped it, “Aah…nothing like the purest spirit! Hold your horses crook…I’ll be back and we together gonna’ kick some fine …!!! hahaha you know what we gonna’ kick, don’t you?” said the Gunner laughing aloud.

                Peter kept waving at the jet that carried his Gunner…. He knew he might not see the Gunner again but then just like movies in the young age, the Gunner had given Peter, his crook, the strength to fight without accepting defeat!!!