The Arena

 

 

Two war-hardened generals stare each other down across an expanse of sand. The war seems to have gone on forever, and in the middle of a ceasefire, both perennial enemies have turned to peace talks. If they succeed, maybe this unnecessary destruction will stop. But should they fail, the world will be bathed in flames.

 

 

“Stephen, you sly fox”, one calls out. “So, you finally seek for peace. I thought you would never grow tired of throwing unwashed bodies at my fortified trenches”

 

“Ken, you son of a gun!” the other shouts as they walk towards each other. “It is understandable that you’ve grown weary of drinking your own piss and cowering in damp tunnels. Tell me, how does the fresh air taste like?”

 

 

At this point, both grizzled veterans stand, only a few centimeters apart, measuring each other up.

 

 

“I’ll cut to the chase, Steve”, Ken spits out the name like an insult, staring down at the shorter general. “Hand over your border territories to me and your troops may still walk out of this alive”.

 

“You funny weasel”, Stephen huffs, trying to appear as intimidating as his opposite general. “Take your men, leave this land. Hell, I’ll even allow you to leave with the tattered remains of your pride. This is the best offer you’ll get from me, and I won’t ask twice”.

 

“You are making a mistake, little Steve. Think about your people! I have weapons of mass destruction and I am not afraid to use them. By the gods, I will turn this landscape into a preview of hell!”

 

“Oh, you think you’re so tough, Ken? I bet you bleed just like any other man. You have no idea what evils my scientists have been cooking up. You want a nuclear Armageddon? Fine, I’ll see you in hell.”

 

 

Sparks fly across the tension between the two men, and the world holds its breath. Then, as if at a signal, the two generals turn away, walking back to their camps, the fate of the world decided in their wake.

 

 

“Ken! Stephen! That’s enough time in the sandbox. You both should go and take a shower. Dinner is almost ready and your dad will be back any moment now”

 

 

Two little boys stare at each other across a sandbox.

 

Ken giggles, turns and races away, “Last to the bathroom is a fool”

 

“Ah, no fair”, cries Stephen as he runs after Ken in hot pursuit.