Cold Cocked

They were young Air Force airmen; immortal, confident
They were also reluctant roommates
In the base barracks/dormitories
Parked near a small town
On the Northeast Plains of New Mexico

One was from the Northcentral states
The other from a Northeast inner city
Different folks altogether
But with an uneasy truce
To keep them at bay from each other

Then the day came...at morning cleanup
There was to be a room inspection later
One was working... the other loitered
They argued over who was doing their share
Of cleanup duties

Small Town boy, then 17, took offense
At Inner City boy's propensity
To doing nothing
Small Town said;  "There is going to be a fight."
Inner City agreed.

Small Town said; "C'mon then, hit me."
Inner City then placed a right cross
Perfectly on Small Town's chin.
Small Town didn't come to his senses
Until later that afternoon at work... several hours later
Cold Cocked

Three years later Small Town, now 20
Was visiting a co-worker close friend and his family
At their home close to the Air Force base
Lajes, on the small island of Terciera; the Azores
His friend's wife had recently borne twin sons
His friend named one of them after Small Town

They were enjoying a small weekend party
Everyone was pretty well lit
Then Small Town's friend turned mean
Began abusing the family dog

Small Town asked him to give the poor dog a break
His friend kept at it, with verbal and physical abuse
Small Town said he was leaving and went out the door
His friend followed, belligerent that Small Town would be upset
At how he was treating his dog...his property

Small Town said, "Stop or there is going to be a fight."
His friend said, "Go ahead and hit me"
Small Town tagged him with a right cross
Perfectly on the point of the chin
His friend was on the ground...
Cold Cocked

Clearly, "It's (much) better to give than receive."