A Big Deal - John Fetto

Hawley felt it everywhere he walked. A lie as weightless as a whisper, floating in the air, almost imperceptible, tickling young men until they smiled, flexed their muscles and look for something to kick, making old men frown, shake their head, and women, young and old, reach with thin fingers to touch their face, worrying, as if the lie were little more than an unexpected kiss on their cheeks. Hawley heard it wherever he walked the same syrupy sound of it because he had tasted it before. As he turned the corner, he saw the place on Placer street, a small corner store with an American flag out front and signs in the window, one for each the four services, army, air force navy and marines, signs filled with colorful pictures fit men, eager for fun. You had to sign up. You had to join! Now was the time! This was the big deal that justified that justified everything else.