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1、FinalDraftOctober2003SPECIALPERMISSIONISGRANTEDTOProf.Higginsforuseinhercreativewritingclass.Nopartofthisdocumentmaybecopiedwithouttheexpressedpermissionoftheauthor.TheCallingCard byR.J.Tanks ChapterOne TheAmerican Onesummer’sday,PeteHawkpulledhimselfdownthestreetonaboar
2、dwithroller-skatewheelsnailedtotheunderside.Althoughhislegsweregone,hestillhadthefaceofahandsome,ruggedbutwar-tornman.LinesofpainanddeepthoughtwereetchedintoPete’sface-whereonemightassumeuponfirstinspectionthatonlythesunandfifty-oneyearshadworkedtheirwayintohisskin. Theswe
3、lteringheatbeatdownharduponPeteallmorning,andhisbodywasdrenchedinsweatashecontinuedtopullhimselfalongthescorchingasphalt. Alittlewaysoff,asevenyearoldnamedSuzieplayedhopscotchunderashadytreethatgrewnearthecurb. Peteheardthelaughterandyellingofchildrenatplay,andhepulledupto
4、thechalk-drawnhopscotchboardjustasSuziejumpedintothefinalsquareandyelled,“Home!”PeteintroducedhimselfandaskedSuzietobringhimsomewaterbecausehehadn’thadadrinksincehelefthisapartmentearlythatmorning. Hewaitedanxiouslyforadrinkastheheatfromthestreetroselikethewavesfromaconvec
5、tionoven. Itwasnownoon,andPetefelttherelentlesssunburnthebackofhisface,neckandarms.Hedidn’twanttoinconvenienceanyone,butheneededadrinkbadlybecausehisbodyhadbecomedehydratedunderthepitiless,blazingorbthattheancientsonceworshipedasRA. Suddenly,Petefeltfaintandheswooned,“P
6、lease...alittlewater.”Ashesatonhisboard,Peterealizedhecouldhavestayedhomeonthistormentinglyhotafternoon.Thethoughtofbeinghomeandreadingabookorwatchingtelevisionflittedthroughhismind,butheknewthatwasnotwhatheneeded. Peteneededmorethanthat;heneededtoconnectwiththepeoplehefou
7、ghtandbledfor.Heneededtofeeltheearthunderneaththetrunkofhisbodyandtotouchlife. Again,Peteasked,“Pleasebringsomewater...I’mverythirsty.”However,Suziegasped,“Yourlegsaregone!”Petetookadeepbreath,heldhisheadhighandrepliedinagentlevoice,“Mylegswereblownoffinthewar. I’mthirs
8、ty;pleasebringmealittlewater.”Suzie’splaymatesgatheredaroundPete,andheheardthemspeakabout
