The Final Fight

He walked down the interior of the train station, the architecture always made him smile. How much history had these walls seen. Digging into his jacket pocket his hand finally found the train ticket. Checking his times he made sure he had plenty of time before his train left the station. He hated rushing, so many things were missed while people rushed around. Knowing that he had time, he began to slowly make his way toward his awaiting train. His name was Harvey Dennison, if you didn't recognize the name you're not the only one. Harvey was a boxer and he lived his whole life watching the main event. He had won a few fights, but he never got that one big fight, the one you could hang your hat on. Crushing defeats had always marred his career, that big fight was always one win away. With a face marked with the scars of his trade, he sighed and found the train to his last shot.

Boarding the train he found his seat. He sat down hard in his seat, a little tired from all of the travel thus far, looking out the window he wondered who else had sat here and gazed out that same window. The train lurched forward as it started its journey southward. He chuckled as he thought of the stories and songs that all started with a southbound train. Harvey pulled out the paper from his pocket, unfolding it carefully. He almost expected to see something different, some key piece of information he had missed. As he reread the letter he only reassured himself that he was indeed headed to that big fight he had always wanted. The letter had arrived one day and like mana from the sky he had been handed a golden opportunity. The letter exp[lained how there was a main card fight that was to take place in Atlanta, the winner was going to be crowned the number one contender and get a shot at the title. One of the fighters had backed out, so still having a little pull in the business, his name had been tossed around. So now it was billed more as a tune up fight for the other fighter before his title shot. Harvey couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he won, talk about a fight you could hang your hat on, beating a number one contender. He smiled as he returned the letter to his pocket and leaned back in his seat. He was going to enjoy this ride. The sunshine felt good on his face as the train gently swayed, eventually his eyelids got heavy and he drifted off to sleep.

He was back in the ring, he never felt better as he floated around the ring with ease. He hadn't felt this good in a long time. Every mover his opponent made he had a counter for, jabs glanced off his gloves and haymakers found no purchase. Harvey couldn't help but smile through his mouth guard, he and his opponent had started this game of cat and mouse, now he was waiting to pounce. He could feel his cold sweat running down his face as he focused in on his prey. Another glancing jab that was met by padding and leather. Then Harvey saw his opening and he pounced. His opponent over-committed with his attack, Harvey grinned like a tomcat about to dine. With a sidestep Harvey landed a ferocious uppercut that knocked a spray of sweat off the other man's face as his head snapped back, the man's mouthpiece was ejected into the bloodthirsty audience. As he stumbled Harvey lined up another shot and landed a punch on his opponent's jaw. That one sent him crashing down to the canvas. The referee raced over and stood over the fallen boxer, checking his eyes, the referee saw there was no one home. With a flourish he called for the bell to be rang, The crowd roared with delight as the fight was over. Harvey scanned the crowd while the referee raised his arm. He thought he knew how the old Roman gladiators had felt when a roaring crowd called their name, a sea of people gnashing their teeth and calling for blood. As he stood triumphant, a reporter rushed in the ring and stuck a microphone in his face.

"Sir, Sir!" The reporter shouted to get his attention.

"It's Harvey!" He shouted back at the reporter.

"Ok Harvey, do you mind if I sit here?

With a stir he awoke, back on the train, but this time there was a younger woman standing in front of him.

"No please, have a seat." "I must have dozed off." Harvey rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you."

" No problem at all, I'm Harvey, but I think I might have already told you that."

"I'm Ashley, It's a pleasure to meet you Harvey."

She extended her hand and he gently held her hand in his as he shook her hand. While shaking hands, her features darkened as she noticed how scarred his hands were.

"You must work with your hands Harvey, I've rarely seen hands that rough."

Chuckling Harvey replied, "You could say that, I'm a boxer and a lot of stout chins have found themselves on the end of these knuckles."

"That always seems like such a brutal sport. I've never actually known anyone who's done that for a living."

"It takes a lot of patience, a lot of training, and a lot of luck." He smiled to her as he finished

"I'm actually headed South, this might be the last fight I ever get. I have always wanted to go out on top, finish with a big fight."

"Well I hope you get that last win, by the way where is your fight supposed to be at?"

"Well it's in Atlanta, at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, there was a last minute cancellation and I just happened to be available."

She couldn't help but smile at him, he had a charm that was undeniable. For being an older gentleman he still had an athletic physique. His dark skin hid most of the scars he had taken from his beatings over the years, the only giveaway of his age was his salt and pepper hair. He had to be at least fifteen years her senior, but he had this air about him, even after he told her that he was a boxer she couldn't have pictured that he would ever hurt anyone.

"If you don't mind me asking Ashley, why are you heading South?"

"I just took a new job in Atlanta, at a hospital, in the oncology department."

Harvey furrowed his brow and after a moment he said, "Ma'am I must have had my head hit one too many times, I just can't recall what kind of medicine that is."

"That is the study and treatment of cancer."

"Well Ashley, I hope that all works out for you."

"Thank you Harvey."

With a polite smile he began to look back out the window and watched the landscape move by. The scenery changed over time and the rolling hills and trees soon changed to concrete buildings and bridges. As the coyote neared Harvey's mind wandered again, thinking about what could have been. Someone had once told him that the road to Hell was paved with good intentions, Harvey also thought the same thing could be said with what ifs. As the train pulled into the station, the brakes squealed as the train began to slow and eventually came to a stop. Ashley and Harvey gathered their things as they began to exit the train.

"Well I hope your fight goes well."

"Thank you ma'am, I hope you enjoy your new job.

With a smile they departed. The station platform bustled with movement, an ever shifting mass of people. Harvey scanned the crowd looking for anyone that may have been sent to pick him up. As he walked towards the front of the station there was a smartly dressed man, who held a large sign that had Dennison printed on it.

"I'm Harvey Dennison." He said to the man as he walked up.

"Excellent Sir, I'm Charles, your driver. Here Sir, let me get your bags."

Charles quickly put the bags in the trunk of the town car as Harvey seated himself in the back. Harvey stared out the windows and looked at all the architecture of the city. It had been a while since he had been to Atlanta last. If he remembered right the last time he had been here it was to see Muhammad Ali fight. Shortly Charles had pulled up to his hotel and quickly passed off his bags to one of the bellhops to be taken to his room. With a smile, Charles got back in the car and drove off, likely to pick up his next client. Harvey couldn't wait to get to his room, travel always took a toll on him, it always seemed so silly that just the act of being transported could be so taxing. Harvey got the key from the front desk and made his way up to his room, where he promptly passed out on the large bed. Hours later, Harvey woke up in the darkness of his hotel. He hadn't intended to sleep that late, but since he was wide awake now he decided to go for a walk in the cool night air. Exiting the hotel he walked down the sidewalk and couldn't believe how the city always hummed, as if it never was really silent.

Passing by alleyways, he thought he heard a scream, picking up his pace he headed down the sidewalk towards where he heard the sound. He finally came to an alleyway where he saw four men surrounding a young woman. Harvey slowly made his way down the alley accessing the situation. The men had surrounded her and trapped her against a building in the alley, they were all too engrossed in her to even see Harvey walking towards them. As he crept up he started to hear what they were saying.

"Come on baby, I know we said we only wanted your money, but now I'm having other ideas. You see my boys here like a certain kind of fun and well to be honest, I think you could help all of us." The one closest to the young woman hissed at her.

Harvey got within a few feet and he finally was able to see who they were harassing, it was Ashley, from the train. Harvey felt his fists clench up as he felt his anger rise up in him.

"I don't think the lady wants to entertain you boys tonight. Why don't you just go scurry on now, wouldn't want you boys to miss curfew."

The one closest to Ashley laughed at the threat, "Why don't you just go home old man, I would hate for you to get hurt." He cackled again

"Well the lady is a friend of mine, so she's leaving with me."

That angered the group of men, they all came off the wall and lined up in front of Harvey.

"You just don't get it Grandpa, you really want to mess with us?" he sneered as all four stared at him.

"Sure, why not?" Harvey smiled as they all got that look in their eye. The one he saw when his opponents knew that they were in for a fight.

"Don't just stand there, get him guys!" The leader screamed as the other three advanced on Harvey.

Knives gleamed in the lowlight of the alley, as the three advanced. Harvey just stood there, waiting. The three men slowly moved up on Harvey, when they were within a few feet, they all rushed him. The one that made it to Harvey first got a lightning fast punch in the jaw that sent him reeling. Another came up on his right and swung a knife at his side, Harvey turned and caught a glancing blow from the blade, but still a small cut started darkening his shirt. The attack left the knife wielding thug off balance, Harvey easily pinned his arm against him and landed two fast jabs to his temple. With a kick to the ribs as he fell, Harvey added insult to injury. Harvey had left his back to the third, whose knife sunk deep into his back, with a howl Harvey spun on him. Harvey could tell that this street punk had never experienced anything like this, his eyes got real big, as he slowly backed away, Harvey flinched and the young man took off. Seeing movement out of his peripheral, he stepped back and almost avoided the board that would have smashed into his skull. Even though it wasn't a direct blow, it still sent Harvey spinning, another hit soon followed. But Harvey had taken a lot of punishment, and with a loud grunt he punched through the board and the wielder ended up against the nearest wall. Harvey stumbled over to Ashley who had smartly called 911, he collapsed at her feet into a cloud of darkness.

When he awoke he was in a hospital room, he squinted as the lights momentarily blinded him. He looked at his right hand, which was now in a cast, he felt like he had gone a few rounds. Confused, he looked around the room, and a young nurse came up next to his bed.

"Hello Mr. Dennison, I hope you are comfortable."

"Well ma'am I suppose I'm about as comfortable as I can be, Where am I?"

"Atlanta General, sounds like you got into a pretty nasty brawl."

"I've had worse" He chuckled as it all came back to him in a flood.

"Nurse, there was a young lady who was in that alley with me, I blacked out before I could see if she was ok. Is she ok?"

Ashley leaned down to where he could see her, "Yes Harvey, I'm ok, I wouldn't have been if you hadn't showed up. I'm afraid though, that you won't make your fight."

Harvey just smiled as he looked again at his right hand in a cast.

"That's ok , I think I just had the biggest fight of my life and I walked away with a win."

He smiled as he looked up at Ashley, finally he had a fight he could hang his hat on.