Page 62 - Contrast2015

father, my comrade. Brother in arms. Gears. Together, we
became these burly men. Their scars our own. Their fatigue a
burning sensation in our muscles. Their icy glare seared in
our minds. But at school, I was left to survive by myself.

I could no longer dedicate hours to the digital world. Rather, I
killed free time. Between classes, going to basketball practice,
late night library sessions. A few rounds of team death match.
Sharpening my skills. Self-challenge. Get the most head shots,
chainsaw executions, kills. Without dying.

Focusing the crosshair on the alien’s head, I squeeze the
trigger. The sniper rifle. My favorite. A weapon that takes
extraordinary skill and finesse. Long-range killer.

Total domination. Skilled shooter.

X. Icon Pop Quiz

iPhone App

I cradle the iPhone in my hand as I stare at the mosaic of tiles
on the screen. Vectored illustrations of iconic figures from
pop culture. Blocks of color juxtaposed beside one another.
Fictional characters. Films. Famous people. In their simplest
forms.

Immediate identification. With each block, I type quickly.
Mickey Mouse. Spider-Man. Zorro. Elmo. I pause for a
second. Iron Man. Wonder Woman. The Joker. Popeye. Their
identities stamped into my mind. Nearly second nature to
recite their names. I hesitate. Some more challenging than
others. A brown braid against a woman’s back. She is wearing
a green tank top. Contemplation. Sifting through my memory

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