Disclaimers: I don't own any characters except for Chris. Gary belongs to CBS and Sony TriStar.

Hope you all enjoy (and understand) this. There are no spoilers.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Other Side
by Ally McKnight

Christopher Adams was your regular guy. Good-looking in the boyish sense. He looked much younger than his age, which was thirty-five.

Chris, as his friends call him, was riding the El one morning on his way to work. It wasn't that he liked being an accountant, but it paid.

He was dressed very smartly, in a conservative blue suit and red tie. He straightened his tie a little, and glanced at his watch. If his stop didn't come soon, he'd be late.

Chris had no idea why his eyes wandered to the man sitting in the corner of the car, reading a newspaper. Maybe it was their striking resemblance. All Chris knew was that this was the man he wanted to be.

'Boy, he must have it easy,' Chris thought. 'No worries, no cares. Me, I go to work every single day, doing something I don't even like. I'm sure he's got a pretty wife who runs and give him a hug and kiss when he gets home from work, which is probably something fun and interesting, like a writer, or an artist. I barely have time to date. Why? Never any time, I suppose. I bet that guy's got the time. He probably gets to go to a ball game every day, and visit relatives every weekend. What I wouldn't give to just catch one Cubs game, but it's always work, work, work. And I never get to see my folks anymore, unless they drop in for a surprise visit. And worst of all, they always come at the absolute worst time.'

Chris sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his watch again. He didn't have very much time. His eyes again traveled to Mr. Newspaper.

'Talk about a perfect life. No worries, no cares. Just a regular guy. I wish I could be that guy, for just one day.' He looked up as the El came to a halt. It was his stop.

"I wish I knew what it was like on the other side," he muttered, ruefully, taking one last glance at Mr. Newspaper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gary Hobson seemed like your regular guy. Good-looking, in the extremely gorgeous sense. He looked much younger than his age, which was thirty-five.

Gar, as his best friend Chuck would call him, was riding the El one morning, on his way to yet another save. It wasn't that he liked the hustle and bustle of being Mr. Hero, but he couldn't just ignore people in need.

He was dressed very casually, in a button-down blue shirt, and faded blue jeans. He tugged on the collar of his leather jacket and checked his watch. If his stop didn't come soon Rebecca Futia would be paralyzed from a fall off a fire escape.

Gary had no ideas why his eyes stopped to the man standing by the doors, holding a briefcase. Maybe it was their striking resemblance. All Gary knew was that this was the man he wanted to be, minus the suit and tie.

'Boy, he must have it easy,' he thought. 'Never has to save the world, never has to worry about anyone but himself. Me, I have to save lives every day. I never asked for the paper, I never wanted it. I bet he's got a wonderful wife, who cooks him supper and gives him back rubs. I bet he's got someone to wake up next to every morning that doesn't meow, and demand tuna. I'm
going to be alone all my life. Why? No time, the paper gets in the way, never going to find the right girl, the list goes on. I bet that guy's got the time for everything. He probably goes to a ball game every day after work, and visits his relatives every weekend. I never get to spend any time with Mom and Dad, except when they drop in unannounced, and always at the worst possible time. I'd kill to go to one Cubs game a year, and boy would I love to go back to Hickory for a day, and relax. But, no time.'

Gary sighed and ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his watch again. He didn't have much time. His eyes again came upon Mr. Briefcase.

'What a perfect life,' Gary mused. 'No responsibilities, no cares. Just a regular joe, being a regular joe. I'd kill for the chance to live like that, even if just for one day.' He looked up as the El came to a halt. His stop had come. Time to save the
world... yet again.

"I wish I knew what it was like on the other side," Gary muttered, stepping out onto the El platform. "I really do."

THE END

Email the author: coventrys@yahoo.com
 

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