Friends

"Buddha said a lot of things, but he got there by the force," Tac explained.

"What, like in Star Wars?" Tac's friend Bruce commented."

"Yeah, but in Asia, they call it the way," Tac explained after shooting Charlie's teammate. "The way of nature will always lead you home. Buddha essentially says to set everything down so we can live in the moment with nature."

Bruce replied, strangling the controller, "But Jesus says to be righteous, ask for your daily bread, and smile at your enemies. This also looks like a way."

Tac swiftly answered, "Jesus claimed to be the son of god, and so god was like 'the way,' and the father was forgiving, like nature is forgiving."

Bruce nodded.

Bruce then lowered his controller and snickered, "I don't know about all that, but I think there is a higher power of some sort."

Tac replied, "That is a good principle, for it is like Socrates who knows no thing. What he knows is that people are better than him at certain things, and his unknowing corresponds to his honesty and knowing himself. His friends knew better than him, but at the end of the day, Socrates knew best because his main principles were about judging himself correctly." Tac continued, "The stoics, post Socrates, and Zeno of Citium, believed in ridding irrational desires. The stoic life is one of necessity and the now."

Bruce shot back with an AK-47 and replied, "That sounds like my dad."

Tac laughed and said, "Mine too! I guess we're all a little stoic."

"So what's your point, Tac?"

"My point," said Tac, "is that the ancients were awesome and cured much of our academic pains."

"That's obvious," Bruce remarked.

"Really?" Tac said. "What do you mean?"

Bruce smiled and said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, for real, as in, it's all different, but the same, as it's all still encapsulated by chocolate, like our life is filled with pain. They help cure us," Bruce followed as he threw a grenade into a building.

Tac agreed. "Wow, so much for Zeno," changing his weapon.

Bruce continued, "Yeah, man, I have a basic idea of the underworld, and of harmony, and yeah, it's like the yin and yang as you say. It's just a part of life."

"How does that go again?" Bruce asked.

"Well, for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction, or strong yang and soft yin. Yang is a resistance to begin to be overcome first by yin, and then an opposing yang when it is achievable. Wax on, wax off, ya know," Tac eloquently explained.

"Anyway Bruce Lee, I know I started it, but forgive me. I think we just manifested a dojo already."

Bruce replied, "Done?"

"Well, in the writings of Plato, Socrates just gets it. I guess you followed the right way sensei."

"Ya know, life as a grown up is so different from when we were kids," Tac added to the conversation.

Bruce, in his now confident vibe, responded maturely and said, "We don't have those same luxuries that we once had. Life is littered with people who think they own you and you must try to reason with this." Tac agreed and shook Bruce's hand firmly and thanked him for the good dose of reality and game sesh.

"Party tonight! A lot of people are going," Travis mentioned after stopping by Tac's pad later that day.

"I hope there is lager and free food," Tac said to himself, alluding to the free party benefit. The two agreed to go and shook on it. They had to check eachother for their proper beast face first, though. And for Tac, a whole scenario.

Upon getting dressed, Tac mumbled to himself, "Gel or no gel, hat or no hat, sweater or coat. No to sweater, since I don't want to look suspicious! Hide my tattoo? Yes, so I don't look doubly suspicious! How about my breath? Hmm… Does it look like I live unhealthily? Nope, check. Hold on; like, as in, in a germ free environment? Whoops. People hate viruses! Nope. Just slight dirt on everything; check."

Upon their evening arrival, a pack of hairy wolf men stared down Tac and his crew from their tail gate. They shouted, "Whoop, whoop," like a cop car. Tac and his friends entered the gate of the house and everyone was wearing beads and playing drinking games, dancing, and everything else. They situated themselves, and Travis and his friend Marie held out until Tac found their crowd. Tac looked around and stumbled across a short, young guy named Herman, interestingly wearing muddy Air Jordans and a long, grey shirt.

He said, "I don't know but it looks like you might need some help. Could I get you a beer?"

Tac replied, "No thanks, man, I'm looking for Telly."

Herman replied, "The way I see it is that you want to have some fun, and Telly is the guy to help with that, am I right? He's my friend and the boss around here. I know him pretty well."

Tac accepted, "Yeah, that's about right."

Herman left, saying, "Got ya covered. I will find him and then join you."

Tac replied, "Sure, why not," with a hint of irritation.

Telly comes along out of nowhere and saves the gang.

"Herman was just here," Tac said to Telly. "We're set up over here."

Telly laughed and said, "Forget that, the party is inside. Everyone out here are scoundrels." The gang went inside and sat on a big, black leather couch. There were only about a dozen people inside this rather large house. Everything was neat.

Herman stumbled in and yelled, "Telly! I was looking for you for my partner here, but now I can hang, right?" as mud falls from his Jordans.

Telly responded, "Herman, watch the keg outside please because it's up to you to make sure those people out there don't drink everything!"

"Forget that, I'm not even watching it. They don't even like me."

Telly stood tall, stuck his chest out, and told Herman, "don't be a darn oddball!"

Herman shouted while walking out, "all yours."

The gang drank a few beers, and in their mind, they were living in some worry about that Herman guy walking in being weird. Tac walked outside, partially disturbed, put his hand on Herman, and told him, "what's up?" His face grew big, and he seemed delighted.

Tac asked him, "wanna drink a shot together?" Herman swiftly grabbed the Jack Daniels, and, like a toast to the end of the night, they took a shot together and all was well.

Tac went back inside and Herman nonchalantly waved at him, and the guy was very calm. Tac began to wonder to himself in his half drunken state, "Herman aint that bad. Then again, I don't really know the guy," Tac pressed onto himself. "Who's to judge, honestly? These are my boundaries, and it's up to me to set them. I am adult enough to know what is what."

The following day, Anderson started at Tac, "More crazy ideas of yours?"

Tac said, "No, because I don't have crazy ideas. In fact some modern psychology comes from the simple principle of not intersecting too many ideas together. Biology is biology. History is history. The psychologist says."

"Ok," Anderson commented.

"My paper is on why people feel like they are victimized these days," Tac explained to Anderson. "It's honestly for all types of reasons."

"Like what?" Anderson asked.

"Well, people are just being pointed at for all sorts of things: homosexuality, skin color, tallness, adhd, etc," Tac explained. "See, my solution is to help people realize that fear of the unknown is common, and they are being talked about or negated in a big way because they believe weird things, not because of those other qualities exactly."

"What weird things?" Anderson continued.

"Weird things like destroyer asteroids, natural resource depletion, and more. See, these are ideas that are common, and changes happen here. The only problem is, people don't get it. They think their ideas are original, when we all know that all ideas within months are acquired by someone else."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that many people follow a path of zombie like orientations about this sort of stuff and leave it there. These zombies become 'the other,'" Tac explained. "Which is ok, except that many of us need release from this sort of complex, or schema of life."

Anderson nodded again and replied, "So you're suggesting I should go watch Batman because that theater shooter thing is everyone's idea and that I should not perpetuate this reality by making people feel weird about it?"

"Exactly! Lets all go watch Batman!" Tac sounded off.

Tac stuffed his work in his backpack and parted with Anderson. He stopped in front of his professors door and knocked respectfully.

Professor Milton answered, "Hi," in a fresh and clear academic tone. "What can I do for you?" he asked.

Tac replied, "Well, I'm Tac. I'm in your psych 102 class, and my paper is due tomorrow, but would you mind looking it over, or atleast hearing my main premise?"

Mr Milton agreed, "Sure, come in."

Tac told Mr Milton his premise, but Mr Milton just smiled. He was impressed with Tac's motivation for learning and discovery.

Mr Milton explained, "Tac, just like in basic etiquette, there is a way for everything. If you wish to be an innovator, then great. But that is a hard road. There is another road people follow that might be called living formally or procedurally. People usually adapt to what is more normal and common. If they think different, then they think different, and so they are just being human; whatever. On the other hand, if those people applied everything they thought, they would lose adaptivity. You may be right, but adding up all that information seems a rocky road. And all this stuff is more common than you might think."

Tac listened carefully to Mr Milton and replied, "Thanks sir, I think I needed that. I get that just fine. I might want to stick around with humans for a little while longer, or atleast until they tick me off enough."

Mr Milton laughed and said, "I'll be looking forward to your paper!"

Tac left with a little hope left in him and went to the library to do some research. Tac thought hard about what his professor said and compiled information to balance the two opposing signals coming in. Adaption versus my idea, "I must be stupid!" Tac figured. "Maybe real change is harder than I thought," he pondered.

As Tac was walking on the sidewalk to his apartment, there was a short Philipino man running down the street. It shocked and scared him very much.

A young male, maybe thirteen or fourteen, was screaming down the block, "My wallet!"

Tac was just in awe. He could barely move, nor breath well. Tac got back in shape and shook off the fear, then went into fight mode. Tac immediately dashed toward the guy, and ran in parallel with him, blocking escape routes, while the scenario was developing. Two security guards stopped the guy a block in and wrestled him to the ground. Tac was sort of proud of himself, but he didn't really do that much. The cops came and Tac told what he did. The cop was confused, but subtly acknowledged Tac's little brush with heroism.

The cop said, "That tactic is cool, but be careful, as it is up to law enforcement to undertake tactical defense and force application."

Tac replied, "I know what you mean, but it's the first thing I could think to do."

Tac walked away feeling good about himself and thought of other things he could have done, as the cop said. He pictured himself running to the kid and comforting him. He also pictured that once the man passed, he would hide. But that definitely is not who Tac was. He pictured himself more of a hero type.

As Tac got home, he was still in some shock, but very happy that it was not exactly the worst day ever. Tac sat in his garage, opened his laptop and searched, "Why criminals do what they do." He found loads of information, but he was particularly attracted to the idea of 'cognitive dissonance.' This is what happens when there are two conflicting situations at hand; sort of like ambivalence; the idea of having conflicting opinions in a situation. Tac thought back to a time when he had this, and remembered when Jack and his family got a restraining order on his uncle Mitch. He was a habitual lying type. The guy also made all the kids believe he was the real deal but his dreams pushed him to lie about his wealth and education. This new knowledge made Jack and his family nuts, for they weren't exactly sure of the guy. This even made Jack's first cousin Chad nearly kill someone in a fight at one of Jack's parties. Chad's very own identity had a mystery man in it or something. Chad thought the guy was wrong, as the guy was displaying his disgust for old, wealthy white males. Chad stood up for his uncle Mitch, who was his and Jack's dad's brother. Chad hit him on the jaw so hard that the guy fell face first into the pavement, breaking teeth and bone. Tac eventually got upset at pondering this stuff and closed his laptop. He walked around to his front door, went in, and slept in his bed, thinking about all the bad things people do because of simple lies. It was another interesting day for grown up Tac.

Jerry, a college friend knocked on Tac's garage door the next day. There Tac was standing with no shirt, and dirty, tight, white sweat pants. Jerry asked, "What's up with all that?"

"Drilling."

"Drilling what?" Jerry responded smiling.

Tac went, "Well, drilling my new Ikea Craftstation," and smiled back.

"Awefully dirty for such a task, dontcha think?"

"Well, this is also California, and there just isn't enough man pride here in this arena. So, can I keep my balls please?"

"Sure, man. I just came over for help for next semester."

"Ok, what do ya need."

"Ok, so you know that class Social Systems and Communications with Lydia Grey? The prerequisite is a video recording of a particular social group in their social setting, depicting "social harmony." It's an Honors course this one."

Tac looked at Jerry, smirked and said, "And you need a real man right?" Tac added, "And you must also need a group of men doing man stuff? Am I right?"

Jerry just smiled and asked Tac, "Can you help me or not?"

Tac replied, "I know just the person, but I haven't spoken to her in awhile. Tac takes his smart phone out of his pocket and called his cousin Tysen."

Tysen answered.

"Hey, this is Jack!"

"Tysen said, "What's up homie! I miss your hot ass!"

Tac cracked with a loud laugh and corrected himself, "This is your cousin Tac!"

"What the hell Tac," she cried.

"I didn't know you two were still chatting?" Tac wondered.

"Yeah bro, Jack and I? We mad tight still. When he visited from Hawaii a few years back, we sort of rekindled our friendship. But I heard he married a Hawaiian chick! Epic huuuhh?"

"Crazy."

"Anyway. My friend is doing a project, and I know you miss me so much! So you up for a get together with the old crew? I'll call everyone I can."

Tysen blurted out, "Heck yeah man. I'm hella down!"

"Great! How about next month, during Summer?"

"Absolutely. Just call me and I'll come down. I really miss you guys!"

Tac hung up with Tysen, and with a straight face, told Jerry with an eyebrow up, "Tell me I'm the man."

"You're the man!" Jerry hailed to Tac.

The next day, Tac began calling the old crew. He started by calling Travis.

"Yo," Travis answered.

"Hey buddy, it's Tac. I was just wondering if you were up for a little reunion with the crew?"

"How do ya mean?" Travis asked.

"Well, it's a long story, but aside from a project being involved, Tysen and I are super down. I was wondering if you have Devnel and Camron's contact?"

"I do not. Just Jack's. But if you're really down, I could message them on facebook. I have them as friends."

Tac sighed, "Yeah facebook. I have Devnel on there, but he's never on. It's more like a Lakers support page."

Travis interjected, "Ok, well I'll try and get back to you tonight."

Fourty minutes later, Tac's phone was seemingly hit with malware, or even worse, online friends. Tac peeked at the facebook message and Travis started an online group chat.

Tac jumped in and said, "What the hell is up everyone?" Travis, Jack, Devnel, Camron, Trent, and Tysen, were all present. Tysen messaged, "Anything for my sweet cuz!" with a heart emoticon.

Devnel jumped in, "Dank, I'm there. Fo' them titty ho's."

Trent responded, "As long as there's no beer. Because Devnel's gonna hit me."

Devnel replied, "Don't worry bruddah. I eat and poop just like you do."

The board went silent for about an hour. Jack then hit everyone with a live video session.

Tysen messaged, "What, dude! Do I look like a slut to you?" Tysen joked.

Devnel jumped in looking tired and fat. Devnel sang into the camera, "To the window, to the wall!"

Jack jumped in, "And out my butthole!" Jack spoke into his camera to Devnel and shouted, "Great to see ya!"

"Yeah, man!" Devnel replied. "I heard you're living it up out there and you're locked up with a Hawaiian feline!"

"Yes, indeed, it's great here. It's all gravy, and banana Jack's thinking about starting his own family clan, too."

Tysen popped up on screen looking very pretty.

Devnel yelled in childish anger, "Who said Jessica Alba could bust in on me when I be lookin' all wack?"

Everyone was live and Tac explained. "So my friend Jerry is doing a project and I thought it would be fun to get together with the old crew. I miss all of you and it would make my year if this went down."

"Just tell us when man," Devnel expressed to Tac.

"Well, if you all agree, maybe during Summer, which is next month. And seriously, where else would I ask to go then the wharf!"

Tysen responded on camera, "Ahem, boring."

Devnel attacked, "I thought you was about to say the cove, and now my excitement is plain gone… The pier? Might as well send me to some random ass beach park to just walk through."

Everyone lol'd.

Tac stopped in his tracks, "Well, I haven't put all the thought in the world into it, but honestly, I think that would be cool."

Jack ended the group chat after everyone agreed to go. "I'll send a digital postcard," Jack typed before ending the session.

Everyone lol'd again.