This post is written for Friday Fictioneers.
Growing up he had wanted to play in all sports. Dr. Rulney didn’t like the “lub-DUPP” sound he heard when he put his stethoscope to his chest.
He used to practice basketball free throws in his back yard. Sometimes he could make ninety five out of a hundred. He just knew he could have made the high school basketball team.
Later on in life he would learn these murmurs are common in healthy children. Many children will have heart murmurs heard by their doctors at some point in their lives.
This diagnoses did have one benefit: he would never see Saigon.
Oh Danny Boy! 
I’ll bet his mom was happy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the best presents I ever gave her was the call that said I was coming home after the Army rejected me.
DJ
LikeLiked by 1 person
some nice turn in the end
http://obliqview.blogspot.in/2016/05/waitingroom-prompt-j-hardycarroll-there.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heart murmurs are way more comment than they could have imagined back then. Which is a good thing for your hero, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
And for me!
DJ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh….I remember the lines and lines of young men, appearing with back braces and body art and self-induced high blood pressure trying to avoid the Vietnam war. We lost too many.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. The benches reminded me of where I took a physical for the Army standing buck naked with my clothing in a plastic bag waiting for that doctor that said I was unfit for duty. Took a bus back home and surprised my mom.
Thanks for commenting.
DJ
LikeLiked by 1 person
My mum used to say, you never know what it’s good for. Lovely story of a lucky young man even though his dreams of being a basketball star were shattered.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool story, neat turn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You win some, you lose some…nicely done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
great punch.. see Saigon could have been the end or worse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Danny,
Well, there is that. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good comes out of bad! Niceee!
Btw, love your view – my favorite, books in bookcases!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good comes out of bad! Niceee!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story. Regret, dissapointment, fate, salvation. All the ingredients of an everyday ‘ordinary’ life are captured brilliantly here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting story.
LikeLiked by 1 person