'Bred Crumbs

Commando Radio

We were up, but the alarm was still in snooze mode. The radio sprang to life, the announcer wrapping up the latest stab at weather forecasting. Then she said, "Another of Iraq's most wanted is captured. I'll have more after this."

As the commercial began to drone, Robbie started chuckling.

"What?"

"The way she said that." He quoted her, adding key emphasis. I caught on and joined the laughter.

The image stuck with me all the way to work: the woman busts open the sound-booth door, a couple of bound Iraqi fugitives slung over her shoulders. She sloughs them off; they hit the floor with a defeated thud.

"How much time?" she asks, only slightly breathless.

The engineer idly checks the clock. "Five seconds to spare."

"Damn," the announcer says as she settles in front of the mic to resume the update. "I could've bagged one more."

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