Well let me show you something

Now it was my turn for my jaw to hit the floor. My father very rarely spoke of his service in Korea and never talked about his wounds. I was always curious about the strangely shaped scars on his back but had the good sense not to ask about them, not that it would have mattered anyway. He would have only told me to pray I never had to go to war and let it go at that. So this information, while unforeseen and revelatory, wasn’t out of character for my father. I made a mental note to ask Bud for further details after the meeting, which he obliged. Bud continued. When I was hit in the leg Bill Callaway ran through fifty yards of hostile fire and took two rounds in the back before pickin’ me up and haulin’ me to safety. By the time a medic got to us he was worse off than I was, spittin’ up blood like they weren’t makin’ it anymore, eyes rolled so far back in his head all I could see was white; I knew for sure he was already dead. I passed out and woke up in a MASH unit, minus one leg. The docs told me Bill almost died right there on the table but had somehow pulled through, said by all rights he should have died on the table. Bud grinned affectionately. Bill was one tough SOB. Anyway, we both pulled through and were set to head state-side when Bill asked me to keep what happened just between us. I told him he was crazy; what he’d done had Medal of Honor written all over it. And then he told me something I’ve never forgotten. He told me he’d only done what he knew I would’ve done for him. Simple as that, no more, no less, and to receive a medal for saving a friend’s life would have somehow cheapened what happened. Said it wasn’t necessary and for me to keep my big mouth shut, which I did – until now. Another tissue appeared and Bud whirled his chair around from us and honked loudly before facing us again. I’d never seen look what i found Bud so angry. His face was flushed and I was fairly certain it wasn’t from blowing his nose. He pointed a trembling finger in Davies’ direction. And now you boys come in here and think you can insult the memory of the man who saved my life with this? He picked up the settlement offer and flung it across the desk, hitting a surprised Davies in the chest with a thud, before falling to the floor. Over my one-legged, dead body. My mouth dropped open as I watched the unfolding events. I never dreamed the legal profession was so contentious. Bud went on in full rant. I thought Bayliss Poultry would treat this as a serious matter, he spat. Evidently I was mistaken.