A short story by Alex Focas

Jack Taylor was not an educated man, nor was he a sporty or a creative man. So it was lucky that Jack’s profession did not require any of those skills. However it did require practised technique such as the ability to oscillate an axe, administer a kill and make the crowd cheer as you did it.
Jack stood on the stage, unflinching in the morning cold. He ran his dirty hand through his greasy hair as his crowd cheered. The new client began ascending the stage stairs and as soon as his next job was in view Jack’s crowd erupted with mixed vehemence. He did not look at his client because he was busy staring into nothingness. He could hear the footsteps. After a while of confusion the footsteps concluded and his associate’s voice began booming across the crowd.
“Today we are here to witness the death of..” Jack grew tired of his associate’s monologue incredibly quickly and his thoughts turned to more pressing matters. His shoes were growing old yet he had too little money to replace them.
“Perhaps I can borrow a pair from my brother,” he pondered. “Or maybe I should begin saving up now.” He had recently seen a pair of very nice shoes in a shop along his street. Jack wasn’t a man for shoes but there was something about this pair that sparked a flame inside him. He imagined himself wearing the shoes in public and how highly people would think of him. Suddenly he noticed that his throat was itching and he had no way of satisfying the scratch. Again he pondered this predicament.
Jack then noticed that his associate’s voice had silenced along with his crowd, now all eyes were on him. It was Jack’s time to be in the spotlight. He cracked both hands and spat on the stage as this was his habit. Slowly he picked up the axe and as he did so the crowd grew in sound and anticipation. He walked over to his client purposely slow. He stared at the presented neck not with anger or hate, compassion or love but with an expression of opportunity. He lifted his axe with both hands. He hovered it over his client’s bare neck. He lifted it above his head. He held it there for a moment as was customary for most executioners. His crowd roared with approval. He let them savour the moment. Jack then proceeded to thrust the axe downwards and with very little skill yet flawless technique, Jack’s and his client’s day was done.