Prologue

Michael slumped back in his seat with a sigh. He’d been at the library all afternoon. What sort of professor assigns a paper the first week back? Senior year of Westbridge University was supposed to be challenging, but not THIS challenging.

Taking a short break, he checked his mailbox and saw a message from a certain pain in the ass.

>Carly Davis

To: Michael

Hey Mike! I’m putting the last touches on our poster for club day next week, and I wanted to get your thoughts!

[1 Attachment]

Michael was a lot busier than his fellow co-president this semester, so he’d left the recruitment drive to her. He clicked on the attachment to see what she’d come up with. Immediately his screen filled with colorful pictures of foam swords and spears and shields pasted along the edges of the poster. In the center was a statement that read:

Join the Westbridge University Boffer Club!

Fridays from 6 PM to 9 PM on the Soccer Field!

Bring Your Friends! Bring Your Enemies!

You’ll have FUN!

It wasn’t the worst advertisement he’d ever seen.

>Michael Hirata

To: Carly

Art looks good. But you aren’t really explaining what a “Boffer Club” IS. I don’t think many people will come from just this poster.

With that settled, he went back to work on his essay while waiting for Carly to update the poster. About a half-hour later she replied back.

>Carly Davis

To: Michael

Whoops! Good thinking! What do you think now?

[1 Attachment]

Join the Westbridge University Boffer Club!

Fridays from 6 PM to 9 PM on the Soccer Field!

Bring Ruin to Friend and Foe Alike with Our Arms of Foam and Seize Glory for Your Family Name!

Michael groaned so loudly the librarian shot him a look.

>Michael Hirata

To: Carly

Like 60% less drama please this isn’t Clash of Champions.

Her response was immediate.

>Carly Davis

To: Michael

Don’t censor my artistic expression.

>Michael Hirata

To: Carly

Please, the freshmen are going to think we’re a bunch of nerds.

>Carly Davis

To: Michael

We are nerds.

Michael was just about ready to forego the email chain entirely and just call her when she sent a second reply.

>Carly Davis

To: Michael

Fine. Philistine.

He sighed in relief. His co-president may have been as overdramatic as any other theater major, but at least she was able to see reason.

She sent him the new poster another half-hour later.

>Carly Davis

To: Michael

How’s this?

[1 Attachment]

Join the Westbridge University Boffer Club!

Have Fun Fighting with Foam Swords and Friends Every Friday from 6 PM to 9 PM on the Soccer Field!

Michael smiled, it was short and to the point, with barely any of Carly’s trademark flourishings.

>Michael Hirata

To: Carly

Looks great. But we should probably mention that it’s SAFE, too, don’t want to scare anybody off.

They might find hitting people with foam weapons to be a blast, but a new student might be worried about getting hurt. Carly seemed to agree because a little later she sent another edited copy.

>Carly Davis

To: Michael

Good thinking. There, perfectly safe!

[1 Attachment]

Join the Westbridge University Boffer Club!

Have Fun Fighting with Foam Swords and Friends Every Friday from 6 PM to 9 PM on the Soccer Field!

…And You Definitely Won’t Get Murdered!

Michael rubbed his temples. She was intentionally provoking him at this point. He didn’t even respond.