From Maine To The Pentagon - 3. Going Home

Thursday - Christmas Eve

Six o’clock is way too early to be hitting the road. But, whatever. I’d never flown before, so after we checked out of the hotel, we walked to her car, a black Chevy Yukon. I wondered if it was an army car or a rental. I didn’t ask right away because I couldn’t help but try and take everything in.

“Stop gawking; you look like a tourist.”

“Sorry, it’s my first time in an airport.”

“OK. Just don’t make it look as obvious. Although, I wouldn’t mind kicking some jerk’s butt for trying to rob you. No offense, but Dusty doesn’t look too intimidating.”

“He’s a sweetheart. All he’d do was try to lick the attacker to death.”

“We won’t be bothered. People tend to let folks in uniform get away with almost anything.”

“I gotta remember that. Don’t support animals usually have their own uniform?”

“They do. One reason we couldn’t fly back. I couldn’t even say it’s early in his training, and he’s not eligible to wear one yet.”

“I guess you’ve thought of everything.”

“Maybe not everything, but I try to cover every question that might come up in a mission.”

“I’m a mission?”

“Sorry. Force of habit.”

“No problem. Actually, that’s pretty cool, being the subject of a mission.”

We got out of the airport without question and were soon on 95 traveling south. Just under an hour later, we crossed into New Hampshire.

“This is only the second time I’ve ever been out of Maine. Da— Bernie took us skiing in Vermont last year over the Christmas holiday.”

“You like to ski?”

“It was okay. I fell down a lot.”

“Well, there aren’t any ski resorts near DC. Central Virginia has some though.”

“I wouldn’t have a problem missing out on more falls down a mountain.”

She laughed at my little joke. We rode quietly for a while, me watching the world go by out the window. We were going through a long stretch of woods, so I decided to ask the question I wondered earlier.

“Is this a rental, or an army SUV?”

“Army National Guard, actually. Major Greiss requisitioned it from the readiness center in Brunswick. It’ll get back to them in a week or so.”

“Cool. I know where that is.”

The rest of the trip alternated from chit chat to silence. We stopped at a fast-food place in a rest area for lunch. As we passed through Washington DC, Lieutenant Collins told me we’d be heading straight to the Major’s house. As we pulled into the driveway, I had a minor panic attack.

“What am I going to do if the Major either isn’t my real father, or he rejects me too?”

“I think you’ll lose most of that doubt after you meet him. Even if he isn’t your real dad, which, in my opinion is a long shot, he’d make sure you were taken care of.”

“You really believe he is?”

“That picture you sent? You look just like he did when he was your age. I’d be shocked if he isn’t.”

“Has he seen that picture?”

“Yes. I’ve kept him completely informed since you first contacted me.”

“That makes me feel a lot better.”

“Shall we go inside?”

“Roger that, lieutenant.”

She chuckled.

The door opened as we stepped onto the porch. A very tall, muscular man opened the door.

“Hello Lieutenant. Welcome to Virginia, Kurtis. And hello to you too, Dusty. Come on in.”

“Hello and thank you, sir.”

He took our coats and hung them in a closet, pointing to the floor next to the closet, he instructed, “Just leave your bags there, Kurtis. We’ll get them settled later. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. I was expecting you to hit more traffic in DC.”

The lieutenant answered, “Yes, sir. We got lucky and the bridge was down.”

“Thank you, Cyn, but we can be less formal for Kurtis.”

“Sounds good, Tony.”

“What about me? Should I still call you Major, or Mr. Greiss?”

“Hmmm. Tony may soon be inappropriate, and it may be premature to call me dad. I suppose Major will do for now. It’s the most common thing I respond to.”

“Okay. Can I ask what’s for dinner?”

“Hungry?”

“I’m a teenage boy, what do you think?”

The Major laughed, “Good point. Duck à l’orange.”

“Really? I’ve never had duck before.”

I could see the lieutenant trying to hide a smile, so I suspected I was being punked, “But I think I’m allergic to it.” I said, trying to hide my own smile.

“I think he’s on to us Cyn. No, the store was out of orange gastrique. It’s chicken parmigiana and spaghetti.”

“I’m allergic to tomato sauce, too.” I tried not to laugh but failed. We walked into the kitchen and the Major started putting dishes on the table.

“I think he’s going to be a handful for you, Tony.”

“I’m up for any challenge. Hey, I can put up with Colonel Mustard, can’t I?”

Bug-eyed, I asked, “Colonel Mustard?”

This time the lieutenant couldn’t hold back her laugh, but through it she responded, “It’s really Colonel Gulden.”

I nodded, “Good thing his name isn’t Grey Poupon.”

The Major just shook his head, “I think it’s time to serve dinner. Maybe the kid will eat so fast he can’t come up with any more humorous remarks.”

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. Life’s too short to not joke around. I like that after what you’ve been through you’re not all bummed out.”

“Well, I can’t change things, so I can’t let it bother me too much.”

“Well, I hope you’ll think things are better than your past few days quickly. Dinner is served. There’s plenty more if you want it, Kurtis. I should ask, is Kurt okay, or do you prefer Kurtis?”

“Either is fine, thanks.”

With that, we all started eating. I didn’t realize how hungry I was; I had a second helping of both the chicken and spaghetti. The lieutenant and I helped clean up after dinner.

“Coffee, anyone?”

The lieutenant declined, I did as well, “I don’t really like the taste.”

“We’ll have to make a list of what you do and don’t like later.”

“Cool.”

“Well, I think I’m going to head home and let you boys start getting to know each other better. It’s been a long two days.”

“Thank you for going to pick up Kurtis, Cyn. I’m sure the effort is appreciated by both of us.”

I agreed, “It is. Thank you.”

“You’re both welcome. Goodnight and I’ll see you both again tomorrow. Five o’clock, Tony?”

“Five o’clock.”

As she closed the front door, the Major suggested, “It’s pleasant out, if you have a lighter jacket, we can sit out back for a while, let Dusty get familiar with the back yard.”

“I have a hoodie too. But won’t he run away?”

“No, the back yards in this neighborhood are all fenced in.”

I pulled my hoodie out of my duffel bag and followed the Major out back. As he got to the door, he flicked two switches. He had a good-sized patio with a table and six chairs. Two lights brightened the patio and there was also a post light in the middle of the yard that took away shadows from nearly the whole yard. Only the two far corners were still a bit dim. With Dusty being tan, brown and white, he’ll still be visible.

“What’s at five o’clock?”

“I invited my senior staff to Christmas dinner. They’re all from somewhere else and don’t have any family close by. Plus, they’re almost like family to me.”

“That’s pretty nice.”

“Thanks. I was thinking we’d get talking about the elephant in the room out of the way early.”

“The elephant?”

“Potentially the toughest discussion.”

“Oh, you mean my secret.”

“If you want to put it that way. Lieutenant Collins, told me you, ‘prefer guys.’ Is that true?”

“Yes, I’m gay. My da— Bernie discovered a graphic novel I’ve been working on. There was no other way to justify it than to tell him I was gay.”

“And that’s why he ‘evicted’ you?”

“Yes, but not until after he threw a few hateful slurs at me.”

“Not good. I’d like to see your drawings at some point. Not because of the context, but to see the quality of your drawings.”

“I guess. What Bernie tore up had copies scanned to my laptop. I will warn you, they’re quite, um, graphic.”

“The true sense of a graphic novel.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

We sat quietly for a while, until it started getting chillier, so we headed inside, where he showed me the two spare bedrooms. To say they were sparse as well was an understatement. The first one had two single beds, two desks, and a small dresser.

“This one, lieutenants Collins and Temple sleep in when I have planning meetings that need to last late into the night.”

We moved on to the second, which was pretty much a duplicate of the other.

“Captain Perez and Sergeant Washington stay in this one.”

“Will I get the couch when they’re here?”

“No, that’ll be Sergeant Washington’s.”

We started toward the front door so I could bring my things to my new room.

“How many people are on your team?”

“The four I mentioned and eight privates.”

“You skipped corporals.”

“One of the privates will be up for promotion after the first of the year.”

“Which one?”

“Private Bailey.”

"Like the comic strip?”

“Yes, but don’t call him Beetle, it pisses him off royally.”

“I’ll probably never meet him, anyway.”

“Oh, you’ll get to meet them all soon; and Colonel Gulden.”

“Where?”

“At the Pentagon, of course.”

Next up - "The Major's Perspective”