The Soldier Next Door

We have not even been back home for a day and things are already running a riot. Ana is pregnant, and I am going to become a father. That is wonderful news for all around, but we had to make the decision as to where Ana is going to stay. I am deploying in a little less than a week again, and I need to know that wherever she is going to be, she will be safe. So we have decided that she shall stay in Pendleton and we will raise our child there. We are making the decision on what is best for the baby. Yes, I know that my family, most of all my mom, is going to be disappointed.

“I think everyone needs to go sit down for this one,” I playfully laugh to ease the seriousness of the situation.

“Son, she is already pregnant; what else have you done?” My father asks, “With him, anything is possible.” Matt adds.

“Matty, you better run.”

“What are you going to do, soldier boy?”

I catch up to Matty that is walking ahead of my mom, and give him one slap against the head, “Aaahhh, what the fuck?”

“That is for being a wiseass.”

“I will try to remember that when dad smacks you after the next bomb, you are about to drop.”

“I don’t think you want to sit close to me then.”

“It is a game-changer.”

But just then, my phone rings. It is Ray; he is probably checking up on how the bus trip went.

“If you guys can excuse me, I need to take this.”

Ana comes walking up to me, “Is everything okay, soldier?”

“Yes, boo, it is Ray. Let me quickly tell him what is going on. Go inside so long; I will be there just now.”

I move off to the side to a quiet spot in the garden while everyone else goes inside. Once I am sure no one is nearby, I press to answer, “Hey Ray.”

“Hey, Ethan. How was the trip?”

“About that.”

“Shit, don’t tell me that you are not deploying anymore?”

“Of course I am; there is just one slight problem.”

“What is the matter? Is it something I can help with?”

“Oh, I don’t think you can help with this one, Ray. You see, Ana is pregnant.”

“Well done, soldier! Glad to see you not shooting blanks there. But you know she can’t deploy?”

“Yes, and we are fine with that. She feels that she rather wants to raise the baby at Pendleton than in this little town.”

“That is wonderful, Ethan. You have a couple of days to spare, so don’t rush to get back here.”

“Perfect, see you, Ray.”

I drop the call and take a few moments to gather myself. Now to break this to my family, it was easy to tell Ray, but my mother, well, that ain’t going to be easy at all.

As I make my way into the house, they are all eagerly waiting for me. I have five pairs of eyes digging holes in my head full of curiosity about what I am about to say. Something gives me the idea that my mom is going to require some tissues, which I see Ana already has a few stacked on her knees.

I take my seat next to Ana, which is so conveniently between my mom and dad. Why could she not have gone and sat close to Matt?

I have no idea on how to start this conversation. It takes a while before anyone speaks, but it seems my mom is the first to go, “So what is going on, Ethan? I mean, this has already been such an exciting morning. Are you guys talking about getting married?”

“Whoa, mom, now you sound like Maggie. For all, I know Maggie is already knitting booties.”

“It would not surprise me either, son,” my father says as he calmly sits back in his chair. “Robertson has never been known to keep a secret for too long.”

“Nobody in this town knows how to keep secrets; in fact, nobody in this town knows how to mind their own business.”

“Did something happen, Ethan?” My mom asks while shifting in her chair for what seems the tenth time now. “Did someone do something wrong?”

“No, mom, I am just saying in general. That, and the fact that there is no real future here, is why I originally left this town.”

“That is a true son,” my father shockingly agrees to my words. “There is no real future for you if you got big plans. For someone like your brother, that is fine for him.”

“Geez, thanks, dad,” Matt spins in his chair at my dad’s comment. “Well,” he adds, “I still ain’t becoming a doctor.”

“Well, maybe my grandson will become one then.”

“The boy will become whatever he wants too,” is my words to both of them, but well, I truly do not exactly mean it that way for, “I am hoping it will be a Marine.”

Ana gives me a dead evil stare, “I am glad how you all think it is a boy.”

“We are just hoping, boo, but there is nothing with a girl becoming a Marine too.”

“Ugh, I see you are going to be a problem. Just don’t dress my child in a Marine uniform.”

“Hahaha. Now that is an idea. Some cute little blues for him.”

“Soldier just stick to your story.”

“Fine, boo.” I turn my attention back to my mom. “What I was trying to say is that there is no real future and even a proper education for a child in this town.”

“So what does that mean?” My mom asks, but I think she has by now have got some idea.

“Mom,” I slowly rise from my seat to go to my mom. I take her hands between mine and gently squeeze them. Deep down behind her blue eyes, I can see the pain building. I think she knows what I am about to say, and I even wonder if I should say it. For if I do, then it is real, and that means the hurt becomes real too.

“Mom, dad. Ana and I have decided to raise the baby at Camp Pendleton.”

The room falls dead quiet; I do not even think anyone is breathing a single breath. All I can hear is my heart pounding in my ribcage. I am waiting for someone to shout or even a single cry from my mom. But nothing. And it remains nothing for a while until my father finally speaks

“I think that is excellent news.”

“You do?” I fling my head into my father’s direction so fast that it nearly snaps of my neck.

“Yes. We can continue to build generation after generation of Marines.”

“Sorry for the disrespect, but you must be shitting me.”

My mom turns to my father in disbelief, “But I thought you preferred Ethan to be home?”

“I was polite, Mary.”

Matt’s laughter comes rumbling deep from his belly as he turns to my father, “Polite? Damn, and I believed you! You are learning well, old man.”

“I am not polite enough to smack you,” he says as he starts edging closer.

My mom’s hands are now trembling; I feel them shake as I try to hold onto her before she breaks. I can see the tears pool from deep within her eyes. They are near threatening to burst and rush like waterfalls down her cheeks. Her voice comes as nothing but a fumble as she tries to speak from underneath the pain that is ripping her apart.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“But now for real? Are you guys leaving? When will I see the baby?”

“Mom, you can come as often as you can. I just don’t want Ana making the trip if I am not with her.”

“I am so sorry, Mary,” Ana move closer to comfort my mom by softly resting her hand on her arm, “But I am only thinking of what is best for the baby.”

Then it happens what Ana and I feared the most, my mom’s cries start echoing the room. At first, those are soft sobs, but then they become nothing but crying howls. Every single agonizing sound breaks my heart. I saw my mom cry like this the day I first left, and she now cries like that once again.

“Mom, I am so sorry.”

She jumps off her seat and storms out of the room. Only a few moments later, we hear the door slam shut in her room. We are all rather shocked even though it was what be expected to happen all along. We can, from this distance, hear things being slammed shut and thrown, and we all know that at this time, it is best to leave my mother alone.

Then my father, who very much is finding my mom’s tantrum amusing, looks at me and takes a few seconds when his face finally lights up again, “Son, I have an idea.”