“Thank you.”
We exchanged few words until it was time to get started, and then Heath walked onto the stage with me waiting in the side wings. “Welcome everyone to this week’s assembly,” Heath said, and he was welcomed with enthusiastic cheers. Something told me that was more because they liked him or because they didn’t have class for an hour rather than because they were truly looking forward to my talk. “Today, we have a special guest, who’s a friend of mine.”
My breath caught. A friend? Heath considered me a friend? When had that happened? Or maybe he’d just used that expression to not make it awkward since we did know each other?
“…Sergeant First Class Middleton.”
Oh, fuck. I’d missed my intro. I hurried onto the stage, barely avoiding tripping over a cable. Great start.
I lowered myself in the chair, more carefully now, and checked with the sound guy my mic had been turned on. He gave a thumbs-up. “Thank you, Heath. Mr. Moyer, I mean.”
Fuck, I needed to get my shit together. I took a deep breath. “I was asked to talk a little about my time in the Army. You may think it’s a bit of a weird choice to ask a guy who lost his leg to do a promotional talk about the Army…” I tapped my stump. “And you’d be right.”
That got me a round of laughter. Phew.
“It may not be the best PR for the Army, but it is a real insight into the risks involved with this job. I know some of you may see the military as a short-term step toward an education or maybe to get some necessary work experience or work on your discipline. I get that, and it’s not wrong in itself. I joined the Army because I knew I needed to get my act together and learn some discipline, or I’d end up in prison like my father.”
The auditorium grew silent, and every face in the crowd was focused on me. Funny how I hated talking about my personal stuff with my friends, even Nash, but I had no issue doing it in front of these students.
“So it’s not wrong to enlist for any of those reasons. But youaresigning up for active duty, and that comes with dangers that are very real. Sooner or later, you will deploy, and you will have to face circumstances that put your life and that of those you serve with at risk. I served for sixteen years and went through three deployments overseas, two of them in combat areas. It was hard. Really, really hard.”
Oh, the stories I could tell them about what I’d seen, what I’d done and experienced. I had to show some of it, if only because I wanted to be truthful, but most of it would go to my grave with me.
“I only got through it because of my unit, the people I served with. And even then, it left its marks on me, physically and psychologically.”
For some reason, I looked sideways at Heath, who’d sat in the front row all the way to the right, and met his eyes. He looked…impressed? Nah, I had to be misinterpreting that.
I refocused. “Being in the Army, or any branch of the military, is not for the faint of heart. It will challenge you, stretch you, and demand your very best. You’ll learn skills and values that will stay with you for the rest of your life, but you’ll also experience trauma and hardships.”
Carol had asked me to talk for about fifteen minutes, which I did, sharing about basic training and my various roles in the Army, as well as what I felt I had learned from it.
“Before I open the floor for questions, there’s one more thing I want to say. Yes, I lost my leg while on active duty in the Army. And yes…” My voice broke, and I took a steadying breath. Hell to the fucking no was I breaking down in front of eight hundred teenagers. “…this is the end of my role as an ammunition specialist and platoon leader. With the kind of injury I have, you can’t serve in combat roles. So the question is, was it worth it? If I knew I’d end up injured like this, would I do it again?” I looked around the auditorium, grateful to see everyone engaged. “The answer is yes, I would. What happened to me was horrible, and it shouldn’t have been, but I wouldn’t trade the sixteen years before that for the world. I wouldn’t be who I am today without that, and while I consider myself a work in progress with a lot of growing to do, I’m forever changed because of enlisting. For that, I will always be grateful.”
Shit. That had gotten a lot deeper and more emotional than I had planned. “Anyway, who has a question?”
Dozens of hands shot up, and I chose one at random. “You with the yellow shirt.”
“How did you lose your leg?”
I’d known that question would come up, and I was willing to answer it but within limits, and I flat-out refused to let any doubts linger about the responsibility. “Someone didn’t properly check a weapon, and it went off, causing an explosion that left me and a few others in my unit wounded as a result.”
“Jesus, that sucks,” the student said, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at that succinct reaction.
“That about sums it up, yes.” I pointed at another student. “Blue shirt. What’s your question?”
“Are you gonna get a titanium leg like Mr. Moyer? We call his Mr. Roboto.”
I grinned. “I already have one, though not one with as cool a name. But I’m still getting used to it, and Mr. Moyer didn’t think it a good idea to wear it today. I think he was a little worried I’d faceplant in front of all of you.” I leaned forward and added in a conspiratorial whisper, “Like he has several times. I’ve seen it myself.”
That got me another round of laughter. Heath half turned and called out, “Lies! All lies.”
More laughter, followed by more questions. Before I knew it, my time was up, and Heath officially thanked me for my talk. The students gave me an enthusiastic round of applause, which, not gonna lie, felt really good. Carol and a few other teachers came up to me to thank me, and then the auditorium emptied, and it was just Heath and me.
He crossed his arms. “What the ever-loving fuck did I just witness?”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
HEATH
