“Proud of you, son.” He leans down and kisses the crown of my head, before rubbing his knuckles against the same spot and mussing up the dark locks. “We’ll have to get you a haircut before you go.”
8
JERICHO
VOICEMAIL LEFT TODAY AT 6:17 AM
Hey, it’s me. Again. *Awkward chuckle.*
It’s hot here today. Hotter than it ever was back home. I swear, it’s like they actually took us off earth and put us in a furnace for some sort of physical test to see if humans would survive it. My chest hurts from breathing in all the hot air, and the dust is even worse. You wouldn’t survive, your allergies would be going haywire.
We’re supposed to be leaving soon, they’re shipping us somewhere else. I’m not sure where, but even if I did know, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. Which kinda sucks, even if you don’t return my calls, I still wish I was afforded the freedom to tell you everything.
The beginning of my day to the end of it is all scheduled out. It’s nice, not having to make any decisions and just being able to follow my commanding officer. It takes a lot of stress off my plate.
How’s everything for you? I talked to my mom yesterday, and she told me she’s planning a trip right now for both of our families. It sounds nice. I can’t wait for her to send pictures of what you guys do.
Are you still dancing? I asked my mom since I couldn’t get the answer from you and she bypassed the question and started telling me about the wedding plans for you and Josh. I hope you’re happywith them! It sounds like you’re getting everything you wanted. I wish I was there to be able to experience it with you.
I can’t believe I haven’t heard your voice in two years. My mom says you’re getting my voicemails because you slipped up and made a comment about something I mentioned. That’s okay, I know why you don’t want to talk to me, and I still can’t blame you.
I still love you though. You were a crucial part of my life for almost six years, and that kind of friendship we have can’t easily be replaced.
I miss you.
Happy birthday, Raiden.
9
JERICHO
“Move your ass Coco. If we’re late, we’re never going to hear the end of it,” my partner says, slapping me hard on the back as he walks around our truck. We’re on patrol today, but it's also Super Bowl Sunday. Somehow my dumbass partner and his friends convinced the upper command to let us enjoy it. I still don’t know how they did it, and Kevin won’t say, but the sly look in his eyes tells me maybe I don’t want to know the gritty details.
“I’m coming, just give me a minute.” I carefully loop one shoelace through the other, pulling extra tight and securing it the way we were taught in basics. Even for a routine patrol, I don’t want to be caught slacking on anything. One mess up can make the difference between me living to see the sun tomorrow or the pearly gates. I’d rather not take my chances.
Connor impatiently taps his heel, acting like the annoying child that he is. His bright red hair is a shock of its own, but when the sunlight hits it, it resembles flames coming off his head. Connor’s attitude is what got him so far, the sassy man who always has a comeback for any comment and everyone flocks to him just to see what remark he’ll come up with. Heloves being my partner, mostly because I’m content to listen to him talk. And talk he does, about sports, his hometown, a bit of gossip he saw in a magazine before he deployed. If there’s a conversation worth having, he’s having it.
I stand up and dust off my pants, dramatically taking my time to hear Connor huff.
The guys are talking loudly, throwing around a football in preparation for the big game today. They all think they could have gone pro, but they have a plethora of excuses why they didn’t.
“Coco, hurry back. We’re scrimmaging before the game starts and I want you on my team,” Hollis yells at me, throwing the ball my way and I watch as it hits me square in the chest and I catch it before it hits the ground. The rough leather in my hands takes me to worlds away, moments in time when I thought I was invincible. That nothing would hurt me and I would always come out on top. Life after graduation has taught me that’s not always the case, no matter how good my intentions are I can still fall and fail. I can hurt others around me even when all I want to do is take care of the ones that I love.
“Hell no, you got him last time we scrimmaged. He’s on my team this time,” Connor retorts, grabbing the ball from my hands and running across the dirt to slink past Hollis and run into the marked off section they have dedicated to the endzone.
“All of you, quit fucking around.” My spine straightens as our commanding officer comes out of his tent, arms crossed as he glares at us through his aviator sunglasses. “Who’s on route today?”
I speak up, clear and concise, the way we were taught in boot camp. “Me, sir.”
Connor pipes up to, straightening up and dropping the football to the ground at his feet. “Me, sir.”
“Then get your asses out of here.” He barks and we turnand jog to the station, bypassing Hollis and the rest of our chuckling teammates.
When we’re locked and loaded in the van, me driving and Connor running navigation, he does his best to keep the conversation centered around the football game today.
“Oh my god, Coco, the commercials? Please tell me you watch the commercials. They’re the best part every year. So funny– I think one year my Nan exploded Sprite out of her nose, she was so pissed when we all started laughing, she threatened to write us out of her will.” He sighs dreamily, staring out the window and watching the dirt as we drive.
“The dog one was sad though.” I offer, remembering the sad dog as it stared at the camera. I had to hold Raiden after that, his back pressed against my chest as he cried quietly and begged his parents to take him to the shelter to help a dog in need. And then he cried harder when they told him no.
