Page 64 of Home of the Brave

“Yeah, I wanted to change into normal clothes and see if I could take in some of the festival without getting hounded.”

“You do realize you look like that,” Cambrie waved her flag up and down.

“Like what?” He looked down at his white shirt and navy shorts.

“It’s not your clothes; it’s you.”

His brows furrowed. "What does that mean?”

“You’re like six-ten and built like one of those tanks.” Her flag now pointed behind us, where there was a display of military vehicles.

“I’m six-four.”

“Exactly. You stick out a bit.” She glanced around, then held up her flag, “Hold on.”

She ran off, and I shook my head. “She’s had too much sugar today.”

He laughed, “I can tell.”

I lost sight of her in the crowd and turned to face him.

“I like your face.” He pointed to his own cheeks.

“Oh, thanks,” I blushed, feeling a bit childish for letting Cambrie talk me into that.

“And the stars are cute.” His eyes locked onto the bobbing lights attached to my headband. “Looks like you two have had fun.”

“I was planning on lying in bed all day, but she banged down my door and begged me to come with her.”

“You didn’t have to cover anything?"

“No, since it was all nationally televised, it was supposed to be our day off.”

“And you didn’t want to go to the parade?”

“It was more like I didn’t want to move, or endure the heat and humidity.”

He smiled. “Fair enough.”

I felt like the Grinch of the Fourth now. “But the parade was fun. You guys got the crowd pumped.”

“I haven’t been in a parade since the Stanley Cup. I forgot how much adrenaline you get from all that cheering.

“More than a game?”

He shrugged. “Fans are behind the glass, and I’m used to blocking it out. Today I had nothing to do but take it all in.”

“Here!” Cambrie reappeared and shoved an Uncle Sam top hat and red star-shaped sunglasses with navy blue lenses toward him. “The perfect disguise.”

He didn’t argue as he put them on, then posed for us.

“Looks great,” I laughed. “You actually do blend in now.”

Cambrie beamed. “We’ve passed at least twenty other guys wearing the same thing today.”

“Well, thanks. I appreciate it,” he smiled. “Where are you guys off to next?”

“The state exhibits,” Cambrie answered as I said, “Actually.”