“ Please tell him I need to talk with him. Tell him I miss him.” Mary says while he nods and we leave to continue searching
The nights since Christmas have felt empty without Matt in the house. Mary and I have stayed in his room every night waiting for him. I don’t know how much more I can wait for him before asking Mary to file missing person report on him.
“ Sarah sorry to say this, but I am tired darling. I haven’t been sleeping all that well.” Mary says as I turn down the street that passes the high school
“ I know Mary baby me either.” I say feeling her hand squeeze my thigh
“ Why don’t we go home and relax? Hopefully Billy and the guys will be gone, and we can just relax in silence.” She asks to only get a nod
“ Sure baby we can always look again in a few days.” I say letting out a sad sigh
I come up to a street that leads to home. Mary scoots over to place her head on my shoulder.
“ Matty our love whereever you are please come home because we miss you baby boy.” Mary says while I try to make our way home
I turn down on our street to see Kelsey and Jennifer home. I let out a sigh because I am still upset with them. Before I pull up I say just a few heartfelt words in my head.
“ I love you Mattybear please come home to me.”
It’s the last week of March and I am sitting in my chair on stage listening to the commanding officers address everyone in attendance. I can’t believe I made it this far, but I had help with those pushing me to keep going. I met a lot of good men and women in this outfit and everyone of them worked hard to get here. After the open ceremonies were done Drill Sergeant Shank stepped up to the podium. He looked out at us all before he started.
“ When all of you arrived I saw boys and girls who just got done sucking their mother’s teat. Now I see men and women who can take apart a M4 and put it back together in no time at all. I am proud of you all for toughening it out and taking everything I could give you.” He says looking at everyone before looking at me as he continued “ But there is one of you that was a big smart ass. This young soldier showed me he wasn’t afraid or showed any kind of fear. He in the end showed respect to his fellow soldiers and his COs. It makes me proud and honored to ask him to come up and give his speech as he was ahead of the class. So SGT. Matt Hartigan get your ass up here.”
I chuckle as I stand up making my way up. Once to the podium we shake hands before he goes to return to his seat. I look over at everyone in attendance. I turn to salute my COs before turning back to the podium where I smile to everyone who made it with me before speaking.
“ Thank you Drill Sergeant for those kind words.” I say as he points down with a grin and I shake my head with a smile before continuing “ Thanks to all here as those in front of me are taking that next step in life. Drill Sergeant Shank was right when we all arrived we were young and didn’t know what to expect. I know I didn‘t, but was willing to learn. I want to talk about loyalty, trust, courage, respect, and love. All these characteristics may come with different meanings, but together they mean one word and that is family.
Three months ago I came here alone, but I leave with a new family. Each of you that I sweated with, bleed with, and helped are a family to me. Each of you are a brother or a sister. As we take that step in different directions one thing will not change as each of you will be here in my heart. Nancy you came here scared of how to help your baby brother to get off the streets and away from the drug dealers. I helped you start to reach out to him in letters and phone calls and now he is changing his life for the better.
Frank you had fear on how to help your sister to get help with your grandmother. I told you of organizations that could probably help. Hank you told me you wanted to help your parents in paying them back for all the help they gave you. I encouraged you to hang in there and now you have the knowledge to pay them back in the long run. That is what family does by helping the other.” I say as I see tears from everyone especially those in front of me as I continued “ I ask that my new family stays alive whereever they maybe sent in the service.
I promise to give my all to help protect you all everyday in what ever I do. I love you all as my own brothers and sisters. We are asked to be all we can be, and that is what we should do. We have already done that in the eyes of those behind me and those behind you. Enclosing I say we go get a beer before we get shipped in places we have not ventured yet.”
Everyone stands saluting me with smiles as I salute them back. After the rest of the ceremony was over I was confronted by Drill Sergeant Shank as he wanted to introduce me to a few people. We made our way over to them. I was introduced to a General Abernathy and a Captain Brian Johnson who went by Pol.
“ Nice to meet you General and Captain.” I state as they both grin with nods
“ Likewise Sgt. Hartigan.” The General says as Pol nods
“ So have you decided on what you wanted to do now that your out of basic? Your dossier states your to head to Ranger school and then on to Airbourne and Air Assault” Pol asks me getting my attention
“ Well captain I was thinking of making the military a career. I hope I get stationed somewhere overseas in a warzone. I don’t have anything else minus the military right now anyways .” I answered as he turned to look at the general
“ Actually Matt we have another idea.” The General says as I look at him then at the Captain
“ Oh and what would that be?” I ask as the General nods at Drill Sergeant Shank
“ Well then I have a few things I have to do. Sgt. Hartigan I hope life treats you well. Don’t make me regret kicking your ass.” He tells me saluting before walking away as I feel a warm feeling in my heart as I turn to the General and Captain
“ So um what were we talking about?” I ask as they grin
“ Sgt. Hartigan how would you like to be part of a special team?” General Abernathy asks me peeking my curiosity
“ Oh and what team is that?” I ask as the Captain steps over placing his arm around on my shoulders
“ We are a Black Ops team. We only answer to two men………one is standing here and the other is in a oval office. So are you in? Are say you in or do you want to still have to earn a trip overseas?” He asks me as I look at the General
“ What’s my chances of me dying?” I ask seeing concern in their eyes
“ Pretty High.” The General tells me answering truthfully
“ Sold.” I say with a grin before I salute them both to get saluted back
It’s been a week since I have been out of boot camp. I was handed my papers and said that I was going to be with this new group. I had grabbed my duffel when I left and got on the nearest Greyhound heading to Washington DC. It took four days which wasn’t bad. I was greeted by Pol and a guy answering to Brick Wall at the depot. I followed them to the car and got in the back .
Pol asked if I was ready. I tell him I was born ready and lets go. He smiles as he tells me I have to try out. I look at him in shock because I thought I had a free ride because they scouted me. We get to a housing complex and I am told the next three days are R&R for me. I shake my head aking about a gym. I get told it is down the hall while I search for it. I find the gym and start running and working out to keep my routine in check. Pol watches me for four hours and is amazed at my stamina.
“ My god father was a cop and nature survivalist. He trained my brothers and me to last for long periods of time.” I smile as he nods before he gets up to leave
I continue working out then grab a shower. After that I grab a couple hours sleep then repeat the process for the next couple days. I am driven to their HQ and look at the seven guys standing behind this little guy, They are telling him not to hurt us. They call him Little Foot and I chuckle, this little guy can’t beat us up as I look to see about 6 dozen guys all big and bad. Pol comes out and talks.
“ You all have been selected because you are on another level than your traditional soldier I will ask that you remember that there is only one spot availiable and the one to beat Little Foot gets it.” He tells us and I hear someone say all we have to do is kick his little ass
Pol nods as I feel something isn’t right. Pol then tells us that we can attack as a group if we are scared. This one big guy that made me look small walks up and before he can make a fist is down on the ground KO’d. The guys all rush him and I watch as he kicks,punches and basically kicks everyone’s ass without breaking a sweat. I’m glad that I was a fighter and knew about 3 different styles and the techniques George taught me would come in handy. As I watch I am the last one. I hear BW ( Brick Wall) shout.
“ What’s a matter Schoolboy? You scared? You wanna go suck on your momma’s tits” He says as I flip him off
“After I fuck him up your ass and your mother’s is mine.” I say as he bows up while another tells him to cool it because Little Foot was gonna beat my ass for him. Little Foot looks at me with a smile on his face.
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