Enlisted
Page 2
I cocked my head to the side.
“Listen, you and Travis have a different situation than some of those women. You and Travis have a different relationship. So just do what feels right for you.”
“I don’t know what feels right though.”
“Then figure it out. Do you want to be with him?”
“Of course, I do! I love him!” I exclaimed. It was the first time I had ever said it aloud. I refused to let him say anything mushy before he left because I knew I wouldn’t let him leave if he did.
“There’s your answer. Now will you please show your face at the house, so mom stops freaking out?” she sighed.
I shook my head. “Sure. I’ll be down for dinner tonight.”
“Great! Oh, and I’m happy for you.” She winked before walking out the door.
Chapter Four
Travis
The days started to blend together. Routine was hammered into us right away and every day was the same. Yelling, being told when we can do this or that.
The bright lights woke me from the light sleep I was in. Four thirty in the morning came all too quickly. I had exactly thirty minutes to use the bathroom, shave my face, dress for PT and make sure my bed was made perfectly. I had no idea how I was able to get everything done so quickly, but I learned fast that if I didn’t, I was in deep shit.
I took a quick step back and looked at my bed, checked my stuff to make sure it was secured and started out toward PT.
“Hey man, how are you holding up?” Collins asked me as we jogged out of the building.
I shrugged. “As good as I could be, I guess.”
He chuckled. “Right.”
We got into formation and waited for instructions. Running. Today we were running. Three miles around the post.
I sucked in a breath. My mind went to Elena and her smile. I knew our homecoming was going to be great and that’s what kept me going.
“Let’s go ladies!” The drill sergeant yelled.
We started running, while singing cadence. My body handled the first mile and a half great. It was the last mile and a half that got me. I knew I still wasn’t fully in the shape that I needed to be, but I had hoped that basic training would put me there.
I wanted to collapse onto the ground once we got back to our starting point. Even though my body wanted to, my head wouldn’t let me.
“See you all during formation!” our drill sergeant yelled as we separated to head to the showers. Every day I couldn’t wait to get a shower. It was the only moment I felt human again.
“Dude, you looked like you were about to pass out back there,” Collins said as we walked to chow together.
“Yeah I felt like I was going to pass out.” I sighed.
“I promise you it gets easier.”
I looked at him. He looked like he played football in school.
“Yeah, well I hope so because at this rate I’m going to pass out.” I laughed.
“I’ll help you up if you do. After I laugh my ass off.”
We walked into the chow hall and got in line. My ID card was tight in my grip as I listened to the person in the front yell “NEXT” repeatedly. When I finally showed my ID, I grabbed my food. I never really tasted the food as I ate so fast.
Five minutes. That’s about all the time I had to eat before it was time to run down to formation. Some days I feel like all I do is run between locations.
Classes took up most of the day. In between class times I was able to swallow more food for lunch and then dinner. Some days I couldn’t even tell the difference between the three meals. Everything seemed to blend.
I sat on the edge of my bed, my shoe in one hand and the shoe polish in the other hand.
Collins sat on the other side of my bed with his shoes.
“How are you feeling, man?” he asked as he put more shoe polish onto his shoe.
I shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Been thinking a lot lately.”
“About that chick?”
I chuckled. “She’s not just some random chick. She’s someone I care deeply for. I’m just hoping that she’s still waiting for me when I get back.”
“I’m sure she is. If she is as great as you say.”
“What about you?”
He laughed loudly, “My girl is married to me. She’s pretty excited about me being in the military. Her father was in the service as well, so she’s used to traveling and all.”
I nodded and wondered if maybe Elena’s father was in the service if she would feel differently about it too.
“Just keep being you. Call her when you can, write her whenever you can and make sure she knows you love her.”
I looked at him.
“You have told her you love her, right?”
I pursed my lips together, “She didn’t want me to say anything mushy before I left, so I kept it to myself.”
He leaned his head back, exhaling and then straightened up again.
“You’ve got to tell her.”
“Yeah I know, I was thinking of just proposing to her when I get home.”
“Dude! You can’t skip steps here.”
“How is it skipping a step? I’ll tell her I love her, then propose. Two birds, one stone.”
He shook his head. “At least let me be there because this will be a disaster.”
“Let’s go! Hydration formation!” the drill sergeant yelled from the doorway.
We jumped up and rushed out to where our platoon was gathering. We stood in formation, grabbed our canteens and started drinking. I chugged the water down as fast as my body would allow. At first, I could feel the water as it slid down my throat, but after the fourth or fifth mouthful, I didn’t feel anything but the desire to stop and take a breath. When the last bit went down, I heaved and breathed in as much air as I could. I held the canteen upside down over my head as I glanced around at my fellow soldiers and watched as they did the same.
My body felt full and my stomach twisted as it did every night. I knew by morning I’d be thankful for the water, but right now I hated the feeling.
“Goodnight men!” the drill sergeant yelled. We all dispersed and went back to our beds. We had a few minutes of free time, so I pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and started to write a letter to Elena. I missed her smile and her laugh. My focus was on getting through training, after that I would figure it out as I went.
Elena,
Things are good here. I guess if you consider being yelled at all the time good. I’m getting into shape though. I got right into AIT which stands for Advanced Individual Training, after basic. I would love to have you at the graduation for AIT though. I can send you all the details if you want to go. I can’t wait to see you again. I hope you are handling things okay. I know it’s tough. Believe me it’s just as tough for me. Each day is pretty much the same around here. Get up, do what we need to do, three meals a day, class. Not much time for anything else, but that’s okay. Some days it makes it feel like it’s going by faster.
I’m not sure what to say in these letters, I miss you and hope things are going well there.
Travis
I sealed the letter and stuck it with the other mail to go out. Lights went out and I got as comfortable as I could on the bed. My body was exhausted, and it never took long to fall asleep.
I woke the next morning, ready to do it all again.
Chapter Five
Elena
I read through Travis’s letter several times. It was short, but to the point. It made me miss him even more. I placed it next to a photo of us that was on my coffee table.
I turned and looked around the room.
A soft knock came from the door, pulling me out of any daydream that I was in.
“Coming,” I sighed, walking over and pulling the door open.
My mother smiled from the other side.
“Hi honey, I was wondering if you will be coming to dinner tonight.”
“Not tonight, I am going into the city for a meeting.”
“I’m going to a meeting for military spouses.”
“But you aren’t a spouse.”
“No, I’m not, but I’m his girlfriend, and I truly feel like this could be something more than just a summer fling.”
She pursed her lips together.
“What?” I questioned, tilting my head to the side slightly.
“Do you really think you want this type of life?”
I bit my lip and shook my head. “Nope, I’m not going to let you do this.” I backed up and grabbed my purse from the chair by the door and my keys that hung next to it.
“I have to go.” I pushed myself out the door, locking it behind me. I jogged down the stairs, hearing my mother’s footsteps right behind me.
“Elena, please.”
I turned to face her. “No. You don’t get to do that. You picked dad. You picked a man to be with because that’s who you wanted. You travelled all around the country with him while he played sports. Travis is the person I want to be with. I don’t care where in the world I will need to go, he’s who I want to be with!”
She stood there silently, just staring. My father made a presence in the driveway from the back door.
I turned my head and got into my car, backing out of the driveways as fast as I could.
My car roared through the neighborhood and onto the main highway. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tight I thought I would lose feeling in my fingers. I hated that my mom even suggested that I wouldn’t want to be with Travis. And it was obvious by my reaction that I wanted him more than anything. I loved him something fierce and I wanted a future with him. No matter what that meant.
Women and men stood around in different areas of the large room.
“Hello, I’m Maria,” a woman greeted me as I walked in the door. She smiled, extending her hand to mine.
“Hi, I’m Elena.” I shook her hand, “I hope it’s okay I came. My boyfriend is in basic training and I’m still trying to navigate this whole thing.”
“Absolutely! We’ll be getting started soon.”
I nodded and walked in, taking a seat toward the back.
Not long after I sat down, everyone started taking seats and Maria went up to the front and began to welcome everyone.
“Is this seat taken?” a woman around my age asked, pointing to the chair next to me.
I shook my head and motioned for her to sit.
“I’m Erin.” She smiled.
“Elena.” I whispered back.
“Thank you everyone for coming. I see we have some new faces in the crowd, do you want to stand up and introduce yourself?” She nodded, practically forcing us to stand.
I stood as did Erin.
My stomach twisted and turned after each person finished introducing themselves. I was always bad at speaking in public.
I cleared my throat when the person in the row in front of me sat down.
“I’m Elena. My boyfriend is currently in basic training in Missouri. I’m just trying to navigate everything here. This is all completely new.”
“Welcome!” many voices said as I sat down.
“I’m Erin. My husband just got stationed here at Fort Stewart from Fort Irwin.”
She sat down and smiled at me again. In that moment I felt a little less nervous.
“So, you and your boyfriend live in the area?” Erin asked me after the meeting finished.
I nodded.
“If you want to grab coffee one day, you can text me. I’d be happy to answer questions if you have them and help you. These meetings are great but having one on one time is a huge plus.” She handed me a piece of paper with her cell number on it.
“Thanks.”
“Us crazy ladies need to stick together.” She laughed.
I laughed as I watched her walk out the door.
“Elena…” Maria said, causing me to turn my attention around to her.
“Oh hey.”
“It was really nice to have you here tonight. Being a military spouse isn’t easy and most of us are usually married before ours go to basic.”
I nodded. Marriage. Not something that was first on my mind, but I’ve heard so many people bring it up that I was beginning to think that maybe I needed to entertain the thought of marrying Travis.
“Can he even marry after basic?”
She giggled, “Of course. Actually, a lot of woman only get married simply for the BAH.”
I squinted my eyes and shook my head.
“Sorry, BAH, basic allowance for housing.”
I nodded. “Gotcha. And wait, that’s the only reason some people get married?”
She nodded, “To some it’s just a paycheck. Just some free money.”
“Wow, I didn’t realize that was possible.”
“Yeah it can get pretty messy sometimes too. Some women go right to the Jody bars after their soldiers deploy.”
“Jody bars?”
“Where men go pick up married women. You’ll get the hang of the lingo.”
I nodded. “Well thank you for this.”
“No problem. See you next week.”
I walked out of the building. The air was much cooler now and it was getting dark.
I walked around the corner to my car and got in, heading back home. After this meeting I felt better. I felt a little more confident in my decision to keep working toward this. Whatever this was going to be.
I pulled into the driveway and I didn’t even get out of my car before my parents came out the door.
“Can we talk to you?” my mother asked.
“Sure,” I sighed, shutting my car door and turning my attention to them.
“Why don’t we go inside?” my father suggested.
“Why? Whatever you want to say, just say it here.”
“We just think you might be looking too much into this whole thing. You are still in college; do you really want to settle down with someone whom you barely know?”
“I do know him. Just because you two met him recently doesn’t mean that I haven’t been with him for a while.” I shook my head, “I thought that this might be too hard, or too much, and who knows, it may be. But right now, I’m going to see where it goes. I met some really nice people tonight who helped me see that it is possible.”
“We are just trying to look out for you,” my father said.
“I know, and I thank you for that, but this is what I want.” I forced a smile and headed up to my apartment.
John and Bri were both sitting at the top of the stairs.
“What?”
“Nothing, we think you are doing the right thing,” John said.
“Thanks.”
“Let’s go watch a movie or something.” Bri smiled, pulling me into her apartment, John right behind us. When all is said and done, I knew that these two had my back no matter what.
***
Weeks passed, I talked to Travis on the phone a handful of times and it was only for a minute or two. He sounded okay. Tired but okay.
He invited me over the phone and in a letter to his graduation.
“Hey Bri, John, can I ask you two something?” I questioned as we stood in the dining room before my parents came in for dinner.
“What’s up?” John replied.
“Will you two go with me to Missouri? Travis is graduating in a week and he really wants me there.”
“Is it okay for us to go too?” Bri questioned, setting a glass on the table where she usually sits.
“Yes.”
“Count us in then.” John beamed.
“In for what?” my mother asked, walking into the room and placing a bowl of salad onto the table.
I sighed. “John and Bri are coming with me to Missouri next week for Travis’s graduation.”
She nodded, “You can invite whoever you want?”
“He said I could.”
; “Oh, well okay.”
I glanced at Bri and John who were trying not to look her directly in the eyes.
Dinner was quiet for the most part. We didn’t speak about Travis again, but I could tell my mother was biting her tongue.
“Why didn’t you invite us?” she asked me as we were bringing plates into the kitchen.
I sighed, setting the plate in the dishwasher. I turned to face her, putting my hand on my hip.
“Why would I do that?”
She shrugged, “Well if you can invite anyone you want, I thought you might want us to go too.”
“Not really. You and dad aren’t exactly thrilled about us being together.”
“No, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t support you. Going to his graduation is supporting you.”
“Okay, then will you two go as well?”
She smiled and nodded, “I’ll book us some hotel rooms! Just tell me where!”
I sucked in a breath and wrote it down for her.
When I walked outside, John was standing there with his arms folded.
“You caved, didn’t you?”
I nodded.
He laughed, “It happens. She gets to all of us. Don’t worry, we’ll help keep them in check.”
“Thanks,” I whispered.
We arrived at the hotel in Missouri. The one good thing about my parents going is that they booked everything for us. Flights, hotels, rental cars.
“What time is the graduation tomorrow?” my mother asked later that evening after dinner.
“Ten in the morning.”
“Okay, well we should be out of here be nine then. It’s not far to the base, but we should get there early.”
“Post,” I corrected.
She scrunched her eyes.
“It’s called a post in the Army, not base. I was corrected too at one of the meetings.
She nodded, “Okay, well I’ll see you in the morning.”
I went into the room where John and Bri were.
“Nervous?” Bri asked.
I shrugged. “A little.”
“By the way you make it sound, he’s super excited to see you. Just remember, he hasn’t seen a good-looking girl in a while.” She winked.