Anchor Line

by Dawne Walters

  Jeers at going to another FOB went up from Conrad’s platoon. He smiled recalling the seven month long deployment to Afghanistan already. All the missions, the weather, the loses, the chow hall, or lack thereof, the MRE’s, sleep deprivation. Yeah, it would be great to get out of Afghanistan in five months and be in a safer FOB. The Soldiers had a renewed sense of energy as they picked up their gear and made their way to the tents.

  “Bout’ fuckin’ time we get a break and get to do something early besides the next mission.” LT Jacobs said making conversation as he fell in step with Conrad.

  “Yeah. What I need right now is a nice shower.” Conrad responded.

  “You’re up for R and R right Renner?”

  “Yes sir. My sister is getting married. So I’m jumping straight into that shit when I get home in the Burgh.”

  “That’s got to be exciting though right?”

  “Yeah. Nothing I would do. But Carrie’s happy.” The stones crunched under Conrad’s boots as they walked back to the tents making small talk on the way.

  As the LT came to his tent, he told Conrad he’d see him later, and pulled back the flap of the tent and went inside. Conrad didn’t even pause. His mood was lighter now that they would be shifting back to get ready to make the trek home in five months. Muldoon shared a big tent with the Ravens Platoon. The mood was jovial and friends were talking to each other as gear was being taken off and pt’s were being pulled out, along with shower kits so that the Soldiers could go wash off the week of grime from being out at Stronghold. He walked past guys that were laid back on their bunks sleeping or a few watching movies and yet some that had TVs and Xboxes playing Modern Warfare or Halo that hadn’t gone out on the mission.

  When he came to a stop in his own curtained off area, he saw a sign made of cardboard that read ‘Whack Shack’. He chuckled and shook his head as he pushed it and the poncho aside on the 550 cord he had the poncho hanging on and stepped into his own little domain in the back corner of the tent. His computer was where he left it on the little make shift table of cement blocks and a scrap piece of board. He slipped his small ruck off his shoulder and took off his Kevlar helmet, dropping it on his bunk, and laid his weapon on the bunk as well. Shower, food, email and sleep, he thought. No, email, shower, food then sleep. He had been out of the net for a week, so he had to, at the very least let his family know that he was alright. Then he’d address anyone else who wrote after the shower.

  He unzipped and shrugged out of his ACU top and tossed it on the floor at the bottom of his bed, then he moved over to his computer lifting the top and hitting the power button. He’d do his thing here and let his guys get showered and taken care of first. He typed in his password and…

  “Internet’s out.”

  Cal James said behind him. His best friend and the Warlocks Platoon Sergeant. Conrad turned around as his buddy Cal James stepped forward with his hand extended in greeting. “Welcome back man. Heard it got kinda hairy that first day.”

  Cal was just as tall as Conrad’s six feet four inches, but wasn’t nearly as broad shouldered, or as muscular. Where Conrad was tanned with dark brown hair, Cal was fair. His lips were thin, and his nose was a little pointy.

  Conrad took his friend’s hand and shook it. “Yeah. Nothing we haven’t faced before. Same shit. You know how it is…assholes always trying to blow you up.” He replied. “How long has the damn net been down?”

  “Initially it went down when you guys went out. It came back online two days later, then took a dump when you guys were on your way back in this morning.” Cal said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Tracy says hello.”

  “How’s she doing? You tell her we’ll be moving back to a FOB in about two weeks?”

  “What are you talking about?” Cal looked at Conrad like he had grown three heads.

  “The commander said to spread the word. We’re moving back to another FOB. I thought he would have at least told you. They slid our date to the left about two weeks, give or take a day or three. Then I leave for Bagram to fly to the holding area for my R and R.” Conrad answered.

  “Yeah…no. I guess you guys really were the ones that he told first. He was pretty tight lipped about that. I was here watching a movie and heard all the noise.” Cal nodded his head.

  “Well, get ready. I gotta go through all this shit.” Conrad looked around.

  Cal nodded his head and was getting ready to ask a question when someone yelled that the net was back up. “Well, I’ll let you get to it. When you are ready to hit some chow let me know.”

  “I’ll do that.” Conrad said turning around to grab his laptop. “I’m gonna let the guys shower up first.”

  “You need some privacy? I can close your little curtain.” Cal joked. “You still writing Ms Marshall?”

  “That is absolutely none of your business.” Conrad joked back with a huge smile as he waved his friend off.

  “Oh, well, that’s a big hardy yes, now isn’t it?”

  “Fuck you.” Was the only reply that Conrad could think of laughing.

  “Oh Sergeant Renner, you big infantry grunt…what could I possibly give you while you are in Afghanistan?” Cal continued to tease his friend.

  “Shut it.”

  “You are so handsome. Maybe when you get back I can work on your ERB in my office.” Cal kept on in a fake female voice. “I’ll update your awards…with the door closed.” He then wiggled his eyebrows.

  “It’s not like that with her you dork.” Conrad said looking up from his computer as he waited for his email to load. “She’s a…friend.” He shrugged his shoulders not really wanting to divulge more of his relationship with Addie than was necessary.

  “Just kidding man.” Cal threw his hands up like he was under arrest. “No harm, no foul.” He turned and grabbed the poncho, “But just in case.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Conrad could hear his friend laughing as he pulled the poncho enclosing him in his own little space. Looking back down with a smile on his face at his computer, he logged into his mail and saw that he had several emails waiting for him in his inbox. Two from his dad, one from his sister and one from his brother. A few others from other women that he knew, and down at the bottom, under all the spam was an email from one Ms. Addie Marshall entitled ‘RE: Answers…’ He couldn’t wait to open it. He wanted to save it for last, but couldn’t. He clicked on it.

  Saturday, 12:49

  To: Addie.Marshall@yahoo.com

  From: Pittsburgh_Guy@yahoo.com

  RE: Answers…

  I do miss you. You miss me?

  He’d almost forgotten that he’d asked her about that. Then inconveniently, the net went down and he couldn’t check her answer. Now, a week later, he didn’t know what would have gone through her head to give her the idea that he didn’t miss her. He decided to start and email to her that would give her a little bit more insight to who he was and not wanting to talk about his deployment and missions. It was short, sweet and to the point. Just like Addie. He’d read the rest of his email later when he got back from the shower, and ate. But he’d write her now, just to let her know that he was back. He’d written her before and told her not to freak out if he didn’t answer right away. Conrad felt like a crazy person smiling at his computer because he was happy. What an idiot, he thought. It was a good thing that Cal had closed the poncho. He wouldn’t want to be caught dead smiling at his computer over something a woman had written to him.

  She did miss him. It was just a reaffirmation that he needed.

  Sunday, 10:42

  To: Addie.Marshall@yahoo.com

  From: Pittsburgh_Guy@yahoo.com

  RE: I’m still here…

  Ad, we’ll be leaving here soon for another FOB, and I can’t wait for that. I was working the past week, but wanted to let you know that I’m on the FOB and I’m alright. When I get back stateside, you’ll have to come up to Pittsburgh and let me grill for you. I still want to see you for my R and R. I am…quite perfectly
the MAN when it comes to grilling!!! I’ll be on leave for my sister’s wedding in a few weeks or so, I’ll let you know definitely when it comes closer and we leave here. Can you kick around both weeks or only one. Hit me up! Did you miss me while I was away???

  Conrad paused. Not knowing whether to tell her or not that he’d been thinking about her or whether he missed her. He’d been doing a lot of both lately. He had other women friends that wrote him and he rarely wrote back. But not the kinds of emails that he and Addie had exchanged. She’d write an email of a dream or fantasy or just start a story that she had thought about to him, and he’d write back continuing the story. He’d boldly asked for a few pictures after he convinced her that no one else would see them, and that he wasn’t getting pictures from any other woman, when in fact, he was playing the field a little bit. But seeing Addie naked on her comforter, her legs slightly open for him, with her long, curly brown hair spread around her, and her big hazel eyes looking all sexy. Her hands were covering her breasts, but you could see a nipple peak through her perfectly placed fingers. She had put lipstick on, and black stockings and a matching garter belt. Holy hell he got hard as a rock when she’d sent the pictures, and he’d taken care of himself more than once to her pictures.

  Refreshing his email, he saw a new email from Addie and opened it.

  Sunday, 10:44

  To: Pittsburgh_Guy@yahoo.com

  From: Addie.Marshall@yahoo.com

  RE: Glad to hear it…

  Well that’s got to get you excited…knowing that you are getting ready to pull back to another FOB. And then you’ll be stateside for two weeks. Actually, I’ll be up in Pittsburgh visiting my folks around the time you’ll be there. So, yeah, when you were home you mentioned needing a date. If you still need one, let me know. And being that I’ m a daddy’s girl and all…your Grill Man skills just may come into question.

  Addie

  Sunday, 10:45

  To: Addie.Marshall@yahoo.com

  From: Pittsburgh_Guy@yahoo.com

  RE: Answer the question…

  You didn’t answer my question!!

  He looked at his inbox one more time contemplating why it was so important for him to have an answer as to if she’d missed him. He scrubbed his face with his hand feeling the week old whiskers on his chin and rubbed his tired eyes. After refreshing his email one more time and not having anything from Addie, he put his laptop on his bunk, got up and pushed the poncho to the side and went out to see if anyone had come back from the showers yet.

  “Schulz, you haven’t showered yet?” He asked noticing that the soldier was still half dressed in his uniform.

  “Showers are busy as hell sergeant.” Schulz responded. “I’m gonna try here in the next half hour. Fuckers have no common courtesy when we get back from a week in hell and these mother fuckers have had showers every day.”

  “Fuck this shit.” Conrad slapped Schulz on the shoulder and walked to the showers where he opened the makeshift wooden plywood door. “If you fuckers haven’t just gotten in from a mission then get your ass out of the showers right fucking now!” He stood there and watched as most of the Soldiers that were there turned off the water, grabbed their shit and took off out of the showers fast.

  Walking back into his tent, he told Schultz that the showers were open and to go hit it. Walking back his little area, he picked up his laptop and logged into his email again to read the rest of the emails and noticed that he had a new email message from Addie. He opened it.

  Sunday, 10:52

  To: Pittsburgh_Guy@yahoo.com

  From: Addie.Marshall@yahoo.com

  RE: A litte Desperate aren’t you???…

  Don’t placate me Conrad. I don’t want to be a passing fancy. I don’t know why we end up beating this dead horse issue. I know that you write other women. I’ll say that yes, I missed you like all the other times. Then I’ll ask you if you missed me, and you won’t reply. Honestly, Conrad, I’m tired of sounding like a babbling idiot or some stupid school girl with a crush. You Pick. But, I’ve put myself foolishly out there for you so many times, that I’m not going to do it any longer. You’ll find someone who’ll continue to follow you around like a little lost puppy dog. Until then…i’m here. If you still want to meet in Pittsburgh, you have my number.

  Your friend, Addie Marshall

  “Mother Fucker!” Conrad boomed loudly after he read it. She was actually blowing him off. Passing fancy? What the actual fuck? Could she not see that although he did write other women, she wasn’t a passing fancy? If? IF he still wanted to meet in Pittsburgh, would she meet him? What the hell was that all about? Feeling a little more than pissed off, he wrote back.

  Sunday, 10:58

  To: Addie.Marshall@yahoo.com

  From: Pittsburgh_Guy@yahoo.com

  RE: R U fucking kidding me???

  You are NOT a passing fancy Addie. There, I’ve said it. Now you know! Yes, I want to meet you in Pittsburgh. I want to fuck your brains out. What else do you want from me?

  He hit the send key and waited for her reply. After a few minutes before he opened his dad’s email. He hit refresh and saw Addie’s reply.

  Sunday, 11:01

  To: Pittsburgh_Guy@yahoo.com

  From: Addie.Marshall@yahoo.com

  RE: Whatever…

  My dates for Pittsburgh are May 3d to the 17th. You know how to get ahold of me. I’m going to bed. Be safe.

  Addie

  Fucking great. Now he’d pissed her off. Just what he didn’t want to do. He decided to let the conversation go. Fuck it. Opening the email from his Pop, who was a man of little words when it came to email. He’d written about how he was redoing the back yard now. He was ready for the wedding to be over too, as Carrie was getting crazy with all the planning that it took. The other email was a few pictures that Conrad’s dad had taken of the yard where he was renovating. Making a nice puzzled stone patio and planting a few fruit trees.

  The email from Carrie asked him what size he wore for his tux, and that everything was almost complete for the wedding including colors and flowers and cake flavors. Conrad’s email from Jeff was a simple. ‘Help us all from Carrie and her wedding.’ But definitely wished his brother well and wanted to take a few Steelers home games when Conrad got home next season. He closed his computer and set it on the makeshift desk, then leaned back against his bunk trying to give his soldiers enough time to shower, always put their welfare first. Just like his brother and sisters.

  He thought about his family in Pittsburgh. When Conrad came home and announced to his Pop, that he’d joined the Army, Pop couldn’t have been more proud of his son. He went to the store, bought a twelve pack and drank with his nineteen year old son on the back porch steps.

  Conrad was the only one of Pop’s kids that was ever going to be in the Army too. And it was in those first few years that Conrad was in the Army that had solidified his stance on not getting married while he was in the Army too. He couldn’t put a woman through the uncertainties of Army life. He rarely knew where he was going with the Army. How could he put his wife, someone he was supposed to care about, through that same thing? So, while he was single, he was going to have fun. And indeed, he had fun. He’d met some beautiful women, and not all of them did he have sex with. But the only woman who really stuck with him was Addie. He’d known her just a few short months before he’d moved to Italy, and now, deployed in Afghanistan.

  He had a special affection for Addie. He’d wanted to kiss her so many times when they had lunch or had just goofed around. Addie gave off the ‘vibe’ as Conrad had called it when he finally told her two months before he’d left that he was leaving. She didn’t want to get hurt and begged off some of their lunch dates claiming that she was busy or had other plans. He knew what she was doing and still, he wanted her. The day he’d left, it tore his heart out to know that she’d been crying. But damn, the month that he’d stayed with her before he left was amazing. He’d do it all over again if it was the same way. He’d
always remember it, and if things were different, he might have wanted more. But for now, he was happy just to have her emailing him. He could look forward to her visiting with him in Pittsburgh once he got home. Maybe he’d even try and have her come to Italy. They’d talked about it when he was staying at her house in Bragg. Her mother’s family was from there. What better time to see her again than at almost Christmas time? It was the perfect plan.

  “Hey man, showers are open. The guys are happy you went in there guns a blazin’ to make sure you guys got taken care of.”

  Conrad looked up to see Cal standing in the opening of his AO.

  “Cool. Let me get my shit and I’ll be back. Then we’ll go hit some chow.” He answered rubbing a hand over his face to shake the weird feeling he got after Addie’s email.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Welcome to Pittsburgh International Airport. Please control all bags. Do not accept any items to carry onboard a flight from anyone unknown to you. Report any unattended items in the airport or on an aircraft to the nearest airline or security personnel.” The recorded voice came of the loudspeaker for what seemed like the fiftieth time in the past twenty minutes.