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Jill had gone in search of Mitch to discuss the Dickenson mess. She had checked the barracks, the library, and the mess hall and still couldn’t find her. She knew she had duty this evening, but she wasn’t at the duty office. She knew the girl wasn’t off post, and that she was just walking the post as part of her duties. When she could not find the young woman anywhere she decided it could wait until morning. She then decided to wander over to one of her favorite spots on the grounds. It was the spot that the captain she had dinner with that night on the space station had told her about. It was a small horseshoe shaped cliff that over looked Trenaport and the bay that Trenaport sat on. If she got the chance she would sit on one of the benches and watch the sun sink into the ocean. She was beginning to understand why her grandmother had carved out that private time in the spa at her estate on Mars. Now as she approached the look out with its amphitheater she heard singing. As she got closer to her special place she saw Alan and Rhonda standing near the railing with Lamile. The three cadets were watching and listening to Mitch, whose back was to them while she sang, Jill couldn’t place the song.
“There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.
“There's a time for us,
Someday a time for us,
Time together with time to spare,
Time to look, time to care,
Someday!
Somewhere.
We'll find a new way of living,
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere.
“There's a place for us,
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we're half way there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Somehow,
Someday,
Somewhere”
Mitch completed the song, and the school mistress said, “I told you the acoustics would be perfect here Sergeant Mitchum.”
And they had been. Jill turned and saw other cadets coming down the path. They had all heard Mitch signing. The sound carried over this part of the grounds where many of the cadets walked or lounged with our fear of being reprimanded by their officers, or the adults.
Mitch turned to walk back out of the amphitheatre and saw the cadets standing in stunned silent witness. As Mitch walked the path she saw that more than one of the kids had a tear creeping down their faces. When she got to where Jill was standing with Rhonda and Alan, Alan said, “Sergeant Mitch, this is that somewhere, and that some place.”
Mitch didn’t say a word as she and Jill locked eyes, and Jill nodded. Mitch’s song had helped to bring the cadets together, realizing that they were at a place of safety, and a place where they all belonged. Jill decided to let the moment run. She could discuss the problem with the Dickenson kid l later. She didn’t want to ruin the moment for Mitch, or for her cadets.
Every Last Mother's Child Page 162