BRIAN
I watch as Admiral Miller leaves Jim and I just standing next to the road. I did not think that I would see that old bag again. He has been nothing but on my case ever since I started in the Navy. In the beginning, I would do everything that I could to get into his good graces but it was as if he had it in for me no matter what I did.
I would follow the rules a hundred percent and he would have some kind of problem with my way of doing things. Then I would go rogue and not follow the rules and still be the bad guy. It did not matter what I do, he just kept on making sure that I know he does not like me.
He finally got what he wanted by dismissing me as being mentally unstable. I guess for him it was the last straw and now we are back to square one. Then Jim turns to me and says.
"What was that all about?"
I start walking out of the base and then I just dismiss the Admiral with my hand.
"All I can say is old dogs...let's get to the pub"
I really need to blow off some steam and I do not know of a better place than that pub. We finally get to the door and we are greeted with open arms. It seems like the guy at the door still remembers me as I was a regular here.
He opens the door for me and heaven opens up. There are girls as far as the eye can see. Some of them are dancing on the stage and some on smaller stages with poles. Others are doing the waitressing and even more doing lap dances.
Most of the guys in here are from the base as this has become somewhat of a military pub. Here is the place where you can get drunk and have fun. I have missed this place and so we soon get ourselves a table.
LISA
After considering my dad's request I have decided to just have dinner with him tonight. It is only Tuesday and we have had dinner on Friday but when I called him it sounded very urgent that he wanted to speak to me. Even though everything that he always has to say is important according to him, I decide to humor myself.
So, just as I finished work, I make my way to our usual restaurant and as always my dad is already waiting for me at the table. I walk up to him with a smile on my face even though I do not know why this just couldn't wait till Friday.
"Hey, dad"
"Hi, pumpkin"
"Dad! I am not a child anymore. Can you just call me Lisa at least?"
"Okay, honey, I will call you Lisa"
I almost fall off my chair as he agrees on something that I have to say. He never wants to change his mind when it comes to calling me pumpkin and now he just agrees so easily to this. Something serious must be wrong.
"What is going on? Why did you want to meet?"
"Can't a father just have a dinner with his daughter?"
"I agree a hundred percent but you are not just any father and you never just have dinner with me without a reason. So, you can just as well cut the chit chat and get to what you want to say"
"You drive a hard bargain but I would not want it any other way. I need your help"
Never in a million years did I think that he would say those words over his lips. He has always been the independent one and the one that never needed any help, not even from my mother and that would be the reason why she left him.
"I am sorry, dad but I think my hearing is failing me. Can you please say again?"
"You heard me. I need your help"
It is strange when he says it because it sounds like it is an order rather than a request.
"Okay, dad. I will bite what do you need my help with?"
"I need you to come back to the Navy"
I can not help but laugh because I swore I will not go back. The time that I was in the Navy almost broke me. I just could not handle it anymore. There is no way that I am going back.
"Dad, have you been drinking? You know that I am not going back. No matter what you say"
"But I really need your help, honey"
"I am sure whatever it is you will be able to handle it like always"
"This one is going to need a little bit of a more feminine touch. I will not be able to do it"
I shake my head as I take a sip of my wine.
"I am not going back"
"What if I say that you can ask for anything you want"
"Anything?"
"Yes, anything"
I do not think I have ever heard him say that to me before. Then, I get a great idea. I always wanted that house at the lake and he is very protective of that house. I think I will ask for that house and then he will have to say no. This way, I will get out of this.
"Okay. I want the house at the lake"
I watch him staring at me as if he is considering my request. Then he says the most unexpected words.
"Okay. You can have it"
"What?!"
"Yes. You can have it"
It seems like my dad is full of surprises tonight because he is just saying all the things he would have never said in his life. There must be something very wrong with him.
"Okay, out with it. What is going on with you? You would have never given me that house. What can be so important?!"
I hear him sigh loudly and then he explains.
"I need you to come back as an air traffic controller. I need you to keep an eye on someone. He is one of our pilots and I do not agree that he must be in the Navy but the people above me agreed that he is the best for this mission. I need you to confirm what I already know. I need you to convince them that he is mentally unstable and will be a menace to the Navy and society"
I shake my head as I look at the table and then I say, holding my hand up.
"Wait wait wait. You want to give away your beloved lake house so that I could come back as an air traffic controller to spy on some random guy?!"
"Yes, exactly"
I swear he can see the surprise and shock on my face while a frown appears in the mix.
"Why would you go to such lengths for some random guy?"
Then I can see him getting a bit upset and raises his voice as he says.
"He is not just some random guy!!"