LISA
I am sitting across from probably the best man that I can find in the world. In the years that we have been together, there has not been one moment that he was not kind and gentle to me. I just told him that I am moving to California for a few months and he did not even blink an eye and did not support me.
I know that he has great respect for my dad and my dad has never shown me any hint that he does not like him. I can not help but take his hand and smile at him when I say.
"You have been so good to me. I do not deserve someone like you"
He stands up and then he walks over to my chair. He bends down to my level and then he gives me a kiss on my lips. He is a good kisser. Then he hugs me and pulls away he says.
"When are you leaving?"
"I have to be there on Monday"
"It is so soon"
"I know"
I can see that is very sad but he is trying his best to be supportive.
"Then, we will have dinner Sunday night. Just me and you. I will cook"
I smile and then I give him another kiss on his lips when I say.
"That sounds great"
Then he looks at his watch and stands up.
"I am sorry but I have to go"
"Yes, of course, go"
He gives me one last kiss and then he walks away. I just stare at him walking away from me and I wonder how going to California is going to change our relationship. Then I get up and make my way back to my apartment. I took the afternoon off as I wanted to prepare and refresh my memory of what it means to be an air traffic controller.
My dad has also emailed me the file of the guy that has him in knots. I have not had a chance to even look at it and I guess there is not a better time than right now. I open my computer and then I open his file.
It is strange that there is no picture attached but the name is Captain Brian Smith. I read through his file and try to understand why my dad is so invested in getting him out of the Navy.
I read through the file and then I see under parents that he has one mother and no information about his father. It only states "no information disclosed." I notice that it is a very short file with minimum information. Then I see something that my dad conveniently forgot to mention to me.
He has been dismissed for being mentally unstable and now he is reinstated. When I look at the reason for being dismissed it reads that he has problems with authority and is mentally unstable. I carefully look through the file to see who what the person that filed his dismissal but all it says is "the panel."
I have seen a lot of soldiers that have been dismissed, as a patient and I have seen their files. The file usually has much more information and is much thicker than this file. Why would my dad not tell me that he has already been dismissed for being mentally unstable?
I fall back in my chair as I tap the back of my pen on my lips. I stare out of my window, trying to figure out why he would not tell me this. I look back at the document and then I noticed that I have not even seen this sentence. It reads in the bottom left-hand corner.
"Skills: Above average"
So, it is clear that he is very good at what he does. No one in the Navy gets an above-average score. It must mean that he is clearly gifted in some way. I wonder why someone with these kinds of skills would be dismissed as mentally unstable. He must have some sort of intelligence to receive such a high honor from the Navy.
Nothing about this file makes any sense to me. I am used to looking through the soldier's files and they are in detail for me to make an assessment. I am sure that my dad knows this and I wonder why I only got a one page file.
The days go by and finally, Monday arrives. I have seen to it that Dr. Santana would take over my practice and everything is arranged. I get on the plane and make my way to California.
BRIAN
I walk through the back door of the pub and just as I make myself comfortable against the wall, I see the waitress walking my way. It is clear to me what she wants and she knows what I want. I enjoy every second of feeling her body against mine and I love the way that she is satisfied with what I do.
I have never failed to satisfy a woman and I always get what I want in return. It does not take as long to finish off and then she writes something on a piece of paper. She folds the paper and kisses it while she puts it in my shirt pocket. Then she looks back with a smile and makes her way back into the pub.
I smile as she walks away satisfied with what we both achieved. Then I take out the note and I see it is her number. I smile because I know that I have done a great job. Then I make my way back to Jim who is patiently waiting for me at the table.
"Well? Did you score?"
"Did I score?"
I throw the piece of paper on the table and he quickly looks at it.
"Well, you are just a heartbreaker aren't you?"
"You should know by now that I get what I want"
He just laughs at what I have to say and we spend the rest of the night drinking and flirting with every woman we can find. The waitress is clearly not happy with me but it is not like I am going to marry her. The pub does not stop until the morning light and soon they let us know that they are closing. We walk back to the base singing loudly.
Then suddenly I hear an alarm goes off that is louder than a bomb exploding next to my face. I put my hands against my ears trying to stop the sound from penetrating my brain.
"Oh god! What is that?!"
As my eyes finally get to focus I realize I am in my bed. I am not sure how I got there but then I hear a loud slam against my door.
"Training room A. Ten minutes!!"
Someone is shouting from the outside of my door and then I remember how it was to do training. I had to be there and I had to be on time. They do not wake you up nicely and they do not give you enough time to get there. Then, as I want to stand up, it feels as if my head is going to explode.
"Fuck! god!"