8
JUSTIN
It’s been a few weeks since I received a letter from Becca, and I’m starting to worry. I never thought I would be that guy, desperate to hear his name called at mail call, but after that first time, it’s become a drug to me.
“LT, I have a letter for you,” Newb says, holding it out like a lifeline.
“Thanks, Newb. I appreciate it.” I snatch the letter from his hand and head back toward the bunk room. Thankfully, none of the guys are around to give me shit. I have a seat on my bunk and rip open the envelope.
GI Joe,
I think it is only fair that I come up with a nickname for you since I have been given a call sign. I will have to talk it over with Olivia to see what she thinks the best fit would be, but right now I am leaning toward GI Joe. Yea, I know GI Joe was an army man, but hey, it’s the most I could come up with on short notice.
I have had some of the best things happen to me recently, and I have no one else to tell. Sounds kind of pathetic, doesn’t it?
Let me backtrack slightly, as you know I’m a single mother. With that, it doesn’t leave much time to make many friends. I have people I associate with at work, but all my time is spent with Olivia.
Well, I finally made friends! Four of them. They don’t pry and ask questions about Olivia’s father or why we decided to move somewhere we have no family. They just accept Olivia and me. Even in the few short weeks we have known them, they feel more like family than just people who watch her on occasion and help me out. They invite us to barbeques, play dates, shopping trips, birthday parties, all the things that you usually do for holidays.
Just the thought of finding somewhere for us to belong is amazing! Not just being the widow with a little girl.
Sorry again for dumping my baggage on you. I just wanted to share my excitement with someone. I promise I won’t write you again unless I get a letter from you. Oh, I also remember how long mail takes. If you would like my email address, it is [email protected] Feel free to email me there.
Sincerely,
Catwoman
Becca and I are more similar than I originally thought, surrounded by people but completely alone. I can’t help but feel like something brought the two of us together. She is possibly just the person I have been searching for, not in the romantic sense, but a friend who will understand how I have been feeling. An outcast in my once perfect life.
I put the letter with the first one she sent in my laptop bag as I pull my laptop out to write her an email. As I’m waiting for it to fire up, Brass walks in. “What’s shaking, LT?”
“Nothing much. How was patrol? Any issues or concerns you need to report?” I ask, still looking at my laptop.
“Nope. Sand and more sand,” he responds, close this time. I turn slightly to my right to find him looking over my shoulder.
“Can I help you with something?” I raise my eyebrow in hopes that he gets the point I don’t want to be disturbed.
“You got a girl, LT? You never check your email. As a matter of fact, you never get letters either.”
“None of your business. Now go find something to do!” I growl before turning back to my laptop.
“Okay. Yea, LT’s got a girl, you just don’t know it yet,” he says as he scurries away before I can throw something at him.
I shake my head before beginning my email to Becca. I don’t have a girl, but what I do have is finally someone that understands.