CHAPTER 2
“Wake up, Uncle Caleb. We’re going to be late!” Jill had snuck into my room and was five inches from my face.
I really need to remember to lock my door. Not for my own benefit, but for others. I was still a little jumpy after everything that had happened on my last deployment and it wasn’t a good idea to wake me suddenly.
“Late for what? The fish aren’t going to be biting today.”
“Very funny. Come on!”
“Oh. I almost forgot. You wanted to help me mow the lawn. You’re right. We should get started.”
“Uncle Caleb!”
“Ok, ok, ok. Just let me jump in the shower and we’re out of here.”
“Yay!”
Jill is a great kid. I think she enjoyed my teasing almost as much as I enjoyed teasing her.
We jump in the Jeep and make our way to Northwest Elementary School. There were balloons and signs everywhere out front. Welcome Parents, the biggest of the signs displayed above the front entrance.
We entered and were greeted with a welcome bag, and an energy drink. When they handed me the energy drink I froze. The guys on my team had been addicted to these things. Myself included for a time. It was bad enough we were drinking them as adults, but they were handing them out to kids? It even looked like some sort of sponsorship. I made a mental note to talk to somebody about that.
Jill gave me a tour of the school. Right as she was finishing the bell rang, meaning we had 10 minutes to make it to her class.
“It’s down this way, Uncle Caleb. Hurry, we don’t want to be late.”
As we turn the corner Jill races off down the hallway. At the end of the hall she is scooped up by a young woman in a big hug. Jill turns to me and motions for me to come faster. I continue walking. My eyes fixed on the woman who is hugging Jill. She looks very familiar.
“Caleb?”
“Tara. It’s been a long time. How are you?”
“Wow. I’m great. Didn’t expect to see you here today. Didn’t expect to see you ever, actually. Sorry, that was rude. I just didn’t notice your name on the list. I heard you were in the military overseas. Someone said Special Forces, but I have no idea what that really means or if it’s true.”
“Some of it’s true. I was overseas. I’m back now. Catching up with everyone. We’ll see how it goes.”
“Sounds interesting. Well, it’s great to have you here today. If you and Jill want to take your seats we’re about to begin.”
“Will do.”
The room was full of proud parents. There were packets strategically placed at each table corresponding to the names. The packet contained a lot of Jill’s best work from a number of different subjects. There were drawings, math, a ribbon she’d won with her kickball team, and some short writings.
The kids all took turns reading one of their writings in front of the entire class. The subject of their writing was 10 Reasons Why My Parents are Special to Me. The kids seemed to all read each of the items then look at their parents with a smile and affection. It was nice, but reminded me a little too much of a Dave Letterman Top 10 List.
Eventually it was Jill’s turn. She proudly marched up to the front of the class.
“Hello. My name is Jill Jackson, and these are my 10 reasons why my parents are special to me.” She says.
“Number 10. Sometimes, when I’m not sure what to do I just look up to heaven and ask my mom. She always tells me to do what is right and to help other people. Then I feel better and my decision is easy.”
The whole room goes quiet. I can see some of the woman almost immediately begin to tear up. Although it obviously isn't a problem for her, I didn’t know how deep Jill was going to go with these answers. Her first answer was already a zinger.
“Number 9. Sometimes there are people who can’t fight for themselves and they need somebody to help them. My daddy does that and doesn’t ask for anything in return. It taught me to do things only out of kindness and from the heart and not because you expect something in return.”
I always knew Jill as an energetic kid. I didn’t know she wrote and spoke so well. The whole room was focused on her. Waiting to hear what she had next.
“Number 8. My dad always says when the going gets tough, get tougher. Never let ‘em see you sweat. Prior practice prevents poor performance. What he means is to always be prepared, and then be prepared some more. When he was helping me learn soccer he made me run a lot. One day I asked him why I had to run so much. Why can’t I just practice soccer? He said, champions are made in the fourth quarter.”
A few of the men sat up in their chairs and nodded approvingly.
“Number 7. I never got to know my mom, but she bought some insurance in case anything bad ever happened when she was away. That way I would have the chance to pursue my dreams. I would rather have my mom, but I am thankful she was always thinking about me and her gift is still with me today. Every day.”
At this point there were only a few dry eyes left in the room. The welcome gift bags hadn’t come equipped with tissues.
“Number 6. One time around Christmas I told my dad we had to give two canned goods to help people without food. He told me to pick from the pantry. I brought back canned peas and canned beets. They had been in the pantry for a long time. I never wanted to eat them. He asked if that’s what I wanted to give. I told him yes. Then he told me to go pick out some things for dinner. I went and got my favorite kind of canned peaches and spicy canned fish for sandwiches. He asked me if that’s what I wanted for dinner. I said yes. Then he opened the peas and beets and put them on two plates. He handed one to me and kept one for himself. He didn’t even heat them up. I told him he had mixed up the food. He said he hadn't mixed them up. I had. Christmas was the time to give, not to discard. There was no value in giving something I didn’t want. Probably the person who would have received the peas and beets would be happier, but they’d be a lot happier with peaches and fish, which had protein. My dad said if you give a gift, always make sure it’s truly a gift. Something thoughtful and something the other person would actually want and enjoy. He’s right.”
“Number 5. My dad and I always put out water and some food for the stray animals in the neighborhood. My dad is in the Navy so he doesn’t have a lot of extra money. One day I fell off my bike and hurt my leg really bad. I was lying in the street and one of the dogs I had seen by our house drinking the water came to me and sat next to me. I got up and walked my bike home. He walked with me the whole way until I reached the front door. I told my dad and he said a friend in need is a friend indeed. Now we try to put out more water and also get some animal food donations from the neighborhood. The animals are also calmer now and they make the neighborhood feel more friendly and safe.”
“Number 4. My dad and I were planting onions in our back yard last spring. Most were the same size, but there was one that was really small. I asked my dad if I should throw it away. He said no. They all get a chance. It really showed me that you should give everybody a chance no matter how they start out in life, what they look like, or what their circumstances are. Sometimes we all just need that one chance to do the things we dream of.”
“Number 3. On Fridays, when we have ice cream, my dad always lets me pick the flavor.”
The crowd laughed in between sobs. Husbands and wives turned to each other and nodded in approval. Something so simple, but so powerful, as deferring the choice of ice cream.
“Number 2. Two is stronger than one. Whenever my dad talks about our family he reminds me that the two of us together are stronger than either of us by ourselves. It’s a simple lesson, but my favorite.”
“Number 1. Even when I do something wrong, my dad reminds me that we can fix it and no matter what he still loves me and will always love me. Even when I make mistakes.”
“Thank you.”
The whole room was silent with the exception of the sniffles you could hear from a number of the parents. Then one woman stood up and started clapping. Then another. And another. Soon the whole room was giving Jill a standing ovation. I really couldn’t believe it. Her father had taught her the SEAL values we learn during training so I knew she wouldn’t lie or cheat, but if I hadn’t known her personally I would have had a hard time believing a 12 year old wrote that list. Incredible.
I give her a pat on the head and a one armed hug as she sits back down next to me.
“Well, who’s next?” Tara had also clearly been emotionally moved by Jill’s speech. She looked back down at her list and announced the next name.
The rest of the day consisted of lunch, a kickball game of parents versus the kids, and some classroom presentations. It was fun to see all the families interacting and everyone having such a good time, but even so I knew this life wasn’t the one for me. I had been too deep fighting battles for too long. Too jaded. Too cynical.
At the end of the day we thanked Tara and made our way to the parking lot. I had backed into a spot that provided a clear and fast exit. My training was instinctual at this point. Just as we were arriving at the Jeep I hear the chirp of an electronic keychain unlock the doors to a car a few cars down from ours. I look up and see what appears to be a familiar face from the side. It was just a profile view, but I was sure.
“Grace. Hey.”
“Caleb? Uh. Hey. What are you doing here?”
“Parents day. This is Jill.”
“Hi Jill. Nice to meet you. I’m Miss Compton.”
“Hi Miss Compton. Pleasure to meet you.”
Grace shoots me a sideways glance. A stare that could cut glass.
“You left the reception without saying good-bye. I didn’t get a chance to get your number.” I say.
Grace pauses. Still staring at me. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Why not? I thought you had a good time.”
“I thought I had a good time too. Now I’m not so sure.”
“What?”
“Sorry. I have to get going. Nice to meet you, Jill.”
Grace jumped into her car and pulled away. I was left wondering what had just happened. She had been so warm and enjoyable just two days before, and now she was an ice queen.
“Is everything OK, Uncle Caleb?” Jill asks.
“Always. Now how about we get some ice cream?”
“OK. Do you want to pick the flavor?”
I smile. “We’ll go to the ice cream cone place. That way we can both pick.”