Home Sweet ...Home?
The ride home was long and drawn out, I didn't like to travel anymore. At this point I was ready to settle and move on. But I was more uncertain of where things were going then I was back in my MASH unit. There, I had found a dark grim but persistent routine. Casualties though haunting began to feel familiar and there's always a comfort in familiarity. Now I was on my way back to Maine but other then letters from my father and old town newspapers I had no idea what to expect,what things had changed? I wondered if my favorite dinners were open, after eating the slop they call food in those mess tents you'd be surprised how often food occupied my mind. Lobster... oh boy its calling me. Anyway the closer I got to home the more I got that feeling I had when I left for Korea, it was almost like leaving a war to join another. Time to get some sleep though...
I knew we were close when I started seeing lighthouses. I remember looking at them in wonder as a boy. They were like night lights for the emptiness that was the sea. They should really think about putting some lighthouses in Korea. I was glad to be home, glad to see my father and my friends. The ride home was delightful. I spent most of my time telling my father about all the friends I had made Trapper, B.J,Radar, Henry,Sherman Potter, Winchester, Klinger who I found very hard to describe, Mulchay, and last but not least Hot Lips, Father really wanted to know about her.
Seeing "Pierce" on the mailbox reminded me off the feeling I got when I was about to enter the toy store. My fears of returning began to fade. My house seemed generally untouched, I don't really know if a structure can seem lonely but if it can this was it. When I opened the door I expected to see a real estate agent it all seemed so new. I turned to wave my father goodbye but I was sad to see him go it seemed like there would be enough time to catch up. After about twenty minutes of pacing and sitting on every piece of furniture I own I could no longer stand my idle hands and decided to go into town.
Ron's Dinner seemed fitting. To most it would seem a hole in the wall but I wouldn't have it any other way. The waitress's called you sweetheart, the jukebox was always on playing some jazz tune from the 1940's. Burgers, hotdogs, pie and always fresh coffee. I was almost hoping I didn't see anyone I knew I wasn't sure if I was ready for the questions that would come with reunion. There was a waitress I had my eye on before I left for Boston. We had gone to high school together and if I had gone to any of the dances I surely would have asked her. I'm sure if she ever noticed me and surly I was in no place to start a relationship. It was nice to see her none the less Sarah was her name and more beautiful than ever she stood.
As I signed the check I heard someone say "Benjamin?". I had gotten so used to Hawkeye I almost didn't respond. I looked to see the face of an old man I couldn't place where I knew him from. "Hello"?, was all I could come up with still slightly confused.
To be continued...