Through the Eyes of a Child.
Through the Eyes of a Child.
Author's Note: Yes, this is very similar to an Army Wives Story I had already posted but I ruined it by overthinking the child in an adult body, and making it a SG1 crossover, letting it get too weird. In this story No one will know she used to be someone else, or that they there was a time she wasn't there. Not even her. As such the Holden's House will now have four bedrooms instead of three. She will be more precocious, intelligent, and observant, and somehow know things she didn't actually learn but she won't be an adult in a child's body. Also note, because I think the Second TJ is better in this fic he was always TJ and because the first Emmalin didn't get enough screen time for me to know her personality the second Emmalin will always be Emmalin. Just go with it. I've read fan fics where they change the characters' genders, sexualities, or turn them into where werewolves, having an actor who played a character start playing them sooner than later is not asking too much. Also I do not own Army Wives. If I did, and they had to kill off Jeremy (I would have preferred he Lived go through OCS and married to a Dr. Tonya with a couple of kids but if the actor left the show oh, well) Tonya definitely should have been pregnant with his child, and I would have made there been some report of Claudia Joy doing one final act of kindness, something so very Claudia Joy before she died. I think the show lost an opportunity to do so. I also think they should have showed Gloria's answer because the producers were fooling themselves if they thought Lifetime was going to keep the show running another season. Lifetime shows rarely last more than 3 to 5 seasons and this lasted 7, and its two main leads were already gone. Also any Opinions stated by Allison in her mind rants or spoken allowed or by any other characters may or may not be my own views, but it's just a piece of fan fiction so you probably should get hung up on it. And that's the end of my spiel enjoy through the eyes of a Child.
I woke up it was early on a Saturday June 2nd, today Mom is throwing a Wives only Tea for enlisted and Officer's Wives, it's this afternoon. Daddy is taking me out on adventure he didn't tell me where. Emmalin is going to her friends. Last Saturday was the Ball was last weekend to celebrate the promotion of General Butt kisser, I would never call him that out loud My parents would probably send me to my room, and tell me not to use my computer, my CD Player or any of my toys. And I would listen, because they're my parents and they taught me better than to disobey them especially when I'm already being punished. At least I'm pretty sure that's what they would do. I'm not about to risk it. Especially if the punishment could be worse. Once you become an Officer, the army is 70% duty, Honor, and Country, the rest is politics and perception. And good deal of the time the politics and Perception comes first. At least for the wives and children of officers, and it becomes more important the higher the officer's rank, and the competition gets more cutthroat, or that could just be Lenore Baker and her unique brand of crazy, I'm not entirely sure. I'd like to believe most Colonels up for promotion to Major General don't have Wives that conniving, Manipulative and vicious. That most people who serve as high ranking officers in the army and their wives are honorable people. But I only have Lenore Baker to go by, and she's enough.
After shaking my head at these thoughts, I turn on my computer, and check the weather for the day. My computer has all kinds of blocks on it. But I can check the weather, and access a few kid-friendly sites. Low 65, High 78. Bright and Sunny, mild breeze. Humidity 30%. I lay out My Lavender underwear/Undershirt set with the Purple Stripes, My Purple Socks, My Long Jean Shorts, and My Purple t-shirt, with the flowers, and the butterflies, I get undressed and put on my Bathrobe, and grab a towel from the hallway closet. I enter the kid's bathroom, and after doing everything I have to do. I leave with a clean body smelling of Vanilla and Almond, washed, brushed out and damp hair with the scent of Vanilla, minty fresh breath, and an empty bladder, I headed back to my room, hang up my bathrobe, and quickly get dressed, also putting on my Purple and Blue Nikes. Since I only Wear Purple, or Blue, and sometimes Oliver and tan, I have these a pair of white KEDs, Mary Janes, closed up dress shoes, All purpose, a Pair of Hiking Boots, a pair All weather Boots, and a pair all black Converse, and a pair of leather moccasin slippers from L.L Bean. I sat on the bed, and brushed out my hair again, and braided it trying to remember where I learned to braid. I shrug it off. I'd seen My Mother, and sisters do it hundreds maybe thousands of times. The only real question is how I knew I'd be able to do it. I guess it's just one of those things. I looked at the clock it was almost time to go down for breakfast. I checked on My Bunny Rabbit, He lived in a cage on a side table in my room. His name was major, just major. I was 4 when I got him and not very original. It least I didn't name him something like Bugs, or Fluffy. And he cage was clean and he had enough bedding. I'd probably have to clean his cage tomorrow, but I'd give fresh water and vegetables after breakfast. I also needed to write to Flash. Flash was a US Army Corporal, Named Wallace West from Chicago. Who was currently serving a tour in Afghanistan with one of Fort Marshall's Infantry Divisions; it was obvious why they called him Flash. He shared the name with the third DC Superhero to be called the FLASH Wally West. Actually his full name was Wallace William West III. He was a nice guy. I went down to breakfast. There was a large bowl of summer fruit salad, a plate of wheat toast, different kinds of Jam, Juice, and Milk on the table, a large Pan filled with Scrambled eggs, a serving dish filled with pancakes, a small ceramic jug filled with syrup. Mom didn't usually do all this on Saturdays, this was a Sunday thing, to entice Emmalin, Amanda and me to cooperate and attend church. It's not a mandatory thing as far as the army is concerned but it's an image thing. The gossip would be flying. And for the sake of appearances, the family really needs to attend one of the churches on post, every week. My sisters understand the sacrifices needed for a military family usually do what needs to be done, but early on a Sunday would usually rather sleep. And as for me, sitting still and listening to adults talk for long periods of time is boring what kid my age would want to do that. Even if I do have the option to go to the children's church which is more like a Sunday school, and we do activities and sing, and sometimes there's candy. Nursery is where you go until your 5, and from 5 to 10, Children's church is an option. Once you're 10 you're supposed to sit still and go to services, but once you're 14 you can volunteer in the nursery, and once you're 18, you can volunteer in Children's church. I definitely don't feel like going to the Big People's church this week. I sit down. I put Scrambled eggs, and a pancake on my plate, and some fruit. I put syrup on my pancake. I fill my glass with milk. And I start eating. Mom is the room.
"Honey you should have asked me to help you."
"Where are Daddy and Emmalin?"
"Your father had to take a call he'll be right in, and your sister should be right down."
"Okay. I need to feed Major after Breakfast, I need the Hay, the Lettuce and cabbage, pellets, and fresh water."
"I'll help you sweetheart." She said.
"I am also going to write Flash, sometime today or tomorrow and mail it Monday.
"That's good, honey the soldiers like having letters to read."
"Flash does, he says when the desert is busy, it's like you have to do 12 things at once, and look in every direction at the same time and there's stuff coming at you and people to protect, but when it's quiet, when you're waiting, it's just a boring, lonely place full of nothing to do, and thoughts you're trying your best not think about."
"Sounds like you're getting to know him very well."
"Yeah, you know he wants to go to college, and OCS, and then go to law School, and join JAG."
"Really?"
"Yeah, He had planned to just do a three year stint and pay for college, since his Grandfather served in Korea and then went to college on the GI Bill and became a Pharmacist, but he ended up loving the Army. Now he wants to make it his career." As I was talking my dad walked in.
"That happens to a lot of Soldiers who join. They plan on staying only for a few years to get money to pay for college, but end up making a lifetime commitment to the Army."
"Who were you talking about?"
"Allie's Pen pal. Corporal Wallace West III."
"Right, well if that's what he really wants, he actually needs to speak to someone, the army has personnel whose job it is to help Soldiers reach their full potential, and make the most of themselves. I'll put the business cards in your next letter.
"I'm writing him this weekend and mailing it on Monday."
"Alright, I'll get them later, I have some in my office."
"What are we doing this afternoon while Mom has one of her Merry Wives of Marshall Afternoon Gossip and Judgment fests?"
Mom Scolded. "Allison Michelle!"
"Sorry." I wasn't but my tone said I was. My eyes of course didn't, but My Mom was placated. Since when do I know the word placated? Television I guess. Yeah television. My dad was amused I could tell by his eyes, but the rest of his face was stone cold solider face.
"I'm going to take you, to lunch at the Malt Shop at Noon, then to see Shrek the Third. Then we're going to go Mini-golfing, and then to that Arcade with all the classic arcade games, and all the antique coin operated Machines from early 20th and late 19th centuries, Arcade Sanctuary. Then we'll pick up some Chinese for Everyone and bring it home."
"Cool, I've got to change my pants."
"What's wrong with what you have on?"
"Theatres, always crank up the AC, a T-shirt is fine, but I'll freeze in shorts. I need to put on a pair of regular Jeans." I went to stand up.
"Finish your breakfast and then feed Major first." Mom said.
"Yes, Ma'am." I had breakfast. I fed Major, and changed my pants, and Put my sneakers back on slipping them on with having untied or retie them. I went to get the hey and pellets from the garage, and cut up some lettuce and cabbage for him, and also get a bottle of water so I can pour it into his Ceramic water bowl, and not have to take it out of his cage. It took about half an hour to accomplish my tasks. Mom wouldn't let me cut up the leafy vegetables for him, and insisted on doing it herself, and had daddy help me carry everything up, but I did everything else myself. Once I had him fed. I had some time before we were going to leave hours. So I wrote Flash on my personalized AMH Stationary I got for Christmas thankfully it wasn't one where one of the letters is gigantically huge compared to the other three and you can't tell which is supposed to be the last and which is supposed to be the middle initial. I used a Purple Gel Pen, but addressed the Envelop in Black. I asked dad for the cards. I slipped them in, and Put the correct stamps on it, and put it in the mailbox and put the flag up. The mail was delivered and picked up if the flag was up of course at 9:30 every morning but Sundays. It was only 8:30. Chloe waved at me, and came over to talk to me. Chloe lived with her Aunt and Uncle. I never found out why that was, because her parents are still alive, and they don't serve in the military. I figure it's better not to ask. Her Uncle is a Major and a trauma surgeon at Mercer, and her Aunt makes Victorian and Steam punk Cosplay Costumes and sells them on Etsy, She's also the Go to Seamstress on the base if you need something altered, hemmed, or repaired and makes the costumes every church or school play, She's also a member of FRG, PTA and an active, supportive Army wife.
"Hi, Chloe."
"We're going on Vacation for the last two weeks of July, there's a Steam Punk Summer ball in Baltimore. And Auntie and Doc are going to take me." She called her Aunt and Uncle Auntie, and Doc. "I get to dress up, and they'll be dancing, and Kenpo demonstrations, and all kinds of things."
"That's great Chloe."
"We're also going to see all the Museums in DC, and visit, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington."
"Sounds like fun." It did, but I didn't want to do to DC in July. DC in July was just as bad as Charleston in July. All that concrete, glass and buildings, it made it hotter somehow. I don't know how I knew that. Besides that when we're in Charleston we spend most of the time in Air conditioned buildings, and cars, we don't spend it walking around in the heat. Well I do. I know the soldiers don't. That they not only walk around in the heat. They run and march and they're not wearing shorts and a T-Shirt, but are wearing full gear, and 50 pound pack. There is no way I'm joining the army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard. I might marry into it if I meet the right person, but there is no way I'm serving myself. I'm not marching, I'm not wearing a uniform. I'm not saluting. I'm not shipping out for long periods away from my family, never knowing when I can call or come home, risking my life and serious permanent Injury. I respect my mother, and Uncle Frank, and Colonel B, Flash, and Major Howard, Chloe's Uncle, and all the others who serve their country, but I can't image doing it myself. It's too scary.
"It will be. I'll see you later, I have to find Godiva." Godiva is her cat. She's always running away. I don't know why she bothers looking anywhere, the stupid cat always ends up in the same place stuck in the oak tree in her backyard. I went in the house.
"Hey Kiddo, saw you talking to Chloe?"
"They're going to a Steam punk ball, the last week in July, I don't know how Dr. and Mrs. Howard aren't the targets of gossip more often they are so weird."
He chuckles. "Because they don't do anything scandalous, they just have an unusual hobby for a military family, and once it made the rounds the first time then everyone just accepted that like to get together with other a bunch other people once a month dress up like Victorian time travelers and play pretend there was nothing new to gossip about. It's not something I would want to do, or most Soldiers I know, but there's nothing wrong with it, it's just an escape from the pressures and realities they have to face in their lives. It's no different than people who play Dungeons and Dragons or do Civil War Reenactments."
"I guess. Can you go get Godiva out of their Oak tree, she ran away again, and Dr. Howard is…." He was short there was no getting around that. I mean he wasn't a little person or anything but he was only 5'5, or 5'6. She's not sure they'd want him if he tried out for the non-Medical part of the army. But he is a brilliant Trauma Surgeon.
"Sure, Allie. I'll go over there right now and get her." Daddy went and got Godiva out of her tree, and then came back. It came time to go out We went to the Diner and Got Big Thick Juicy Cheese Burgers with the Works on it, Greasy, crispy salty fries that were so hot and perfect they didn't need anything on them, and Chocolate Shakes. Then we went to See Shrek the Third which was full of messed up versions of fairy tale characters, pop culture references, and all kinds of Jokes some she got some she didn't, they didn't eat anything at the movies, they just bought a soda each, She got Sprite, and he got Coke. Then they went to the bathroom and left the theater, they played Mini golf, and had a wonderful time. I won, but I'm pretty sure he let me. Than we ordered Chinese on his cell phone and picked it up, and Emmalin was home, and Mom wasn't. Emmalin told us that Mom called and said she'd be late. But didn't give an explanation. We ate the Chinese put hers and the leftovers in Rubbermaid containers, and plastic Ziploc bags and placed it in the fridge. Then threw out the trash and cleaned up the kitchen. By then it was 7:00. Just as we finished cleaning up, the door opened.
"I'm Home and I brought guests." Mom called from the front door. We went to great them. Mom came in with Aunt Denise, two women Mrs. Moran, and Mrs. LeBlanc? Dr. Burton and two black babies but Mrs. Moran was pregnant. I wondered what was going on. But didn't get to find out. At least they think I couldn't. As soon as they set her up in Amanda's room. I listened through the wall, with my listening head phones. Great for Eavesdropping. And it's amazing what you can buy in a Charlotte Mall, when your Sister gives you 20 bucks and tells you to get lost. Apparently the twins weren't hers she was a paid Surrogate and the parents are out of town. She needs this kept quiet her family was in dept. Oh, Mom is going to help her. Of course. Dad doesn't like it. I wouldn't either. But I understand Mrs. Moran's point of view too. I better put this away. It was 7:30. My bedtime is officially 8:30. But the time line goes like this at 8:00, Mom or Dad will come in and tell me to start getting ready for bed, and then at around 8:10, they'll read to me, until about 8:40, and then after Goodnights and kisses, the lights go out at 8:45. So my bedtime is really 8:45. Because that's when the lights get turned off and I have to go to sleep. Right now we're reading the Sherlock Holmes the Compete Novels and Stories Volume I. We are still on the Study in Scarlet. We just started it. I don't read it on my own. On my own I'm reading Matilda. It amazes me that Miss Trunchbull got away with that kind of behavior. She would be up on charges in days in the real world, and so would the Wormwoods, besides the fraudulent and stolen car dealings. But then So Would the Dursley's in Harry Potter, and Dumbledore, leaving a baby on a doorstep in the middle of the night in November? Even if he wasn't a manipulative crazy old goat which I think he was if you go over his actions, would it have killed him to ring the bell and talk to the Dursley's in person? And how hard would it have been to use his influence to get Sirius a trial? The first 12 years is bad enough because he let someone he thought guilty rot in an inhumane prison without due process but after he escaped, he couldn't arrange it. I'm sorry it just makes me mad. I definitely think Dumbledore was just as evil as Voldemort and probably caused Voldemort to happen in the first place. Wow, I wandered off topic, and since when did I think about how Manipulative Dumbledore was. Wasn't he a good guy? I used to think that. But going over everything that happened, everything I read I agree with my thoughts wherever they came from. I look at the clock 7:45. I might as well start getting ready early. I change into my Blue Pajama Shorts with bright yellow polka dots, and my matching Bright Yellow pajama shirt. I put my clothes in the hamper. I still wear my underclothes, and My Socks, not that they match. I put on my bathrobe and go into the bathrobe, I did what I had to do, leaving the bathroom, with clean face and hands, minty breath, and having gone to the bathroom. In the hall. I see, Aunt Denise, Mrs. LeBlanc, and Dr. Burton has left. "Daddy?"
"Hey, Sweetheart, You're ready for bed early."
"I thought we could read longer tonight."
"Sure, I'll be right there, go get in bed." I did, and he came in less than five minutes later and picked up Sherlock and began reading. He read through the Case in Scarlet and into the Next Story, and continued reading until 8:40, and then it was time for bed. He kissed me Goodnight, my Mom came in and kissed me goodnight, my Mom set my alarm, and handed me my sleep mask. Unlike Most 7 year olds, I can't sleep unless it is completely and utterly dark. Mom turned on my CD player which would Play Soothing Ocean Sounds and Yoga relation music. My Mom has the same CD. She won't put it on repeat it will play for two hours and then turn off. I wonder about the babies in Amanda's room. And About Mrs. LeBlanc, and about what's up with Mrs. Baker. And was that a bruise on Aunt Denise when she came in? Weird. My thoughts start to slow down and I drift to sleep. The thoughts of the day melting away. The mysteries will all be there tomorrow.