Disclaimer: The Rat Patrol is not my property. They come out to play sometimes, then I send them home.
Good Night
By Suzie2b
The full moon was big and bright in the clear night sky. Troy did one last circuit and then headed into camp with a strong desire for some sleep. He looked for Tully, who was next on watch, but saw that his bedroll was empty. Troy looked around and spotted the young private standing alone out just beyond the jeeps with his back to the camp.
The sergeant walked out to where Tully was standing. Before he had a chance to say anything, the private said without turning, "Evening, sarge. I was just gettin' ready to relieve you."
"What are you doing out here?"
"Just saying good night."
Troy smiled slightly. "Good night? To who? The man in the moon?"
Tully chuckled quietly. "Not really." He looked at the sergeant. "The moon is starting to go down here in North Africa, but it's rising in Kentucky. My family would've had dinner. My sisters, Katy and Beth, would be finished cleaning up the kitchen by now. Tully sighed and again gazed at the planet above them. "I can just see them, along with my mother and father, out on the porch watchin' this very moon. I like to say good night to them whenever I can."
Troy put his hand on Tully's shoulder. "Missing home, huh?"
Tully nodded. "Sometimes I can't help but think about them."
"You know they miss you too."
"Yeah, I know. But at times like tonight … when the moon is big, I can see them so clear in my head and I know what they're doing right now … I just wish I could be there."
Troy nodded his understanding and handed the machine gun to Tully. "Well, this war won't last forever. You'll be home before you know it … we all will."
Tully smiled as he settled the gun in his arms. "Good night, sarge."
"Good night, Tully."
As the sergeant sat down on his bedroll, he took another look at the private. Tully took one last look at the moon and then turned his attention to the job at hand.