"Something the matter, Lieutenant?"
Face sighed. "It just seems so unfair. BA's the only one of us who still has a mother, and he's spending Mother's Day unconscious. He's going to be really upset when he wakes up and finds out he missed it."
Hannibal nodded as he light his cigar. "Are you sure that's the only thing bothering you?"
Face was silent for a moment. "Hannibal, what was your mom like?"
Hannibal seemed surprised by the question. "She was the poster child for the perfect mother. She kept the house spotless, she had every meal cooked on time, she always had cookies for all the neighborhood kids. She was perfect. The only problem was she hated it. When I was twelve, she ran away with an encyclopedia salesman. We never heard from her again."
"I'm sorry, Hannibal. Sometimes I really wish I knew my mother. Then other times, I'm afraid of what she might have been like, you know?"
"I bet she was a great person, just like you, Facey."
Hannibal and Face turned to look at Murdock, who was standing in the doorway. "Sometimes I wonder what my mother was like, too. I don't remember."
Hannibal smiled. "Alright, men. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, let's get back to work. Face, you relieve Maggie watching BA. Murdock, you check the supplies in the van."
"Okey-dokey, Colonel!"
Murdock sat in the back of the van. "BA's Mama is waiting for him to call, and he can't this year. Would you mind if I sent your gift to Mrs. B?" Murdock looked up and smiled. "Thanks, Mama. I knew you wouldn't mind."
~~AT~~AT~~AT~~AT~~
BA punched the tree. Again. And again. He had woke up that morning. And after threatening to break Face's face, he had found out that he had missed Mother's Day. Every year since coming home from Nam, he had managed to call his Mama every Mother's Day, no matter what.
He walked over and leaned against his van. "I'm sorry, Mama."
The phone in the van began ringing. He pulled the door open and picked up the phone. "What?"
"Scooter! Is that any way to talk to your Mama?"
"Mama? Is something wrong?"
"No, no, nothing's wrong. I'm doing fine. I just wanted to call and thank you for the beautiful roses you sent me. That was the sweetest thing! A whole dozen red roses! You didn't have to do that, you know. I knew you were thinking of me, even if you were somewhere where you couldn't call."
"Uh," BA wasn't sure what to say. Had he sent Mama roses? He didn't remember doing that.
He realized that Mama was saying goodbye. "I love you, too, Mama." He hung up, very confused.
He looked out the window when he heard the crazy fool singing. BA growled, thinking that Murdock was coming to bug him. But Murdock walked by the van and never even noticed BA. BA quietly got out of the van and followed the pilot. Murdock walked to the edge of Maggie's yard and sat down in the middle of the flowerbed. He picked a couple flowers, dug a small hole, and gently buried the flowers.
"I know roses are your favorite, Ma, but I'm glad you let me send your roses to BA's Mama. I hope these flowers will be okay. Next year, I'll get you two dozen roses!" He lovingly smoothed the dirt. "You know, yesterday Face was talkin' about how he wished he knew what his mother was like. It made me realize that I really don't remember you. I feel horrible for saying that, but I really don't. All I know about you is what Grandma and Grandpa told me."
Murdock obviously wanted to say more, but Hannibal yelled from the house, "Decker! Let's move out!"
BA ran to the van. He stood at the back until Murdock ran up. He grabbed the pilot by the collar. "Listen, you crazy fool! I'm sick and tired of you sticking your nose in my business!" Murdock's eyes widened. "Those roses you sent to my Mama, that was real nice!"
Murdock stood with his mouth hanging open. That was not what he was expecting to hear!
"I wanted to say thanks, man. And next year, I'll buy roses for your Mama, too."
"That's nice that you're giving each other flowers instead of killing each other, Sargent, but get in!"
The sound of Hannibal's voice caused both of them to jump in the van. BA sped away from the approaching MP's. He glanced around at the other three. "Hey, Murdock. Grab the little box in my bag."
Murdock did what he was told, making up stories of what could possibly be inside. "That's 'nough, fool! Now open the box and pass'em out."
Murdock opened the box and stared at what was inside. He handed one to Face, and one to Hannibal, then took one for BA and one for himself. The guys all looked at the cookie they were holding. On the top of each cookie, the words 'Love, Mama' were carefully written in icing.
"I wanted to share my Mama with you guys."
Hannibal, Face, and Murdock, all trying not to get emotional, thanked the big man. Hannibal held his cookie up. "To Mama!"
"To Mama!"