Hi everyone! I haven't done a story in forever and I'm really nervous about putting it up. It is a Vietnam fic about how different Soda is when he returns from war. Do not expect happy, sensitive, tell-me-your-problems Soda. Like anyone who returned from fighting in a war, he is changed and it's going to take him awhile adjust, that is IF he can adjust to his old life!!
I researched all this as much as I could but please let me know what is wrong (pertaining to facts about the war or facts in general that I screwed up) so I can fix it. Thanks for reading! Hope you like…
My foot wouldn't stop bouncing on the floor of the bus as much as I wanted it to. My hands were tapping my knees at a racing speed and I wished more than anything that I had something to occupy them with. For the last year and a half I had carried a gun night and day and it was very noticeable not to have it now especially now.
"Curtis, you wanna cool it?" The guy sitting next to me grumbled, annoyed at my constant fidgeting. I threw him a smile and he smiled back before rolling his eyes and returning his gaze out the window. The Sergeant stood at the head of the bus and everyone else sat up straight and put their palms on their knees.
"Well men, I just want to congratulate you on a job well done. Enjoy your families, get some good partying' done and keep safe. You hear?"
"HOOAH!" Boomed the men on the bus. It was an automatic response by now.
"When you wear those tags you are representing the United States Army and you are to act accordingly. With that said, will you men drink and drive?"
"NO SERGEANT!" The bus erupted.
"Will you hit your wife or your girl?"
"NO SERGEANT!"
"Will you beat your kids?"
"NO SERGEANT!"
"Will you kick your dog?"
"NO SERGEANT!"
"Will you sleep with someone underage?"
"NO SERGEANT!"
This was the usual liberty speech we got every time before being released to our own time. This however, is our first time being released to our families, being released back into the civilian world.
The bus turned the corner and a swarm of cheers filled the streets. The buildings were decorated with red, white and blue streamers. There were "WELCOME HOME!" banners hung between pillars and streetlamps. There was a huge crowd of people gathered along the sidewalks. They were all cheering, some were waving flags and most were crying.
"Men, Welcome Home!" The Sergeant bellowed with a huge smile plastered on his face. With that the bus came to a stop and men stampeded to the door. A few guys even opened the emergency exit door in a hurry to be reunited with their families.
I was wildly searching for my brothers. In my way through the crowd I saw moms crying over their sons return and girlfriends leaping on their lovers and showering them with kisses. I came to a stop when I saw a woman holding a baby that couldn't be more than a month or two old. The man in uniform looked at it nervously after kissing his wife. Although, he was too far away to hear, Soda read the lips of the woman, her head titled toward the bundle in her arms. "Meet your daddy." She handed the newborn to her husband who broke down into tears pulling his wife into his arm as they gazed into their child's face.
"Sodapop! Sodapop Curtis!" That was Steve! I whirled around and there they were. My smile slid off my face when I realized how long it's been. I took a few steps forward and I was face to face with Two-Bit. I didn't say anything, I couldn't. I just reached my hand out to shake his.
Man, had he aged. He had a scruffy beard and deep circles under his eyes. His eyes were wide and laughing as they used to when he'd tell a joke but he kept his mouth shut tight. He pulled me in for a hug.
Standing next to him was Steve. Nothing was really changed about him, not that I could tell anyway. His mouth opened and closed like he wanted to say something but couldn't find words. Man, could I relate! I offered the same gesture to him as I had to Two-Bit and he gave my hand a forceful shake while nodding his head.
I continued down the line they had formed to my older brother. He had certainly aged in the year and a half I'd been in the Army. He had shaved but the shadow was appearing, although it was barely noon. His eyes had large circles under them. They were rimmed with tears and I went straight for a hug. I looked up at him and we shared a look that said more than words could even hope to.
Next was Pony. I took a step to my left and was immediately engulfed in a hug. His arms were wrapped tightly around me with his head pressed into my chest. His sobs were so strong they shook me. After a minute I pulled back to look at him. He grew. He was nearly as tall as me now and maybe even had a bigger build than me. His hair was the light gold it always turned in summer. He didn't look any older though. No, he was still my little brother.
I took a step back so I could look at everyone at once. There I stood for a full minute staring at the people that were my whole life just awhile ago but now I didn't even know them. It had only been a year, how different could things be? Well that awkward feeling I have right now and the fact that although I'm standing within arms length of them, I've never felt so distant, those tell me just how different things were.