Anchorgurl1 requested for a story showing Newkirk and his ma before she sent him off to war. So, here it is! Also, I'm pretty sure that Scott said on his blog that Newkirk's full name was "Eugene Philip Newkirk". Do correct me if I'm wrong.
Disclaimer: Not Scott.
Eugene Philip Newkirk was a monkey luddite. So when his ma ordered him to pack his bags and join the air force, what would his first reaction be but to scream and stuff his head under his pillow?
In Eugene's defence, it was only four in the morning.
"Oh, be quiet, mister!" his ma answered, whipping his blankets off of him. "If you plan on catching your train, which leaves at six, you must get up at four. It takes you so long to pack, then you have breakfast then you have to race to the station because you spilt your milk and had to clean it up…"
As his mother rattled on, Eugene curled into a little ball, trying to fit his whole body under his pillow.
"I don't want to join the air force, ma. For one, I can't. I'm under aged, you know. I'm only fifteen!"
Eugene felt his ma pull the pillow off of him.
"Wrong! You were fifteen yesterday. You're sixteen today."
With a groan, Eugene realized that she was right. Today was May 16, the day that he had been born.
"So, do try and straighten up a bit! You don't think that I gave you all those aeronautic lessons for nothing, do you? Now, I already have your suitcase open on the ground. It's the smaller one, because I don't want you bringing too much. And, when you start packing…"
Again, Eugene plugged his ears, burying his head into his mattress. His ma was a monkey luddite herself, but she was a tad crazier than the others. She told Eugene every single day that his da would be back soon, so he had to try and look smart. Often, Eugene would catch her talking to herself. Though, when he asked her why she was mumbling, she just smacked him lightly and told him "Your da and I are having a very important conversation here, young man." Some days, she stayed in bed until the very next morning. Others, she would be awake and cheerful by three in the morning. She had been that way ever since da died.
"Are you listening?" Eugene suddenly heard her screech.
"Yes." he mumbled, sitting up and swinging his feet over the edge of the bed.
"Fine! I'll repeat the question. Do want your boxers covered with dinosaurs, or the teddy bear ones?"
And right there Eugene realized that though his ma was crazy, he still had to listen to her. Because whenever she set her mind to something, she would do whatever it took to do it.
It looked like he had a train to catch.