Chapter 2: Letters From Home

It's only been two days that Dean was gone to Iraq. After the first day he wished he was home already. Right when he arrived they put him out in the fields. Dean always wanted to write his first letter home, but he could never find the time. Days went by quick and some went by slow. He had night time but he was always to tired to. A month later Dean got a letter from home.

Dear Dean,

How are you? We all miss you here and

Hope you will come home soon. Your

Father said he wishes he never made you go.

If you hear anything about you coming home

Please write to us to let us know. Sam really misses you.

I wish you would be here for the birth of your new little

Brother or sister. I just found out today. Your father is excited

About it. Who knows you might be home by then. We

All hope so. Stay safe.

Love always.

Mom

Dean started to tear up. Four months went by. He found a person to talk with. His name was matt. He was from Detroit. They always talked about back home.

The General heard about his mother going to have a baby so he told Dean he could take a few weeks off so he could go meet his new little brother or sister. Dean said no. he couldn't do that to his family. Making them say goodbye all over again.

One more month went past. Dean finally got a letter from Sammy.

Dear Dean,

I miss you. I wish you would consider coming home

For a little while. But I understand that you don't want to put us through that. Mom talked to dad about me going to college. I just got kind a yelled at and for a week now he hasn't said a word to me. Sorry to cut this short but mom needs help painting the nursery.

Cya big bro. stay safe. I love you and come home soon.

- Sammy-

Dean put the letter back into his envelope, with tears streaming down his face. He wasn't the only one. The guy in the cot next to him had some coming down. Dean starting writing a letter back to Sammy.

Dear Sammy,

I miss you too. I wish we were out in the back yard throwing the football around. I also wish I was there to help you with dad. You know he don't mean it. He just wants us to follow in his footsteps. So your on summer vacation. Did you get into any colleges yet. Sorry bud to cut this short I have to go. Write back soon.

Love Dean

With that Dean ended his letter and had to go out to the front.

Back in Kansas

Sam went out to get the mail. John was at work at the time. Sam got a letter from Princeton, Stanford, and Harvard. Sam went running into the house shouting for his mom. Sam was waving the letters in the air. He opened all three of them and they all accepted Sam. Mary was really proud of him. All she wanted Sam to do was pick which one he wanted to go to. She would take care of John. Sam said thank you and ran upstairs to read Dean's letter that she forgot to tell Mary about. Sam read it but didn't get a chance to write back. All he heard downstairs was Mary and John discussing what Sam wants to do. The last thing he heard John say was " fine let him go but you are going to tell him." John walked out the door to the garage to work on the 1967 Chevy Impala for Dean when he got back home for good.

Mary went up stairs to tell Sam the good news. When she walked through the door Sam turned and said. " I know he said I can go mom. Don't worry I'm still going to go. Just I know dad don't want me to and he's not going to talk to me for a while huh?" Sam asked Mary. All she told him that it would take some time for him to get the idea of one of his sons not going to follow in his footsteps. Mary left Sam in his room. She went downstairs to make dinner. Sam finally got around to writing Dean back.

Dear Dean,

I just got your letter today. I know dad doesn't mean it.

By the way I got into three colleges. I'm picking Stanford.

I hope your back in time to come with us to take a tour of the place.

For some reason I have a feeling that you won't. that you will be there longer than your suppose to be. Dad's still mad at me for getting into college. I just thought he would be proud. After he talked to mom he ran out the door. But by the way when you do come home we are stuck sharing the same room, because the baby's room is in my old room. It sucks letters take a while to get to each other. I have to go mom's shouting that dinners done. Hope to hear from you soon which would mean hopefully less than a month. Cya

Love, Sammy.

Sam sealed the envelop and went downstairs. John came in right after Sam sat down. John wasn't talking much at the dinner table. Sam only ate a little bit and ran to his room. He couldn't take the silence anymore. John just left Mary at the table and he went back out in the garage. Mary cleaned everything up and went to bed. Sam took a walk to mail his letter. John finally came inside and fell asleep watching TV. Sam was lying on his bed thinking if going to college was a good idea or if he should do what Dean is doing. With that he fell asleep.