Say It Ain't So

1958

Mordecai sat on the roof with a soda in his hand and a radio on his other side. He watched as beautiful shades of gold, purple, and maroon red danced across the sky. A Buddy Holly song was playing on the radio and as Mordecai sipped his cooling soda he leaned back, perching himself on his unoccupied arm. As the sunset reached its halfway point Mordecai heard creaking and looked back to see Ronny climbing out onto the roof.

"Hey bro. Mind if I join ya?" Ronny asked.

"Nope. Come on dude." Mordecai patted the spot next to him.

As Ronny sat next to him Mordecai pulled a soda out of the cooler behind him, opened it, and handed it to Ronny. Ronny took a sip before looking at the sunset. After a moment, Ronny said,

"So I heard about what happened with Jenny today. You alright?"

Mordecai, who had been enjoying the sunset, laughed.

"Of course I'm alright."

"But, aren't you angry or something?"

Mordecai smiled.

"Naw man. I mean, at first I was furious. But then I got to thinkin'. We're only kids. None of it matters in the long run. So now, I just don't care. Life is full of let downs and its best not to get held up by them. Life is too short for that."

Ronny stared at Mordecai.

"Damn. That's deep. You smokin' something?"

"Well," Mordecai grinned slyly, "I did smoke half a joint at lunch today."

"Ah," Ronny said.

"Now shut up. We're missin' the sunset."

The brothers turned and watched as the last rays of light sank below the horizon. As darkness took over the land the lights of surrounding houses flashed on. Suddenly, Ronny's soda slipped out of his hand. It clanked against the roof and started rolling. Cursing, Ronny made a grab for it. As he was leaning forward, Ronny's foot slipped on spilled soda and suddenly he was sliding. Ronny cried out in surprise as he rapidly approached the edge of the roof.

"Ronny!" Mordecai cried.

Without thinking he leapt forward and grabbed Ronny's wrist. Mordecai's action only slowed Ronny's decent and Mordecai found himself being dragged down with Ronny. Before either boy could comprehend what was happening Ronny went over the side with Mordecai clutching his wrist. Instinctively Mordecai stuck his foot out and caught the gutter. The gutter bent under the sudden weight, but held. Mordecai stayed in that position for a minute, feet against the gutter clenching Ronny's wrist. Then he called out,

"Ronny?"

"Yeah," Ronny replied.

"You alright?"

"Um, yeah."

"Good."

"Hey Mordecai."

"Yeah dude?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime. I'll always be there to grab you when you fall."

Always…Always….Always.

Present

"If your brother is not found within twelve hours, he will be considered unable to be found and most likely dead. I'm very sorry sir."

Mordecai stared at Titan. He could not comprehend what he was hearing. He would not believe it.

"What?"

Titan stepped forward.

"I really hate to be the bearer of bad news. Everyone loved your brother. He made all of us smile. He was the-"

"No," Mordecai muttered.

"What?" Captain Wales asked.

"No, just stop," Mordecai said. "My brother is not gone."

"Quintel," Wales said.

"No dammit, no! My brother is not dead or gone! I saw him this morning. I talked to him. There is no way that my brother could be missing!"

"Lieutenant, I'm sorry." Titan put his hand on his shoulder.

"Stop! Stop!" Mordecai shoved Titans bear paw sized hand off his shoulder. "Where the hell is he?"

Suddenly Mordecai pushed Titan and Wales out of his way, walking fast. Soon, he found himself running. As he sprinted through the camp he worked his pack off and dropped his rifle. Mordecai ran to Ronny's platoon hooch and kicked the door open. The marines inside looked up as he stood in the doorway.

"Where is he? Where they hell is Ronny?!"

He stepped in, grabbed the nearest marine, and shook him violently.

"Where's Ronny?" He yelled.

When the marine couldn't reply Mordecai threw him down and noticed that two marines had been unpacking Ronny's footlocker. He stood straight and started walking toward them.

"You there, what the hell are you doing?" He asked.

A marine stood and tried to stop Mordecai, saying,

"Sir, we are all pained by this loss but-,"

Without thinking Mordecai shoved him out of the way. He made his way to Ronny's bunk, grabbed one of the marines by the shirt, and yanked him out of the way.

"Get away from there," He yelled, shoving the other marine away.

Mordecai grabbed the clothes and equipment that had been taken out and started throwing it back in the footlocker. The entire time he chanted,

"He is not dead. He is not dead. He is not dead!"

Suddenly Mordecai stopped. He'd grabbed something and not realized what it was until he saw it. In his hand, Mordecai held a picture. It was a picture of him and Ronny at the 1956 Saint James High School Homecoming Barbeque. The brothers looked so young, so happy. They were both smiling and Mordecai had draped his right arm around Ronny's neck. Ronny's smile glowed with what could only be described as childish innocence. The smile practically brought Mordecai back in time to that day. He could feel the breeze, hear the roaring crowd, and smell grilling hotdogs. And then, it was gone. Taking its place was realization.

Mordecai opened his eyes and gasped in air. He felt eyes on him as he kneeled at his brother's footlocker. Slowly, Mordecai glanced down at the picture. Tears started sliding down his cheeks and soon, he sobbed. As the tears thickened he sobbed again.

"No," He whispered. "Please Ronny, don't go. Don't go. Ronny?"

But it was too late. Mordecai knew it was too late. The only way he could get Ronny back was by finding him, and Ronny could be anywhere. Mordecai felt utterly and completely hopeless. He had failed his brother.

Captain Wales and Titan had made it to the door by now and they watched as Mordecai wiped away his tears. He looked up at the startled marines silently.

"You good?"

Mordecai stared at the captain for a long second, and then nodded.

"Okay. I want you and your platoon to take a few days off from going on patrols. Stay a basecamp and take a couple of night shifts. Tell your platoon."

"Yes sir," Mordecai replied hollowly.

Then he walked out.

Sparrow's eyes followed Mordecai as he left the hooch and walked toward his platoon hooch. Upon reaching the building Mordecai beckoned Sparrow to follow him in. Inside most of the marines were sitting or lying on the bed. Only Wolock, Turner, and Yoyo were standing. When Mordecai entered everyone came to attention. Everyone except for Darrel. Darrel wasn't in the hooch.

"At ease," Mordecai said. Everyone relaxed. "Sparrow, go get Darrel."

"Yes sir." Sparrow left.

Mordecai gazed at his marines as they stared back, awaiting the news. He sighed and then started speaking.

"Due to recent tragic events we will not be going on any patrols for the next week or so. Instead-,"

-Outside Sparrow glanced around as he searched the camp for Darrel. After checking with a few marines, he found Darrel at the latrines. Instead of emptying the toilets like he was supposed to be doing, he was smoking and talking with two other marines. One was about Sparrow's height with a wiry build. The other was a head taller than Sparrow with about sixty pounds on him and long ape like arms. Actually, when Sparrow thought about it, the bigger marine looked like he could've been the missing link for apes and humans. The three privates were sitting against the back of the shit house talking about something when Sparrow walked up.

"Private, get your ass up and movin' to the hooch," Sparrow ordered.

Darrel shot the sergeant a cold stare. Sparrow returned it and said,

"Now dammit."

"Yes sir," Darrel said sarcastically as he slowly started to stand.

Sparrow turned and took a few steps when he heard Darrel mutter,

"Sergeant Shithead."

Sparrow stopped. He held his breath for a long second, and then slowly let it out. 'He's not worth it. Save the anger for those Goddamn VC,' Sparrow thought.

"Private, just for that you've got latrine emptyin' duty for the next week." Sparrow didn't have to look back to know that Darrel was glaring. "Anything else you want to say? No? Good. Now get your fairy ass moving."

With that the grungy sergeant and the hotheaded private made their way to the platoon hooch. They arrived just as Mordecai finished up. He looked at them as they entered and then said,

"Someone tell Darrel what's going on. I'm leaving."

As Mordecai walked out Sparrow watched him and then, after a second of waiting, followed. The lieutenant made his way toward the edge of camp where Rec. Area was located. The Rec. Area was a place created by the marines that was used for hanging around during off time between patrols. They had set up a makeshift boxing ring there that was basically made up of a shallow muddy ditch with four wooden rails around it.

Mordecai headed for the ring. There were already a couple of guys there shouting as two marines wrestled on the ground. They were both a couple inches taller than Mordecai and the skinnier of the two was wrapping his body around the other marine. The other marine grabbed him and threw him off. He waited for the skinny man to stand before punching him in the face. He went down and stayed down for five seconds. As some marines pulled him out the other marine started strutting around the ring, yelling,

"Who's next? Who wants to challenge me; Charlie Bison, the undefeated champ of the ring!"

For a second no one took the offer. Then Mordecai said,

"I'll take ya."

Everyone looked at him. Bison studied him for a second before saying,

"Bring it on."

Mordecai was taking off his fatigue shirt when Sparrow jogged up.

"What are you doing sir? I've seen this guy break noses."

"Sargent, I'm in a bad fucking mood right now and I need to get it out of my system. Now move."

Mordecai walked quickly up to the rail and hopped over it. He came to stop in front of Charlie with his fists raised, ready to fight. The two stood that way for a second; Mordecai with his fists raised and his shirt clinging to his body and Charlie mirroring the same stance while the sun scorched his bare back. Then someone struck a bell.

Mordecai lunged forward and caught Bison in the chin with a left punch. He threw a right punch but Charlie caught it with his hand. Stunning Mordecai, Bison quickly punched him in the ribs twice and pushed him backwards. He hit a rail and a viewer pushed him back towards Charlie. He was met with a fist that sent him to the ground. His vision started to cloud as he felt pressure being applied to his chest. He looked down to see a boot pressing down onto his chest. Then he heard a familiar voice.

"Well is that it Birdy? Is that all I have to fucking do to knock your faggot ass out?"

The voice belonged to the Boot Instructor and as Mordecai looked up he saw the outline of a man wearing a Gunnery Sergeant hat. The only part of his face that Mordecai could make out was the eyes. Those icy blue eyes.

"Get up maggot!"

Suddenly a wave of fury washed over Mordecai as he grabbed the boot and twisted hard. Charlie yelped in pain and fell. Mordecai was on him in seconds choking him with one hand and pounding his face with the other. He did this for about a minute before someone dragged him off. Still blinded by fury Mordecai grabbed the marine who was pulling him back and hurled him off. He started to run for Charlie again when someone tackled him to the ground.

Mordecai thrashed around wildly but the person stayed on him.

"Lieutenant! Snap out of it!"

Then the person on him slapped him. Mordecai stopped fighting. His vision cleared and as he looked around he saw that Sparrow was holding him down. Three people were carrying Charlie off.

"It's okay Lieutenant. Just relax."

And Mordecai did. As he let out a long breath of air Sparrow stood and helped him up. Then they walked away. The two rounded a hooch and then Mordecai collapsed. Sparrow was by his side as he started to weep.

"Lieutenant?"

"Oh God, Sparrow. He's gone!"

"Who is?"

"Ronny. They took him! They took my brother!"