KC, Missouri and Kosovo
25 May 2014, 6:14 PM
From: Miles "Tank" Conroy
To: Tyler Mendoza
Subject: Football
Howdie Private, how ya hangin' over there. I finally managed to find some time and look at a map to see where you actually are. Funny business over there. Anyway, just wanted to let you know we won the game and I'm now the permanent quarterback for the team. I've been studying like a dog for the finals and the rest of the time is divided between Bay and the gym, so sorry for not having been in touch for the past 2 weeks. I'm another 5 lbs down and can outrun everyone. Your son is doing well, he's being spoiled rotten by all those women hovering over him. There's days when Daphne, Regina, Adriana and Bay are all fighting about who gets to hold him next. Bay started her therapy last week and it seems to be very painful. She's hanging in there trying to put on a brave face, but I know she's worried about college. Anyway, let me know what's cooking over there. I'm attaching a photo of our team with the trophy. Talk soon, Tank
28 May 2014, 7:01 AM
From: Tyler Mendoza
To: Miles "Tank" Conroy
Subject: Re: Football
Hey there Tank, nice to hear from you and congrats on the win. I'm pretty much about to poke my eyes out with a rusty nail at the boredom of this place. There is nothing to do here but sit around. I'm counting the days to go home and see that son of mine before he gets spoiled to the point of no return. Sorry to hear about Bay, physical therapy is a bitch.
I'll be in touch soon, Ty
2 June 2014, 3:01 PM
From: Bay Kennish
To: Tyler Mendoza
Subject: Diego
Hi Ty,
Here comes my weekly update on Diego. I'm sorry I can't write much, but it's hard with one hand and I'm doing therapy every day and when I get home I'm in too much pain to type. The therapist seems to think I'm making progress, but I can't really tell. I'm just going to make the decision to apply for college with a different course and then change over to Art as soon as I can. I've spoken to my dad last week. It wasn't pretty and he doesn't want to see Diego, which makes me incredibly sad. He also doesn't want to see me really and I heard that he has a new girlfriend. Toby doesn't speak to him much either. Anyway, the good news is that he's agreed to pay for my college education. For the rest I'm on my own as far as he's concerned. I got your transfer, thank you so much. I'll try and find a job at Maui over the summer as soon as I can work on a babysitting schedule for Diego. Adriana has been wonderful, but her friend Gloria comes back in September and I'll need to move out by then. My grades were very good so I'm sure I'll get into college and can move into one of those duplexes they have for families. Thank you again for the other money you gave me in New York. I'm using it very sparingly, and it helps me a lot not being dependent on other people to raise our son. He's grown a lot since you last saw him. He eats a lot and he's smiling now. The spaceship enterprise was the best gift ever and Diego loves falling asleep with the car setting that makes me queasy. I'm attaching a picture of him in the swing. Unfortunately he seems to suffer from colic and is in a lot of pain most evenings. The doctor says it's normal and should solve itself in the next couple of weeks. Tank has been going to the gym and is watching his food. They won the football tournament, he's very proud of that.
Anyway, I have to stop now as it's actually Toby who's typing out this e-mail for me and he has to go. Come home soon, Diego misses his daddy! Take care, B.
4 June 2014, 2:03 PM
From: Tyler Mendoza
To: Bay Kennish
Subject: Re: Diego
Hi Bay, sorry to hear about your hand, it sounds incredibly painful. So do the news about your dad. I'm sending you a bit more money next month, since I am now on the pay scale for personnel with dependents. Please try and stay home as much as possible and be with Diego. I'm sure the expenses are monumental, but if you can hang-on for a couple of months until I'm there it would be great. I'd just feel so much better if he was with you. I also get a housing allowance once I'm back, so I've given notice to the family renting my house in East Riverside and I'll be able to move in there and live off-base. The photos of Diego in the swing are great, I can't believe how much he's grown. Sorry to hear about the colic, that must be hard on you. The staff in Carter's dads' office are drawing-up the joint custody agreement and I hope that you'll sign it so that I can get all the paperwork for the dependency benefits sorted out. I can also put him on my health insurance if that helps. I should be coming home in 8 weeks if all goes well. Tell Diego that I love him and I'll see him soon. I'll Skype tomorrow.
1 July 2014, 6:00 PM
From: MB
To: Tyler Mendoza
Subject: Met your son
Hi Ty,
I finally met your son, he is absolutely precious and he looks so much like you. Bay and I are still not talking and she's still dating that nasty piece of work so I've been keeping my distance. By pure chance I was at the car wash having lunch with Travis, when Adriana brought little Diego to see his uncle Toby. I even got to hold him and Travis snapped a picture (attached). I can't believe how much of this all I've missed and I'm happy that it all seemed to have worked out. I would love to see you, Bay and Diego as a little family. Any chance of that happening? Rooting for you guys! Write soon, MB
3 July 2014, 6:07 AM
From: Tyler Mendoza
To: MB
Subject: Re: Met your son
Hi MB, so good to hear from you and happy to hear you've met my little Diego. I miss him so much it physically hurts and I can't wait to get home and be a dad. I'm sorry that Bay and you still don't get along. I got to hang-out a lot with Tank while I was in NY and he's a good guy. You should get to know him better. That whole thing with the luau was stupid and a misunderstanding. I really want you to play a big part in Diego's life and it's important that we all get along. The family thing is not happening, sorry. How are you doing otherwise, I know that a very difficult day is coming up tomorrow and I hope that you and your mum get through it well. I'll be thinking of you.
30 July 2014, 12:01 AM
From: Tyler Mendoza
To: Bay Kennish
Subject: Bad news
Hi Bay, I got the most horrendous news today, they are not releasing me next week as planned and have extended me for another 2 months. I'm so angry right now I could punch through a wall. After having been here for 3 months staring at the walls they're now expecting a shipment of 30 vehicles due to arrive next week. As some of them are badly damaged, they are keeping the motor pool detail here and releasing the rest of my platoon. I can't believe my bad luck and I was ready to just tell them to go to hell yesterday. In any case that is not an option as it'll impact Diego's future. I miss him so much and I am so sad that when I'll see him he'll already be almost 6 months old and I missed out on so much. I gotta go as writing this e-mail has already got my blood boiling again. The good news is that they'll have to compensate me for this extra time and I'll probably be off for close to 2 months when I get back and I'll be able to help you more while you're in college.
Take care and give Diego a hug from me, Ty
1 August 2014, 10:13 AM
From: Bay Kennish
To: Tyler Mendoza
Subject: Re: Bad news
Oh no, Ty, I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't believe they would do that to you. I'll "explain" to Diego and I'm sure that he'll love you more for this sacrifice you're making. So I guess it'll be the end of September before we get to see you again. Good news about the time off though, that'll help me a lot. I feel bad to be dependent on others to go to college and I'm hoping to get Diego into the college daycare, even if just for the morning. I got an e-mail from the college administration today asking me to come for a meeting and I'm very nervous about it. Wish me luck. Diego sends a kiss. Take care, B.
I'm not too happy with this chapter, but didn't really know a better way to make a small time jump. I hope that you won't mind too much and it's back to proper story telling in the next one. Please review.