Sammy and Ilna, during these uncertain times, knowing you're there makes it not only far more bearable, but calms my soul. I love you both.
This one is for Sammy's niece, one of the ultimate, most unselfish 'helpers' as she traverses the globe. Godspeed, K.
REAL McRollers and Readers, thank you all for your beautiful responses. Knowing we provide you with a few minutes of love, laughter and peace, means more than a kingdom of gold as my grandparents would say.
Be safe. Be well. We love you all.
Perfect Salutes, Pickles, and Love
"... and this is Captain Lu. My godson, DJ, sir," Carrie's voice held pride in the little boy and when she stated the moniker she placed a hand on his shoulder. She looked at DJ and nodded at the man before them. "He's the commanding officer of our sector." Carrie leaned down and added in a stage whisper, "That means he's the big boss."
DJ straightened and said, "Hello, sir," with a shy smile for the man with laugh lines around his kind eyes and a marine buzz cut.
"Hello, DJ, I hope you enjoy learning what we do here." William Lu was a lifer, and had gotten quite fond of the Lieutenant Commander who was not only excellent at her duties, but whose sense of humor would often lighten the atmosphere and morale of the fifty officers and enlisted under her direct command. She was firm but fair and he'd commented more than once to his wife that she reminded him of their daughter. Having met Steve and Catherine several times, he was happy to grant permission for her to bring their son in for a tour. He gave the boy a nod. "Think maybe we have a future sailor in you, young man?"
DJ's smile grew. "My mommy and daddy and grandpa were in the Navy. Mommy and Daddy are in the …" he glanced at Carrie as he said, "Reserves," confirming he'd used the right word.
"I've met your family, and I know they're very proud of you and your sister." Captain Lu offered a salute and DJ returned it when Carrie did, making the older man grin. "Perfect salute. You definitely take after your parents. Enjoy your visit."
"Thanks." DJ lowered his hand, happy his grandpa had shown him how to salute the last time they were on the base together. "Bye."
"Excellent salute, kiddo," Carrie complimented once the captain had gone on his way. She'd offered to show her godson what she did when he'd inquired what her and his uncle John's jobs were in the Navy.
"Grandpa showed me how." DJ faced her and demonstrated. "I set it down by my side, then bring it up. He said he taught Mommy how to salute when she was littler than Angie and she got it right away."
Carrie chuckled at her best friend saluting at two years old. "Of course she did."
"Daddy helped me teach Angie after dinner last night."
"Cool!" Carrie stretched out a hand and the almost seven year old happily took it. "I can't wait to see that." She swung their hands as they walked towards her office exit. "Let's go check out the bullpen."
"Bullpen?" DJ glanced around at the room of uniformed people at desks.
"That's what we call a work area filled with desks that aren't separated by walls," she explained as she returned the salute of a young petty officer who passed them with a smile.
"All these people work for you?" DJ's eyes scanned the room, busy even for a Saturday.
"I'm in charge of making sure they do their jobs, but I guess you could say we all work for the base commander, Admiral Pecoraro."
"Admiral, wow. He's higher than Grandpa."
"Look at you, knowing ranks. Yep, an admiral is higher than your grandpa." Carrie bent and whispered, "But not as awesome," making the little boy beam. "What do you say we head over to the O-Club and have some lunch? They have some pretty outstanding burgers and the chicken fingers are yummy, too." She mentioned two of his favorites. "Hey, I have an idea," she said as they stepped outside and began to trek across the base. "Maybe we get both and share 'em!"
"Like with the pie?" His grin was huge and he squeezed her hand.
"Exactly! Uncle John is meeting us there so we can order two burgers and two orders of chicken fingers and the giant fries. Oh, we need a vegetable." Carrie's irascible grin lit her eyes. "You like pickles, right?"
"Yeah!" DJ nodded. "Me and Mommy like the whole ones best but Angie and Daddy like the cut up ones."
She held a hand up for a high five. "Pickles used to be cucumbers so we're good!"
DJ giggled along with the woman who, like everyone in his family had shown him not only kindness and support from day one, but lots of laughter and fun.
"Then we'll have pie with ice cream for dessert. Because that should totally be one of our traditions."
When she wrapped an arm around his shoulders for a quick squeeze and said, "Are you having fun, honey? Because I definitely am." she was delighted and surprised at his response.
Throwing his arms around her waist for a heartfelt hug, he said, "You're fun. I love you, Aunt Carrie."
Kneeling to return the hug at his eye level, she held on until he let go first. "Love you, kiddo. I Love you right back."
"Mooooommmy!" Angie called from her perch next to the window where she was standing on Steve's lap on the sofa. "DJ Ann Cawwie Unca John he'we!"
She turned and slid off the cushions backwards on her tummy and bolted for the door.
"Open, Daddy!" She slapped both palms against the wood.
"Back up a little so they can get in," Steve said with a smirk as Catherine and Cammie came down the stairs.
"DJ home!" his sister announced, hugging him as soon as he stepped inside, then reaching for her godmother and uncle. "Ma'e cookies wif Mommy!" she told them from Carrie's arms.
"Ohhhh did you save me one?" Carrie kissed the little cheek. "Chocolate chip, yum."
As Angie nodded, DJ hugged Steve, then Catherine. He looked up from where he kept his arms around his mother's waist.
"Did you have fun?" Catherine ran a hand over his hair and kissed his head.
"It was so fun. I saw Uncle John's office and they have all these big screens like at your work, Daddy! We saw satellites! And Aunt Carrie's boss is nice and all the people worked in a bullpen, but there's no real bulls, just desks."
Catherine exchanged a smile with her best friend when her little boy took a breath. "You thanked Aunt Carrie and Uncle John, right?"
"He did, several times," John confirmed as DJ nodded. "Made Saturday duty fun." He winked. Carrie had the day off but he'd pulled weekend duty.
"And we ate at the Club for Officers, like with Grandpa, and we all shared cause Aunt Carrie wanted burgers and chicken."
Steve shook his head and smiled. "Of course she did."
"And did you know pickles used to be cucumbers?" DJ asked his father.
"I did know that." His eyes flicked from the excited little boy to Carrie. "Still counting 'em as a vegetable, Stagler?"
"That's what Aunt Carrie said!" DJ's laugh had his parents' sharing a smile.
"You didn't include the ketchup?" Steve snorted.
She rolled her eyes and booped Angie's nose before putting her down as John said, "He knows your playbook, hon."
"I stand by my pickles are a veggie theory." The blond chuckled. "DJ tell Daddy what Captain Lu said."
He grinned and fiddled with the dog tags he'd gotten at the Intrepid Museum. "He said he knew you an' Mommy, and I take after you."
"And..?" Carrie led as Catherine beamed at Steve. Knowing from his parents DJ could be a little shy about praise, she kissed his cheek and squeezed his shoulders.
"And he said my salute was perfect." He couldn't hold back a huge smile.
"Saw-lute!" Angie announced and demonstrated what her brother had shown her the previous day.
"Hey, look, Aunt Carrie, Angie's salute is perfect, too!" He proudly pointed to his little sister.
"Of course it is." Catherine gathered her son into a hug as her daughter stood at her own rendition of attention. "She had the very best teacher."
# End. Thanks for reading!
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