Chapter 5
San Francisco

After a movie, the many pilots decided to roam the town. Doolittle had finally permitted them leave until midnight. It was quite a patriotic sight for all who passed the eighty men in uniform with wings planted on their chest. They were pilots of the US Navy, and with that title came respect.

They stopped at a restaurant nicknamed, "The Jukebox". Inside there was an enormous crowd of people, all standing around. There was no music or food, yet.

Evelyn had been shopping quietly in town, when it struck her to get her mail. She walked to the post office, and retrieved it. The recipient's name was written somewhat childlike on the front, instantly, she knew it was from Rafe. She tore it open and read it's contents:

Danny,
This is the last letter you'll get from me for a while. Man, we've been through a lot. Grade School, high school; life, death; love. We taught each other a lot. I want to let you know that if anything happens to me, I would have traded my life for just one more flight with you in my backyard on that old biplane. You're my best friend. Don't forget that. You make sure that kid's taken care of, and the girl too.

Your Brother,

Rafe

Rafe, Berry, and Red all sat at a table while music began to play. Anthony pushed Berry in to the middle of the booth, and pulled him and his new girl friend up beside them. She had three other ladies with her. "Guys, this is Shirley, Candice, Mary, and Jen."

They all exchanged exhilarated hellos, but Rafe was the only one to notice how uncomfortable Berry was. Shirley turned him from his thoughts, "We're all cousins." She told them.

"Everyone in here's related, we're throwing a party for my sister." Candice explained. "Boy, were we glad when some handsome soldiers like you stepped in."

"And I thought tonight would be a bore." Jen laughed.

Rafe gave them a slight smile. "What's your names?" Mary asked.

"This is Red Winkle," Rafe introduced his friend, then glanced at Devon, and paused before saying, "That's Devon Berenger, and I'm Rafe McCawley."

"The Rafe McCawley?" Candice asked.

"You've heard of me?" Rafe asked.

"My sister's told me all about you in her letters."

"Really? Who's that?" Rafe asked while taking a drink.

"Evelyn. Evelyn Stewart."

Both Red and Anthony choked on their breadsticks, nearly coughing them up. Rafe swallowed his liquor hard.

"Who's Evelyn?" Berry asked in confusion.

"My ex-girlfriend." Rafe quickly explained monotonously. "She's here tonight?" Rafe asked.

"No, she moved to Tennessee with her fiancée. Ooh, you should have seen her parents when they heard about what she had done. They could have flown to the moon on those angry fumes." Shirley explained.

Rafe held his tongue, but in his mind, the cursing was never-ending. "Maybe I better go." Rafe said, standing quickly, Berry followed him out the door.

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