Chapter 3: Colonel Potter
Sherman Potter stood outside his home in Hannibal, Missouri and just looked at it for a long moment. This was the day Mildred had dreamed about for years. The day that he himself both dreaded and longed for. Adjusting his dufflebag on his shoulder, he walked through the white picket gate. Standing in front of the oak door, he paused before knocking on it.
"I'll be there in a moment." came the voice of his wife from inside. The door opened and Mildred Potter looked out at him, her face widening in shock and delight. Sherman thought it wonderful that even after all these years she could still take his breath away.
"Sherm, why didn't you call?!" she yells as she hurries him inside the house and into his sitting room.
"Darling, I wanted to surprise you. I'm retired now, and you're going to be seeing a lot of me." He grinned up at her. "And how often do I get the chance to surprise you?"
All words stopped as she caught him in a firm embrace and soft kiss.
"I'm expecting you to surprise me at least once a day for the rest of our lives, Sherman Potter."
Midnight
He sat outside on his porch, looking up at the stars. Being home from each tour of duty always hits him the hardest after looking up at the stars from his beloved home. He is glad to be home, glad to be with Mildred. But something inside of him has always driven him to be useful and to help others. Now that he is home he once again feels useless, old and empty. His hands shake slightly as he holds his drink in his hands, and he sighs. He goes back up to bed and to Mildred, almost wishing to hear a voice call "Wounded in the compound!"
Sherman Potter stood outside his home in Hannibal, Missouri and just looked at it for a long moment. This was the day Mildred had dreamed about for years. The day that he himself both dreaded and longed for. Adjusting his dufflebag on his shoulder, he walked through the white picket gate. Standing in front of the oak door, he paused before knocking on it.
"I'll be there in a moment." came the voice of his wife from inside. The door opened and Mildred Potter looked out at him, her face widening in shock and delight. Sherman thought it wonderful that even after all these years she could still take his breath away.
"Sherm, why didn't you call?!" she yells as she hurries him inside the house and into his sitting room.
"Darling, I wanted to surprise you. I'm retired now, and you're going to be seeing a lot of me." He grinned up at her. "And how often do I get the chance to surprise you?"
All words stopped as she caught him in a firm embrace and soft kiss.
"I'm expecting you to surprise me at least once a day for the rest of our lives, Sherman Potter."
Midnight
He sat outside on his porch, looking up at the stars. Being home from each tour of duty always hits him the hardest after looking up at the stars from his beloved home. He is glad to be home, glad to be with Mildred. But something inside of him has always driven him to be useful and to help others. Now that he is home he once again feels useless, old and empty. His hands shake slightly as he holds his drink in his hands, and he sighs. He goes back up to bed and to Mildred, almost wishing to hear a voice call "Wounded in the compound!"