Christmas Past
Part 4
The fire team's next point of order was to improve relations with Iraqi soldiers since they would be working side-by side with them in helping them clear the next town and to search for an elusive bomber who has already claimed several lives by bombing anyone who got in his way and several people who hadn't, including school buses filled with children, a subject that hit close to home for Scream.
As the four members looked over their Iraqi wards, they were disappointed that they weren't in any shape or properly trained. They were even more aggravated when they were put in charge of re-training them, with Dim as the head trainer.
Scream couldn't help but smirk at Dim when he handed the assignment to him. For once, he had a chance to put Dim to the test. Scream was determined to prove to his geeky soldier that a high-class Cornell education didn't quite prepare him for all tasks in life.
After working with the Iraqi trainees, for two straight days…30 hours total, they were finally starting to show improvement. They were especially pleased with their work when Scream came back and did an inspection on the native troops.
Trained to the best of their ability, the fire-team along with the Iraqi soldiers started their house-to-house search for their prey. They entered one house and with Tariq translating, Scream explained to one family the purpose of the soldiers' visit. Not making any progress, one of the Iraqi soldiers spoke to the older man who lived in the house. This move infuriated Tariq, who attacked his fellow man. Scream ordered them outside. Apparently, the Iraqi soldier made a joke to loosen up the home-owners in hopes they would feel comfortable to talk to them. It was unusual tactic, but one that Scream had no problem with.
The search dragged on for hours, with the team coming up empty handed. They decided to retreat to the back of a truck and have lunch while the Iraqi soldiers stood guard and then they would guard their counterparts so they could eat.
In the back of the truck, Dim started spouting off some useless information that none of the others could give a damn about, which was normal. There was a moment of silence before the conversation began again.
Angel: So, sarge, word has it that you reupped?
Scream gave him a death stare.
Scream: I don't recall starting a conversation about my personal life.
Angel: You didn't. I did.
Smoke and Dim laugh at Angel's cockiness.
Angel: I just figured it has something to do with us.
Scream: Really? Is that right?
Angel: Yeah, you didn't want to leave us cause you loved us so much…or because we loved you so much.
Again Smoke and Dim laugh, but this time Scream gave off a rare full tooth smile, than just shook his head at them.
Scream: Not even close. You guys have no goddamn idea. Despite what you believe, it has got nothing to do with you.
Waiting for Scream to continue, the guys finished up their MRES. Scream changed the subject and ordered his men to replace the others on guard duty.
Later at the mess tent for dinner, the fire team were chatting about their so-called food that they were forced to eat or face going hungry that night. Scream made his typical late appearance in the mess tent and to his squad's surprise he sat down at their table, only because there wasn't another empty table in the tent. In Scream's mind, if he had to sit with anyone during meal time, he'd prefer his own team.
Doublewide: The more I look at this crap in front of us, the more I can't wait til next week.
Smoke: Let's just hope these slob jockeys don't mess that meal up.
Tariq: Hey sarge, you were here last year for Thanksgiving. How's the food?
Scream puts down his knife after spreading butter on a slice of bread and stares down at the other end of the table.
Scream: Wouldn't know. Didn't eat it then, won't eat it this time.
He continues on with his meal, leaving the others to wonder what the deal with Scream was. He didn't seem to care about Halloween, now Thanksgiving.
Dim: I take it you aren't much of a holiday party guy, sarge.
Scream digests the last of his buttered bread and takes a sip of coffee.
Scream: I've got other things on my mind, then celebrating some stupid goddamn days that only come once a year.
Angel: True, but they give us something nice to look forward to in the middle of all this shit here.
Scream lifts an eyebrow to the troops, finishes his coffee, then quickly jumps to his feet and deposits the remainder of his food, almost a full tray, into a trashcan before storming out of the tent.
Dim: I don't think I will understand that man. I've never known someone that was so down on holidays.
Mrs. B: Did ya think that maybe he's mad 'cause he stuck here for another Thanksgiving instead of going home with his family?
Smoke: He could of . If that the case, why he re-enlist?
After having a refreshing hot shower, Scream plops down on his cot. His hands behind his head, staring at the canvas above. His mind on a different time, a different place as he drifts off to sleep.
"Scream is sitting at a dinner table with a high-chair, containing a baby girl next to him. On the other side is a small boy and a woman at the other end of the table. On the table, sits the remainder of a large butterball turkey. The woman gets up from her seat.
Lindsay: Does anyone want anymore turkey, or maybe another slice of pie?
Little Boy: Want to break bone?
Scream: You know, CJ, that you have to wait a few days before you break it. It's got to dry out and get hard.
The little boy's head drops as his eyes fill with tears. Scream smiles and reaches towards the turkey and finds the wishbone. He wipes it clean of turkey and hands one end to the child and holds the other end.
Scream: Make a wish.
The little boy closes his eyes tightly and within seconds opens them.
CJ: Got it.
Before the boys can start to pull, the baby lets out a little giggle.
Scream: You want a piece of this too, Ciara?
Scream stood up and lifted the baby into his arms. He positioned her tiny hand on the wishbone and put his over it.
Scream: Let's do it.
CJ: You didn't make a wish yet, daddy.
Scream (looking around at his family)Already got it.
The three of them started to pull on the wishbone as it finally snapped.
CJ: I win. I get my wish.
Lindsay: What did you wish for?
CJ: I wish the new baby is a boy.
Scream: So, you want a brother, huh.
Lindsay (clenching her teeth)One boy in the family is enough.
Scream gave her a look of anger and disapproval over her comment.
Scream: Come on, Ciara, let's get you to bed.
Lindsay: I'll take her.
Scream: I don't mind.
Lindsay: You take care of your boy and I'll care for my daughter.
Lindsay carries the baby into the nursery, with Scream following close behind her.
Scream: Why do you do that?
Lindsay: Do what? I'm sure I don't have any idea what you're talking about?
Scream: The fuck you don't.
Scream lowered his voice so his kids didn't hear him swearing.
Scream: We didn't make these kids each individually. They are both our children and I love them equally. Ciara is as much my daughter as CJ is your son and you are going to have to start acting like a mother to that boy or he's going to grow up resenting you and it won't be anyone's fault but your own. Is this how you are going to be around the new baby when he's born, if it is indeed a boy?
Lindsay placed Ciara in her crib then swung around and with all her strength, slapped Scream across the face."
Scream jumped up off his cot, sweating like a pig and shaken. He started to hyperventilate and quickly ran for the tent exit. He paced quickly, increasing his stride with each step, until he was able to gain control of his breathing again. He sat down in a chair, held his head in his hands and rocked back and forth.
The team which had gathered nearby caught sight of the sergeant's actions and made tracks to him.
Doublewide: Sarge, what the hell happened?
Angel: You okay there, sarge?
Scream: Fine, why do you ask?
Smoke: Uh, maybe cause it's not everyday you come flyin' out of your digs, breathing like you just ran a fucking marathon.
Mrs. B: Was it something we said at dinnertime?
Scream: What are you talking about?
Mrs. B: You feeling alright? You keep holding your head and can't seem to sit still there. I ain't seen someone rock like that since I went home and saw my kid go at it.
Scream: Just a headache. Not any of your goddamn problem.
Tariq: We were thinking that maybe we upset you talking about Thanksgiving and you couldn't get home to your family for another one, but you could if you didn't reup…so that can't be what's wrong.
Scream: It's not. First off, I've got no reason to go home. No family and second that's not why I decided to stay.
Smoke (smiling) So, it is because you love us then.
Scream: I TOLD YOU, YOU AIN'T NO FUCKING REASON TO STAY IN THIS SHITHOLE FOR ONE MORE SECOND MUCH LESS ANOTHER YEAR! I HAD TO SAVE THE KIDS! I OWED IT TO THEM! I HAD TO MAKE IT UP TO THEM BY DOING SOMETHING GOOD!
The team looks at each other confused.
Doublewide: Anyone know what he's talking about?
Scream: THE GODDAMN ORPHANAGE! I HAD TO KEEP IT OPEN! COULDN'T LET THE KIDS BE THROWN ON THE STREET!
The team could see how agitated Scream was getting, so they took seats on the ground and waited silently hoping he would calm down enough to tell them what was going on.
Ten minutes passed, in complete silence and Scream began to settle down. His rocking motion slowed down until he stopped completely. He lifted his head up out of his hands to see that his team was still with him. He took a deep breath, then one by one looked at them straight in the eyes.
Scream: I grew up in an orphanage. I never knew my parents. When I was just 3 months, they were killed in a plane crash when we came over here from Italy. I winded up in an orphanage in Long Island.
Scream started to wet his dry lips with his tongue.
Scream: I was colicky as a baby…more than most babies. Right after I turned six months, I was diagnosed as hyperactive and encourage able, not the kind of kid anyone would want to adopt…no matter how small a baby. That meant no home for Chris. I spent most of my life doing the foster care shuffle.
Dim: I knew there was a reason why you took an interest in that orphanage over here.
Smoke: And it had nothing to do with that French fry you spent the night with.
Scream: As dilapidated as that place was, it was still a better place for a child to grow up then where I did. At least, she cared about and loved those kids. Me on the other hand, no one loved me…not the way they were suppose to. I never stayed in any home long enough to need a change of clothes.
Doublewide: What was so bad about the homes?
Scream raised his head up and looked at the sorrowful, but interested faces of his squad.
Scream: They were abusive.
Angel: How were they abusive?
Scream: Let's just leave it at abusive, guys. That's about all I can handle for now. Anyway, as Dim has pointed out on several occasions, I was not the brightest bulb in the pack. I barely made it through high school.
Dim: I didn't mean anything by it, but you're not stupid, sarge.
Scream: Never thought I was stupid, just my…well, they didn't call it ADHD back then…my ability to find trouble affected my thinking. I managed to graduate and when I turned 18, I was no longer considered a ward of the state so the orphanage opened the door and sent me on my way with a suitcase full of clothes, and the customary $100 savings bond.
Mrs. B: Geez, that's it.
Scream: I was alone on the street with no working experience and a somewhat high school education. During one of my journeys up and down the street, I came across a sign for an army recruitment office…and here I am.
Angel: And thank god you are cause we'd all be dead if we didn't have you for a squad leader.
Scream looked around at his troop smiling at him and nodding their heads. He rubbed his weary eyes, took a deep breath and shot up on his feet.
Scream: AND DON'T YOU EVER FUCKING FORGET IT! FOR YOUR GODDAMN SAKES, YOU'RE LUCKY I DIDN'T STICK WITH BEING A MEDIC IN THE ARMY LIKE I WAS WHEN I FIRST JOINED! NOW, AS YOUR GODDAMN LEADER, I'M TELLING YOU TO GET THE HELL TO YOUR TENTS, IT'S LIGHTS OUT! YOU OUGHT TO KNOW BETTER THAN TO STAND AROUND AND GODDAMN STICK YOUR NOSES IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS! DISMISSED!
Scream re-entered his tent as the team gathered their drinks and prepared to go to sleep.
Smoke: What the fuck was that about? What the shit we do to him but listen to his pathetic story?
Tariq: Scream appreciated it too. That's just his way.
Dim: Yeah, he doesn't want us to know that we did him a favor letting him vent.
Mrs. B: Yeah, maybe he'll soften up a bit now that he got that all off his chest.
Scream: YOU FUCKING DEAF! I GIVE AN ORDER I EXPECT IT TO BE FOLLOWED. NOW GET BACK TO YOUR GODDAMN TENTS BEFORE I HAVE YOU CLEANING OUT EVERY LATRINE ON THE BASE!
The team look at each other. They shake their heads.
Fireteam: NAH!
To be continued. Please read and review.