Mari & Ilna-you're the best.

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Ships Ahoy (1/1)

"Hey, Dylan." Joseph stepped aside and waved the teenager into the condo. "This is a nice surprise. I wasn't expecting to see you today."

"Sorry I didn't call first," Dylan said as they made their way to the living room.

"Nonsense." Joseph scoffed. "You're always welcome here. You don't need to call ahead."

"Thanks. I just … I wanted to see you. I got some news today and … well … after my mom and my brothers and sisters you were the first person I wanted to tell."

"I'm honored," Joseph replied sincerely. "Why don't you have a seat and tell me what's going on."

Dylan perched on the edge of the loveseat while Joseph sat down on the couch.

"I got the email a week or so ago," Dylan said, his knee bouncing with excitement. "But I wanted to wait until I had the actual letter in my hand before I told you." He held up an envelope with the unmistakable seal of the Naval Academy as his face broke into a broad smile. "I got in!"

"Congratulations!" Joseph jumped to his feet and hugged the happy teenager. "This is excellent news. You're going to make an exemplary naval officer."

"Thanks!" Dylan dropped back to his seat and stared almost reverently at the envelope in his hand. "I dreamed of the day I'd get this letter, but now that I'm actually holding it I almost can't believe it."

"I remember that feeling." Joseph smiled wistfully. "I can still tell you every detail of the day I got my acceptance."

Dylan toed the carpet. "I'm gonna go tell Steve and Catherine later but I just wanted a chance to thank you first."

"Thank me?" Joseph asked. "What for?"

Dylan took a second to gather his thoughts then started to speak.

"All those Wednesdays when we came over here after school. I was just getting interested in robotics and it was all I wanted to talk about and you always listened. Actually … you did more than listen. You were interested."

"You were so passionate about the topic," Joseph told him. "It was impossible not to be drawn in by what you were saying."

"When I started to build my own machines you let me take the lead. Let me make my own mistakes," Dylan said gratefully. "You didn't jump in and take over. You let me learn on my own but I always knew you were there if I needed help."

"Don't kid yourself," Joseph said. "It didn't take too long before you were teaching me things. I was just trying to keep up."

Dylan blushed.

"You helped me believe that I could do things on my own," he said. "I'm not sure if I'd have even had the confidence to try for the academy without your encouragement. You helped me believe that I could set my goals high and achieve them. I just hope I can be half the naval officer you were."

Joseph swallowed around a lump in his throat.

"You will be, Dylan. I have no doubt. The journey you're about to set off on won't be easy, but it is very much worth it."

Dylan met Joseph's eyes. "And when times get tough I know where to come to talk."

"Any hour of the day or night," Joseph said.


"Thanks for meeting me," Dylan said as Chin slid into the seat across from him at a table in front of the shrimp truck.

"Anytime," Chin replied. "You said on the phone you have some news." He smiled. "Is it the news I think it is?"

"Yeah." Dylan beamed. "I got my official acceptance from the academy."

"Woohoo!" Chin let out an excited cheer. "I knew you could do it. They'd have been fools not to accept you."

"Thanks." Dylan's smile filled his entire face. "Who would have ever thought when we met back at Shop with a Cop that I'd be getting ready to finish high school and head off to Annapolis?"

"I didn't know you'd be heading to Annapolis," Chin said, "But I knew you'd be doing something great."

"You believed in me right from the beginning," Dylan said. "Thanks for that. Not many people would have trusted a kid my age to help them work on their motorcycle."

Chin chuckled. "I was never worried."

"You letting me help you work on your bike is what first got me interested in figuring out how things work which is what led me to robotics," Dylan said.

"I'm glad to hear that," Chin said sincerely. "But you've completely left me in the dust at this point. That robot you built for Halloween was amazing. I have no idea how it actually works but it's impressive."

"Thanks." Dylan smiled with anticipation. "Just wait until I get a few years of training under my belt and see what I can build then."

Chin reached across the table and squeezed his arm. "I can't wait."


"Can you stay for dinner?" Steve asked as Dylan sat on the floor in the living room helping DJ and Angie build a LEGO fort. "Nothing special. We're just gonna throw some burgers on the grill."

Before Dylan could answer Angie jumped in with some information she thought would be vital to his decision making. "We havin' brownies for dessert. Mommy and me baked 'em last night."

"And macaroni and cheese," DJ added.

"Always mac and cheese," Steve chuckled.

"Who could turn down burgers, mac and cheese, and brownies?" Dylan smiled.

"Not an'body smart," Angie said with a serious expression that made both Steve and Dylan laugh out loud.

Thirty minutes later as they sat down to dinner on the deck Dylan said, "Before we get started I have something I want to tell you." He pulled the now familiar envelope from his pocket. "I got my acceptance to the naval academy today. I'm officially in."

Steve and Catherine erupted in happy cheers and took turns hugging Dylan.

Angie and DJ cheered along, caught up in the happiness, even though they weren't sure exactly what was happening.

"What dat mean?" Angie asked when the cheering died down a little.

"It means I'm going to the naval academy," Dylan explained.

"Like mommy and daddy and grandpa," DJ said excitedly. "And Aunt Carrie and Uncle John."

Dylan beamed. "That's right. I'm gonna specialize in robotics."

Angie pieced together the few things she knew for sure about the naval academy. "You gonna get a un'form and cut you hair?" she asked.

Dylan laughed. "Well … yeah. But I'm also gonna get a world class education."

"We are so proud of you," Catherine said sincerely.

"We knew you could do it," Steve agreed.

"I'm not sure I could have done it without the two of you," Dylan said. "You've been in my corner from the first time I said I was interested in going. And I don't think I would have met the physical requirements without you guys helping me develop a good workout routine."

"You would have figured it out," Catherine said confidently.

"Maybe." Dylan smiled softly. "But without the two of you behind me I guarantee I wouldn't be where I am right now. I just want you to know how thankful I am to have you in my life. In my whole family's lives."

"Speaking of, your mother and your siblings must be excited," Catherine said.

Dylan barked a laugh. "To say the least."

"The navy is lucky to have you," Steve said proudly.

"This is a cause for celebration," Catherine said. "Brownie sundaes for dessert."

Angie and DJ burst into exuberant squealing.

"Thanks, Dylan!" they chorused.

"My pleasure," he replied with a beaming smile.

THE END


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