Chapter 2 - Together. One. Last. Time.
"Who was it Hun?" Mom said washing dishes and still in a good mood. Dad said nothing, he just sat at the table his eyes glued to a note, in his hands, with a red ribbon tied around it. "Max?" She turned around to face him. "Dear who was it?" she looked down at the paper in his hands. Fear immediately struck her face "Oh dear lord no!" she whispered horrifically letting a cup fall to the floor. It smashed. Christy automatically jumped, startled by the crash of the glass cup.
Mom then squatted to the floor and started to swoop up the glass pieces. She pricked her finger on some glass since she was not paying enough attention to picking up the glass. "Ohhh, owww!" she shrieked, leaping to her feet. Dad quickly moved himself towards her "Mary are you okay? "A worried expression spread across his face. He looked at her finger as blood trickled down in. "Yes I'm fine, I just need a bandage." Matthew walked out of the bathroom with smile. Quickly noticing the upsetting mood in the kitchen he blurted out "Who died!" Christy, annoyed that he had no idea what is really going on, shouted "Nobody! Mom needs a bandage. And get a broom too!" Christy looked back at her parents. "Do you feel okay Mary?" Dad sympathetically stated. "Yes, yes I'm okay. What was in the note you got?" She spat out.
Just then, Matty came running in with a bandage and the broom. "Here's your bandage mom. " He said out of breath as he handed her the bandage. "Thank you, sweety." Mom gently said, turning her attention back to Dad with a questioning look on her face. She waited for him to finally answer her earlier question. "Well," he sighed going back to his depressing mood. They all stared at him wide-eyed and full of curiosity. "It's from the General" He paused. "The Red Eye soldiers are going to attack." He paused again. Mary, Christy and Matt all looked shocked, and everyone knew what he was going to say. "All the men, nineteen or older, and fathers of the families are asked to join the army. To help protect our beloved country." "I have been informed that I too, will join the army." He stopped and, glanced at the note on the coffee table and began to speak again. "I'll be leaving for the Blue Bird training camp, to ready myself for War." Tears sprung from Christy's eyes and poured down her cheeks. Mom ran to her husband and squeezed him. She gave him a hug that said, "I will never let go."
Matt tried to stay strong. He stood firmly, determined not to cry. He tried to hold them back, but he could not. The tears came, spilling out of his eyes, and fogging up his glasses. He tore away form his idea to stay strong and rapped his arms around his big sis'.
Everyone in that room wept, for a long time.
The day quietly and slowly passed on by. They spent most of the day side-by-side. Spending every moment, they could…..Together. One. Last. Time.