It's Memorial Day here in the United States. Typically it is the start of the summer season and the real meaning has been lost. It originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the soldiers who died in battle. The holiday was extended to honor all soldiers who died during military service. Anyway enough with the history lesson, I thought long and hard about how I can write a Gen Rex story for this holiday. It's a little short but I hope it's good. Here's to all the men and women who gave their lives so that I can be free.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Hope it's still entertaining.
I don't own anything.
Kenji helped his sisters out of the jump jet. His father and mother were already walking out into the lush jungle. His mother was slashing through the thick underbrush with a machete. Six's hands were full. Kenji, Jasmine, and Jade followed after their parents.
Every year they made this trek out to this uncharted island. Every year since Kenji was old enough to walk on his own, he had been coming here. Dad was not commutative about why they were there. Mom had told him that grandpa was buried here. So every year they came.
Kenji knew that if he followed his parents he'd be okay. There was nothing really dangerous on the island. So he let his mind wander. Dad didn't talk much about grandpa. All Kenji knew about him was that he took dad in and raised him. He was some sort of soldier like dad is. He had gotten sick during the first nanite event and eventually died. Grandpa loved the island and was buried here. That's all Kenji and his sisters were told. He felt there was something missing but no one would tell them anything, not even Uncle Rex.
Then one year he remembered during the annual visit a pink haired lady was there. Mom seemed a little uncomfortable around her. It seemed to him that he had seen her before but he didn't know where. He didn't like the way her blue-gray eyes tracked him like he was prey. The lady had smiled and commented about how big he had gotten. She seemed even more surprised to see his sisters.
"Twins?" She grinned at Six. "You really are domesticated now."
His dad just shrugged and stayed silent. He laid his bouquet of flowers down. They stood silently before his dad turned around and walked away.
They never saw the pink haired lady after that day.
Suddenly his parents stopped. They had arrived. Kenji watched as his dad placed the flowers before the marker, an uncut flat slate gray stone. They stood around silent again. This year seemed different than the others. Dad's shoulders seem to be slumped lower; his head seemed to be bent lower too. Jade, who was more sensitive to her dad's moods, moved closer to him. She reached out and gripped his hand. Six looked at her. Jade smiled slightly and laid her head on his arm, eyes not leaving his face. After a fraction of a second he returned her smile with a small one of his own. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. Mom and Jasmine stood on his other side. Mom had that look on her face. The one that said that she wished she could take away his pain. Dad turned to look at her. She gave him a reassuring smile, hoping to convey all her love to him. He seemed to understand and his face softened. Mom moved in closer to dad. Jasmine was pulled along. Mom quietly put her arm around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer as well. Kenji stood apart just observing his family. Finally, he walked over and stood next to Jade. Jade reached out and pulled him closer to her. Together they formed a support for their father. He always seemed so strong, so immovable, able to with stand anything. Sometimes Kenji forgot that his dad is human.
After a while, Dad cleared his throat. "I wish he could have met you all. He would have been proud of you."
He would have been proud of you too, dad. Kenji thought to himself. Then as if his dad heard his thoughts, he turned and smiled at his son. Kenji briefly wondered if his dad had developed telepathy among his already frightening set of skills.
"Let's go home."
They released each other and made the trek back to the jet. Kenji was the last to leave. As he watched his sisters disappear down the path, he turned to the marker. He lightly touched the rough edge.
"See you next year grandpa." A gentle breeze ruffled his hair. Kenji smiled and trotted to catch up to his family.