CHAPTER 2: SGT. BROWN TAKES CHARGE AGAIN
"Corporals!" Charlie was back in charge at the recruitment center after taking time off for Violet's trials. He had Cormac and Kevin there ready for their next assignment. Cormac was exceling great, while Kevin still struggled. He was at risk of being demoted back to Private First Class, while Cormac was well on his way from being Lance Corporal to Corporal.
"Today you will due an assembly at Oakwood High School in Leesville," said Charlie. "Tell them about the benefits of being a Marine and joining up with the Corps. Understood?"
"YES, SIR!" said both Lance Corporals.
"You are dismissed."
"AYE, AYE, SIR!" And they left and went to do their assigned duty. Colonel Clarke came walking in as soon as the lance corporals left.
"How does it feel being back, sergeant?" he asked.
"Pretty good, sir," said Charlie. "I needed to get my mind off of what happened at my place Christmas Eve."
"Well now that the trials of Ms. Gray are done with, you can focus on your duties here again, for sure."
"I plan on it, sir. I won't let what happened affect my duties as a Marine."
"That's what I wanted to hear, sergeant. Carry on."
"Yes, sir!" And he saluted the colonel. After Clarke left, Charlie resumed his office work. He was glad to be back at the center. His time away was far from a vacation having to deal with what Violet tried to do to him and his family and friends. But now that she was locked away in prison, he could get back to his job.
After work, Charlie got back home and relaxed. He turned on the TV and watched the local news. They were still talking about Violet and her downfall. This particular night, one of the news anchors were interviewing Violet's former attorney Dick Sadler.
"Good grief, this clown?!" sighed Charlie, seeing the inept attorney on screen.
"So, Mr. Sadler," said the attractive blonde news anchor, "What will happen next with Ms. Gray as she serves her sentence?"
"Well, I'm no longer involved in Ms. Gray's case," said Dick on the TV screen. "She had let me and her other co-counsel go after her first trial ended. Hopefully whoever she has as her new attorney can help get her out of her current situation with the appeal process."
Charlie heard the door open, and he turned away from the news going to a channel showing a rerun of Sandra On the Side, an old 90s sitcom starring native Sparkyville resident, Penelope Hawkins, who had tragically passed from leukemia years earlier. Sally walked in with some dinner for the group.
"Hey, Char," greeted Sally. "You haven't ordered any dinner yet, did you?"
"Just walked in myself, Sally," said Charlie. "I see you got some of Colonel's Famous Recipe. I do hope you have enough. Pat will be stopping by."
"Oh I have more than enough," assured Sally. "Pat's practically living here now!"
"Touché, sis!" And the two siblings got things ready for dinner. Pat would be not too far behind and would join them for dinner. Things at the Brown household was finally coming back to normal.
NEXT CHAPTER: GRANT'S FOLLY