Next chapter will be a set of mini-stories about Matt and Henry O'Mara's father as they navigate through his journal, looking to find answers to the unanswered questions of Matthew's life.
Do read on.
Tales of a Father
February 21st 2005
Manhattan, New York
It was a cloudy day in New York City, Matt was coming out of school, he walked down to Central Park and took a seat by the café near to the fountain, the fountain was one of his favourite landmarks in Manhattan, and it looked so peaceful.
Matt had gotten out his school book and decided to work on some calculus, he always maintained a high grade average in Maths, English and History, Sports, he was a master at… Boxing, Baseball and Football, he could do it all, he had been offered scholarships by colleges to play for them, but Matt always declined stating in his words, "I was born to serve, I'm a patriot. I'll fight for my country and my city. I'll give my life if I'm asked to for the greater good."
Matt was trying to find a calculator as he came across a leather journal it was very old and tattered, the inscription then said, "Property of Paul O'Mara – 1950 – Present."
Matt looked in surprise as he opened up the journal on a random page as he read it.
"12 years, I've been on the job. Made it to the rank of Sergeant in the NYPD before my 8th year. My brother didn't make detective until his 6th year. I served the United States Army since '67. It was the best job I had, same with being a cop. I loved it all.
I was wounded by some punk who thought he'd have the balls to shoot a cop. In this day and age, nothin' works out how you expect. For me, gettin' shot is nothin' it's the job description, every damn day, I've fought for a long time, did no wrong. I started a family, 2 boys, 1 lil' girl.
I lost one family member, and that was my beautiful Sara. After my boy Matt was born, she had some unexpected problems. None that coulda been traced, I always went home to cook her meals, I didn't trust the damn hospital food. I still remember the last meal I cooked for her.
Osso Buco, braised with vegetables, white wine and broth just how she liked it. First meal I cooked between her and me when we started datin' at 16. Sara was just a young lass back then but she always captured me ol' heart, I knew her for 3 years after she moved from Boston, Massachusetts.
I still keep every little thing, I gave her, I still kept everything she gave me too. She was the best thing in my life. She was my soulmate, my true love. I hope one day, I get to give Matt this picture of him and his mother together. The least she deserves."
Matt looked down in the corner as he saw a little picture of Sara O'Mara and himself. Sara was a beautiful brunette brown hair reached down to her shoulders, blue eyes that twinkled with her beautiful smile. Matt felt tears shine in his eyes seeing how beautiful she looked, he smiled softly as he kissed the picture lightly saying, "I love you, Mama."
Matt continued to read.
"When the autopsy was complete, they found out, she was pregnant with 4 children. Of the 4 that survived, only 1 did. Matthew survived. The other 3, 2 were boys and one was a girl.
I planned to name the boys after Sara's brothers, both Carlo and Patrick served in 'Nam in the Navy SEALs the first of an elite unit. I can't confirm myself if they're real or just a ghost tale. But only time will tell.
My daughter I hope to name after my Aunt Helen. She was one of the first pioneers of women in the New York PD alongside Colleen Maguire. I'm proud of my family. The first woman in our family to join the job. I'm proud of it, so's Dad, Mom, Uncle Mike, Henry and my grandparents."
Matt was thoroughly surprised by this, he had known everything about his family's service to the NYPD, but he never knew his great Aunt Helen was a member of the NYPD.
Matt got up and headed back to his apartment, once he got in the door, he clutched the journal in his hands, he did himself a little spaghetti and meatballs, eating quickly.
Afterwards, he just washed his plate and put the rest of the spaghetti and meatballs in a bowl, wrapping tin foil over it in the process. He then put it in the fridge as he placed it in the fridge for his brother Henry.
Matt then headed into a box that had been named 'Family Photo Albums.' He then opened up the box as he found the first photo album that had said 'Paul and Sara – Together Forever."
Matt opened up the first page, and he found the first picture which was a young Paul O'Mara at 13 years old, he recognised the background which was Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Paul was wearing a plaid shirt and denim jacket. Dark blue eyes shined, dark hair parted to the side, standing alongside Paul was his twin brother Henry who wore the same thing. Both boys looked immaculate, it reminded Matt of him and his brother.
Soon he heard the door open as he heard something, "Matt! You here?!" Henry called out.
"In here!" Matt called out from the bedroom.
Henry walked in as he said, "Hey, what you doin' in here?" "Oh, just looking over a photo album."
Henry looked at the front as he said softly, "Mom and Dad, huh?" "Yeah, I just decided to look inside it. Found Pop's journal…" Matt said leaving that hanging.
Henry sighed as he said, "What'd you read?" "Found out Mom was pregnant was 4 children."
Henry's jaw dropped as he said, "My God, tell me you ain't kiddin'." "I wish I was." Matt then explained everything that he found out about Mom's death, by the end, Henry had tears in his eyes as he asked, "I was goin' to be an older brother to 3 more great kids." "You'd have your hands full keepin' us in line."
Henry laughed as he said, "You woulda given us a lotta heart attacks. Well, you, Patrick and Carlo." "Yeah, we'd have done that and then we'd get our asses spanked hard." Matt laughed.
Matt looked at Henry and said, "Do you blame me?"
Henry was caught off-guard as he asked, "Whaddya mean?" "Mama's death, do you blame me?" "I'd never blame you. You know why?"
Matt shrugged his shoulders as Henry sat down by his side and turned the picture to one of him, Matt, their mother and father as he said, "You're a blue, kid. You're my brother. I'm not lettin' you blame yourself for what happened. I'd rather have you survive than none of my siblings. You'd be a great sibling to them."
Matt smiled as his brother said, "Here let me take the reigns of this. I got a picture to show you."
Matt handed the photo album to Henry who stopped on a page as he said, "Mom and Dad's wedding day."
The photo showed a young Paul O'Mara in his army dress uniform. Multiple ribbons shown on his left chest. The rank of Staff Sergeant with the 1st Cavalry Division insignia on his shoulder.
Next to Paul was Sara in a long white wedding dress as the pair held smiles on their face as Matt said, "Wow, what'd I give to go back in time to when Mom and Dad got married?" "I'd give my left hand to be at that wedding."
Matt grinned as he saw their Uncle Henry Sr in his Marine Corps dress blues, the Medal of Honor round his neck as Matt said, "I thought Marines weren't allowed to wear the medal unless it was to a meeting with the government."
Henry chuckled and replied, "Na, that's the ribbon, you shoulda seen the mayor attend the wedding. He shitted himself seeing that ribbon." "Didn't the Mayor have kids around the age our Dad and Uncle woulda been?" Henry nodded at the question.
"Yeah, he did. Story goes was that the mayor was attending and the boys were in college and scrounged a free pass outta serving." Henry began.
Matt shook his head saying, "Chicken-shit cowards."
Flashback scene
December 1st 1973
Grand Prospect Hall, Park Slope, Brooklyn
263 Prospect Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA
It was late midday in Brooklyn, NY.
The O'Mara family was in Park Slope for the wedding reception. Paul O'Mara was 6 years in the United States Army, a Staff Sergeant with the 1st Cavalry. Henry O'Mara, a 6-year United States Marine Corp veteran. He stayed with the Corps after the Marines left Vietnam in April 14th '71. Henry shifted onto the next port of call which was Parris Island as a drill instructor. In June of '73, Henry reluctantly departed the Marine Corps, the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant rested on his dress blues. He now became a NYPD Officer in training.
Henry married his high school sweetheart, Maria Corleone. Henry was a decorated hero, he won the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Tet Offensive in Hue City. Paul O'Mara was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross. He even won the Bronze Star on several occasions. Today, Paul was now married to his Junior High School sweetheart Sara Kelly.
They had the wedding in the local church St. Anselm's before heading off to the reception in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
A couple of Police officers from Henry's academy class had come to the wedding, all of whom had served in Vietnam in their own way.
In attendance along them was Matt O'Mara, Serafina O'Mara, Helen O'Mara (Matt O'Mara's sister), Jameson O'Mara, Scarlett O'Mara and Michael O'Mara who was in his NYPD Dress blues alongside his brother, sister and father.
In attendance as well was Henry Reagan, Betty Reagan, Frank Reagan, Colleen Maguire and Vic Maguire.
Sara's family consisted of her 2 twin brothers (Patrick and Carlo), her own father and mother as well as Sara's grandparents too.
The O'Mara family stood together, smiling widely for the wedding photos, it was self-catering banquet, and everyone was making the most of it. The wedding toasts have come and gone as Paul said some words of love for Sara, she had done the same thing as well, they had danced to 'The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra'.
Everyone was either dancing on the dance floor or drinking with friends.
Paul, Henry, Charlie Cross, Frank Reagan and Nathan Miller Jr were sharing their war experiences in Vietnam. When they saw 2 men watching the ladies walk by as one of them said, "You guys served in Vietnam?" "Yeah. We all did." Paul said.
The lead man then said, "Thanks for your service." "You serve?" Frank asked.
The lead man shook his head replying, "We were too late to serve. Born in '56." "Both of ya?" "Yeah, this is my brother."
Henry looked at the pair noting they were in their mid-20s as he said, "Mid-20s." "Sorry, sir?"
Henry looked at both men as he said, "You're in your mid-20s, no 17-year-old looks like that." "What do you know 'bout us?" "No vet asks whether they served in 'Nam because they would know." Henry replies sarcastically.
The lead brother then asks, "What would you know, baby killer?"
That struck a chord in Henry as it did many other vets as Henry turned to face the men. The pair saw his ribbons and saw the congressional Medal of Honor as their jaws dropped in response. They then asked, "You're a MOH winner?" "Got that savin' a lotta leathernecks. You don't know what we did over there and what we sacrificed to fight for this country." Henry pointed at them coldly.
Frank walked over and said, "Master Guns, it ain't worth it."
Henry nodded as he turned back to the two men and said, "You're nothin'. If you lie about servin' in 'Nam. You're not goin' to live another day. I suggest you get outta here before this becomes a barfight, understand?" "Perfectly, sir."
Paul pointed to his twin brother's stripes and replied, "It's Master Gunnery Sergeant, numbnuts, you address him with respect to the T." the brothers then retreated as Paul turned back to his lifelong friends and said, "No matter what, boys. I'm with you fellas to the end of the line."
All the boys clinked their glasses as Paul continued, "To those we lost…" "The boys that gave all…" Henry continued.
Charlie Cross continued, "Whether you're a Marine or Army…" "Air Force or the Navy…" Nathan Miller continued.
Frank then finished, "To hell and back. God Bless the United States Armed Forces and her fightin' men." The men downed their glasses as they all danced back with their significant others.
End Flashback Scene
Matt and Henry stood alongside each other as they looked at the picture of the O'Mara men, Frank Reagan, Charlie Cross and Nathan Miller as Matt said, "The best of the bunch." "Our battlin' boys. Some gave all. All gave some." Henry replied.
Matt toasted, "God bless the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps." "OO-RAH!" "HOO-AH!"
The pair toasted their bottles and drank as Henry said, "What else is in this journal?" "Whaddya mean?" "There could be more unanswered questions about your life." "Maybe, but what else could there be?" Matt asked.
"Let's find out." Henry said in all wisdom.
Here's the first one of this mini-stories. Write down below any suggestions that you have in the comments or send 'em to me in the PM box. I will answer your suggestions in time. Try to be patient.
Please like and review, my friends. Have a good day and may God bless you.