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Chapter 3

Two of a Kind

Goren stretched his lean, long form out on the bunk, grateful that he was alone. His shoes were off, placed neatly on the floor beneath him. His hands were clasped behind his head as stared up at the ceiling, allowing his thoughts to drift. His eyes began to droop, when, in his peripheral vision, his eye fell on his coat. The word letter, popped into his mind. Swinging his legs to the floor, he walked over to where his coat was hung. Reaching inside, he pulled the envelope out.

Stretching back out on the bunk, he held the envelope in front of his face, studying the lettering. Cocking his head to one side, he decided, feminine. He skewered his lips in thought, wishing the letter had passed through the civilian post office and not the military. Sighing, he reached in his pocket and pulled out his pocket knife. He carefully cut the envelope open, so not to damage the contents.

Alex enviously watched as two of her classmates ripped open their envelopes. "Oh Ms. Peevy!" Alexandra waved her right hand in the air. "Ms. Peevy!"

Kristine rolled her eyes before turning away from the black board to face her. "Yes, Alexandra?"

Alex cringed at her elongated name. "Michael and Luther got responses from their letters. How long do you think before I get a response?"

She looked into the excited teenager's face. "Well, that depends. Where did you send your letter?"

Alex dug out her papers and read the address. Looking up at Ms. Peevy with hopeful eyes. Kristine cleared her throat. She reached up and pulled the map of the world down. "Who can find Germany for me?"

Scott raised his hand. Kristine smiled, nodding at the blond hair boy. He stood, pausing to push is large black framed glasses up his nose. Walking quietly to the map, he stood in front of it. Reaching up, he pointed to a purple area. His voice was barely audible. "There. That's Germany."

"Thank you Scott." Just as he moved in front of Ms. Peevy's line of vision, Alex stuck her tongue out at him.

With a devious smile, he took a quick step to the side, allowing the teacher full view of Alexandra's facial expression. Kristine pursed her lips. "Alexandra Eames, that will be enough of that!"

Her tongue quickly disappeared back into her mouth. Sitting back in her chair, she waited for the teacher to continue.

Bobby slowly pulled the sheets of paper outside of the envelope, carefully unfolding them. He smiled as he noted the words were written by a youth. The i's were dotted with big circles. Fifteen? He began reading the letter, suddenly realizing it had been awhile since he had any letters from home, and the hunger he felt inside him to have any news. He paused, slightly smiling sardonically. Home? Now that's a strange name to call where I have come from. He growled at himself trying to rid his mind of Frank's antics and his mother's illness. His eyes fell back on the page.

'Dear Sargent Goren, or may I call you Bobby?'

"Bobby's fine."

'Anyway, my name is Alex. Everyone calls me Alex, except my teacher. She INSISTS on using my full name, Alexandra, which can be aggravating. So, I am wondering, do you use Robert or Bobby more?'

Bobby grinned. "Something tells me, you can be a handful, Alex."

'We have this assignment in English to write individuals that are in the Service. You know, to thank them for what they do, hope they all come home soon. Anyway, thank you.'

Bobby smiled. "Sounds like Ann Landers guilt the teacher into this."

'I spoke with your mother, she works part-time in our school library...'

His smile faded, wondering what effect his mother had on this young lady. "Jeesh, I hope she was having a good day."

'She gave me your address, and answered a few questions and then left abruptly.'

Bobby sighed, rubbing his face with one hand. "I bet she did."

"Mrs. Brown, the Librarian, helped me research what someone in CID does. Did you always want to be a criminal profiler?

He bit his bottom lip. "Not always, but I'm good at it."

"You're good at what, Goren?"

A startled Bobby looked over towards the door, where Corporal Higgins stood. He silently berated himself for being so engrossed in the letter that he missed the squeak the door makes when it is opened. He quietly folded the letter, slipping it under his pillow. "Just talking to myself."

The blond haired man laughed. "I'd be careful admitting that. It might get you in the psych ward." He raised a brow. "Was that a letter?"

Bobby raised himself on one elbow, the feeling of wanting to protect the contents of the letter from others came over him. "Yeah."

"Well, who from?" The corporal sat on his own bunk, not too far from Goren's. He leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees in interest.

"It's just, just one of those letters from a school kid. You know, wish you a Merry Christmas, hope you make it home soon." Goren replied nonchalantly.

Higgins leaned back on his bunk. "Yeah, I got one of those. Pretty lame, huh?"

Bobby swung his feet to the floor, feeling his temper rise. He silently took a deep breath, trying not to say something he would regret. I'm not going to be here that long, why ruin a friendship? "Oh, I don't know. I don't get many letters from home. It's kind of nice to be remembered."

Corporal Higgins nodded in quiet understanding. Bobby watched in surprise as he slightly lifting his mattress, he pulled out an envelope. Higgins grinned sheepishly, his blue eyes sparkled as he spoke. "I don't get much mail either. I, I was thinking of sending him an answer. You know, maybe enclose some German postage, or a Duestche Mark or something for his show and tell".

Ms. Peevy took another deep breath, as a quiet spurt of giggles filled the room. "Ms. Alexandra Eames, we don't stick our tongues out at our classmates."

"Yes ma'am." Alex hung her head. Kristine wasn't sure if Alex was truly sorry for what she had done, or just that she got caught.

Tugging on the hem of her jacket, Ms. Peevy paused a moment, glancing around the classroom for more violators. She turned towards the map. "Alright then. So, here is Germany, and here, is the United States."

Looking at the class, she smiled. "Your letter has a greater amount of distance to travel than Michael or Luther's letters. If I remember correctly, one went to Cuba, and the other was San Diego."

Alex silently nodded her head. A thought came to her, she looked up at Kristine, almost afraid to ask. "What are the chances that my Serviceman will send a letter to me?"

Kristine took a breath. "Well, now, these Servicemen are pretty busy, and most do have family, and ..."

Eames hung her head again, the reality that there was a very good chance that she wouldn't get a letter set in. Her heart sunk.

Ms. Peevy easily read the young woman's face and body language. She bit her lip, trying to think of a quick answer. "The whole idea behind our letter writing was to let them know we remember them, Alex. Not to get letters from them."

Alex's ears caught her shortened name, putting a small smile on her lips, but didn't dissipate the disappointment. "Yes ma'am."