In the morning, Calaway drove to Joplin. He was going to take Lisa to see something beautiful.
He and Lisa climbed down a bit of chert. Standing before them was a beautiful waterfall.
"What is this, Calaway?" Lisa asked.
"Grand Falls," Calaway replied. "This waterfall here is the largest continuously flowing natural waterfall in Missouri."
"It's so beautiful." Lisa said. "I've been to Niagara Falls before and this waterfall isn't as big as it. But it's just as captivating as Niagara Falls. That's what's so great about waterfalls."
"Yeah," Calaway said. "I used to come here during summer vacation when I was a kid. My mother's folks are from Missouri and we'd come here and just watch. On a breezy day like today, I'd feel the mist hit my face. Unlike anything you'll ever experience.
Lisa sat on some chert while Calaway stood. She had a delighted look on her face as she listened to the soft pattering of the waterfall.
"It's amazing, Calaway," she said. "Sometimes I think about how God took the time to create all of these things and how we take them for granted. What do you think, Calaway?"
Calaway's viridescent gaze met Lisa's.
"I don't believe in God, Lisa." he said.
"Oh," Lisa said, trying not to show her shock. "Wow, I've never met an atheist before."
"I just think God's a myth," Calaway said. "I'm not going to worship something that doesn't exist."
"What made you become one?" Lisa asked.
"Long story," Calaway said. "I'll tell you one day, but I just want to take this in."
"Ok, I'll respect that," Lisa said.
Calaway inhaled deeply taking in the scent of the Ozark. A wave of nostalgia hit him as a breeze fluttered past and a mist hit him. He did something he hadn't done in years. He smiled.
Lisa caught this and said. "Oh my God, this is the first time I've seen you smile! You've been like a robot this whole time. Who'd have thought you could do something as human as smile? You look so handsome."
Calaway chuckled and said "Thanks Lisa."
"No problem." she said.
They stayed at Grand Falls a whole hour before departing. Calaway drove non stop until night fall. They were in Chicago by the time they decided to rest. But neither Lisa nor Calaway was sleepy. They stayed up for a while.
"There's a show tomorrow at Chicago Theatre in the afternoon," said Calaway, "wanna catch it?"
"Sure," said Lisa. "What show?"
"Cats," Calaway replied.
"Really?" Lisa said. "I've been begging Daddy to take me see that play, thanks Calaway."
She hugged Calaway tight.
"You're turning out to be a good friend." she said.
"So are you," Calaway said. "I don't have any friends, Lisa, but I'm glad I've found a friend in you. I'll admit, I didn't think much of you or your attitude when I first met you. But I got to know you better. You just needed someone to talk to you and listen to you. You're a great person with a good head on her shoulders."
"I didn't think much of you either," said Lisa. "I thought you were this unyielding psychotic jerk, but you're really a pineapple."
"Pineapple?" Calaway repeated laughing.
"What I mean is beneath all that rough exterior lies a sweet person," said Lisa. "You're a nice guy who puts on a big front. You've been through some things that has hardened your heart."
"What're you, a psychiatrist?" Calaway asked, laughing. He was finding it easier to smile and laugh every minute.
"No," Lisa said smiling. "I can just pick up things about people."
They looked at each other for a few seconds in silence before Calaway said, "Let's go to bed, so we can catch the show."
"Good idea," said Lisa.
She climbed into her own bed, leaving Calaway alone on his, him thinking about the brief stare they encountered. He felt something at that moment, though he didn't know what the hell it was. He spent the whole night, racking his brain trying to figure it out.
The next afternoon, they watched Cats. Calaway, who didn't care too much for performing arts was deeply impressed by it. He found himself standing up and cheering when Cats was over.
After leaving the theatre, Calaway and Lisa went to get some deep dish pizza. Lisa, being from New York, was accustomed to thin crust pizza and not eating her pizza with a fork. But nonetheless, she ate it and enjoyed it.
They finally stopped at Buckingham Fountain. Calaway watched the sheer delight on her face as she watched the jets of water spraying from every which way. She was enjoying herself. And so was he.
He raided La Comandancia, the headquarters of the Panamanian Defense Force along with the other combatants.
"I'm going in!" Calaway shouted to nearby Delta Force operator Hibbert, "cover me!"
He kicked down the door. There were several Panamanian soldiers in there. He shot down three, but was gunned down by the remaining two. He fell to the ground seriously hurt. He was going to die for sure. Everything was fading to black.
Through all the chaos, a man walked in the midst of it. He was tall and muscular. He had the same red hair and the same green eyes as Calaway. He was like a ghost, but a little more solid.
"It's ok, son," he said. "Just hold on with all your might. I'm here now. You have nothing to worry about."
Calaway woke up shouting. He had woke up Lisa, who came running to his side.
"Calaway, what's the matter?" Lisa asked. "Every night you have nightmares and you scream your head off. What's going on?"
To Lisa's shock, Calaway starting crying.
"Calaway!" she said alarmed. "Calaway, what's the matter, why are you crying?"
"I've been in the service for nine years," Calaway said through rasping sobs. "I had a near death experience in Panama. I thought I would end up like my daddy. Lisa, do you want to know why I became an atheist?"
"Sure," Lisa said, patting Calaway on the back to ease his crying.
"I lost my father in the Vietnam War." Calaway said, his chest heaving with his sobs. "Killed in Operation Frequent Wind. The day he got deployed, I prayed to God every night that the war would be over soon and my father would come home. Five years I prayed. After he got killed. I learned that God is just a myth. An overrated misleading myth. They say if you don't accept God as your savior, you go to Hell. All these wars, the bad things happening, and people dying with no end to it, I say we're already in Hell. If there was a so called God, don't you think He would put a stop to this shit already? Where was He when my daddy got killed?"
He was pretty wound up. Lisa put an arm around Calaway as he sobbed harder. She tried to find the right words to comfort him.
"You have the right to be upset, Calaway," Lisa said finally. "I can't even imagine losing a parent. But just know that your father didn't leave you. He's still with you. Right here," she put a hand over his bare chest. And he will always be with you. I can't convince you that God exist. But for me, my faith keeps evil at bay. You don't have to believe in God, but you can still have faith in the good people in life. Like the policemen, the firefighters, even you. You can have faith in yourself. People like you also keep evil at bay."
"Thank you, Lisa," said Calaway, wiping away his tears and taking a moment to pull himself together. "I needed to hear that."
"It's no problem," Lisa said. "I told you I hate to see people suffer. Be it physically or psychologically. I just want to help them. And you're a friend to me. I own you for saving my life Calaway."
"You don't owe me anything, darlin'," Calaway drawled. "And it's Mark."
"I'm sorry?" Lisa said.
"Mark," Calaway repeated. "It's my first name."
"Mark," Lisa said. "I like it. You totally look like a Mark."
He looked at her and she looked at him. A funny feeling leapt in their stomachs. Calaway smiled.
"What?" Lisa asked.
"Nothin' Calaway said. "Think you oughta go to bed now."
"I'm afraid you might have another nightmare." Lisa said. "Is it ok if I sleep with you?"
Calaway was hesitant at first, but reconsidered it and said. "Okay."
She got under the covers with him. She held him in her arms all night until morning.