Chapter 2
Their mother was in prison for five years. They would visit occasionally. But, the older ones didn't think it was such a good idea for the younger two, Joey and Taylor, to visit. They didn't want them to have to see that. They needed to see their mother, but there was no need for them to go all the time.
It was all fine for about two years. Benny and Ketan were in the army, and nothing bad happened to them in Afghanistan. When they got home, Benny would live with his wife and two children. Ketan would go live with Avan in Canada. Taylor and Kayla were fine in Australia. They came and visited. Tom and Joey were OK living together. Tom knew he had a big responsibility now. So, he wouldn't go out at night or anything like that. He didn't think it was affecting anything. It wasn't. He got to stay at home with his little brother. He got to look after him and know he was safe. He didn't need and want anything more.
But, they all knew it couldn't last. Sooner or later it was going to happen. Benny and Ketan were the best off out of all of them, even though they were in the middle of a war zone.
This all happened about six months later. Kayla signed up to the army. She was going to be a medic. She had just left school, at sixteen. She met a good friend there and they let her stay with them. Taylor couldn't stay with their aunt anymore, because she was going to L.A. As a result, Taylor got taken into care. She was the only one who couldn't dodge the system. But, she was in good hands. She was with foster parents nearly immediately. Avan was fine in Canada, still. He had small jobs in the States and came over to England quite regularly.
Everything didn't seem too bad. But, the whole family was apart. Their dad helped out as much as he could. He had gotten married and his second wife had had two children, with a third on the way. They found out that when he first came back, the oldest was already three and the second was nearly one.
Tom and Joey were going good, until Tom had to move to do his rotation. It's was still all good. They had friends and family that would help out whenever. But, when Joey turned eleven, he said to Tom, "thanks for looking after me, bro. But, I'm going over to Hawaii to live with Steve. Don't argue with me, because I'm going whatever. You've got your training to be busy with. You don't need to be looking after a kid on top of that. I'll be gone by the end of the month". Tom didn't argue with this. He knew one day that his little brother would be going. He just didn't think it would be so soon.
About three weeks later they were arriving at the airport. "OK, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Don't worry, mate. If you're really that worried, I'll call you when I land, yeah?"
"Of course I'm worried. You're my little bro," Tom replied, with a slight chuckle.
"See ya, Tom," Joey smiled and hugged his brother.
"Later, Joey," Tom hugged back and let Joey walk off through to the baggage check-in. All he could manage to do was give a short wave.