Day 14 – "I shouldn't be worried about you, but for some reason, I am."

Tully knew that getting older meant he couldn't handle being on amusement park rides nearly as well as he did when he was a kid, and it also meant he was being the voice of common sense when it came to the rest of his team—and Dietrich—wanting to go on rides despite having just had lunch.

Logically, the one he shouldn't have been concerned about was Moffitt. Moffitt didn't eat much that day, and all he was doing was going on the carousel with his wife. The carousel was probably the least intensive ride after the Ferris wheel.

And yet, Tully couldn't help being a little concerned that something wasn't going to go well.

Hitch came over with a huge ice cream cone composed of several flavors, including cookie dough, cookies and cream, and butter pecan, all covered with a peanut butter sauce. "Hey, Tully. Any particular reason you're watching Moffitt on the carousel?" Hitch asked.

"I shouldn't be watching him, but I can't help but feel a little bit worried something's not gonna go right," Tully said.

"I mean, it's hard to get sick on a carousel. I got sick on a carousel once, but that was because I had two funnel cakes and a big thing of cotton candy beforehand. My sister ratted me out to Mom, and then I got lectured about eating too much before going on rides."

"I would think the Ferris wheel is hardest to get sick on… and then Sarge did last year."

"Well, Sarge is afraid of heights, so… it kinda makes sense." Hitch went back to his ice cream. "Say, where is Sarge anyway?"

"Having a beer. I think Dietrich's with him."

"No, Dietrich was with me… then he found the stand selling cinnamon rolls. I figured I could leave him there and we'll pick him up."

Tully sighed. "Hey, as long as you guys are having fun."

"This is always fun. Best damn fair in all of North Carolina," Hitch said. "I love taking you all here every summer."

"Yeah."

"You're allowed to have fun, too, you know."

"Oh, I'm enjoying myself. I'm just more aware of the fact that I can't do certain things anymore."

"You're not that old. Besides, Sarge is the oldest out of all of us and he still went on the big roller coaster."

"Hitch, take a moment to think about who you're talking about."

Hitch paused to think while in the middle of licking his ice cream, then said, "Oh. Yeah. Right. It's Sarge."

"Yep." Tully could still remember not being too sure he wanted to stay under Troy's command at first when he was assigned to the Rat Patrol, but he eventually acknowledged that despite Troy's more unconventional means of conducting warfare, Troy was a good leader who put the safety of his men above everything else. That didn't stop Tully from wondered what went on in Troy's head sometimes.

If anything, it was Troy who Tully needed to be worried about, but here he was, worrying about Moffitt on the damn carousel of all things.

"He looks like he's having fun," Hitch said.

"Yeah," Tully replied.

"I don't think there's anything to be worried about. Then again, when you're worried about something, it's usually serious."

"Hey, I could be completely worried about nothing."

"True, but you're generally right about stuff like that."

"Look, just take it with a grain of salt until something actually happens. Leave the worrying to me. You, go have fun."

"I'll finish my ice cream, then I'm gonna go over to the stand with the bubblegum blowing contest."

"Alright."

Hitch was in no hurry to go, though, and stood there to savor his ice cream despite it dripping.

The two were eventually joined by Troy. "Took long enough to find you," he said. "Where are Dietrich and Moffitt?"

"Dietrich's in cinnamon roll heaven," Tully said. "Moffitt's on the carousel with Vanora."

"You left Dietrich unsupervised around cinnamon rolls?"

"No, I did," Hitch said.

Troy glared at him. "Why?"

"Well, we won't lose him—actually, here he comes now."

Dietrich strolled over to the group, holding a plate with three oversized cinnamon rolls completely covered in vanilla glaze.

"Oh, good," Troy said. "I was worried we were going to find you in a cinnamon roll-induced coma."

"Very funny, Troy," Dietrich replied. "Is there a reason everyone is standing near the carousel?"

"I'm not sure." Troy looked at Tully. "Why are we standing near the carousel?"

"Well, you see, Sarge… I…" Tully tried to word his thoughts properly. "I know I shouldn't be worried about Moffitt, but for some reason, I am."

Troy gave him a confused look. "It's Moffitt. He's on the carousel, a ride that doesn't go very fast, and he's got Vanora with him."

"I know, Sarge."

"I highly doubt there's anything to be worried about."

"I know, Sarge."

"So, why are you worried? You never worry about anything."

Tully shrugged. "I dunno."

Troy sighed. "Well, let us know if something does go wrong."

Tully expected everyone to go their separate ways, but instead, they kept standing where they were, watching the carousel go round and round.

"At least when Moffitt gets on one of those carousel horses, you can fit another person with him," Hitch said.

"That's because he's no wider than the pole holding the horse to the ride," Troy muttered.

"You could lose Moffitt in a bamboo forest," Dietrich added.

"You could lose him in any forest."

"True, but I specifically said bamboo because of how thin it is."

Hitch watched Moffitt and Vanora the next time they passed in front of the group. Vanora was hugging Moffitt from her place behind him and he was leaning over his shoulder to kiss her. "Aww, they're so darn sweet together, ain't they, Sarge?"

"Yeah, yeah, they're cute," Troy said. "Tell us something we don't know, Hitch."

"Did you know peanut butter and butter pecan actually go really good together?"

"No, I'll have to try it."

Tully kept watching the carousel. You're probably overreacting to something. There's nothing to be worried about. We're all right here in case something happens.

When the carousel finally came to a stop, Vanora got off first, then waited for Moffitt. Once he was off, however, he wasn't walking very smoothly.

"Are you alright, love?" Vanora asked. "You look a bit dizzy."

"I am a bit dizzy," Moffitt replied. His face paled. "Oh… oh, no… Hold on—" He gagged and immediately started looking around for a trash can.

Hitch and Dietrich pointed at one near a lamppost.

"Thank you!" Moffitt staggered over to the trash can, promptly throwing up into it.

"And there it is. That's what I was worried about," Tully said.

"Okay—" Troy took a moment to think. "He barely ate anything for lunch, and then he went on the damn carousel. How does that make anyone sick?"

"Maybe Moffitt's actually sick," Hitch said, a concerned look coming over his face. "We should go home."

"Now, hold your horses, we don't know if that's the case, yet." Tully held up his hands. "You know what else I noticed today? Moffitt's barely had any water. He's probably a bit dehydrated."

"He can have mine," Troy said, holding up a water bottle.

Hitch looked conflicted. "I mean, I don't wanna ruin the day, but if Moffitt's sick, we really should go home so he doesn't get worse."

"Agreed, but let's see what's going on first." Tully walked over to where Moffitt was slowly standing back up with Vanora's help. "Hey. You doing okay?"

"Right as rain now," Moffitt replied. "My head will stop spinning in a minute."

"You sure you're not sick? I've never seen anyone get sick on a carousel."

"I'm alright, Tully. I appreciate your concern, though." Moffitt sat down next to the trash can. "That was an adventure."

The others walked over, and Troy tossed his water bottle at Moffitt. "Drink. You're dehydrated."

"Thanks, Troy."

"What a good patient," Dietrich said. "Unlike someone we know who would be insisting that he is fine in between heaves and retches."

Troy glared at him. "You're no better, buddy."

Dietrich returned the glare, but kept eating his cinnamon rolls.

"Oh, would you two stop arguing?" Moffitt asked with a sigh once he was standing again. "The war's been over for quite some time now."

"That does not mean Troy has stopped being stubborn."

"The same can be said for you, Dietrich," Troy muttered.

"Nope! No! No more arguing. Go have fun. That's what we're here for," Moffitt ordered.

As the group walked off to find something else to do, Tully noticed Moffitt leaning against Vanora a little.

"Are you sure you're alright, love?" Vanora asked.

"Perfectly fine, darling," Moffitt said.

Right. Tully sighed heavily, hoping that was the extent of his concern for that day.