POV Jesse

"So, they milk the goat but they don't get milk they get mead instead, quite the party up in Valhalla" Mr. Meyers, Monster Mouth's nephew said. The younger Meyers had chosen to teach history at Lark Creek High School and had a much more laid back demeanor than his aunt . "But who brings the souls to this Great Hall? Jesse, do you know the answer?

"Fuck ,I zoned out" Jesse thought. He had been having trouble keeping focused this week as his mind kept going back to wondering exactly what kind of scheme his father had been putting together. " Uhhh not sure Mr.Meyers" Jesse responded

"The valkyries, are the ones bringing the souls" Mr Meyers announced "They are portrayed as beautiful angels, if angels existed in Norse lore of course" Meyers continued "They are the ones who search the battlefields for the warriors who fell in combat and transport them to Valhalla".

The bell rang ending the final period "Have a great weekend everyone" Mr.Meyers announced jovially. Jesse went straight home, even though he had been lucky enough to avoid a day in court, the previous weekend's escapade had earned him a two week suspension from the cross country team. Jesse completed chores, ate dinner and worked on his homework. Sleep did not come easy for Jesse but to his fortune it was dreamless.

With few words Jesse and his Dad got in the car and began driving they arrived at a convention center about an hour away "Dad what is this" Jesse said puzzled

Jack stated, "Jesse you have seemed lost these past few years, So I bought us tickets to a motivational speaker"

Jesse had to stop to remind himself that this was a better outcome than he could have ever expected. This guy would spout off a bunch of stupid quotes for a couple hours then they would leave unless this guy could teach a spell to bring back the dead he was worthless to Jesse

Jesse and his father took seats and a man in a suit began talking. Jesse could see a pin on the man's suit but couldn't make it out.

Jesse then noticed that there was a banner behind the man showing what the pin probably looked like. It showed an anchor, an old pistol and a trident with an eagle on top of it. This man began by explaining the significance of this pin. He opened up by stating that he had been a Navy SEAL

Jesse was taken aback. He had heard of them but thought they were just people who were born for that job, superhumans who were somehow marked by God himself to be the ultimate warrior. This guy just looked like a regular man.

The speaker explained how he was an average guy who had used a sense of purpose and resilience to do things that others thought were impossible. He talked about the brutality of the training program that they went through, a program called BUD/S. Jesse sat in awe hearing about how the men in that class went an entire week without sleep during "Hell Week" with brutal physical training and cold water swims.

Several hours later Jesse and his father were on the way home Jesse appeared lost in thought.

"So what did you think about that Jess?" Jack asked attempting to break the silence

Jesse could only muster up one response "I need to start training, immediately"

Jack was a bit shocked, as this was not quite the response that he was looking for "It's a dangerous life" he responded to his son

"I know it is" Jesse said but Jesse thought to himself "To the man who has nothing to lose, nothing is dangerous"

Jack was slightly perplexed by this sudden newfound drive but figured that this excursion could have gone far worse.

Jesse sat back and contemplated the idea that this was a route he was destined to take, reflecting on their slogan "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday" it brought him back to his last "Easy Day" when he saw Leslie standing in the rain smiling while holding PT. It was a day that something had sprouted in Jesse, but after fate had its way the new feelings had turned into a festering sore.

These unresolved feelings were uncomfortable and never spoken of. At first it was because talking openly about them would have been like pouring acid into a deep cut.

He had still not spoken of this part of the story as It would be sort of weird admitting that as a Sophomore in High School Jesse dreamed of a girl who didn't even make it into her teens. Jesse would often piece together with his mind what she would have looked like if she had lived and the image was always the most beautiful girl Jesse could imagine, however the realest these images would ever be would be as drawings in a sketchbook.

Soon his mind twisted into images of Leslie as a valkyrie " stop getting ahead of yourself Jesse, he thought to himself you need to train first"

POV Mary Aarons

"Great idea you had Jack" An exasperated Mary said to her husband.

" Hey, You didn't complain beforehand, plus our boy has seemed more alive in the past three months after that speaker than he has in years, He was damn near a robot before this." Jack responded.

"I get it, Jack" said Mary "But let's be honest, what is going to happen if he doesn't make it through?"

"Mary, I don't think that boy is going to quit, He has become as hard as fucking steel, he is going to make it through that training" Jack shot back

"That is almost worse Jack" Mary shot back "There is just something very unsettling about all this, maybe therapy would have been better after all, I mean he seems better but this improvement just seems abnormal" Continuing she said "Besides, I wanted him off doing normal teenage shit like making friends with his teammates or hell, maybe even try dating for once, lord knows his handsome self probably has girls in line for him. "

Jack , with a sigh replied "You're right about that Mary, but maybe the thing he needs the most is a path out of Lark Creek, and the military is probably his best bet for that regardless of whether or not he becomes a SEAL".

Suddenly the front door opened and the laughter of Joyce was immediately heard.

"Besides", Jack said with a smile "I see someone enjoys helping Jesse train".

Jesse,with shaky legs from sprints and lunges knelt to the floor so that Joyce could hop off his back. "You're the best training partner ever, Joycie" Jesse said with a chuckle.

Joyce fell to the ground dizzy and found her way to her feet with a giggle. "Thank you JehJeh" she said to Jesse, as she always enjoyed his "piggyback rides" not knowing what they were truly for.

JESSE POV

The meaning of courage is to feel fear or pain and push through for something else is more important. At 12 years old Jesse decided that he never wanted to be in water again. Water was the thing that took the person who brought him more happiness than anyone else away from him, but facing fears and swimming are both common domain for those who aspire to be SEALs

Jesse mused on these thoughts, as well as how much had changed over those six long years as he swam his laps in the pool at the YMCA,

He got out of the pool and moved on to his next part of the workout, weightlifting. Jesse was working through a set of squats when he saw the familiar face of Trooper Wilson. While Jesse was resting from a set Trooper Wilson approached.

"Hey Jesse, I hear you're going into the service" Trooper Wilson said, enjoying the rare occasion where he could feel proud of someone he once arrested. " And, rumor has it it's something pretty high speed."

"Yes sir" Jesse responded feeling a little uncomfortable

"Relax kid, I'm retired" Wilson chuckled, noticing the young man's discomfort. " But, I do have something I would like to give you" he reached into his gym bag's side pocket and removed a coin. " This here is a challenge coin from the US Marshals a good friend of mine gave it to me"

Jesse looked slightly confused

Wilson elaborated "This friend was Deputy Marshal Gerald Smith he was providing security for a high risk prisoner transport in 2007. They were ambushed by associates of the prisoner. Gerald fought heroically, but he didn't survive that fight. The bastards who killed him are involved with the groups you will fight overseas, son I want you to carry this coin into battle and give them hell."

"Yes sir, you bet I will" Jesse responded with surprising enthusiasm and finished his workout. Jesse drove home from the gym and thought about something. That ambush that Wilson's friend had died in was the same year Jesse lost Leslie. He remembered the kindness that Wilson had treated Jesse with that night he was found in the woods, even sticking up for him in front of his father. His intercession was the only reason that Jack had not addressed Jesse with his usual punitive strategy. It seemed like trooper Wilson was part of Jesse's destiny in giving him his purpose of becoming a SEAL.

Several weeks after receiving the coin, Jesse was leaving the art studio at his community college when his phone rang. He recognized the number as his recruiter. "Hello Jesse" The recruiter said "you did a great job on that last fitness test"

"Thank you sir" Jesse responded.

The recruiter continued "As a matter of fact you did so well that you have a ship date now you start bootcamp on January 5th"

"Got it" Jesse said, all of the hard work over the past few years had brought Jesse to his first step to achieving his goal.

For Jesse the holidays passed by with a different feeling. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years had all come before many times but this time he had a new awareness of them all. Jesse knew that these days would never be the same again. Once these holidays had ended, Jesse left the only home he had ever known to embrace his destiny, whatever that may mean.