Page 53 of Little Girls Sleeping

“Yeah, I remember that fort, and then working with him building fences. I saved for my first car from that job.”

“I think it’s a flat tire,” Katie suggested.

“Wait here, I’ll go see if he needs some help.” Chad unhooked his seat belt and jumped out of the car.

Katie and Cisco watched.

Within a few minutes, Chad returned and opened the back of the Jeep. Cisco bounced in his face, tail wagging. “Take it easy, buddy,” Chad said.

“What’s up?” Katie asked.

“He has a flat and his jack doesn’t seem to be cooperating. I’m going to help him. It should take about ten minutes.” He took his jack and headed back to the truck.

Katie waited patiently and recalled her childhood. It was something that made her happy, especially when she thought about her parents. Chad had been a good friend as far back as she could remember. It was difficult to think of a memory without him being a part of it.

He returned to the Jeep and replaced the jack, then climbed back into the driver’s seat. “Okay, we’re on the road again.” He pulled away from the side of the road, giving a quick beep and a wave to Mr. Rey.

They drove in silence for a while. It wasn’t an uncomfortable type of silence, but rather both of them seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.

“You’re suddenly very quiet,” said Chad. “Should I be worried?” He smiled.

“Just a lot on my mind,” Katie replied.

Cisco moved back and forth behind them, unable to decide on the perfect seating position.

Chad watched Katie, and it was clear from his solemn expression that he was trying to sympathize with her. “Can I ask you a question?”

“I think so,” she said.

“You don’t have to answer.”

“Go ahead. You obviously have something on your mind.”

He made a sharp right turn and continued up a dirt track and then a gravel roadway away from the usual thoroughfares.

Katie recognized her surroundings. “I know where you’re going.”

“Thought you might.”

“I haven’t been here since high school.”

“Well then you’re in for a treat.”

Katie remembered the area well. Many great times had been had there, including her first kiss. There were wonderful hiking trails and nice picnic areas with a valley view. She rubbed her hands together and let the happy memories flood her mind—at least for a short period. Sometimes it was difficult for her to let the positive things into her life. Her experiences had skewed her perception so that everything seemed on the verge of catastrophe. It was as if she had blocked out anything good in her life.

Finally she said, “You want to ask me about what it was like.”

“Only if you feel comfortable.”

“There’s not much to tell. Every day was basically the same. The same duties. The same orders. Just different locations. The only thing that wasn’t the same was whether you were going to die that day.”

Her words hung in the air like static. She spoke with simple clarity, but the reality of what she said had a huge impact not only on Chad but on herself as well.

“Don’t let anyone misinform you about why the military is still over there and why we need more personnel. If you have personal opinions on this war, it’s fifty times worse than what you believe. I fear for this country.”

Chad pulled into a parking area as Cisco jumped around behind him. “Wow,” was all he could say.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I haven’t said anything like that out loud before.” Katie looked fixedly at her hands.