heartache

epilogue

The day I boarded the plane was the last day I ever saw Sodapop Curtis. He never came to visit. But it wasn't entirely his fault. I never visited either. I guess we just went on with our lives. Soda probably went on to marry a girl who he loved and have kids. He would make the most amazing dad. I tried to move on too. I really did. I starting dating someone and eventually we got married. Jackson Clark was his name. But in full honesty, he was never Soda. He still isn't. Don't get me wrong, Jackson is a great guy and a wonderful father to our son, Patrick. I do love him. But he's just not Sodapop Curtis. Some nights I still find myself wondering what life would be like if I hadn't moved. If I had stayed in Tulsa and continued on with Soda. Would we be married today? Would we have kids? Would we grow old together?

"Hey hon," Jackson called.

"I'm in the kitchen!" I replied. Jackson came in with a newspaper in his hands.

"There's an article on page 17 about a couple boys from Tulsa. I'm not sure if you know them, but it's worth a shot." He handed me the paper and I looked at him with confusion in my eyes. Why were Tulsa boys in the paper? Patrick was crying so Jackson left to see what was wrong. I opened the paper and started reading.

Tulsa Boy Becomes Hero

One man from Tulsa, Oklahoma is being given the Medal of Honor from President Nixon for heroism in Vietnam War. Returning from Vietnam recently, Steve Randle is able to finally able to talk about what happened that day.

"We were on a mission to bomb an enemy camp. There was eight of us in total. I remember we were running through the jungle when someone threw a grenade. All of us looked at each other with a look that I can't describe. It was a mix of terror, panic, yet relief. We all knew we were going to die, but death was looking very good at that point in time. That's when Soda did what no one of us had even thought of. He threw himself on top of the grenade, shielding us all from the terrible fate that was upon us." says Randle, 28.

The men have recently arrived back in the states and are recalling that frightful day. President Nixon is said to award Sodapop Curtis with the Medal of Honor next month on national television. We thank all of our veterans for sacrificing their lives for us. Sodapop Curtis is a war hero that will never be forgotten. Funeral is said to be held on August 28 in Tulsa.

My heart stopped beating and I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was dying. Soda was dead. OhmyGod. Soda is dead. When it sunk in, nothing could stop the tears from flowing. Someone was repeatedly stabbing me in the chest and I couldn't numb the pain.

"Mommy?" I heard Patrick call. He came running into the room on his short little legs. "Mommy, are you okay?" He ran up to me and climbed on my lap.

"Mommy's friend is with God now. She's just very sad because she's going to miss him," I managed to say. Patrick wrapped his small arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.

"I'll try to see if God can let me talk to him tonight. But it's okay Mommy. You can cry," he said. I hugged my son and let the tears fall.

<><><>

That night when I was getting Patrick ready for bed, I said to him.

"Patrick, did you know that you're named after a hero?"

"Really?" he exclaimed, wonder in his big blue eyes.

"You are. He was a great man who saved a lot of people's lives, including mine."

"He saved you Mommy?"

"That's right. Sodapop Patrick saved me."