Drafted- A Story Of Heroes

3

We stood in line, based on our last names. Jones would be the exception, he'd always stand in the front of the line. 

"Darge Jones will talk to you now." Our commander walked out of our quort. 

"I wish to tell you all first, you will have a phone call before we leave." He walked in front of us. Allan was next to me he was just like me when I first heard the news. He was about to break apart. 

"I think you all know where this is going. We have a week before be depart. We should use the rest of the time finishing up our skills. Anything you don't know, learn. Anything. I don't want you to go out there and get you or anyone else in this reg killed because you can't cope." He took a deep breath. I felt like this was aimed at me, I felt attacked, maybe it was aimed towards me.

"That being said, those with the last names A through H may go and call family. The rest will be able tomorrow. Dismissed." And in that second, some of the strongest men I've ever known, were crying. Some turned to my shoulder. I sat there, emotionless. I had to be for them, like Jones asked me to be. 

"My daughters about to be born!" One of the men yelled. Others spoke about similar things. They knew what was going to happen but it hadn't sunk in yet. 

"Allan, Davis! Call time!" We went up to the two phones. We glanced at each other. We had no idea how to tell our families. I picked up the phone, we had one call. I had no family other than my sister and Linda. Oh god, Linda. I was having a hard time choosing who to call and yet I only had two people. Allan stared at his phone, his hand hovering over the rotary, he couldn't come up with an answer as well.  I started to call my number. 

"Georgia Davis please." I waited for my sister to pick up. She was always by the phone, she lived to talk to her big brother. What am I doing? I asked myself over and over. I'm going to break her heart. 

"Hello?" I heard her young, innocent voice ask. I choked back my tears. 

"Hello sweetheart." I heard her squeal on the other end.

"John! How are you?" I covered the mouth piece and cried.

"John?"  I sniffled back and cleared my throat.

"I'm here."

"John. I heard from Linda, are you really apart of the war now?" 

"Yes, Georgia."

"Why do you sound so sad?" I cleared my throat again.

"Listen sweetheart, I need you to do me a favor."

"Anything."

"I need you to not cry. And I need you to pray for me."

"John, you've never asked me to do this for you before. What's going on?"

"I was assigned to the fifth reg, Geo. I might-" I stopped myself. 

"Tell Linda that, she'll know what to do and she'll help you. Okay?  I just need you to stay strong and believe in me." 

"Of course. I never haven't." I full on broke out crying.

"I love you, I love you and Linda. I'm so sorry." My sister never breaks her promises but she started to cry once I did. 

"No, no. Don't cry Georgia. I don't want tears coming from you. I couldn't stand knowing you were." I heard her sniffle .

"I love you John. You...your going to come home. I know it." 

"I will." 

"I love you." She repeated. Like a broken record repeating the same words over again. She didn't know what else to say.

"I love you too. Georgia I love you and Linda. She's your family to, you hear? She's family too." 

"I know. I know John. I won't forget that." 

"Times up!" I looked behind me to Jones. He looked to his watch. He was trying to give me a few move seconds, Allan's as well but his hands were tied.

"I have to go Georgia, I love you."

"I'll pray for you. I love you." I hung up the phone. I couldn't stand the thought of my little sister being on her own. The thought made me wish I had proposed to Linda and married her just for Geo to not be alone, but that'd be unfair to her. I felt like the bad guy. Geo was going to be alone in this world, as much as I love Linda there's a chance that she'll marry another and won't be able to take care of my little sister. 

"Head out to the shooting range Davis. Allan you make way to wall climbing, I want to see an improvement." 

"Yes sir!" Allan left the room.

"Have made your call?" I asked him.

"Not yet. I'm going last. I don't think it would be fair to make the boys wait after me."

"Then why not give us more time?" 

"You can have more time when we are over seas. Or if you want you can have another call after them all, its just going to cost you." Jones folded his arms and watched to see what I would do next. 

"I'll get going sir." I walked past him. He grabbed me upper arm tightly. 

"I don't need you pushing, Olient. But if you do it again, I'll push back." He looked me in the eyes. He was bigger than me and a hell of a lot more intimidating. I felt small in that moment. His hand dug into my arm. 

"Sir." I pulled my arm back. He was going last because he wanted more time to think. Think about what he was going to tell his family, plus it just gives him more time. I snarled in my head. I walked out and picked up a gun. If anything offers a better emotional outlet I'd be damned. I loaded it and fired the clip. By the time I got excused I went back to the phones. I walked in, expecting no one to be in there. Jones was. 

"He's gone?" He asked over the phone. He nodded his head and heavily sighed out. 

"It was coming. Thank you nurse." He listened for a moment more before hanging up.  He turned and saw me.

"Ah, come on. What are you doing here Davis?" He stepped out of the phone box.

"I was going to call my girl. Are you okay, Darge?" 

"I'm fine." He walked out. He didn't tell me to go back to quorts to sleep nor did he tell me to come back in a certain amount of time. I walked over to the phone and dialed up Linda. I wasn't going to call considering this was all the money I had on me and I was broke. I slipped the quarter in and waited for her to pick up. It keep ringing. And it only stopped after it rang out. I hung up and stood there in awe. 

"I'm never going to tell to her again."  I wouldn't say I'm overly emotional, but right now in my life I am. Perhaps she was angry I called my sister and not her? But Linda wasn't like that. I gave up on thinking about something that was going to make me cry and walked to quorts.