The Admiral's Affairs

10 - The Hard Deck

The days flew by as we all worried about the upcoming mission, but the weekend was right around the corner and we were all determined to have some fun and forget all about it for a moment.

The smell of beer mixed with the smell of ocean water entered my nostrils as I walked into The Hard Deck on Friday night. I noticed a group of rookies standing in a circle around the pool table and quickly averted my gaze, I wasn't in the mood to deal with those Hangman type boys. It was a lovely evening and mom had opened the glass doors towards the beach, I walked through the bar, out of the doors and lowered myself onto the sand.

"Hey!" A cheerful voice exclaimed. I immediately recognised that voice and jumped up.

"Amelia." I opened my arms and lifted her up in the air. "How is my little sister?"

She grinned from ear to ear as she pulled out a letter from her pocket. "I got accepted for the summer program."

"Oh my God." I grabbed her shoulders and squeezed them enthusiastically, "I'm so proud of you."

"Well, it's not as impressive as getting selected for a secret TOPGUN navy mission but hey, I'm trying." She dropped herself down on the sand like I had done moments before.

"Hey, hey." I sat down next to her, "you are way smarter than me, of course that is impressive." I grinned.

"Does your dad know yet? He is the one that encouraged you to apply, right?"

"Oh-" Amelia sighed disappointed, "no, he's too busy with his girlfriend."

I followed her gaze towards the calm sea and stayed silent for a moment, I knew exactly what she was feeling right now.

"But on another note, how are you and Mav?" She giggled as she pointed over her shoulder towards the bar. My father was practically hanging over the bar to try and give my mom a kiss.

"Oh my God." I quickly turned around again and shook my head in embarrassment. "No one wants to see that."

"I think it's kind of cute." Amelia giggled again.

"I'm really trying Am."

"I know. Have you talked to him yet?"

"Well-" I sighed.

"Girls." Mav exclaimed as he plopped down in the sand in front of us.

"Hi dad." I mumbled.

"What's that face for? Cheer up girl, it's Friday night." He laughed sheepishly and put his hand on my knee. "I'll buy you a drink."

"Thanks." It was a nice gesture but I usually drank for free anyway. I looked away at the sun that was hovering low over the ocean, painting the water a glowing shade of golden-orange.

"Mav, I got the internship." Amelia pulled out the paper and handed it to him, to lighten the mood.

He folded it open and as he read it, his eyes began to glow with pride. A kind of pride I had never seen him show for me. But that didn't make me feel jealous of my little sister, on the contrary, she deserved this father figure after all that she went through with her own dad.

"I'm proud of you little one."

"Amelia, you have to go home, the bar is starting to get busy." My mother's voice interrupted this almost endearing moment.

"No, just let me stay one more hour. Aurelia can keep an eye out for me." She grabbed my hand and whispered to me, "maybe there's going to be cute pilots tonight."

"Absolutely not Am." I grinned, "you know that mom can lose her license if she gets caught having a minor around a busy bar on Friday night."

"Get your ass up, you too Mav, you promised to help me put in that new lightbulb in the storage room."