𝑺𝒖𝒈𝒂𝒓 + 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆 (B.o.B. Fanfic)

𝟷. 𝙼𝚢 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝-𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐

𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟵𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗮

I can't take it anymore. I literally can't take it anymore. 

Spending your birthday with friends is great and all. But it'd be nice to do it as a family for once. It's 10:00 p.m. on a Monday night. I just got back from celebrating my 22nd birthday with a few of my college friends. Honestly, I wouldn't even call it a 'birthday' celebration. It was more of a 'graduation' celebration, considering we're graduating from college in a few weeks. For example, I didn't even have a birthday cake.

So, what you're probably wondering is, why don't I just go celebrate with my family? haha. you're funny. 

Alright, alright. I know you don't know my situation. I'm from a military family. My mom's whole side has served here or there at some point. Mostly army. My dad doesn't come from a big family. It was just him and his parents, my grandparents, who passed away a couple of years ago, the people who raised me. They raised me because my mom and dad both died while on a tour in Afghanistan. I was only 6, so I don't remember a whole bunch. In fact, most of the people on my mom's side, while there were a lot, have passed already, whether while they were serving or just old age. Some just don't keep in contact anymore. My mom's parents died when she was really young too, so I never even got to meet them. But my grandma and grandpa on my dad's side were very kind and loving people. You could tell that they've definitely raised a kid before. They did all the right things with me. I'd like to think so anyway. My grandma passed when I was in my sophomore year of high school. It broke my grandpa's heart, but he kept going, for me. He got to see me walk at graduation for high school, which I was really blessed and lucky to have been able to have someone physically there to watch and cheer me on. His health declined quickly after that. And before I knew it he was slipping away. And 6 months before he passed, I suddenly realised that I knew nothing about the rest of my family.

 So, one weekend, I left home from college, with the idea to start my own personal ancestry project. When I first asked him about his side of the family, he said it was boring. But then, he mentioned my grandma on my mom's side. The one I never met. He said that he went to high school with her and his late wife, they were best friends, and it was actually because of Effie, my grandma, that he and his late wife got together. He said that's why they insisted my parents name me after my grandma on my mom's side. Anyways, the point was, that her great-uncle, her grandfather's brother, was a distinguished member of the army. That would make him my great-something or other. In fact, he even became a major. I was shocked because he'd never talked about it before and it just sounded so cool. Unfortunately, that was the last we spoke on the matter. He was in and out of the hospital the next 6 months and I was so busy with school, that I never really held a good conversation with him again. He died on the way to the hospital two years ago, and I haven't really been interested in pursuing my 'personal ancestry project' since. However, after this birthday, I really feel like a piece of garbage. My family members and ancestors fought for this country and I don't even have the tenacity to find out who they were. At the very least to keep their legacy alive.

I had made my resolution. I was going to find out as much as I can about the man my grandpa was talking about before.

I leaned forward from my couch and grabbed my computer from the coffee table and began typing. The only other thing that I can remember my grandpa talking about was that my great-something or other did basic at Fort Benning, Georgia. I looked it up on Google. Okay, so it's not called Fort Benning anymore. It's Fort Moore. It is home to the following,  the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, the US Army Armor School, US Army Infantry School, and etc, etc. Hmmm. I'm not finding any relevant information right now. I wish I knew something about the guy in question.

I shut my computer and began to think. Then an idea came to mind. Oh! Maybe if I can get my grandmother's maiden name, it'll lead me to her grandfather and ultimately her great-uncle!

But where? I don't remember what my own mothers maiden's name was. I know that's bad. Hmm. I thought about where my grandmother was buried. Ah ha! Maybe her headstone will have her maiden name on it. It's a long shot, but it's still a shot!. With that. I slipped on some uggs boots and walked out with a flannel over my white tank top. My fleece white and black plaid PJs kept my legs nice and toasty from the cool night air. Although I can't say it's that chilly. It is Georgia after all.

After hopping into my hand-me-down Ford my grandpa got me for graduation, I attempted to crank the dang thing. Nothing.

"C'mon you dang thing!" I tried again, and after nearly flooding the engine to its limit, it cranked. Did I forget to mention that the car I'm currently driving is a 1995 Thunderbird? Well, it is. That's why I'm struggling.

I could see the college and dorms getting smaller in the distance of my rearview mirror. I know this was low key kind of stupid to try to pursue right now, but I couldn't help it. When my curiosity takes over, it's all over for me. Welp, here we go. Time to see if I can't find out more about my family. I thought as I gripped the steering wheel. I didn't even notice the bright headlights getting a little too close to my side of the road till it was too late.