BETRAYAL

Chapter 1 Growing Up

I never understood why so many people wanted to grow up. I knew there were many things to look forward to like money, love, and sex. But why wish your childhood away? My mom used to tell me that growing up would be "fun" and that I would "have a blast" in my early twenties. And it seemed to be that way until my 19th birthday rolled around.

*knock knock* A few moments later the door bell rang. And this was where it all started. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my father as I watched my mother gracefully move down the hall to the front door. But as she opened the door, her posture seemed to change. Her back no longer straight, her head tilted to the right. My mother, a military nurse, NEVER stood with improper posture. So why was she?

"Bill? Honey you should come here." My mother called to my father from the door. Something had to be wrong. After all my mother never called my dad by his first name.

"Go upstairs and get your brother up." My father demanded as he walked down the hallway towards my mother. I sat there in the chair, trying to get a glimpse of who was at the door. Was it the cops? A family member? My father's boss? Why was everyone so tense all of a sudden. My mother had turned and started to walk away until she realized I was staring down the hall, still sitting in the chair.

She kept her head down as she walked into the kitchen. You can tell when a mother is upset about something because they randomly start to do things around the house; checking the stove for no apparent reason, for example. But what could bother my mother at 6 in the morning on a Sunday? Why hasn't she spoke to me?

"Mama? Are you okay?" I worryingly asked. "Who was that at the door?"
"Oh sweetie, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong. Just some fella from the base talking to your father." Her face still never rose from the floor.
"'Mama, you don't think--"
"John Edward! Don't you even speak of that!" My mother cut me off. Her voice cut like a knife.

Before we could realize it, my father had entered the room. His face mere blank, but his eyes were locked on my mothers. Instantly my mother started to cry.

"No. No. No. This can't be happening. He's just a boy! HE'S MY BOY." My mother cried hysterically.
"Darling, you know there is nothing we can do but pray." My father swiftly walked towards my mother.
"What happened? What is going on? I want the truth!!" I demanded.

My father reached into his back pocket, took out what seemed to be a letter and handed it to me. It was from the Army. I looked up to my parents, already knowing what I was about to read. So I opened the letter and read the first line...

"John Edwards Sejires Jr. We hereby write to you to inform you that you have been drafted into the United States Army and shall report to base by 06:00 Tuesday morning."

Why did I wish to grow up?