The Colonel's Daughter [Elvis]

Chapter 3 - All the Girls in His Life

This girl could talk! Of course, I really didn't mind talking to a really pretty girl, even if she was taken. And by a buddy of mine. He sure was a lucky guy, Paul.

"I'm so sorry, I'm talking your ear off," said Brenda, and I couldn't help but keep staring at her huge hazel eyes that were a bit green. She looked pretty similar to Priscilla. Maybe that was why I was so attracted to her and was willing to stand here and chat with her for over an hour. We both were leaned against the wall by a shoulder. I gave her a smile.

"Hey, no, I love talkin' normally with people. I suppose it makes me feel, well, more normal."

She giggled, a pleasant sound. "I suppose so, but I was basically asking you interview questions."

"Nah, you were gettin' to know me, well, aside from what you already know about me. My whole life is in the papers, and I know Paul has told ya stuff. I've told 'im a lot of things. You do that when you are out there in the wilderness just waitin' for hours."

"Field training? He told me about that. Sometimes you're busy blowing things up, and sometimes, you're out there twiddling your thumbs, and sometimes for days on end."

Memories of those trainings and real field work came to me. "Yeah, it was tough, but I got through it. The toughest two years of my life, I'm tellin' ya. But it was worth it. I learned so many things out there, and I wouldn't trade 'em or the things I experienced for the moon and stars."

Brenda gave me a soft smile. "That's wonderful, Elvis. It's said that the toughest times are the times we learn and grow the most, and I think it applies to you here."

"I definitely agree. I think I grew so much as a person out there. I was pushed to my limits, I made friends I think I will have for life, and... well, like I said, I wouldn't trade it for nothin'. I bet you think the same way about goin' to school in Germany when you grew up in Oregon. What a hop."

"Tell me about it. I wouldn't trade it for the moon and stars, either, and I grew so much as a person, like you said. I also loved traveling around to different countries, and I made a friend that I regard as a sister. And speaking of her, I wonder how her and her father are doing."

This sentimental conversation was reverted, and on a dime. "Hopefully well. The Colonel could hardly concentrate on anythin' today. I don't blame 'im." I shook my head in disbelief. "Man, I can't believe that he kept that from me, that he has a daughter around my age. There were times that I regarded him as a second father, and yet..." I let out a breath as I had my arms folded over my black polo. "He really could've said somethin'. If he wanted to keep it a secret for some reason, I would've respected that. Why keep it a secret, anyway? Do you know?"

She shook her head. "All that Rainie told me is that she had a tough childhood, and he pushed her and pushed her to help make money since she and her parents were dirt poor. And sometimes, they weren't the most legal ways in which to get money. I think she resents him for that, along with him telling no one of her and not staying in contact."

The Colonel broke the law to get money? Like what Daddy did when I was really young? Well, I couldn't really fault the Colonel for that. The Depression was a horrid time economically for everyone. But there was probably more to the story than that, in Rainie's case. "That makes sense. Poor girl, and the poor Colonel. I've never seen 'im so torn up before."

"It's a tough time for them, for sure. I feel that there's more to her and her family's story that she's not telling me, but I figured that if she's not, then it's for a good reason. I won't press."

"Yeah, I kinda have that feelin', too. I know not to press the Colonel about things, but... this seems fair. An estranged daughter, my God. I've known the guy for about six years..."