No Easy Day

PREFACE

In this moment I knew it wasn't going to end well. I guess it really doesn't matter if I survive or die. Just as long as I died with my unit. Just as long as I died in honor.

CHAPTER ONE

It'd early. Way too early to be getting up right now, but I'm late for scout sniper training. This is going to be hard to get used to. I don't want to get up, but that  just isn't an option. For some odd reason I begin to think about my first day back in Absarokee...

My arrival was fine , but on the way to the house was very strange. My dad, Harlee, seemed as though he didn't want me there. Well, he would just have to get over it because I was there and I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. The car ride was very awkward.

I got off of the plane and there my dad was waiting for me, but he wasn't looking for me. He was just sitting there reading a magazine not paying any attention at all. You would think he'd at least be a small bit excited to see me after 5 years, but he didn't act like it. He didn't even hug me or greet me. He just looked at me and led the way to the car leaving me with all of my luggage to carry.

I didn't mind really, but his reaction wasn't expected. When we got in the car, and had my bags all shoved in the back of his 4 by 4 Ford pickup, it was silent at first. Nothing except for our quiet, steady breathing.

"So uh. How are ya', Xavier?" He asked me breaking our awkward silence.

So now he wants to talk to me? I thought to myself. I cleared my throat and shrugged, "Oh um...good I guess." And the conversation was over.

He never said another word to me until we were eating dinner, "Okay I need to talk to you." He interrupted my chewing.

I swallowed, not finishing chewing the piece of chicken I had in my mouth, and looked up at him, "Yes." I said politely.

"I know I haven't really talked to you or helped you out at all today, but I'm gonna need some getting used to having you around again."

"Sure, sure." I agreed, waving my hand in the air as if to shoo something off. I waited for him to say something more, but once again it was silent. The only noise was of our forks scraping against the glass plates.

He sighed and looked up at me again, "So what do you think of Absarokee? Your mother said it wasn't going to be easy for you out here, considering you were living out in New York."

Harlee lived in the small town of Absarokee, Montana. Population: about 1,500 people compared to the 10,000 in New York. "It's alright." I shrugged. "Its gonna take a lot to get used to."

I forgot about how much I can't stand my dads house. It looks like a piece of crap. Old, now yellowed windows, random wood patches on every face of the house, even the dead grass around it looks nicer. I should have stayed in New York, but I couldn't stand my mom for another second. Ever since her boyfriend left her, she's been devastated. Always crying on the couch, watching sappy love stories, and eating unhealthy buckets of chocolate ice cream. I hadn't seen her like that since the day her and Harlee split. Well Harlee actually split. What an ass. I don't even know why I want to stay here with him.

My parents had me at the age of 16. Harlee left my mom and I, when I was just 2 years old. He was always drunk and unhappy. I'm surprised he made it into the Marines considering he didn't have a very clean record.

Harlee was in jail almost every week for drunk driving and stealing alcohol. He was never in any school clubs, never ran for student council. Recruiters usually look for those things, but they must have let him in because of his sniper skills. Man can Harlee shoot! He could hit a target 600 meters away in foggy or smokey conditions. Now that came in handy when there was grenade smoke all over the place. He would look for the enemies shadows and BAM, they were dead. What I would give to be able to shoot like that! My dad truly was an amazing man...

I snap out of my daze, look at the time and hurry to get dressed and brush my teeth. I can't be late for my first day. That wouldn't look good on my record.

Our uniforms,as it turns out, are plain and simple. Green and brown camouflage pants and a plain, dark green T-shirt. I look around the room to see if anyone else is up. The room is empty. "Shit!" I yell as I tug on my boots. As I fumble with the laces, Staff Sergeant Walker walks in wearing an annoyed look on his face.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," he says with a raspy voice-probably from yelling for so many years. "What do you think you are doing?"

I stand up straight with mg right hand in the saluting position by my forehead' "Sir, Recruit Zanders woke up late, sir!"

He steps in front of me and I see that he is much taller than me and has dark hair , gray at his temples. He has a toothpick, that he must me chewing on, hanging out of his mouth. "Zanders woke up late. Hmmm... Well why are you up late son.?"

Walker's brow scrunches and he walks directly in front of me and levels his face with mine. My hands break out into a sweat and my heart starts to beat faster.  "Sir, the recruit is unsure of how to answer the Staff Sergeant's question, sir!"

His eyes study mine and finally he replies, " WELL THEN GET YOUR ASS OUT OF HERE AND INTO THE KITCHEN! YOU'VE GOT KITCHEN DUTY NOW PRETTY BOY! RECRUIT DISMISSED!"

I turn to my left and quickly dart of of the room, sprinting into the kitchen. I see all of my boot camp buddies around a table. One of them, Private Johnson, waves me over and laughs, "Hey man, we've been waiting all morning for you to get started on breakfast."

"How did you know I was going to have to make breakfast this morning?" I remember the rule that if we are the last ones into the kitchen, we make the breakfast. But why are they laughing at me?

Private Johnson stands up and walks over to me to put his hand on my shoulder. "Man, I put  liquid NyQuil in your soup last night so none of us had to make the grub."

I feel the blood rush in my face and all of a sudden it gets hot. I clench my fists at  my sides and tighten my jaw, "You...spiked my soup...with NyQuil?" 

"Calm down Xavier." someone says. "Just make us some food and we can get pissy about it later." I shake my head and stalk off into the kitchen. Crazier stuff similar to this used to happen in New York, buy it will not be the start of it all. Not ever. I hope this changes soon. I can't go through being treated like shit here. I will not.