"Where are my keys" asked Mia she searched for them franticly through her purse. "I don't know" I said do you know where you had them last Mia? "They were just right here in the side pocket of my purse" Mia said in an angry tone. "don't just stand there Alex help me look" she said. I went and looked everywhere in the car low and high still no keys. "Where could they of gone" I said. Just then I heard a giggle from behind me as I turned around I saw Mia's son Landon make a run for it. With something in his hands when I finally caught him I found Mia's keys.
"Landon Alexander Richmond" Mia shouted" why did you take mommy keys" he looked at her like a scolded puppy that had just made a mess on the carpet. "Landon you better answer me right now" commanded Mia. "I don't why mommy I just took them I'm sorry" he said. He gave her such a sad look and pouted his lips out. "Well just don't do that again Landon honey" he nodded and she kissed his forehead he hurried in the house. "do u always let him get away with everything" I said "all he has to do is give you those puppy dog eyes and you melt and don't punish him at all"
"oh whatever Alex it's not that easy" Mia said "I just don't know what to do with him" exclaimed Mia "and besides you have no room to talk" shouted Mia. "Oh I see now where playing the blame game on me" I was getting frustrated now my face turning red. "Alex I didn't mean that I'm sorry" this isn't how I pictured your first day of moving in. Mia let out a sigh, I turned so I was face to face with her she looked sad. "It's okay Mia" I said I took her into my arms and gave her hug. "Well I think I'm going to unpack my stuff" I said.
"if you want any help just let me know" Mia said "I'm going to start dinner okay I'm making your favorite" Mia said. "Mia pot roast really thank you" I said as I walked upstairs I entered my room not knowing where I wanted start. There were boxes everywhere so I just opened them all one by one unpacking it. In no time I was almost done I had one box left at last. I started to empty it when I noticed what was in it, it was all of the things I had packed away for almost a year after I had returned home from the army. I had done two tours in Iraq thanking my stars I was home safe.
But not everybody from my unit made it home their faces haunted me but there was one person more than the others. My best friend Raymond was killed in our second tour our convoy was ambushed. As we were going through what we thought was a ghost town much to our surprise it wasn't. They were waiting for us and then "BOOM" a huge explosion ripped through the place sending our soldiers up into the air. "Alex we need to hold our ground until we get cover" Raymond yelled. "The choppers are on their way" I said "let's give them hell open fire" Raymond said "we have take the sniper out Ray" I said he nodded we formed a plan and went into action.
I could hear the helicopters coming as Raymond took the shot and killed the sniper through the abandon house window. I signaled the chopper pilot with an orange smoke grenade. As we were getting our unit aboard there was gun fire from the remaining Iraqi soldiers. "Get in the chopper now" I told them as Raymond and I returned fire. When I ran out of ammo I started using my hand grenades blowing them to pieces. And then an Iraqi picked up a rocket launcher and fired in the direction Raymond was. "Raymond look out" I shouted but it was too late he flew into the air like a rag doll. "Raymond" I screamed as I ran to him checking his pulse. It was faint but he still had life in him I don't remember much after that except the chopper ride to the medical team.
"Alex I need you to do something for me"? Raymond whispered as he clutched my hand. "Promise me that you will take care of Mia and Landon" he said his voice growing weaker I nodded at him with tears in my eyes. Because knowing I was watching my best friend take his last breath. "Alex I put letters I had written into my pack in case of my death please take them home for me" I promise Raymond. And with that promise Raymond looked at me one last time slowly letting out his last breath closed his eyes and died in my arms. The doctors said his injuries were too great they couldn't stitch up his wounds. They left me with Raymond for a while all I could do was cry my best friend, my brother, and my comrade was dead.
