I Listened to Myself

Part 5: Fires and Warm Throats

The light of the fire illuminated through the trees. The embers fly up like fireflies dancing in the night. There was an air of excitement and laughter. The sound of the crackling fire mixed with the chats and sudden outbursts of laughter was inviting.

El stops and spreads his arms out to keep Tim from walking forward. He stares ahead and moves his head around to see over the leaves and small bushes that hung over the narrow trail. "Wow...There're a lot of people here. I can see at least six." El peered though the brush to see if he can spot a familiar face.  El was now looking nervous. His eyebrows softened up making his eyes appear large. He looked at Tim with large almost watery eyes. "...is X going to be here?" he asked timidly. 

Tim looks at El and returned a supportive stare. He nodes and says, "Don't worry about it man. You know a few people here. Lets go. X planned the party so he should be  here already." Tim pushes El with his shoulder and walks past him to lead on the trail. 

As the two friends approach the the light of the fire, the sounds and laughter got louder. There are people walking around the fire and a few were sitting in different areas socializing and mingling. 

Tim and El stop as they see X sitting on the tree branch. They wondered what he was doing up there. Their eyes were fixed on X and the sounds of the crowd below chanting his name. Suddenly, they witness X letting go and accelerating to the ground below. The two immediately rush to where X had fallen to and assist their friend. Pull people aside, El and Tim peeled off the partakers to see X with a huge smile.

X looks up to see his best friends, El and Tim. "I love you guys...." he says as he lifts himself to his feet. "You guys finally made it. You've missed the Keg stands and the start of the fire. Keg is over there, we brought what ever chairs we could carry in. Help yourself to whatever."

El looks at X saying, "You're crazy, bro. What are you doing here anyways? I thought you were at boot camp crawling though the mud and running 50 miles and shit."

"I was at boot camp, my boy. Now I'm free! I'm back to doing what i'm good at." X looked around and smiles with satisfaction. "This is a celebration, I finally listened to myself."

Tim steps up to X and says, "We're glad your back, brother. El,.. set us up with a social shot." Tim looks at El as he gladly opens the bottle of Henny. He hands it to Tim. "This is for X our friend, our brother. He was in the dark now he has seen light. Lets all celebrate tonight under this awesome moon light." Tim tips the bottle and take a big gulp. He shakes his head and hands it to X. 

X says, "Thank you Tim. I'm so glad I snapped out of it and finally did what I'm supposed to do. This is for you guys that are here for me today and tomorrow." X takes a big swig and gives out a big "yeah!" after he swallows the hot drink.

"Chill, X, damn, I just got this bottle." El protested and takes the bottle from X. "Give me that." , he says as he takes the bottle from X to take a sip. "Now I've got to make this last all night."

"Tell me how it went over there, X." Tim implies as he feels more comfortable and settled.

"It was hell, I don't know what I was thinking.", X says, looks down trying to avoid further conversation.

X's mood suddenly went from happy and cheerful to sad and uncomfortable. His mouth was still watering from the Hennessy shot he had just taken. He nodded his head and looked at the ground again. "It was nothing I imagined, I did learn a lot about the army and about myself." X now sounded sober and honest. 

Yes, boot camp had changed X. Was it the exercise, the people, the soldiers or the army trainers. X now sounded,... responsible. Sounds like he had seen things. He sounded serious. He sounded like an important person. He was finally acting like a leader.