Bring it on

just another one of the guys...... or not!

Dodging boxes, dogs, crates, and armed men in uniform while running through a marine base may not be the typical life of a sixteen year old girl but for me this is life, my life. My mother died in a plane crash when I was barley 6 months old while flying back to Italy to visit her family, so my father got full custody so now I live on the marine base with him. My father is Major General (MajGen) of the U.S. Marine Corps so basically he is the second in command of the whole yippy shebang and is respected by everyone, I'm the only exception to that because I'm daddy's little girl and always will be.

Life on the base can get a little boring I mean there are only like two boys who are even remotely my age (Justin and Conner) and there my best friends and the closest thing I have to brothers, there twins and look exactly alike except Conner has a small scar above his left eye that he got in a fight 3 years ago when he was 15. When my dad is working I'm out with the guys screwing around, playing pranks on senior and rookie officers, or just Chilin' like Mack Milling, we always find a way to have a good time.

"Put me down rite now Conner or I swear to god I will kick your ass so hard you will end up in Cuba and you will have to learn a whole different language and live in an ally way until you escape end the only friend you will have is a goat named Gordy who likes to kick you in the balls. So you will put me down for the sake of your 'oh so precious' family jewels!" I desperately rant while kicking my legs trying to get out of his hold before he throws me into the Olympic size training pool which is probably like 20 degrees below freezing because its January in Quantico, Virginia where the overall high is 44 degrees anyway.

If like answering my plea I hear the quiet sound of the door to the pool area open and shut, still being held over Conners shoulder I look up to see my father standing there amusement, power, and love dancing through his blue eyes as he watches the scene unfold. Before the boys have a chance to see him he speaks up, "Private I advise you put my daughter down now because I know for a fact she does go through with her threats and then she will get you back 10 times worse! Plus I would not like for her to get hypothermia before her flight in two hours." I can feel Conner tense under me then less than 5 seconds later I'm back on my feet, I'm so relived I don't have to go into that death trap they call a pool I almost forgot what my dad said. Key word being almost!

"Dad what in holly hells name do you mean leaving in two hours?" I shout slowly getting angrier and angrier.

"Well sweetheart that's what I came here to talk to you about." He tells me calmly like he doesn't even notice how angry I am. He then turns his attention to Conner and Justin who are listening to our conversation intently. "May we please have the room?" he asks them and even though you can tell they don't want to they reluctantly start walking to the doors because they know he out ranks then. See it's a respect issue. Before they could even get three feet I ran in front of them blocking there way.

"No dad, whatever you have to say you can say it in front of them. You know this, they are the closest thing to brothers I have." I yelled now severely pissed but I won't let him see that so I start taking deep breaths until I know I have my temper under control.

It was silent for a while before he spoke again "Um.... Sweetheart I don't really know how to say this so I guess I'll just spit it out" he hesitated before continuing which is strange for me because I never really see my father nervous. "I got transferred to Washington DC I leave at 19:00 hours."

I instantly brightened up, grinning like a Cheshire cat I said "That's awesome I've always wanted to go to DC. Go to the monuments, meet the pres-"

He swiftly cuts me off and when I notice his grim look and hesitation I know something is not right and my smile drops and a frown forms in its place. Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like the next words that come out of his mouth? "I don't think you understand sweetie the Washington marine base doesn't allow children on the base I have arranged a flight for you to California to live with your aunt Libby until you finish school, and since I have a few last minute pressing matters to take care of I won't be able to take you to the airport myself I figured the twins could take you because I already shipped your car so it will be waiting for you in the airport parking lot in Las Angeles."