The Marine I Know

Chapter 1

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Just forgot to mention, its a bit of a time-lapse from when she was 8 to 13,  just saying. 

Since it happened, I would ask mom if she can take me to see dad. She agreed, and we drive to the cemetery. I walk down the rows of tombstones toward my dad's plot, while mom stayed behind since it still hurts. I find the plot and read the tomb. I lay down flowers on the tombstone, sit down on the grass, and start talking to dad.

"Hi, dad. Guess what? I got a spot on the volleyball team at school. I also met my first friend; her name is Lilly. She is super sweet, and her dad is in the military too!" I would tell him all about what is happening in my life. I hear mom honk to get my attention. "Dad, I have to go, but ill be back soon, ok? Love you, dad." I tear up as I touch the gravestone and walk to mom where she drove us home.

"Hey, Belle?" My mom asked.

"Yeah?"

"I have your dad's dog tags if you would like them. Since your 13th birthday is coming up soon." My mom asks.

"Sure mom. Thank you." I brighten up at the chance to keep my dad near my heart and to be proud of him serving the country. I nod my head, and we got to our small two-story house in Fairfax, Va. We moved from the house in Arlington because mom did not want the terrible memories to hit her that he has gone.

Birthdays were hard; anniversaries were even worse. Lilly and I became best friends, and she understood what I was going through, which it helped. She came to my birthday, and I was delighted, we laughed and just did what friends do. Mom came in with a box, sits down on the ground with Lilly and me in my room, and hands me the box. I open it, and there sits my dad's dog tags in the box. I take them out and look at them, then put them around my neck.

"I love you, dad," I whisper, which earns me a hug from my mom and Lilly. Mom leaves, and Lilly and I continue hanging out.

"Will, you ever marry a military man?" Lilly asks.

"I would love to, but I just do not want to run the risk of experiencing what happened with mom." I say, "What about you, Lil?"

"Oh, yes, I would love to." She finishes.

"Hey Lil, Thanks for coming to my birthday." She nods her head, and soon, it was time for her to leave. We wave to each other until I cannot see her anymore. Mom stands next to me with a hand around my shoulder, also waving.

"I am happy you found a friend, especially one who shares a similar home life with you." I hug her, and we go inside to get ready for bed. I take my tags off and put them on my nightstand to not ruin them.

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Saturday rolls around, and I am up, being quiet though, to not wake mom. I put the tags back on since they will always be on me. It turns out that mom was already awake, making pancakes in the kitchen. I hop on the barstool, and mom smiles at me.

"Morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?" She asks, mixing the batter.

"Well. Would we be able to go visit dad and bring Lilly along?" She stops what she is doing to contemplate how to answer. I start to freak out when she answers with a smile on her face.

"Of course. Why don't you call Lilly and ask while I finish breakfast." I jump off the stool to the phone and call Lilly.

"Hi, this is Ms. Sanchez." Her mother picked up the phone

"Hi, this is Belle Can Lilly go to...." I realize I have no idea what to say when mom takes the phone out of my hand.

"Hi sorry, Beth. My daughter wanted to ask if it was okay if Lilly came with us to visit my husbands grave? Belle wants her to meet her dad." She nods while I watch her, jumping up and down in anticipation. A smile appears on her face, "Great, thank you, Beth. We will see you later." She puts down the phone. "Yes." I jump up to hug her.

"Thank you, mom." We sit down at the table to eat, and as soon as we are ready, we drive over to pick up Lilly. I see her mom, whom I wave to, and once Lilly gets buckled, we drive to see dad. We hold hands as friends, and the three of us walk towards dad. I motion mom to talk first. She does, and tears are streaming down her face, but trying to hide it from us. Lilly and I look around and see a ceremony going on at the other end of the cemetery. We stand, put our hands over our hearts, and watch. It does bring back memories, so I rub my tags.

"Ok girls." I give mom a thumbs up, which she returns. Lilly and I together walk towards the grave.

"Hey dad, it is me, but this time, I brought someone along. Dad, please meet Lilly, Lilly, meet dad." She looks at me, "it is ok, just talk, it helps me feel closer to him."

"Um.. hi sir. It is nice to meet you, and I am happy I have to meet Belle. Since my dad is also in the military, we get along really well. Good to meet you sir, and thank you for serving this country." She moves to let me talk.

"Mom gave me your dog tags, which I wear almost all the time. Lilly and I are promoting to ninth grade at the end of this year. You will be there, right?" I look over at the ceremony at the other end, "Tell him that I said thank you for serving this country, and that goes for you, dad. I love you." I touch the tombstone and Lilly, and I walk away towards the car.