The Marine

The Day I Enlist

      Today was the day, I was nervous and a little bit scared. I couldn't sleep at all and the only person who knew I was enlisting is my father. I was hoping he didn't tell mom yet since I want to tell the whole family on my own, maybe during dinner. Kevin and Matt are home from college and I think it be awesome if I could tell them all together. I am hoping they won't get that mad at me for enlisting. I am just believing that is all...knowing my family they won't be happy the slightest bit.

   This whole time I have been pacing back in forth in my room just thinking about how the future events. Is this the right thing to do? it has to be, I have been training myself for years, I think I will be ready, wait I can't just think that ...I AM ready. A knock at my door made me jump. I said, "Come in!" My dad entered and said "You alright son?" I said "I'm fine... I'm just wondering how mom, Kevin, and Matt are going to take this knowing they will be home during dinner." My dad said, "Son calm down it will be alright, you know I told you before I have your back, if you don't want to enlist you don't have to, it is your life." I said, "No, no I want to, I am just nervous that is all." My dad smiled and said "Drake, your lucky, back when I had to serve I was being forced to, but I didn't care, I wanted to join anyway, but now you have an option you can serve or you don't have too" I shook my head once more and replied, "Dad I want too." He smiled and said, "I know that was going to be your choice but I had to give you another choice just in case, you know." I nodded my head, sat in my bed, and said: "I will enlist during school if that is alright with you?" He said, "Yes I will call you in sick." I grinned and hugged my dad and he hugged back. He said, "Get some sleep kiddo, see you tomorrow." I nodded and got into bed and fell asleep.  

    The next day, I woke up and got into the shower, and put some clothes on. I went downstairs and there was dad eating breakfast and mom cooking. I said, "Good morning mom and dad." They replied good morning as well. Mom saw what I was wearing and said: "Honey you look so handsome, why are you so dressed up?" I shrugged and said, "Why can't I get dressed up?" She laughed and said, "You can dress up any time you like." I smiled and sat down. Mom put my eggs and bacon in front of me and I dug right in. Dad passed me a note which read "Drake I called in already and I will just tell your mother I will take you." I looked at him and nodded, telling him I knew what he meant. I finished my food and took my plate and dad's plate to the sink. I kissed mom and the cheek while dad said: "Hun I will take this kid to school, alright?" While he said that he had his arm around me. Mom smiled and said, "Have fun at school." 

     I went into the car with my backpack showing her that I am going to school, which I am not. Just have to pretend I am to fool mom into thinking I am. When we got there, dad said: "Here is your information, this is where I stay in the car and you have to enlist on your own." I nodded I grabbed my stuff and got out of the car. I walked to the entrance and took a huge breath in and out. I looked back at dad and he held up two thumbs. Which I laughed at. I opened the door and sat down. The recruiter told me to follow him which I did. He told me to give my information in, which I did and told him I wanted to enlist in the Marines. He typed things up and then when he finished, he asked me questions and I answered, and talked about my father being a former marine. The recruiter seemed to be interested in my dad. He asked about the wars he was in and I told him about the fights and some stories he told me about. The recruiter said, "That is nice of you to follow in your father's footsteps, he must be proud of you." I smiled and said, "Yes he is." He gave me everything I needed. When we finished I stood up and saluted him and he did the same back to me. He said, "Be ready your boot camp starts in 3 weeks, you will have to be at the airport, I provided you the information already, by zero eight hundred.. which means 8 in the morning." I nodded and said "Thanks, sir." He nodded and I left with all the information. I got in the car and told my dad everything. He smiled at me and said "Son you just enlisted in the marines... How does it feel?" I said, "It feels great actually."  He laughed and said, "Just for that... we should go out for lunch." 

Authors note: I don't know what happens when you go and enlist so I am sorry if that isn't correct.. my apologies.. but my teacher talks a lot about her husband who was a medic I think for the army, and my cousin he is a national guard and right now station in Iraq but I never got to ask what they do when you go and enlist so maybe I am right or maybe I am wrong..... but thanks for reading :)