The Marine

Telling My Family

    So right now I am eating lunch with my father after I enlisted. I believe I'm in shock, I wanted to be a marine my whole life and now I am. I said, "Dad, I can't believe it, I am a marine now, well not until I finish boot camp." Dad said "I know I am too, but Drake even though I am proud of you I am worried ...when you get to boot camp don't act shy like you usually are, because if you get deployed you need people to talk to, become friends with them, make them your other brothers in arms because son that's who is going to be with you during the tour and fighting alongside you. You can't act nervous or shy, you will go crazy if you stay quiet the whole tour." I understood what he meant I should have been more of a people person,  I will have to wait till boot camp to see. I replied, "I know dad I was just too busy working out and getting ready, but I do have some friends from the football team and wrestling team." My dad shook his head and said "They don't count they were on your team when you go to boot camp those men and women in the bus or airplane... they are going to be your brothers and sisters, you need them and they need you. Those teams you play on, they are just your friends because you play the same sport as them." I frowned and said, "Wow dad thanks for making me feel more like a hermit." My dad sighed and said, "I am sorry Drake but it is true and you know it." I nodded my head and said, "I am going to change the subject even though I know you are right, when should I tell them, dad?" He said, "I agreed with your plan from earlier to wait until dinner." I nodded and said, "How do you think they will respond?" My dad said, "Well we have to wait and see won't we?" I nodded and said, "I am finished are you?" He nodded and waved his hand for the check. We went home because it was the same time school let out. 

Dinner:

      Matt and Kevin are home from college when I returned home earlier, but now we are eating dinner. Thy dinner that I am going to confess that I enlisted into the Marine Corps... I was nervous and I glanced at Dad, He nodded. So I said, "Hey guys I have something important to tell you all." I gulped and looked at everyone who stopped eating. I began to breathe hard but kept going "So you know how dad was a marine." Mom replied a yes and Matt and Kevin just nodded. I was really nervous at this point, that I started to sweat I looked at dad again, he mouthed "Keep going" I did what my dad told me to do and said, "I enlisted in the marines today." Matt started to laugh and Kevin said: "Are you playing?" Mom was staring at me. I continued, "Boot camp starts in 3 weeks." Mom looked very confused and asked, "How did you go today?" I said, "Dad took me, he called in sick for me, and we went and I enlisted." My mom had tears forming in her eyes and said this to dad "You knew about this!" He nodded but I cut him off before he spoke and said: "Mom I told him not to tell you because I wanted to, it was my decision and dad  tried to make me reconsider but I insisted." Mom left the table and closed her door, dad went after her. 

    I was now left with Kevin and Matt who were sitting at the table staring at me like I had three heads. I said, "Can one of you speak up please." Kevin did and said, "Why?" I said, "Well because I wanted to follow dad's footsteps, that's why I always came in late, dad knew the first time he told me." Matt said, "I should have known there was another reason you did that, but Drake we are your older brothers you should have told us." I said, "I know but you guys would have just disagreed with my answer." I looked at their faces, Matt had a painful, angry expression, and Kevin had an unemotional expression. Matt stood up loudly and said, "Drake you are my baby brother, you're both our baby brother and you expect us to let you go in the marines, how could you do this to us, we got your back till we had to leave for college and we had no fucking clue about this, I know we would disagree but we should have known before dad did." I sighed loudly and said "I am sorry Matt but I already enlisted there is no turning back now and I want to do this why can't you guys see that. I can handle myself." Matt then said, "Can you shoot a gun?" I looked down and said, "Maybe I will get dad to teach me." Matt looked pissed and said, "You enlisted and you have no clue how to shoot a gun are you crazy!?!?!" I stood up and said, "THAT IS WHY I AM GOING TO BOOT CAMP SO THEY CAN TEACH ME  TO SHOOT!!!!!" I continued "It's NOT LIKE I AM GOING STRAIGHT TO IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN OR STRAIGHT INTO BATTLE!!" with that I walked outside, to clear my head. Telling my family was torture, I kept walking until I saw a park. 

  I saw a swing set and decided to swing. I thought about going for a run, but I didn't feel like going back into the house. So I went against it.  I was swinging back and forth until I heard footsteps, I turned my head to see who was coming and there stood my dad. I got up and went to him and he said: "Come on Drake lets continue this walk." I nodded and I said, "Dad I imagined their responses so differently." He gave me a small smile and put his arm around me and said: "Son everything you imagine or think will never actually come the way you want, in reality, it is like a dream, for example, you dream of being a millionaire, but in reality your dirt poor." I sighed and said, "Well I think my reality should become real then." My dad chuckled and I noticed he was trying to make me distracted so he can bring me home. I said, "Dad if you wanted me to go home you could have told me." He then squeezed my shoulder and said: "Now what was the fun in that, Let us head inside, I talked to everyone for you, remember what I said." I rolled my eyes and said, "yes I did dad, you got my back, and thanks." He smiled and we walked in Matt ran to me and hugged me tightly as he could and said: "I am sorry for overreacting, I am just afraid that's all." I said, "Don't worry about it, I get what you mean." Kevin was next and he kind of said the same thing but he never really had an exact response for all this. My mom came last, I saved her for last because moms have the best hugs haha. she said, "I am proud of you honey, but I can't believe my baby boy is going off into the marines just like his father." I smiled and said "I guess I am not a baby boy now mom." she smiled and said "I guess not"