On Sturdy Legs

Plus a Pie

The next morning I was awake at five thirty the way I always was. Because Izzy was still asleep, having gotten back past midnight the day before, I didn't move to get up or anything. She could be a light sleeper, and I wouldn't want to wake her up.

The entire house was either silent or had thick walls because I couldn't hear anyone moving around downstairs the way I did on the rare days when Allison was awake before I was. I waited a full half hour before I got sick of lying in bed and finally did get up as quietly as I could. Judging by the the sun, which was already most of the way up, it was to be hot--not Texas hot but still hot.

I put on a pair of dark blue cut offs for the sake of pockets, a black sports bra, black socks to match, and a dark green tank from the base, which had a large outline of Texas across the front with a star where the base was and FORT HOOD spelled out under the star. The dog tags were still around my neck since I hadn't bothered to take them off, but I did to a quick check as if there was any way for me to lose anything on the chain around my neck.

Tarq had been curled up at my side and immediately perked up when I opened the door to our room, he jumped off my bed with a light jingle of his tags and padded out before I closed the door behind us. If this was going to be a thing, I may have to make his tags quieter. Tarq had the usual rabies notice on his collar along with the one that had his name and address--which I may have to update if we're really going to be living here, and his base license that allowed him to re-enter the base the same way mine did, that is, on the rare occasion that we left.

He followed me down the stairs and sat expectantly near the back door to tell me that he had to go out. I let him out and picked up the kitchen bowl from the floor that had become his designated bowl and headed out to the garage to fill it from the bag that Tom had bought for him. I refilled his water to before I let him in and paused in front of the cabinets.

The Sitekis had an impressive lack of communication; not only did I not know the curfew, but I had no idea what their policy on meals was. Did they have breakfast together? Was it a fend for yourself meal? I didn't even know what was where or what Molly may be saving for dinner. I decided not to risk pissing anyone off and instead took a seat at the kitchen table and watched Tarq eat his own breakfast; I could take him for a walk, and if It took long enough, then I could be back when everyone else got up and find a way to ask such questions. The failure in that plan was that I had no idea where anything was and had little hope of going for a walk without getting dreadfully lost and potentially in trouble since I didn't know what the rule on going out was. Damn. I was really starting to miss the base.

I was saved from any further waiting and deliberating by Tom, who was shortly walking down the stairs in a pair of shorts and shirt that screamed "work out!"

"You're up early," he yawned and paused on the threshold, clearly not prepared for further interaction with me this early and had little idea what to say.

"It's not early," I insisted. "The marching and chanting on base normally happened at oh-five-hundred. This is sleeping in." His expression told me that he did not understand what I was saying so I added, "I am used to being woken up at five o'clock."

"Right!" He agreed, having clearly understood that. Tom glanced at Tarq who was finishing his breakfast. "Is the dog food right?" He asked in light of nothing else to really say.

"Yes," I confirmed, "thank you for that."

"Not a problem," he shrugged, still not moving from his spot as if he was glued there by some force stronger than awkwardness. "Well, I normally go for a run with my fitness group about this time. But, um, I can make you breakfast or something before I go."