Always Army Strong

Chapter 1

7 YEARS LATER

It's finally time. Time for her to graduate. She worked her butt off for the past 4 years of college and she is finally ready to join the military. She had to make some difficult choices along the way.

Dean, a boy she dated for 2 years, does not wish to join the military. He offered to wait for her, but she wasn't ready to deal with a relationship like that.

Her best friend, Dani, begged her not to follow this path. But Nicole knew what she wanted, that was to make something of her life. So at graduation, she smiled and said her goodbyes to her friends and loved ones. She made empty promises to return to see them again.

She still had not told her parents the truth about her dreams. They knew she graduated majoring in public services; but, they didn't know that she had other plans. She told herself that after graduation she would tell her parents.

"Honey we are so proud of you," her mom told her, hugging her tightly.

"Where do you want to go eat? I'm guessing fast food?" Her dad says grudgingly.

"How about we just eat at home, I have some things to tell you," She answers.

Her family agrees, and they head home in three different cars. When they all reach the house, Nicole finds herself extremely nervous.

"You said you had something to tell us," my mom says implying an explanation is needed.

"Yeah, well, um," she begins.

"You'd think after college you'd quit stuttering, but I guess you'll always be like that," her dad interrupts.

"John!" Her mom scolds.

"Well, Dad, I stutter when I'm nervous. And you are not helping anything. What I was going to say was that I'm going to serve in the military." She blurts out.

The shock that is left on her families face is priceless. She see's tears welling up in her mothers eyes.

"What branch?" Her dad asks

"Army" She responds.

"What job?" He quizzes.

"Working Dog Handler," she answers.

"What will your duty be?"

"I want to specifically be a patrol explosive dog handler,"

Her mom starts sobbing, choking up and burying her face in her hands.

"Why do you want to do this?" Kennedy asks.

"B-But you, you could die out there," her mom stutters, interrupting her sister, "You have to be safe!"

"I want to serve the country that has been so good to me, and I want to do something important with my life," She answers.

"'Bout time," her dad responds.

"Yeah, whatever dad." She tells him, resisting the urge to flip him off.

She spends the rest of dinner explaining to her family what will happen. They have so many questions and at this point she is so thankful for having done her research. When dinner is over, she heads to her room thankful that she only has to spend one more night in this stupid house.