Battle: The Last 5 Seconds

Chapter 1: The Call

I was laying there in the hospital bed with so many annoying noises there was a stupid breathing machine on me that kept beeping , My wife and 3 kids were by my side as I lay there all the emotion in the room I just couldnt bare it any longer.

My name is John Harper, I have a wife named Laura and my 3 kids names are Jane, Michael and Susan this is how it all started out....

My family and I were having family game night playing board games, eating snacks, and drinking pop the usual typical things families do on Fridays.Then out of nowhere there was a loud RIIIIIIIIIING it was the telephone, so I got up walked into the kitchen and answered it not knowing who would be calling this late at night?

"Hello" I said

"Hello John this is Captain Barkley speaking I am calling to inform you that you will be getting deployed to Iraq we will give you more information at the airport"

That was all he said I was so shocked at what he had just told me stunned I just stood there holding the phone to my ear drifting off into my own little world thinking about the stunning news the Captain had just informed me with I couldnt believe this was happening again. How was Laura going to take the news and the kids how would I tell them. Standing there still dazed thinking why did they have to choose me why is it so important that I go with all the people in the Navy why me? Not noticing anything I hear a voice say

"Who was that"

It was Laura.

"Huh a what"

"Who was that on the phone"

I stuttered to say" It was umm Captain Barkley he needs me to go to Irag again he said they will be giving me more details on Sunday"

In that exact moment I saw the tears start to come down from her eyes and drip off her nose so I walked up and gave her a hug and said

" Dont worry honey everything will be alright it is probably very important that they need me to go"

Then the kids walked in and Michael asked

" what is going on why is mom crying dad what happened"

So I told them to go back into the living room and I told them this

" Kids I have to go to a place called Iraq you know the same place I went last time I will hopefully be gone for only a short period of time"

The room was still and quiet no movement not even a single peep from anyone then finally after a while they all ran up and we had a huge family hug and after all the comotion we went back to playing games but I was still thinking of what tomorrow could bring.