Army Strong

Chapter Three

Youth by Daughter (Live)

Army Strong

Chapter Three

The food was out on the table and everyone was sitting in their places. Ma had ordered Pops to say prayer which he did with a sigh. Our family were always hard core Catholics but I lost my faith a long time ago. I held Lilly and Anthony's hands as we bowed our heads to give thanks.

"Bless this mess so we may feed our guests. Jesus Christ amen," Pops said with a smile.

Ma slapped his arm playfully as we all replied in unison, "Amen."

Pops cut the turkey and the ham as we all passed around the rest of the food. We made small talk with everyone kidding around and laughing happily.

"So Blake, where are you working now?" Diana smirked with a tight smile.

I stopped eating my mashed potatoes and loosened my smile so that it became something a little less attractive.

"At a bookstore about an hour away from Seattle," I said shoving green bean casserole in my mouth.

"How lovely," she said. "Do you make enough money to support yourself?"

She tried to sound sincere but it came out more like she was spitting on me. I gridded my teeth and my smile fell at her low ball insult.

"Honey," David chuckled trying to hush her.

She waved him off by placing a fleshly manicured hand on his chest.

"I make enough," I gritted out.

She was trying to embarrass me and it was almost working. I make a lot of money actually. I just need something to do with my time and working at a bookstore is easy and crappy pay.

"Well if you ever need any financial help David and I can always help support you," she said with a grin.

David looked at her in horror as he went from his witch of a wife to me. He was about to say something but I cut him off.

"You know Diana I was on base a few months ago visiting a few buds of mine. And one of them was talking about this slut he fucked at a restaurant in New York. He said she was a beautiful blonde with an ugly attitude which made me somehow think of you," I paused as Anthony and Liam started chuckling under their breaths. "I knew you had gained weight because of the awfully tight dress you just so happen to be wearing today. So is that baby my big brothers or one of my military buds?"

That finally shut her up. She was all flustered and red faced as she looked at me. I chewed on a carrot with a smile. David was again about to say something when Pops started singing.

I glanced at Liam who was red faced as he held in his laugh. He let it out as Pops singing drowned out his chuckles. Curtis was even chuckling under his breath quietly.

"So how's the restaurant business Liam?" I asked as Pops quieted down.

Liam nodded and launched into this big discussion about going global with Curtis and his restaurants. David started going CEO on Liam since David was the CEO of Samuel Adams Beer Company.

I stayed quiet and listened to all the conversations around me. Ma was talking to one of the Monsters about school and Anthony was talking NAS Car with Pops. It was nice since everyone around me was so loud and I was so quiet. Back in Afghanistan you usually didn't get this. Sure you had a bunch of army guys cursing like sailors and people eating and talking loudly. But here at home it was different. The familiar voices echoed around me so I couldn't think. Most of the time I didn't like to think so right now was great. I could focus on my food while hearing non stop blabbering going on around the dinner table.