Prologue

My eyes flutter open, my vision growing clearer. I glance around my room, everything looking duller in the dark. I turn to the digital clock on my nightstand.

7:36 PM

My eyes grow wide as I’m given a revelation. I had slept for more than two hours, straight! I pull the sheets off myself and sprint down the stairs.

I skid to a halt as I find my parents and my sister, eating in the dining room. No one seems to notice that I’m standing in the doorway. Then, my mom lifts her head and smiles at me. Okay, I guess she noticed.

After I grab myself a slice of pizza on the kitchen counter, I sit down at the table with my family. Before taking a bite, I ask, “Why didn’t you wake me?”

Mom finishes chewing, swallows, and answers, “You were tired. A softball practice that lasts for three hours can be a little exhausting, right?”

I nod. “Yeah, I was really beat. But you could’ve woken me up after, like, thirty minutes.” Mom shrugs.

“I guess.” She turns to Sophie. “Sophie, eat.” My sister obeys
my mom, picking up a piece of her cut up pizza and placing it on her tongue. After a while, she consumes it and goes in for another piece.

Meanwhile, my dad turns to me. He places his fork on his plate and shows me a caring smile. “So…” His eyes shift from me to Mom as he looks like he searching for something to talk about. I take the hint.

I sigh as I relax in my chair. “School was difficult, today.” I steal a sip of my mom’s Coke and continue, “Mr. Montgomery told us we have to turn in a three-hundred word essay Friday about the Second World War.”

I pause for dramatic effect then continue, “And I haven’t even gotten the makeup work from when I was absent! I don’t have a clue what’s going on, right now.” Dad bites off his slice of pizza and gives me a sideways look.

“You’re going to get all your work done, right?” he asks, finishing down his food with his Coke Zero. I smirk.

“I get straight A’s, remember?” I reply. “It’s my reputation. I have to get my work done. That’s what I’m known for.” My mom winks at me.

“Just like me,” She coos. I laugh.

“Except, I have a life,” I joke. Mom acts like she’s offended, but I know she’s just kidding. Dad pokes Sophie in the stomach playfully.

“How was your day, Honey?” Sophie giggles. She pokes Dad’s hand back and replies, “Good!” Dad flashes a smile and goes back to eating.

“Hey, Danny, I-” Mom starts, but is cut off with a loud Ring! going off. She looks around and settles her view on a
vibrating cell phone on the kitchen counter. “Is that mine?”

Dad gets up and goes over to the phone. He peers at it, and shakes his head. “No, it’s mine.” Ring! He points to the phone, giving Mom a yearning look.

Not affected by his glance, nor getting the clue, she gives him a look back. “What?” Ring!

He glances around then turns back to his wife. “Can I answer it?”

“No, don’t…” Ring! Mom scrunches up her face in a disappointed way and shakes her head. “Please, it’s family time, right now.”

“But, what if it’s important?” he whines, reaching for the phone. Ring! “What if it’s Ronnie calling from work?” I sigh, knowing who’s going to win.

“Fine… fine, go ahead.” Ring! Mom silently turns back to her plate of food and continues to eat.

Rin-“Hello?” Dad’s smile fades away as a voice on the other line speaks. His brows narrow in frustration, the line in his forehead creasing. “Oh, okay, I- Yes. I will- You can count on me. What time should I be there? 8:30? Okay. Got it. Yes, thanks. Yeah- I’ll be there.”

Dad quietly puts his cell phone in his pocket and inhales sharply. Everyone is dead silent, waiting for my father to explain the call.

“I have to go to Iraq. To serve my country.”

o.O.o.O.o.O.o

I storm up the stairs, tears rushing down my cheeks. I burst into my room, slam my door, and flop onto my bed. Still sobbing, I grab my pillow and bury my face in it.

After a few moments of being alone, I calm down long enough to try to snag a little nap. I close my eyes, waiting for the darkness to drift me off to sleep. I settle the storm in my mind and exhale slowly. Soon enough, I finally fall asleep.

Later, I slowly open my eyes, looking around the room. It’s dark and quiet for a few minutes, then the door creaks open. A light from the hallway shines on the wall.

I can sense Mom poke her head in from the doorway as I dig my face deeper into my pillow. Mom sighs, sitting on my bed. She pats my back, quietly saying, “What’s wrong?” I lift my face from my pillow and stare at her, my head spinning.

“How can you ask me that?” I sneer. “Dad is leaving to go overseas and you ask me, ‘What’s wrong’?! He would not have been told to go if you hadn’t allowed him to answer the stupid phone.” Mom flinches like she’s been slapped. She removes her hand from its position and hangs her head wearily.

“I know you’re upset…” She lets the tears stream down her face, not even caring to wipe them away. I hesitantly sit up, feeling bad for what I’ve said. I wrap my arms around her, rocking my mother back and forth. I hold my breath, allowing her to finally let loose.

After a few moments of sobbing continuously, Mom eventually sits straight. She turns to me and gives a tired smile. “He was going to go either way.”