Drill Dad

“Hello, yes this is Mr. Millen how may I help you?” John asked as he answered the phone at 3 am.  “Ok I will be right there Officer Johnson.” Within 5 minutes he was dressed and out the door in the car and on his way to the station yet again.

“Sorry Mr. Millen he refused to call a lawyer and wouldn’t call you.” We had to do something he isn’t drunk just was causing a problem at the legion hall again.

“Yeah I know.” he replied walking past the desk headed for the holding cage.

On the bed in the cage lay and older man who had a flat top cut, gristly chin whiskers and a Military cap lying on his chest it read, “US Army retired.”

“Hey Sarge you going home with me or do you want to lie here all night long?” John asked opening the door which wasn’t locked as usual. 

“We need to stop experiencing this problem Dad, your out now they are not your troops.” He giggled helping him up putting his cap on his head.  “Yeah, Yeah.” the raspy voice replied his steel gray eyes looking at John as if he could have taken his head off without flinching.  “Stop looking at me that way Dad, I’m not the enemy either.”

They barely spoke as they headed home the old Sergeant wasn’t used to being taken care of and the son wasn’t used to having his father home after all these years of growing up without him there. 

When they got to the house there stood John’s youngest, 19 year old Michael John named after his steely eyed Grandfather, “Hey which was in trouble this time?” he asked.  “He was.” they both replied pointing at one another as they all three giggled.

They went into the house and Mike and Grandpa went into the kitchen for early morning coffee as they had done way too many times before as John went back to bed, “Keep the noise down you too.” he said heading upstairs.  They nodded and began the usual ritual of making coffee and sausage gravy on biscuits which was Grandpa’s favorite from his service days.

They ate and talked about everything and anything they wanted as no one else was really paying any attention since they were all sleeping except these two.  They would drink coffee, eat, laugh and try not too wake up John again though all too often that happened by 6 am try as they might to avoid it. 

This morning was nothing different as the recently retired John heard they laughing again and the war stories Grandpa was telling his youngest grandson always worried John.  John was afraid that Mike would want to join the service and wind up like so many of those boys John buried at work.

“Dad, stop telling him those war stories how many times do I have to tell you that?” John snapped at the old man still wearing his cap.  “Relax Dad, I already signed up yesterday I leave in a month.” Mike replied for his Grandfather.  “I know exactly what I am getting into.”  He said as he walked out of the kitchen John was headed right behind him, “Wait John let him go.”

Grandpa handed John a cup of coffee and sat there waiting for him to yell at him which didn’t take long, “What the hell did you do?” John snapped at him slamming his hand on the table spilling coffee.  “I told him the truth, it would make a man out of him but, that he could die if he went.” Grandpa replied as he wiped up the coffee.

They both sat there quietly after that as John was now stewing wondering what his wife would think as he rolled his wedding band around his finger.  “She would be angry; like your Mother was but eventually she would understand it’s his choice.” Grandpa said grabbing John’s hands to stop him from fidgeting.

John sat there staring at his father, his picture of his dead wife on the wall wishing she was here.  She would know what to do and he couldn’t help but start to resent this old man who suddenly retired and was in his life after almost 40 years of hardly being around for him.  “You have no idea what she was like.” John snapped at him again despite knowing that she knew they were a military family as John was a soldier when she met him.

“I just wanted better for him than what we chose to do and I am afraid your excitement over the war stories may very well mislead him into his choice.” John said taking a drink of his coffee.

“I am sorry but, we all had different experiences of combat and some liked it more than others.” Grandpa replied taking off his hat and running his fingers over his head.  “It ain’t going to grow back Dad.” John giggled.  Grandpa just smiled and took a drink of his coffee.

For the next month John was in disarray as Grandpa was in heaven he had a troop again as he prepared Mike for boot camp.  Shouting orders, drilling all day long and teaching him combat tricks to hopefully keep him alive.  John refused to teach him anything he had learned as a civilian DOD worker during Desert Storm.

“Dad are you going to help me at all?” Mike asked him one time.

“Keep your head down, listen to your fellow troops and come back home to us alive.” was all he kept saying to him except the day he put him on the bus, “I love you and I am very proud of you.” John whispered as he hugged Mike before putting him on the bus to boot camp.  “Thanks Dad.” was the last thing he heard as his little troop got on the bus.  Grandpa was sitting in the truck waiting to go back to the legion hall, “Hurry up its Miller time.”  He called out to John as Mike rode away.