Post by Soldier 76 on Aug 10, 2016 18:29:00 GMT
18 years old, ready to graduate, barely a few weeks now; this chapter of his life would end and a new one would begin. He knew where he was going, but he had some people he had yet to tell. They were out in the fields, spring was barely touching the northern parts of the country. Indiana had his first mild day of the season. They tossed a football back and forth, no crops yet to tend. "Dad, I have something I need to tell you," he called and the older man gave a nod.
"Figured you might," he replied. Yeah they only came out to toss the ball around when they needed to talk. Moments away from work or school, they needed something to do while they spoke. Too difficult to just sit down. "You have that look Jack, what big decision have you made this time?" Yeah he never could hide his expressions. His father had him all figured out.
"I'm joining the army," dropped the news as he threw the ball back, his father caught it and did that thing with his lips when he was considering something. Pursing them and humming. "Already got the paperwork done." His old man gave a sagely nod and the ball came back to Jack. There was a stillness in the coming night.
"Figured you might," repeated his dad, that was a phrase Jack had heard most of his life, 'figured you might' like things just always seemed to work out the way his father assumed. "When do you ship out?" Good question as he caught the pass back. "Tell your mother yet?"
No, not yet. He was waiting a bit, she'd cry, she always cried. "Week after graduation, no, mom doesn't know yet. I'm telling you first, you know she'll bawl," the young man replied. "Hate to see my mother crying alone."
"Suppose she will. Week after graduation, hm, won't be here for planting then will ya?" the old Morrison asked. "Might be tough, but we'll manage. I'll bring your cousin in." They went silent for a while, just passing the ball as each considered what to say next. This was how their conversations tended to be. To the point, blunt, and it suited Jack just fine. He hated a lecture.
He had to ask. "What are you thinking, Dad?"
"How much you remind me of me. I guess I did an alright job, never figuring I'd be a father," he said with a thoughtful hum. "My old man thought the same thing. You'll do good, son, I know you will. Never been a Morrison in the Military that didn't." He finally tossed the ball back.
That was a relief, nothing wrong at least. "Just alright? Is it just country folk that can't admit they're pretty good at what they do?" he asked. "Wouldn't trade the two of you for the world Dad." He chuckled sending the ball back.
"I figure you might, the world includes us," replied Morrison senior. Jack raised a brow and rolled his eyes.
"You know what I mean Dad," he grumbled. God not the jokes. "I am not going to miss those jokes"
"Hey Not going ot miss those jokes, I'm Dad;" his father couldn't help cracking himself up. "don't forget to bring a diaper when you go to change the world."
"Stop!" Jack wailed, in agony as he ran over intent on tackling the old man if it meant he'd stop thsoe awful jokes.
His father was more nimble than he anticipated, and caught Jack in a headlock, ruffling his hair. "I'll stop when I'm dead, kiddo," he mused, releasing him before hooking an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, we'll eat dinner before you tell your mom, or we'll end up with tears in the maccaroni."
"Figured you might," he replied. Yeah they only came out to toss the ball around when they needed to talk. Moments away from work or school, they needed something to do while they spoke. Too difficult to just sit down. "You have that look Jack, what big decision have you made this time?" Yeah he never could hide his expressions. His father had him all figured out.
"I'm joining the army," dropped the news as he threw the ball back, his father caught it and did that thing with his lips when he was considering something. Pursing them and humming. "Already got the paperwork done." His old man gave a sagely nod and the ball came back to Jack. There was a stillness in the coming night.
"Figured you might," repeated his dad, that was a phrase Jack had heard most of his life, 'figured you might' like things just always seemed to work out the way his father assumed. "When do you ship out?" Good question as he caught the pass back. "Tell your mother yet?"
No, not yet. He was waiting a bit, she'd cry, she always cried. "Week after graduation, no, mom doesn't know yet. I'm telling you first, you know she'll bawl," the young man replied. "Hate to see my mother crying alone."
"Suppose she will. Week after graduation, hm, won't be here for planting then will ya?" the old Morrison asked. "Might be tough, but we'll manage. I'll bring your cousin in." They went silent for a while, just passing the ball as each considered what to say next. This was how their conversations tended to be. To the point, blunt, and it suited Jack just fine. He hated a lecture.
He had to ask. "What are you thinking, Dad?"
"How much you remind me of me. I guess I did an alright job, never figuring I'd be a father," he said with a thoughtful hum. "My old man thought the same thing. You'll do good, son, I know you will. Never been a Morrison in the Military that didn't." He finally tossed the ball back.
That was a relief, nothing wrong at least. "Just alright? Is it just country folk that can't admit they're pretty good at what they do?" he asked. "Wouldn't trade the two of you for the world Dad." He chuckled sending the ball back.
"I figure you might, the world includes us," replied Morrison senior. Jack raised a brow and rolled his eyes.
"You know what I mean Dad," he grumbled. God not the jokes. "I am not going to miss those jokes"
"Hey Not going ot miss those jokes, I'm Dad;" his father couldn't help cracking himself up. "don't forget to bring a diaper when you go to change the world."
"Stop!" Jack wailed, in agony as he ran over intent on tackling the old man if it meant he'd stop thsoe awful jokes.
His father was more nimble than he anticipated, and caught Jack in a headlock, ruffling his hair. "I'll stop when I'm dead, kiddo," he mused, releasing him before hooking an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, we'll eat dinner before you tell your mom, or we'll end up with tears in the maccaroni."
