Free Star Girl by Alan VanMeter Page B

just outside in my skivvies. As everyone else piles in close to each other, an explosion thunders from close by.
    “Mortar attack!” The Colonel barks with a growl.
    It is very dark in the bunker, and you can feel heavy breaths around you, from frightened people. Suddenly another explosion, but more distant. Then we sit and listen to the alarms for an hour until the all clear is given. By then everyone is wide awake, yet still wanting sleep. So we go back to our quarters to try. We lob bombs at them, and they lob bombs at us; yup it is insanity.
     
     
     
              The last six months have dragged by slowly, I guess I’m definitely not having fun any longer. I haven’t even built a kit in two months, just kind of tired of everything about this place. Some of the fellows have taken to drinking every chance they get, and fairly heavily too. I don’t want that for me, it sure wouldn’t help anything, just make it worse. I’m still wrestling with being paid to kill people, and paid very well too. It is on everyone’s mind I think, how could it not be? There is no way I will ask for a transfer, dad could swing it if I asked, but these people are my family, and I’m not going to go running home like a scared little girl on them. I will fight with them, and die for them if necessary. Thank goodness we only have two and a half months left on our rotation. The down time back home will make me whole, and I can’t wait.
              Just before evening chow today, the Major summons me to go with him. I follow wondering what’s going on. Am I in some sort of trouble? It’s hard to tell by the Major’s dead pan demeanor. He takes me to the rec room and I see the whole squadron is lined up and standing at attention, even the enlisted ground crew. The Colonel is waiting, facing me down at the far end of the room. Major Hoyt delivers me to him, and stands aside at attention. I am at full attention myself.
    “Second Lieutenant Romero, give me those damn bars.” He points to my collar rank insignia.
    I guess maybe I am in trouble. Quickly I take both sets of single bars off, and hand them to his waiting hand. Then he surprises me.
    “Unless you do something stupid, and are busted in rank, you will never be called second Lieutenant again. Plain old Lieutenant it is. Congratulations Romero.” He comes and pins my new double bars on my collar.
    Hey, I just got a raise.
    He salutes me, and I return it sharply. Then he shakes my hand with a proud grin. Yup, Colonel Hall is my daddy. I wasn’t due for consideration for a few months yet. He dismisses us and the whole squadron congratulates me personally. It’s so nice to be appreciated, especially by people who I admire above most all.

 
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
              Finally our rotation home is here, and we take the long non-stop flight back to New Mexico. Of course we had to leave all of our models there, but I like the idea of the next squadron seeing our work. I call dad right away after we land, as we have thirty days furlough effective immediately. He’s there within an hour, and I fly back home. On the drive to the house, he stops me by a drive-in for a shake.
    “I know mom wants to see you ASAP, but I figured on getting you a little welcome home treat first.”
    “Sounds good dad.”
    He orders for us into the speaker, and then he just looks me over with apparent pride. “So, tell me about it if you want Steph. I’ve got good ears.”
    I nod. “I love my squadron dad. They treat me like their kid sister, all of them, and they take such good care of me.”
    “Good.”
    “But…”
    “You don’t have to say it Steph. I know what you have to do over there.”
    “It just doesn’t seem right daddy. I don’t even know what I am bombing.”
    “Would you want to if you could?”
    I shake my head.
    “Look, you don’t have to go back you know. If you want to do something different, the doors open baby.”
    “I know daddy,” I sob.