>Be Evan.

>Be a couple winters ago.

>Jason's about to ship out for his first deployment to Afghanistan. He knows he'll be working as a prison guard.

>Maddie follows Jason around, asking questions.

>What kind of a gun will you use?

>M16. I've told you that like a hundred times.

>Where's the military base you're staying on?

>It's called the Qallabi Detention Facility. It's by a town called Heccherta.

>What are you going to be doing?

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>Guarding people.

>What kind of people?

>Prisoners. You've known all this for weeks, Maddie.

>Jason's packing his bags, sorting clothes on his bed.

>Evan sits at Jason's desk chair, looking at a map of Afghanistan.

>Are you going to have to kill anyone? asks Maddie.

>Evan sees that Maddie is actually quite scared.

>I'm probably not going to be seeing much combat, says Jason. The guys I've talked to who've been there say it's pretty boring most of the time.

>Without warning, Maddie's faces crumples.

>I luh-huh-huh-huuuuvvvv you, she howls, throwing her arms around Jason's waist.

>Jesus, Maddie, Jason says, surprised.

>He tries to detach himself from her but she holds fast.

>I'm gonna be just fine. It's for nine months. I'll be back in time for your birthday.

>Maddie keeps crying.

>Jason bends down and hugs her. She clings to his neck.

>I love you, too, poopykins, he says, using a nickname of hers from toddlerhood. He rolls his eyes at Evan over her shoulder.

>Maddie lets him go, her outburst subsiding.

>Ooo-rah, Jason says, holding out his fist for a fist bump.

>Ooh-rah, says Maddie.

>They bump fists.