—Chapter 8—

Speeches and family day

Sitting at the table with my squad at breakfast I looked at Rebecca and my heart rate started to speed up, the weird feeling in my chest started to return. Damn it Carmen why did you have to go and fill my head full of these thoughts. Looking away from her that feeling wouldn't leave so I decided to strike up a conversation with everyone to figure out our plan for the day.

“So there's the aviation course's aircraft assignment ceremony around one in the afternoon which Marin and I have to go to. Do you guys have anything you need to do today? If not, it's an open invite to come watch the ceremony.” I started to break the silence of breakfast at our table

“Umm sorry guys i'll have to pass this time i was told to report to assembly hall 25 to get my medical assignment. I was worried I wasn't going to get one this year since I waited till the last minute to decide on doing field medicine as my course specialization.” Lilly quickly answered.

“Hey Lilly, are you sure that's the right building? Because that's the same building where our ceremony is being held.” Rebbecca looked puzzled as she set her drink down.

“Yeah at least that's what lieutenant Serena told me yesterday. Maybe there's two ceremonies going on at the same time.”

“Maybe at least we can still head to the ceremony together still.” Rebbecca answered as a smile started to form on her face.

“I still find it a little funny how quick you two became best friends.” Evaldo spoke up after scarfing down his food. Immediately Lilly shot her brother an annoyed look.

“We're the only girls in this squad so obviously we'd get along. Besides not like you had any problems making friends, either you and Ade are pretty close always working out together but at least Ades cute. I'm surprised you haven't tried to drag captain red eyes over there.”

“Hey thanks for the compliment and don’t drag me into your sibling quarrel now.” Ade chuckled nervously, blushing “speaking of red eyes, what's up with you man? For a day of such high importance you look like crap and I know you're not one to stay out partying.”

“Yeah… I ended up waking up super early and couldn't fall back to sleep. So I decided to make some coffee and hang out on the porch.”

“Well that answers why you came in with Carmen. Well try to catch some Zs’ before your ceremony.”

“And if that doesn't help Lilly can try to hide it with her makeup.” Rebbecca teased, her smile shining even brighter, making my heart skip a beat.

“NO DON'T DO IT!” Ade and Evaldo immediately burst out jumping up from their seats causing the entire platoon X mess hall to fall silent and stare at our squad.

“Sorry everyone, we’ll be sure to keep these knuckleheads quiet or else they're gonna help us test out new makeup again.” Lilly spoke up politely, shooting daggers at the boys making a commotion. Not a moment later the hall erupted into laughter as everyone remembered Lilly’s punishment when Evaldo decided to prank Lilly by hiding her casual close in Ades' room after doing the squad's laundry. Then when she found out it was missing she went on a warpath, assuming Ade was an accomplice after finding her socks in front of his door. She had dragged both Evaldo and him into the living room and had some of the older female cadets help tie them to chairs, where she decided to put the most god awful makeup on both of them as punishment for messing with her clothes.

“Hey I thought you boys looked great in that makeup,” Lieutenant Serena said as she walked into the mess hall.

“Officer on deck.” one of the second year cadets called out as she entered.

“At ease everyone and good morning, as you all know today is the last day of summer which means tonight we hold the going away party for you Fourth year cadets so enjoy today. There's plenty of ceremonies if you want to go support your juniors.” She said these words almost starting to sound broken up. “I have two more things for everyone. There will be no PT today so be sure to relax. Second, what's for breakfast and who has an open seat?”

“But Lieutenant, that's three things and don’t you officers have your own mess hall?” Lev chirped with a mouth full of food

“Lev you need to shut up and swallow before you choke, I just enjoy all of your company soooo much, but you should know I hate stuffy formalites that dealing with other officers entails.”

As this exchange continued on for a little while longer the morning continued just as any other, with the noise picking up with the sounds of jokes and laughter. I started to feel more at ease and my weird feelings started to subside. Suddenly there was a sound of a fork clinking against a glass and the chatter started to settle down.

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“Alright everyone, before we start to wrap up breakfast I have a couple announcements to make” Chavez stood up “As some of you may already be are aware two of our first years, about to be second years, are in the flight program and today is there airframe assignment day, so I would like you all to give them well wishes and leave your thoughts with them as today determines their future.” As Chavez finished his sentence the room started to erupt into a chorus of cheers and clapping. “Finally, in case some of y’all have forgotten, today is family day so not to sound like your mother, because we all know that's Serena's job, make sure your rooms are clean and uniforms pressed neatly.” Chavez started to sit down as the sounds of moans and groans of the platoon filled the cafeteria, but not before a breakfast roll came flying at him from Serena's direction as an annoyed smirk came across her face, almost saying you bratt.

“Crap I forgot that was a thing I never told my parents” Ade muttered to himself as he got up and started to walk away.

“Hey Ade, wait where are you going?” Lily asked, getting up and chasing after him. As they left the room both Evaldo and Rebbeca looked at me for an answer and I just shrugged my shoulders as I started to answer.

“Ade is super close with his family so he's probably gonna be a bit depressed today, so be sure to be there for him please. Speaking of being close… I know those two were close but something feels different between them lately.” I asked now, looking to the others for answers. Evaldo started to lean back and ponder in his thoughts then leaned forward beckoning me to do the same and whispered in a low tone.

“Now don't tell Ade or Lily that I told you, but they just started dating a couple weeks ago and they don't want anyone to know yet cause right now they're just testing waters.” Evaldo quickly told me while Rebbecca started to nod in confirmation.

“Wait, why do you both know but not me?”

“Well you're our squad leader and we didn’t want you to worry about all the issues that could arise especially since you're doing flight school as well.” Rebbecca spoke up, joining in the whispering.

“Alright, fine. I'll let it go this time though next time I would like to be given a heads up, in the meantime we should probably wrap up breakfast and start getting ready to see our families.” Gathering my plate and Ade’s I quickly rinsed the dishes, preparing them for washing before heading to my room to get ready for family day. After doing final checks of the state of cleanliness I started to put on my dress uniform, nervous in anticipation of meeting my family. Ade came knocking on my door after an hour to see if I needed a hand with anything before we head to the gate with everyone. “Ade, don't beat yourself man, at this point you're part of my family too. Besides, odds are my family probably asked if they were going so they are most likely aware”

“Yeah you're probably right, it's just the idea of everyone else seeing their family and then there's me without mine. It’s depressing” Ade shrugged, his voice still sounding mopy.

“Well if it makes you feel better just know there's some people who don't want their family to show up.”

“Sometimes I forget not every family is supportive of their children joining the military.”

“Yeah, anyways let's get going. We walking or did the platoon borrow a van?”

“We're hiking today, Squad lead, so let's grab a water bottle on the way out the door.” Ade shouted as he headed down the hallway.

“Wait up, I gotta lock my room first” I shouted back after him. Jogging down the hallway I saw both the Hawkins, Ade and Rebbeca waiting for me in the common room.

“Ready yet boss?” Lily said with a gleeful smile on her face

“Yeah lets get a move on Squad lead” Evaldo chirped

“What's up with the formality all of the sudden you bunch of kiss asses.” I rolled my eyes as I walked past the group and out the door. As the rest of the squad started down the same street we first walked on when we arrived we saw some of our classmates and people in other platoons that we've never seen before, all in their dress uniforms. Eventually we found the rest of the cadets in the center of the school already, chatting with friends or helping to direct the flow of people with other senior cadets. In the crowd I saw Third Class Rosa, part of the group helping to direct the groups of cadets. When she spotted us she pointed us in the direction of the rest of our platoon.

“Royland over here, go ahead and have your guys take your position in the front of the platoon. We'll be getting started soon.” Chavez shouted over the sound of the crowded field, his voice loud and authoritative.

“AYE SIR! But isn't most every other platoon putting their new guys in the back?” I shouted back in confusion.

“Just do it if you're that curious why we're doing it differently just ask me later right now get mov-” The rest of his words were drowned out by the sound of a loudspeaker from the center of the field.

“Alright cadets go ahead and fall in with your platoons! For some of you this is your first family day, for others this is your last with your graduation soon.” Colonel Douglas began his speech as families started to enter the parade ground. “To prevent a human traffic jam cadets, this is how this is going to work: your families are going to walk up and tap you out, stay at attention until then. Finally, I hope everyone enjoys the different ceremonies and festivities we have going on today.”

As if right on cue a pair of jets came screeching over and pulled into a near vertical climb, showing off the emblem on their tails. Sneaking a glance I saw that it was some kind of cartoon dog with a pilot's helmet on. There were cheers from the crowd, some cadets included. After a while some in our platoon started to get tapped out. The first ones in our squad to do so were the Hawkins siblings and Rebecca, who almost seemed a little upset that her family showed up. Eventually my family showed up to tap me out and right behind them was Ades family. I heard him let out a sigh of relief at the sight of them like the weight of the world had been let off his shoulders.

“Son you're definitely weren't lying when you say we won't be able to recognize you.” My dad said as he put a hand on my shoulder taping me out. Mom was all teary eyed as she hugged me, telling me how proud she was and finally right behind her, grandfather walked up now using a cane to help himself stand.

“Man those airliner seats are so uncomfortable. Anyways you've turned into quite the young man Marcus. I can't wait to see this Aircraft assignment ceremony your parents were telling me about on the way here.”

“I'm glad you all could make it here. Oh right, there's some people you probably want to meet.” As I started to finally relax I saw the rest of the platoon with their family members except Chavez who was still standing at attention. I saw Lieutenant Serena walk over to him, looked him up and down then patted him on the shoulder, freeing him from his position of attention. Eventually some of the fourth year and third year parents came over and thanked him for watching over their sons and daughters, but after everyone was done talking with him he turned to follow Serena a proud grin across his face.