Home Of The Brave Page #7

I didn't even know their names.

You know, I was kind of surprised

you called me, actually.

After what you were like that first day...

- Really?

- You don't remember this?

You don't remember this? That first day

when I'm helping you out at the car.

You were like, "I'm fine. I'm fine.

Leave me alone."

- I kind of remember that. Yeah.

- You remember that?

- I'm sorry.

- That's all right.

I'm just giving you a hard time.

I know, but that's really

kind of inexcusable.

No.

I just have a really hard time

trusting people.

- You haven't been seeing anybody?

- You mean like a shrink?

No, no. I meant, have you had

a boyfriend since you got back?

No.

I was seeing somebody before I left,

but that just didn't work out.

What happened to your hand?

We were in this city, in Al Hayy,

and I was part of a convoy of trucks.

We were driving into the city.

It was hot as hell,

and dusty and horrible and...

Just driving into the center of the city

and something started to go really weird.

And the truck in front of us...

The trucks in front of us,

they got ambushed.

So the rest of us,

we took another road

to try to get back around to the main road

that we were on.

And I saw this little kid,

with a Tootsie Pop or something.

I don't know what he had.

I just remember this kid.

And we turned this corner

and we just drove and...

Explosion.

Just a big explosion.

And it was a...

It was just a bomb on the road,

on the side of the road.

I don't remember anything.

Just that I was told I was...

I was very lucky.

I have a confession to make.

I wasn't helping you that day

because of your hand.

It's 'cause I thought you were...

'Cause I thought you were so beautiful.

- Beautiful?

- Mmm.

What?

What.

I don't know. Beautiful?

And divorced at 24

and one kid and one hand.

Especially with one kid and one hand.

Hey.

- Hi.

- Hi.

You all right?

Let's just take it slow, okay?

Yeah.

- I'm sorry.

- It's okay. It's all right.

Hold on.

All right.

- Do you wanna get that?

- I'll get that.

I'll get this.

- All right, now what?

- Just that...

- Just pull that.

- It's stuck. I'm trying to pull it.

It's definitely stuck.

How do you do this?

I don't know, I've never done this before.

F*** it.

Stop laughing.

This is serious.

I was thinking maybe we could talk.

Okay.

I'll talk and you can just listen.

I'm sorry about what I did.

I was wrong.

I've got some issues.

And I'm getting some help with that.

In fact, your mom and I are

seeing someone

and we think that

at some point down the road

it'd be good if you went with us

maybe once or twice.

Dede, too.

But you can make up your mind

about that when the time comes.

I know you're against the war.

And I can respect that.

But are you against the war in principle

or because I was part of it?

Both.

- Well, I talked to him.

- Good.

- So what you doing?

- Paying bills. Nothing important.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Can you look at me when you say that?

I love you.

I love you very, very much.

Thank you.

Bye.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I know you don't understand

why I re-enlisted,

It's confusing and scary for all of us,

I know that,

But I have to go back,

I don't wanna die

and Jordan didn't wanna die, either,

And maybe when we went over there

the first time

we didn't know

what we were getting into,

Maybe the leaders of our country didn't

know what they were getting into,

Maybe the people don't want us there,

Maybe this whole thing

is just making it worse,

But even after all that,

I can't stay behind

knowing there are soldiers over there

getting attacked every day

and dying every day,

I don't feel like it's wrong of me

for wanting to go back over there

and help them,

It's a hard job being a soldier,

Not just for people like me,

but for the people we leave behind,

The both of you, girlfriends,

kids, husbands and wives,

We all carry scars of war,

But I know that if I do my part

then maybe we'll all get out of there

and get home to the people

who love us just a little bit quicker,

- This is my wife, Penelope.

- Hello.

- Daughter, Dede...

- Hello.

...and that's Billy.

- Nice to meet you.

- How you doing? Great game today.

- Thank you.

We're going to get something to eat now.

- You guys wanna go?

- Sounds good.

I hope this can

make sense to you,

Because it makes perfect sense to me,

These are my guys and I need them

just as much as they need me,

I'm not trying to be noble or brave,

But I feel, if I don't go

then I'd fail Jordan, Jamal,

and all those who went over with me

and sacrificed so much,

And that'd be worse

than never coming home at all,

I know you aren't happy with this,

but I also know that you love me,

I'm going back,

And I'm going back to do

the best job I know how,

And get back to you as soon as I can,

Pray for me,

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