As I walked into the barracks, I saw the entire platoon waiting for me. All eagerly waiting for my announcement. I stood there, looking over the men I now called brothers, only hesitating when I realized that there were so many less than what we left with. I began to speak,

“Well boys! We are home, and our new Regimental Commander, Colonel Strand, is so proud of our great job! He has decided to give all of us six weeks of leave!” A cheer is heard, everyone is jovial at the announcement.

“Look! I’m not going to hold you, especially because I’m going to be leaving to head home myself. But this needs to be said! I am proud of all of you, A platoon leader couldn’t have asked for better soldiers, or better friends. If you need anything! Call myself or staff sergeant Jackson! We will help you as best as we can! And remember do not do anything that Jackson wouldn’t do, or that Sergeant Jasper Would do!” The group of men let out a chuckle as I then said “dismissed!”.

The men began filing back into their normal places, moving towards their rooms, and even starting phone calls back home.

As I began to head to my living area on base, Jackson stopped me. “Hey Thane, how are you heading back home?”

“I’m taking my car, it’s only a two day drive. Why?” I ask curiously.

“Cuz, if you’re heading north anyways, mind dropping me off at my place on the way? I’ll pay for gas!” He says with a sly tone.

“Seriously Jackson? Where is your car?” I said.

“Oh come on Thane! Besides! I can keep you company on the way up! It’s just North Carolina! You have to pass that to get to Maryland anyhow right?” His smile seemed genuine enough.

“Wait, North Carolina? I thought you were from Chicago?”

“I was born and raised in Chicago! But I went to college in North Carolina! Fell in-love with it and met a cute girl there, ended up being the place for me!”

I sigh, “Fine! But I handle the radio! Now go get packed. I'm leaving in an hour with or without you.” I say with a stern yet comical voice.

“Fine Dad! Gosh! Ha! I’ll meet you at your car! Wait where are you parked?” He retorted to me, we laughed for a moment and got back to preparing to leave.

“Im on the back lot. And I’ll see you there! Remember! One hour!” I said before I walked away.

I arrived at my Room at the BOQ, and began to pack my things. I grabbed an assortment of clothes, socks, and other basics as I looked over towards my bed. There sat a small black jewelry box. I walked over and grabbed it before I left the room. I put on my brown leather jacket and began to leave. I walked down the steps and out the door to the courtyard. As I walked across the base to the Parking lot, I felt the crisp autumn air on my face. I took a deep breath and walked towards a car covered in a tarp. I put one hand on the tarp and gripped. As I pulled it away, the car revealed was a 1969 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet in an Acapulco Blue with two white racing stripes down the center of it. The seats were a black leather. The dashboard was refurbished oak. The only thing that was truly modern was the radio.I walk to the driver side and pull my key out to unlock the door. As I open the door I hear,

“Holy Shit! Lieutenant! Is that your car?” I turn to see Jackson in a Chicago Bears sweatshirt and jeans, carrying his duffel bag.

“Yeah, she’s my baby!” I put my hand on the hood of her and said “My grandfather and I Refurbished her when I was sixteen.” I smile at the memories saying this brings back. “Anyways! Put your shit in the trunk and let’s get a move on! We are wasting daylight!” I say with a smirk as I put my bag behind my seat and start the engine. The engine fired up instantly as I checked the fuel gauge. “Half a Tank, that’s not too bad.” I think to myself as I run my hand along the steering wheel. I open the glove box and pull the small black jewelry box Out of my pocket and place it inside. Shortly after I hear the trunk slam and the passenger door open. Jackson quickly sits inside the car and shuts the door. His head hits the roof of my car as his knees become pinned between himself and the dashboard.

“Damn lieutenant! You’re six-five how in the fuck are you able to sit in this car!”

“Easy! I reclined my seat! But since I put custom seats in, and dropped the floor pans, you should fit fine! Just push your seat back and quit the bitching!”

Jackson quickly reclined his seat and pushed it back, Finding more than ample room. He stretches back and exhales while putting his hands behind his head.

“Damn, you're right! I even have enough room to stretch out my legs! That’s incredible!”

“Ha! Yeah I forgot how close to the front that seat was. It’s been awhile since I had anyone in here.”

“Well, shit Lieutenant, who did you have in here? A midget? Oh I can almost guarantee you’re that kind of freaky aren’t you?” He says as he laughs at his own joke.

“No, but I'm always down for the experience!” I say with a sarcastic tone. We both laugh as he hits my arm.

“Damn I knew you were a freak! All you quiet white boys are!”

“Man, i don’t know about that, the barracks has gone up in an uproar with you and something to do with a tail!” His face turns from laughing to almost crying.

“Damn! Why must you bring up all the confidential shit like that! Whatever happened to ``don't ask, don't tell?”

“I think we got rid of that like fifteen years ago.”

“Hey wait a minute.” Jackson had gotten serious all of a sudden.

“What’s up?” I replied

“Doesn't command advise against driving our personal cars after a deployment?”

“Oh it’ll be fine! Besides it’s not like I drove the vehicles over there, hashtag Officer privilege!”

“Oh, shut up and drive you pampered bitch.”

Just then the radio shot on.

***Breaking News! The US army has officially taken the city of Tehran! Just hours ago, multiple Iranian and Chinese forces surrendered to Major General Macduff! This is seen as a major turning point in the war! As well as unconfirmed reports coming in from the front saying that the Supreme Leader of Iran has been killed! In spite of this, Anti-war protests turn up in most Major cities in America! Thousands of unhappy Americans have turned out in protest of the president's aggressive actions to stem the expansion of CIGA or the Chinese Iranian Global Alliance. Multiple reports of protests in the cities of Atlanta, Seattle, Detroit, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Washington D.C, Dallas, Elkhart, New York, Boston, Denver, and Many others! More and more people are-*** Jackson quickly changes the channel.

“If I wanted to hear about that shit I would’ve stayed in the barracks and listened to Tex spout politics.”

“Alright, here.” I connect my phone and shuffle my Spotify playlist. “Beer Never broke my heart” by Luke Combs begins to play as I sing along. I put the car in first gear and began to leave. I followed the Main Street of the base all the way around to the gate. I showed the MP our paperwork and went on our way. As my playlist went along I hummed as Jackson took a nap next to me. An hour passed, Until “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery turned on and I started singing along! I raised the volume and I started singing at the top of my lungs. This quickly shook Jackson awake, as I said “Hey pretty lady won’t you give me a sign!” While I looked at Jackson, he quickly flipped me off in response. As the song ended “what I got” by sublime started to play, “Holy shit I know this one!” Jackson’s eyes shot up as we both moved to the beat in our seats. As soon as the words come on we begin singing in sync! Jackson slams his hands on the dashboard to the beat of the music as I nod my head back and forth grooving to the music. The song finally ends as Jackson lowers the volume.

“Man, I'm getting pretty hungry!” Jackson says while holding his stomach.

“Honestly, same! Plus we need gas!” I quickly look at the gas gauge. “We have less than a quarter tank left. I will find the nearest food exit and we can see what is there.”

“Now that sounds like a plan!” I say as I begin to search for any nearby exits. Eventually we passed a sign that said “Food Stop” With a few chain restaurants and a small diner listed. As we made our way to the off-ramp Jackson quickly said,

“Holy shit look at that!”

I quickly turned my head to see what he was talking about. There I saw five Military Humvees with several police car escorts, in the center of the massive convoy sat three HEMTT trucks each with massive containment expansions. The weird thing was, unlike any other convoy, this one was armed. And what’s even crazier, they were barreling down the road with zero intent to stop. I had figured that was the convoy Colonel Strand wanted us to be a part of.

“What in the hell do you think they are hauling?” Jackson said with anticipation.

“My guess is whatever Colonel Strand wanted us to transport.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?”

“Oh right, when Colonel Strand pulled me back into his office, he asked if our platoon would be up to handling security for a convoy. He said it was optional. So I declined.”

“You, Just, Declined? Uh chief, that isn’t how that works.”

“Well he said he wasn’t going to force us as we just returned from deployment.”

“Well shit what the hell was the cargo? Those motherfuckers are packing mad heat for being stateside. Shit they were better armed than half the supply convoys in Iran.- I thought that shit wasn’t legal!”

“Dude, apparently it’s so important he wanted a battle tested unit to handle it. They wouldn’t tell me the cargo. So I one hundred percent declined.”

“What in the fuck could it even be? Oh shit you think it’s a super weapon? Like some Death Star shit!” Jackson said with excitement.

“Nah, my money’s on aliens! Mom always said they’d show up sometime.”

“Get the fuck outa here!”

I began to laugh as I responded “Whatever man! At the end of the day! It isn’t our problem! Now take a look, the town is coming up! My vote is on the diner!”