Chapter 6
2192 Words
~Christa~
I kind of felt going through the motions of greeting his distraught parents, arranging the memorial service, attending the funeral, and then returning to what should feel like normal, as if I was there but not really there.
Tank arranged for his close friends to receive grief counseling, and all of this seemed so much. I know that from the moment we entered those gates, we were official police officers even if we were just in training, but it just felt weird to have to go through this, two weeks into training and all because of … Some criminal that couldn’t keep his hands to himself!
***
We line up on our first normal day back to basic training a week after the incident, and none of us feel that electrical excitement anymore. Not even the guys who didn’t know him at all.
Cappie “At ease squad.”
Even Cappie doesn’t look like his normal bullying self yet.
Cappie “In all my time as a trainer at the academy, I’ve never lost one of you to such a crime. Yes, you trainees are stupid, and I would have to visit you in hospital after your first-weekend pass, and you had a car accident or something dumb like that, but never were any of you killed. I want you all to know that the people who are investigating his murder are the best there is, and we will find his killer and bring him to justice! But this doesn’t mean that the rest of you can now slack off!! If I have to visit a single one of you in hospital, I swear you and your teammates are going to regret it dearly! So, look after each other. Now enough soppiness. Let’s get the lot of you ready for what is waiting out there.”
Tank “Line Up!! Slug’s front and center!”
Oh, boy, they didn’t forget and now we are all going to pay. GREAT!
Cappie “You two were late after you were given an order not to be late. Do you see that pole over there?”
It is one of those poles from the first week that caused the original fight between me and Chante.
Cappie “I want it over the ridge and back… well? What are you waiting for?”
They looked at each other then at Cappie. That pole is heavy when three people carry it… But two… Picking it up none-the-less, they left running.
Cappie is holding a clipboard and I definitely don’t like the look of it. He has been planning whatever we are going to do today…
Cappie “Bradley, Miss Priss, front and center!”
We move to the front and there is no way in hell the two of us are going to be able to carry that weight on our own.
Cappie “We work as a team and you two aren’t. Grab your pole and follow the prep squad.”
She is about to open her mouth when he looks up from his clipboard. She must have decided against it and we pick it up with a bit of a struggle but run off with it. I told him that I would make things right, so I will make it right, even if I have to carry the damn pole myself.
Hearing him shout out some more names, we start running up the hill. She has the front and I’m at the back, trying to pick up a little speed because at the slant we are positioned in the damn thing is sliding and is getting really heaving.
Christa “Chante, do you want to be on his bad side?”
Chante “This is all your damn fault!”
Christa “Girl, I don’t give a s**t whose fault it is right now. I just want to get this done. Do you want to get this done or have a damn fashion show? Now move!”
Shoving the pole slightly, she trips and falls and the pole hits her right on her ankle. I drop it to one side and rush over to help her.
Chante “GET AWAY FROM ME YOU b***h!”
Christa “Let me help you!”
Pulling her boot off, I can see she is in a world of pain and can’t fight me even if she tries. Her ankle is purple and the bone of her leg is sticking through the skin. Thinking quickly, I grab what I need around us, and just as I’m about to split her leg the next group of guys comes running up the hill.
Behind them are miller and Freddie. I splint her leg and pick her up over my shoulders. All of them offering to help me, I thank them but refuse their help. The first two guys, taking our pole to make sure they show that we can work together as a squad.
When we cross the finish line, there is an ambulance, already waiting and I’m so shocked at what happened that I don’t even realize that Cappie and Tank already knew about her injury.
I join her in the ambulance against her wishes, of course, and she is rushed to the hospital and straight into surgery. She was right that everything is my fault, and I hang around outside the theatre doors waiting to find out if she will be okay.
Cappie and Tank join me first and the squad soon after that. Cappie tries to convince me that it was an accident, but I won’t listen. When the doctor finally comes out, he tells us that she will be fine and that her leg will heal. She will be able to return to duty in the normal six weeks.
Christa “Six weeks?! Cappie, she will miss training. She will never forgive me for this!”
He puts his hand on my shoulder.
Cappie “Bradley, she had already put in for release from service this morning. I was hoping that if you two could figure out your differences, she might stay. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
Wait…
Christa “What?”
All this could have been avoided?
Shocked, I look at him, not really knowing what to say. What’s done is done and it can’t be undone, no matter who did what. If there is one thing, I did learn in my young life, it is that it is easier to move on than to worry about the feelings you feel. Just put your eye back on the ball and get over it.
Christa “Thank you for telling me, Sir. I’m sorry for what happened. I will face whatever disciplinary action you need to take.”
I stand at attention, basically waiting to be told that I’m being suspended.
Tank “Mutt! You are one tough cookie. He isn’t telling you that you are going to be suspended. Open your damn ears. I think this hanging around the theatre has made your brains turn to mush. Get back to the barracks. We know that she will be okay and Cappie and I will speak to her family. All of you… Get back to the barracks. We will get back to work at five am tomorrow and for f@ck sakes… Stop thinking of ways to get out of training!”
My eyes wide, I think that is the most words I’ve heard come out of his mouth this entire time we’ve been in the academy.
Cappie “Squad dismissed, dammit!”
With some mumbling and a whole lot of grumbling from my side, we leave the hospital and are taken back to the barracks with the squad bus. The boys don’t say much but as soon as we reach our new home, they pull me aside and we walk over to our spot. Freddie somehow gets ahold of three cold beers and Miller always has smokes in his uniform somewhere.
It’s early afternoon, but the sun has already moved on and the tree is making our spot a nice shady picnic spot.
Miller “Wow, what a nice start to the second week. I will be glad to go home this weekend.”
Freddie “Yup.”
He pops his “p” like he normally does, blowing the cigarette smoke out of his nose.
Christa “What do you boys have planned for the weekend?”
I try to distract myself from last week and today.
Miller “Mom’s house of course. She already told us Dad will have some steaks ready for the three of us when we arrive.”
Freddie smacks his lips as if his mouth is watering, and I feel a bit confused. I didn’t agree to go to Miller’s house. I will have to let my parents know first.
Christa “Bit presumptions of you to think that I would just go to your house without you asking me first!”
Freddie sits up straight quickly.
Freddie “Miller! I thought you already told her!”
He punches him in his side.
Christa “Told me what? What are you boys up to?”
This time it’s my turn to sit upright and look at Miller, who is casually chewing on a blade of grass, his one arm behind his head and the other holding the blade of grass steady as he smiles.
Miller “That we are going to your house silly. My parents hardly ever come home and I hate going there. Or at least Freddie and I hate going there. When we were at your house the last time, we explained the situation to her and she said to make sure we look after you and come with you when we are out on weekend pass. I wouldn’t let them pay for everything and transferred some money into their account, then when she called me about it, we made the arrangements for Friday night.”
I’m actually speechless. All this has been going on behind my back and nobody thought to tell me about it. What if I didn’t want them there?!
Miller “And before you get your bloomers in a bunch, I’ve arranged for one of those cabin-type things to be put up at the back of your property. So, Freddie and I will sleep there and not take over your parents' house any longer. Oh, and an extra workshop for your dad. A man needs someplace he can just go to, to get away from the women in his life.”
Grinning at me as if it’s nothing, I feel like punching him in the face! Who said I wanted him to just move into my life like this? What if we fight somewhere along the line. Once again, as if reading my thoughts, Mr. Smarty-pants jumps before I can reply.
Miller “And if you don’t want us there anymore, at least your parents will have a little place to rent out for some extra money in their old age. Look Princess, Freddie and I just want to say thank you in the only way we know-how, for your family taking us in and making us feel like family. We aren’t trying to take over your life or something. I promise.”
His sincere look on his face when he sits up straight stops me from fighting with him.
Christa “Miller, you have to stop doing this! You have to stop spending all your money on me. On us! We aren’t some, charity case that needs your help.”
Miller “That’s not why I’m doing it.”
Freddie “Yeah, believe me. He can be just as stingy if he wants to be.”
Miller “You still aren’t getting that porch to pick up girls, now give it up.”
They both burst out laughing.
Christa “I’m being serious guys!”
Miller looks me in the eyes.
Miller “Me too. I don’t believe in free rides. I believe in paying our way. Your family invited us into your home. This is just our way of thanking you for it. Now shut up and be thankful.”
I slam my fist down on what I now know is a perfect six-pack and it knocks the wind out of him.
Miller
“What the hell was that for?”
Christa “It was for your own good. I’m just making sure you get your proper exercise and don’t get all weak… Now shut up and be thankful.”
Hoping I got my point across I smile, lying back down on the grass just in time to hear the dinner bell.
Freddie “Perfect timing. I’m starving!”
Miller
“You are always starving.”
We get up and walk to the dining hall.
Christa “Leave him alone, he is a growing young man.”
The jokes between the three of us starting up again and all is forgiven. How am I supposed to stay mad at them in any case? We are stuck like glue and I couldn’t have imagined a weekend at home without them anymore.
- Writer
