Jack was feeling more and more self conscious. He felt that everyone was
talking about him. He believed they all thought him a mad man. He was correct
that he was the topic of some discussions. However, since Jack was well loved
and respected in town, people were concerned about him. They wanted to help but
unsure how. No one had gone through his experiences. No one knew what to do.
Nancy and Charlotte spoke privately a few times. Both were very concerned. Nancy’s heart broke for her son. She was used to mending skinned knees and soothing a little one with an upset stomach. This was different and she felt so helpless. Charlotte couldn’t help but feel that the Jack that came back was not the same man that left. She loved the man that left and she wanted to love the one that returned but it was hard. Consequently, she felt guilty. How could she abandon Jack when he needed her the most? She didn’t plan to but… The whole situation frustrated her. Jack used to be free and easy. Now everything about him seemed tight and edgy.
Jack and JoJo continued to spend time with MIA whenever they could. The 3 of them felt they were the only ones who understood one another. They shared a common past, short as it was. One day when the 3 young men were together, MIA complained about their lot in life. “We bust our asses humping around the countryside over there for people that don’t want us around. You never know who the enemy is or when you are gonna get wasted by a bullet or bomb. For what? What was the point of it all? Why did our friends die or get hurt? Why did we come back without a scratch? Well, JoJo got wounded but you know what I mean.” Jack and JoJo did understand.
MIA needed to be comforted and Jack and JoJo knew it. They spent as much time with him as possible. They also contacted the appropriate military people in order to get him the help he needed. Still, JoJo confided in Jack that he was scared MIA might go crazy and hurt himself or someone else. His wife leaving seemed to be the straw that nearly broke the camel’s back. He just hoped no more were on the way.
Later that night Jack discussed the matter about MIA with his mother. Nancy was grateful that Jack could still open up to her about things that were on his heart and that gave her hope. He still hadn’t given her much information about what happened in Afghanistan but hoped that, one day, he would. Still, her boy wasn’t completely lost.
Jack told her that MIA’s wife left him and the circumstances surrounding that situation. Also, that MIA was having trouble adjusting to everything. After Jack had finished, Nancy said, “You tell MIA to come over as often as he wants. We will be his family.”
Nancy then remembered Pastor Bob’s sermon on prayer and the two of them agreed they would start praying earnestly for MIA. She also told Jack she would pray for JoJo and their other buddies. Jack was silent for a moment. Finally, he said, “You know, mom, it doesn’t seem right that the military takes their recruits… no. Let me say it this way: Part of the reason for boot camp is to break down recruits and to take individuality out of them. Once they are broken down, they are built up in the image of the fighting man or woman they want. I think part of the problem is that they never rebuild you in the image of a civilian when you leave. Maybe it isn’t possible. Probably not. War is just so different than every day life. There is no way to describe it. There are no words for it.
“There is nothing more exhilarating than being shot at and surviving. It is a high beyond any drug. The problem is that there is more to war than being shot at. The sights and smells always stay with you. Friendships are more intense in that environment. Everything is reduced to their essential elements. Do you know why some things really piss me off? Because people stress over things that really aren’t important. So much effort is wasted on crap that means nothing.”
Nancy said with a new found sense of admiration for her boy, “Believe it or not, honey, you’ve been given a special gift. You can see things that this world is blinded to. You understand what is important.”
Jack grinned but remained serious. It felt good to get something off his chest. There was so much more to go.
Nancy and Charlotte spoke privately a few times. Both were very concerned. Nancy’s heart broke for her son. She was used to mending skinned knees and soothing a little one with an upset stomach. This was different and she felt so helpless. Charlotte couldn’t help but feel that the Jack that came back was not the same man that left. She loved the man that left and she wanted to love the one that returned but it was hard. Consequently, she felt guilty. How could she abandon Jack when he needed her the most? She didn’t plan to but… The whole situation frustrated her. Jack used to be free and easy. Now everything about him seemed tight and edgy.
Jack and JoJo continued to spend time with MIA whenever they could. The 3 of them felt they were the only ones who understood one another. They shared a common past, short as it was. One day when the 3 young men were together, MIA complained about their lot in life. “We bust our asses humping around the countryside over there for people that don’t want us around. You never know who the enemy is or when you are gonna get wasted by a bullet or bomb. For what? What was the point of it all? Why did our friends die or get hurt? Why did we come back without a scratch? Well, JoJo got wounded but you know what I mean.” Jack and JoJo did understand.
MIA needed to be comforted and Jack and JoJo knew it. They spent as much time with him as possible. They also contacted the appropriate military people in order to get him the help he needed. Still, JoJo confided in Jack that he was scared MIA might go crazy and hurt himself or someone else. His wife leaving seemed to be the straw that nearly broke the camel’s back. He just hoped no more were on the way.
Later that night Jack discussed the matter about MIA with his mother. Nancy was grateful that Jack could still open up to her about things that were on his heart and that gave her hope. He still hadn’t given her much information about what happened in Afghanistan but hoped that, one day, he would. Still, her boy wasn’t completely lost.
Jack told her that MIA’s wife left him and the circumstances surrounding that situation. Also, that MIA was having trouble adjusting to everything. After Jack had finished, Nancy said, “You tell MIA to come over as often as he wants. We will be his family.”
Nancy then remembered Pastor Bob’s sermon on prayer and the two of them agreed they would start praying earnestly for MIA. She also told Jack she would pray for JoJo and their other buddies. Jack was silent for a moment. Finally, he said, “You know, mom, it doesn’t seem right that the military takes their recruits… no. Let me say it this way: Part of the reason for boot camp is to break down recruits and to take individuality out of them. Once they are broken down, they are built up in the image of the fighting man or woman they want. I think part of the problem is that they never rebuild you in the image of a civilian when you leave. Maybe it isn’t possible. Probably not. War is just so different than every day life. There is no way to describe it. There are no words for it.
“There is nothing more exhilarating than being shot at and surviving. It is a high beyond any drug. The problem is that there is more to war than being shot at. The sights and smells always stay with you. Friendships are more intense in that environment. Everything is reduced to their essential elements. Do you know why some things really piss me off? Because people stress over things that really aren’t important. So much effort is wasted on crap that means nothing.”
Nancy said with a new found sense of admiration for her boy, “Believe it or not, honey, you’ve been given a special gift. You can see things that this world is blinded to. You understand what is important.”
Jack grinned but remained serious. It felt good to get something off his chest. There was so much more to go.
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