Here i will write my Creative Nonfiction Essay about what has happened to me in the month of February.
Geneva Holbrook
Eng-100
Professor Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Draft #1
Sitting on the bus looking out the window with a smile on my face holding a big black tote bag in my lap. Waiting for my stop to come while my smile expands bigger and bigger as I get closer to my stop. The light turns green and the bus starts moving. Raising my hand I pull the yellow cord. A bell rings and the stop requested sign lights up. The bus slows down I stand up and walk to the front of the bus. Now standing next to the bus driver he stops and opens the front door. I say “thank you” he replies “your welcome have a nice day” I say “thank you and you do the same”. I put my hand out to hold on to the doors bars so that I wouldn’t fall. Walking one foot instead of another I walk off the bus. Looking down at my feet while my feet landing on the pavement I look up and see a group of boys walking in front of me with their hands in their jacket pocket laughing and having conversation. One boy pulls out his hands from his pocket with a cigarette and lighter in his hands. He puts the lighter to his big pink lips and begins to light the cigarette have to push the lighter three times he finally gets the light and lights the cigarette. Walking faster down the street my boots making a click clack sound I walk around the corner and up the hill.
As I drive home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and i notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where i place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before i call anyone downstairs to eat. When i put the plates and silverware on the table i take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As i am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing i notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because i rushed him home so i walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and i tell him that i love him. He pulls away and says it back i explain to him why i was mad and I tell him that I’m sorry i should act like this on his last night with me. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and i hug him and squeeze him tight. I pull his hand and tell him to come eat. As we leave the room i yell for the rest of my family to come and eat . We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make his plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat.
Eng-100
Professor Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Draft #1
Sitting on the bus looking out the window with a smile on my face holding a big black tote bag in my lap. Waiting for my stop to come while my smile expands bigger and bigger as I get closer to my stop. The light turns green and the bus starts moving. Raising my hand I pull the yellow cord. A bell rings and the stop requested sign lights up. The bus slows down I stand up and walk to the front of the bus. Now standing next to the bus driver he stops and opens the front door. I say “thank you” he replies “your welcome have a nice day” I say “thank you and you do the same”. I put my hand out to hold on to the doors bars so that I wouldn’t fall. Walking one foot instead of another I walk off the bus. Looking down at my feet while my feet landing on the pavement I look up and see a group of boys walking in front of me with their hands in their jacket pocket laughing and having conversation. One boy pulls out his hands from his pocket with a cigarette and lighter in his hands. He puts the lighter to his big pink lips and begins to light the cigarette have to push the lighter three times he finally gets the light and lights the cigarette. Walking faster down the street my boots making a click clack sound I walk around the corner and up the hill.
As I drive home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and i notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where i place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before i call anyone downstairs to eat. When i put the plates and silverware on the table i take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As i am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing i notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because i rushed him home so i walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and i tell him that i love him. He pulls away and says it back i explain to him why i was mad and I tell him that I’m sorry i should act like this on his last night with me. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and i hug him and squeeze him tight. I pull his hand and tell him to come eat. As we leave the room i yell for the rest of my family to come and eat . We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make his plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat.
Geneva Holbrook
Eng-100
Mr. Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Draft #2
Sitting on the bus looking out the window with a smile on my face holding a big black tote bag in my lap. Waiting for my stop to come while my smile expands bigger and bigger as I get closer to my stop. The light turns green and the bus starts moving. Raising my hand I pull the yellow cord. A bell rings and the stop requested sign lights up. The bus slows down I stand up and walk to the front of the bus. Now standing next to the bus driver he stops and opens the front door.
I say “thank you”
he replies “your welcome have a nice day”
I say “thank you and you do the same”
I put my hand out to hold on to the doors bars so that I wouldn’t fall. Walking one foot instead of another I walk off the bus. Looking down at my feet while my feet landing on the pavement I look up and see a group of boys walking in front of me with their hands in their jacket pocket laughing and having conversation. One boy pulls out his hands from his pocket with a cigarette and lighter in his hands. He puts the lighter to his big pink lips and begins to light the cigarette have to push the lighter three times he finally gets the light and lights the cigarette. Walking faster down the street my knee high boots making a click clack sound I walk around the corner and up the hill. One hand in my pocket
Walking into Boston market swinging open the door. Walking straight to the counter wearing a long red jacket with my hood on my head. A man standing there with a smile on his face greeting me
“hi how are you how may I help you today?”
I respond back ”good how are you I would like a dinner for 5 with the chicken”.
“would you like the chicken cut”
“yes I would”
“what would you like your sides to be?”
“I would like (pointing at the glass) this creamy spinach, mac and cheese, candy yams… wait how many sides do I get?”
Grabbing the black plastic bowls and there clear leds he replies “you get to pick 4 sides” contuing to put the food in the bowls with the long black spoons.
“ok well lit me get string beans for the last side”
Walking to the cashier I ask”how much will that be” digging in my pocketbook taking out my wallet. She tells me “45.95” I hand her my blue debt card she swipes it and hands it back to me. The man that prepared my food is packing it up in the brown paper bag with black and red writing on it. He hands me the bag and tells me to have a nice day. I grab the bag and say thank you. Turning around and walking toward the door I open the door and walk quickly to the red maxima car. Walking to the driver door I push the black button to unlock the do. “Beep beep” the sound it makes as the door unlocks walking to the back door and placing the brown bag on the seat. I close the door walking to the driver’s seat once again I put my right leg in first and set down as my left leg is lifted up and into the car as up sit down. Pushing the button in the car that says start button the car engine starts.
I driving home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and i notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where i place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before i call anyone downstairs to eat. When i put the plates and silverware on the table i take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As i am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing i notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because i rushed him home so i walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and i tell him that i love him. He pulls away and says it back i explain to him why i was mad and I tell him that I’m sorry i should act like this on his last night with me. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and i hug him and squeeze him tight. I pull his hand and tell him to come eat. As we leave the room i yell for the rest of my family to come and eat . We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make his plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat.
Eng-100
Mr. Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Draft #2
Sitting on the bus looking out the window with a smile on my face holding a big black tote bag in my lap. Waiting for my stop to come while my smile expands bigger and bigger as I get closer to my stop. The light turns green and the bus starts moving. Raising my hand I pull the yellow cord. A bell rings and the stop requested sign lights up. The bus slows down I stand up and walk to the front of the bus. Now standing next to the bus driver he stops and opens the front door.
I say “thank you”
he replies “your welcome have a nice day”
I say “thank you and you do the same”
I put my hand out to hold on to the doors bars so that I wouldn’t fall. Walking one foot instead of another I walk off the bus. Looking down at my feet while my feet landing on the pavement I look up and see a group of boys walking in front of me with their hands in their jacket pocket laughing and having conversation. One boy pulls out his hands from his pocket with a cigarette and lighter in his hands. He puts the lighter to his big pink lips and begins to light the cigarette have to push the lighter three times he finally gets the light and lights the cigarette. Walking faster down the street my knee high boots making a click clack sound I walk around the corner and up the hill. One hand in my pocket
Walking into Boston market swinging open the door. Walking straight to the counter wearing a long red jacket with my hood on my head. A man standing there with a smile on his face greeting me
“hi how are you how may I help you today?”
I respond back ”good how are you I would like a dinner for 5 with the chicken”.
“would you like the chicken cut”
“yes I would”
“what would you like your sides to be?”
“I would like (pointing at the glass) this creamy spinach, mac and cheese, candy yams… wait how many sides do I get?”
Grabbing the black plastic bowls and there clear leds he replies “you get to pick 4 sides” contuing to put the food in the bowls with the long black spoons.
“ok well lit me get string beans for the last side”
Walking to the cashier I ask”how much will that be” digging in my pocketbook taking out my wallet. She tells me “45.95” I hand her my blue debt card she swipes it and hands it back to me. The man that prepared my food is packing it up in the brown paper bag with black and red writing on it. He hands me the bag and tells me to have a nice day. I grab the bag and say thank you. Turning around and walking toward the door I open the door and walk quickly to the red maxima car. Walking to the driver door I push the black button to unlock the do. “Beep beep” the sound it makes as the door unlocks walking to the back door and placing the brown bag on the seat. I close the door walking to the driver’s seat once again I put my right leg in first and set down as my left leg is lifted up and into the car as up sit down. Pushing the button in the car that says start button the car engine starts.
I driving home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and i notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where i place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before i call anyone downstairs to eat. When i put the plates and silverware on the table i take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As i am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing i notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because i rushed him home so i walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and i tell him that i love him. He pulls away and says it back i explain to him why i was mad and I tell him that I’m sorry i should act like this on his last night with me. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and i hug him and squeeze him tight. I pull his hand and tell him to come eat. As we leave the room i yell for the rest of my family to come and eat . We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make his plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat.
Geneva Holbrook
Eng-100
Mr. Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Draft 3
Walking into Boston market swinging open the door. Walking straight to the counter wearing a long red jacket with my hood on my head. A man standing there with a smile on his face greeting me
“Hi how are you how may I help you today?”
I respond back “good how are you I would like a dinner for 5 with the chicken”.
“Would you like the chicken cut”.
“Yes I would”.
“What would you like your sides to be?”
“I would like (pointing at the glass) this creamy spinach, mac and cheese, candy yams… wait how many sides can I pick?”
Grabbing the black plastic bowls and there clear lids he replies “you get to pick 4 sides” continuing to put the food in the bowls with the long black spoons.
“Ok well let me get string beans for the last side”.
Walking to the cashier I ask “how much will that be” digging in my pocketbook taking out my wallet. She tells me “45.95” I hand her my blue debt card she swipes it and hands it back to me. He hands me the bag
“Have a nice day”.
“You do the same”.
Driving home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and I notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where I place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before I call anyone downstairs to eat. When I put the plates and silverware on the table I take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As I am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing I notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because I rushed him home so I walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and I tell him “I love you”. He pulls away and says it back I explain to him why I was mad and I tell him “I’m sorry I shouldn’t act like this on your last night with me”. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and I hug him and squeeze him tight. Grabbing his hand “come eat”. As we leave the room I yell for the rest of my family to come and eat. We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make his plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat. As we are eating we are laughing and having conversations with each other finding out how our days went and then it hits me. I get quite and I look at my husband
“So are you ready? You are really leaving me tomorrow”.
My mother chiming in
“Yeah meeny you are officially a solider tomorrow are you nervous?”
“Yes a little bit but I’m doing it for my family. I can’t wait to have this experience and become a better man at the end”.
My mother says “Yes and it really will turn you into a better man and if you are doing this to be able to provide for your family nothing else matters you are making the right decision. And remember this is all a mind game don’t show any weakness”.
“Yeah I know and I won’t”.
I ask him “Did you get to see your mom and all your brothers? You get to talk before you leave?”
He looks at me with an empty plate getting up from the table
“Yeah but I didn’t see Gemil so he is going to come see me when he come from basketball practice”
I start to get up from the table “Here I will take that do you want some more?”
He folds the plate in half and continues walking
“I got it ne and no im okay”.
Sitting back down at the table my face goes blank and I start daydreaming. I come out of the day dream and I notice everybody at the table was done eating and cleaning up. With the plate still in front of me with food on it I finish and clean up. Left alone I start to get emotional. Walking up stairs I get ready for bed.
My mom comes and knocks on the door the knob turns and she walks in and turns the lights on “are you ready it’s your big day”. Laying in the bed I feel him get up and out “yes I have everything I need. My bag is packed and my clothes are out”. As we are all in the car the radio on I didn’t really know what to say. We get to the training base my mother drives inside of the gate and parks right in front of the building. Putting the car in park she looks over at Dameen “well give me a hug and remember it’s all a mind game stay focused I love you” they hug. We exit the car and walk inside the building. Hugging each other tight tears falling down my face we kiss not letting go. My arms fall to my side and his fall down as well
“I love you”.
“I love you too ne forever and always”.
Grabbing his hand as he walks away I stand there watching him go tears just falling down my face.
Eng-100
Mr. Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Draft 3
Walking into Boston market swinging open the door. Walking straight to the counter wearing a long red jacket with my hood on my head. A man standing there with a smile on his face greeting me
“Hi how are you how may I help you today?”
I respond back “good how are you I would like a dinner for 5 with the chicken”.
“Would you like the chicken cut”.
“Yes I would”.
“What would you like your sides to be?”
“I would like (pointing at the glass) this creamy spinach, mac and cheese, candy yams… wait how many sides can I pick?”
Grabbing the black plastic bowls and there clear lids he replies “you get to pick 4 sides” continuing to put the food in the bowls with the long black spoons.
“Ok well let me get string beans for the last side”.
Walking to the cashier I ask “how much will that be” digging in my pocketbook taking out my wallet. She tells me “45.95” I hand her my blue debt card she swipes it and hands it back to me. He hands me the bag
“Have a nice day”.
“You do the same”.
Driving home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and I notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where I place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before I call anyone downstairs to eat. When I put the plates and silverware on the table I take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As I am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing I notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because I rushed him home so I walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and I tell him “I love you”. He pulls away and says it back I explain to him why I was mad and I tell him “I’m sorry I shouldn’t act like this on your last night with me”. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and I hug him and squeeze him tight. Grabbing his hand “come eat”. As we leave the room I yell for the rest of my family to come and eat. We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make his plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat. As we are eating we are laughing and having conversations with each other finding out how our days went and then it hits me. I get quite and I look at my husband
“So are you ready? You are really leaving me tomorrow”.
My mother chiming in
“Yeah meeny you are officially a solider tomorrow are you nervous?”
“Yes a little bit but I’m doing it for my family. I can’t wait to have this experience and become a better man at the end”.
My mother says “Yes and it really will turn you into a better man and if you are doing this to be able to provide for your family nothing else matters you are making the right decision. And remember this is all a mind game don’t show any weakness”.
“Yeah I know and I won’t”.
I ask him “Did you get to see your mom and all your brothers? You get to talk before you leave?”
He looks at me with an empty plate getting up from the table
“Yeah but I didn’t see Gemil so he is going to come see me when he come from basketball practice”
I start to get up from the table “Here I will take that do you want some more?”
He folds the plate in half and continues walking
“I got it ne and no im okay”.
Sitting back down at the table my face goes blank and I start daydreaming. I come out of the day dream and I notice everybody at the table was done eating and cleaning up. With the plate still in front of me with food on it I finish and clean up. Left alone I start to get emotional. Walking up stairs I get ready for bed.
My mom comes and knocks on the door the knob turns and she walks in and turns the lights on “are you ready it’s your big day”. Laying in the bed I feel him get up and out “yes I have everything I need. My bag is packed and my clothes are out”. As we are all in the car the radio on I didn’t really know what to say. We get to the training base my mother drives inside of the gate and parks right in front of the building. Putting the car in park she looks over at Dameen “well give me a hug and remember it’s all a mind game stay focused I love you” they hug. We exit the car and walk inside the building. Hugging each other tight tears falling down my face we kiss not letting go. My arms fall to my side and his fall down as well
“I love you”.
“I love you too ne forever and always”.
Grabbing his hand as he walks away I stand there watching him go tears just falling down my face.
Geneva Holbrook
Eng-100
Mr. Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Final Draft
Driving home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and I notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where I place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before I call anyone downstairs to eat. When I put the plates and silverware on the table I take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As I am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing I notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because I rushed him home so I walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and I tell him “I love you”. He pulls away and says it back I explain to him why I was mad and I tell him “I’m sorry I shouldn't act like this on your last night with me”. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and I hug him and squeeze him tight. Grabbing his hand “come eat”. As we leave the room I yell for the rest of my family to come and eat. I hear the footsteps of my mother little brother and niece come down the stairs.
"I hope yall washed your hands before sitting at the table."
We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make my husbands plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat. As we are eating we are laughing and having conversations with each other finding out how our days went and then it hits me. I get quite and I look at my husband. Sitting there thinking before i spoke i blurt out
“So are you ready? You are really leaving me tomorrow.”
My mother finishing the food that was in her mouth and chiming in
“Yeah meeny you are officially a soldier tomorrow are you nervous?”
“Yes a little bit but I’m doing it for my family. I can’t wait to have this experience and become a better man at the end.”
My mother says “Yes and it really will turn you into a better man and if you are doing this to be able to provide for your family nothing else matters you are making the right decision. And remember this is all a mind game don’t show any weakness.”
“Yeah I know and I won’t.”
I ask him “Did you get to see your mom and all your brothers? You get to talk before you leave?”
He looks at me with an empty plate getting up from the table
“Yeah but I didn't see Gemil so he is going to come see me when he comes from basketball practice.”
I start to get up from the table “Here I will take that do you want some more?”
He folds the plate in half and continues walking
“I got it ne and no im okay.”
Sitting back down at the table my face goes blank and I start daydreaming. I come out of the day dream and I notice everybody at the table was done eating and cleaning up. With the plate still in front of me with food on it I finish and clean up. Left alone I start to get emotional. Walking up the stairs to get ready for bed.
My mom comes and knocks on the door the knob turns and she walks in and turns the lights on “are you ready it’s your big day.” Laying in the bed I feel him get up and out “yes I have everything I need. My bag is packed and my clothes are out.” As we are all in the car the radio on I didn't really know what to say. We get to the training base my mother drives inside of the gate and parks right in front of the building. Putting the car in park she looks over at Dameen “well give me a hug and remember it’s all a mind game stay focused I love you” they hug. We exit the car and walk inside the building. Hugging each other tight tears falling down my face we kiss not letting go. My arms fall to my side and his fall down as well
“I love you.”
“I love you too ne forever and always.”
Grabbing his hand as he walks away I stand there watching him go tears just falling down my face. Watching him walk away was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Thinking to myself he will be home in three months before you even know it.
Eng-100
Mr. Mangini
Creative Nonfiction
Final Draft
Driving home from picking up my food from Boston market I call my husband. I ask him where he is. He tells me that he is still out we argue because I wanted him to be home before i got there so that we could have a family dinner. Ten minutes past and I am pulling up into a spot in front of my door and I notice my husband walking up the steps. I would think that he will help me bring the food in the house but instead he continues walking and unlocks the door and walks in the house. I turn the car off take off my seat belt and get out the car. I opened the back door and grab the food from the back seat and lock and close both front and back doors. I walk into the house and go straight into the dining room where I place the food on the table. I take my jacket off and start to set the table before I call anyone downstairs to eat. When I put the plates and silverware on the table I take my jacket and pocketbook and go upstairs. As I am walking up the steps getting closer to the landing I notice my husband sitting down on his iPad. I know that he is mad because I rushed him home so I walk in the room hang my jacket up and placed my bag down. I walk over to him and gently place my hand under his chin and lift it up so we could see each other eye to eye and I tell him “I love you”. He pulls away and says it back I explain to him why I was mad and I tell him “I’m sorry I shouldn't act like this on your last night with me”. I grab his hand and pull him so that he could stand up. He gets up and I hug him and squeeze him tight. Grabbing his hand “come eat”. As we leave the room I yell for the rest of my family to come and eat. I hear the footsteps of my mother little brother and niece come down the stairs.
"I hope yall washed your hands before sitting at the table."
We get down stairs and go to the dining room. I start to make my husbands plate and mine and we sit down wait for everyone else to make theirs and we say grace and start to eat. As we are eating we are laughing and having conversations with each other finding out how our days went and then it hits me. I get quite and I look at my husband. Sitting there thinking before i spoke i blurt out
“So are you ready? You are really leaving me tomorrow.”
My mother finishing the food that was in her mouth and chiming in
“Yeah meeny you are officially a soldier tomorrow are you nervous?”
“Yes a little bit but I’m doing it for my family. I can’t wait to have this experience and become a better man at the end.”
My mother says “Yes and it really will turn you into a better man and if you are doing this to be able to provide for your family nothing else matters you are making the right decision. And remember this is all a mind game don’t show any weakness.”
“Yeah I know and I won’t.”
I ask him “Did you get to see your mom and all your brothers? You get to talk before you leave?”
He looks at me with an empty plate getting up from the table
“Yeah but I didn't see Gemil so he is going to come see me when he comes from basketball practice.”
I start to get up from the table “Here I will take that do you want some more?”
He folds the plate in half and continues walking
“I got it ne and no im okay.”
Sitting back down at the table my face goes blank and I start daydreaming. I come out of the day dream and I notice everybody at the table was done eating and cleaning up. With the plate still in front of me with food on it I finish and clean up. Left alone I start to get emotional. Walking up the stairs to get ready for bed.
My mom comes and knocks on the door the knob turns and she walks in and turns the lights on “are you ready it’s your big day.” Laying in the bed I feel him get up and out “yes I have everything I need. My bag is packed and my clothes are out.” As we are all in the car the radio on I didn't really know what to say. We get to the training base my mother drives inside of the gate and parks right in front of the building. Putting the car in park she looks over at Dameen “well give me a hug and remember it’s all a mind game stay focused I love you” they hug. We exit the car and walk inside the building. Hugging each other tight tears falling down my face we kiss not letting go. My arms fall to my side and his fall down as well
“I love you.”
“I love you too ne forever and always.”
Grabbing his hand as he walks away I stand there watching him go tears just falling down my face. Watching him walk away was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Thinking to myself he will be home in three months before you even know it.