No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology

by Elizabeth Knox

  “Hi, my name is Rebecca, and this is my brother, Jackson. Thank you so much for coming.” Rebecca cheerily sticks out her hand welcoming her into my home.

  “So, what do we need to do?” I ask, already wanting all these people out of my house.

  “It’s simple really, I will show you simple commands and come check on you once a day for the first ten days just to make sure the adjustment period goes smoothly,” she says, sitting across from me on the love seat.

  “Great. So, Jax, I need to leave and grab Chloe, will you be okay?” To everyone else she seems caring but really that is her way of telling me to behave and not be a dick to the Dogs Inc. lady.

  “Yeah, Becks, everything is good,” I yell as she closes the door behind her.

  “Okay, Mr. Cole, let me show you a series of commands Grace has already learned. Over the next couple days, we will be working together on specific ways Grace will be able to help you.”

  “Ma’am is this really necessary, I mean she is a dog, right? She needs to be walked, fed, and she should be good right?” I just really need this lady out of my house so I can check my leg, the pain has gone from a dull roar to throbbing now.

  “No, Mr. Cole.”

  “Jackson or Jax, please,” I interrupt her.

  “Sorry, Jackson. No, Grace will need love and support just like you do, to make sure she is doing her job,” she says and the way she talks about Grace tells me she truly loves what she does.

  “Okay, well, I will be sure to tell your boss that you are very thorough, but can we do this tomorrow? We can use the rest of today to get to know each other and start that bonding you were talking about,” I lie through my teeth and hope she buys it.

  “Mr. Cole, I mean Jackson, I own Dogs Inc. I only brought Grace out here to you because my other handlers were all with clients and when I read through your file, I knew she would be a perfect fit,” she says, standing. “I will let you bond with Grace for the day and I will be back here tomorrow at ten. If you could be so kind as to think about what your daily tasks are that Grace can help with that will be a big help for us to get things moving along.” She leans down patting Grace’s head. “See you in the morning, sweet girl,” she tells her, and Grace responds by licking her hand. “Jackson, I will see you about ten tomorrow.” She shakes my hand, turns, and leaves.

  Finally, I look down at Grace who stands at attention when she notices me walk toward the bedroom.

  “Stay, Gracie, it’s okay,” I tell her. I just need a few minutes, but like every woman in my life she ignores what I say and comes in right next to the bed and lays down. Removing my prosthesis, I can tell my stomp will be red and angry. “Damn it,” I yell out, causing Gracie to whine and sit up at attention.

  “Sorry, girl.” I rub her head peeling back my final sleeve, I look down and sure enough it’s blistered and swollen. I know I need to go back and be refitted but it’s just a hassle.

  “Sorry girl I didn’t mean to startle you.” I say running my fingers through her fur.

  She responds by licking my hand, telling me it’s okay.

  Leaning back on the bed I close my eyes and ignore the pain.

  My chest burns with every breath, sand filling my nose and lungs.

  “I can’t wait to get back to real air conditioning, good chance I walk around my place in my underwear for days. What about you, Cole, what’s your number one when you get back?” Rider jokes.

  “Brother, I just want to eat food that actually has flavor. I want fries, wings, maybe even New York style pizza,” I say, standing.

  “Let’s do this, hopefully we will have a silent night.” I sling my rifle over my shoulder.

  “Sounds good to me, I am scheduled to phone home tonight anyways,” Rider replies.

  “My guess is my mom will have everyone there since it has been a while since I have seen them.” He can try to play it off, but I can tell by Rider’s face he can’t wait to talk to them.

  “Riggs, you ready for us?” I shout toward the loaded Humvee.

  “Yeah, let’s do this,” Riggs yells from the top.

  “What about you, Manus? Are you ready?” I look to my left toward the second truck.

  “Shit yes, let’s do this,” he shouts. We all laugh, Manus is loud and over the top. He is the trickster of our unit, always there ready to make us forget just where we are.

  Circling my fingers around. “Okay, boys, let’s do this,” I shout.

  Our ride isn’t that far, we just need to clear a building down the block. “Okay, guys, let’s play it safe with this one. Who knows what is behind each corner, so keep your eyes open!” My main focus is to keep them alert, this place is dangerous.

  “Affirmative,” I hear over the headset.

  Walking quietly trying to stifle the crunch of rocks and gravel under our boots. The smell of smoke and gunfire still permeates the air around us. Shrapnel from prior explosions and car bombs litter the streets.

  “Manus, you take Rocky, Davis, and Franklin and head to the south side of the building. I will take Riggs, Rider, and Hamer and head north. Be on the lookout, guys, let’s get back soon,” I command.

  A nod was all I needed. Just as my unit turns the corner, I hear a rapid fire of gun shots volleying back and forth. “Stay here,” I shout as I head toward the gunfire.

  My adrenaline is pumping as I try to stay focused and alert at the same time. My goal is to get to my men and make sure they are safe.

  “Sarg,” I hear, my head turns just as Rocky comes out of the dust cloud carrying Franklin over his shoulder.

  “Davis is covering Manus, they are trapped behind a car. Manus was hit pretty bad, we couldn’t move him far, so Davis pulled him to safety,” Rocky yells.

  “Let’s get them out of there,” I holler just as an explosion goes off sending us running into the vacant building.

  Barking wakes me from yet another nightmare. I pull in air trying to regulate my heart beat again, I look over at the clock, four-thirty I slept for three hours lying across my bed. Stiffness catches my back as I reach over to grab my crutches and notice Grace is no longer on the floor but lying next to me in the bed.

  “Let’s go, girl,” I tell Gracie as we head outside.

  My alarm goes off at nine a.m., I look over and notice Gracie is no longer on the floor but has once again taken residence on the other side of the bed.

  “Some specially trained dog you are,” I tell her.

  “You just think you are so cute, don’t you?” I ask realizing I am talking to a dog, who will not respond.

  Her ears perk up and she tilts her head in response. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go,” I say, letting her out back as I make my way toward the coffee pot. My leg is twice as sore as it was yesterday. Every step sends a sharp pain up my leg, but Evelyn will be here soon so I can just deal with it until she leaves.

  A knock on the door alerts me to Evelyn’s arrival.

  “Coming,” I holler. I turn, pain radiates up my leg so sharp it takes my breath away. I attempt another one when my leg gives out, I grab my end table but that couldn’t stop me as I bring everything down with me and I land on my hip. I lie here trying to catch my breath as Gracie starts barking uncontrollably at the door.

  “Mr. Cole, Jackson, are you okay?” I hear on the other side of the door as Gracie’s continuous barks get louder, the pain emanates again, and I black out. “Jackson, Jackson,” I hear, the fog lifting in my brain just enough for me to register what is going on.

  “Mr. Cole, are you okay?” I hear as I slowly open my eyes. I watch as Evelyn is kneeling next to me visibly sagging in relief.

  “I’m okay,” I say breathlessly, attempting to sit up with Gracie whining over me and licking my face.

  “How is your hip, do I need to call someone?” she asks, the concern in her voice hit me. “Let me take a look,” she says and before I can say no, she is feeling around my hip and rib cage.

  “I think it’s okay.” I pull away out of embarrassment and press bac
k my need to tell her to leave. I can tell by the way my shoe is sitting, suction has broken, and my leg has separated.

  “May I?” she asks, pointing to my leg.

  “No, I got it, really it’s okay,” I tell her, the last thing I need is her pity. I attempt to sit up once more when the pain in my hip radiates again, stealing my breath and knocking me back on to my elbows.

  “Okay, that’s it, I’m calling your sister.” She stands and before I can say anything she is already speaking to Rebecca.

  “Rebecca called an ambulance they should be here soon, before you say anything keep your complaints because I would have called them anyway.” She cocks her hip and stares me down.

  “Fine,” I bite back.

  “When was the last time you had this checked?” she asks, lifting my shorts just enough to reveal my stump. “It’s inflamed and swollen, how long has it been like this?” she continues.

  “Who are you my doctor?” I bite back. I hate people invading my space like this, why can’t they just leave me alone.

  “No, I am not your doctor but if I was, I certainly would be pissed off that you haven’t had that checked yet,” she reprimands me like an errant child.

  A knock on the door has Evelyn running toward it. “Right this way.” She leads them toward the hallway.

  “I checked his hip. I don’t think anything is broken, more so I am worried about his leg, it is inflamed and swollen possibly some kind of infection.” She gives a rundown of what happened.

  “Sir, can you tell us what caused you to fall?” one of the paramedic’s questions.

  “Yeah, I only have one leg,” I say sarcastically.

  They don’t look too amused.

  “I fell and took the table down with me, that’s all.” I tell them exacerbated at the fact people are making a fuss over me. The last thing I needed or wanted was someone making a big deal over me falling. They pity you; you cripple my conscience berates itself.

  “Let’s get you checked out just to be on the safe side. Will you be riding with us?” the paramedic asks Evelyn.

  “I will ride right behind you; his sister will be meeting us there,” she tells them, grabbing my keys off the hook and following both paramedics out of the house.

  After a series of nurses and doctors come in putting me under a microscope, I finally get some quiet.

  That is until my doctor arrives waking me for the third time.

  “Listen, I am fine. I know that I need to pay better attention to my leg and to go back and have it refitted, I don’t need a babysitter,” I bark at the doctor.

  After being here for six hours, being poked and prodded, I want to go home.

  “Well, since you can’t seem to take care of yourself and you lie to your sister maybe you do!” I hear from the door. I look up and see Rebecca tapping her left foot, her tone tells me she is pissed.

  “Becks, I promise I’m fine. Nothing serious, just some bumps and bruises. I promise I will be more careful, and I will go back to the VA.” I placate her, the last thing I need is my sister sending in some damn babysitter who looks at me with pity.

  “Mr. Cole, you have an infection right now. Your amputation site is swollen, and you need to rest. Unfortunately, you will need to be without your prosthesis until it is all healed. So, you will need some help,” the doctor informs me.

  “Doc, when can I go home? My sister will be there, and she can help,” I tell him.

  I need to be out of here. Hospitals and I don’t do well. I feel like a trapped animal when I’m in here.

  “Rebecca, can I speak to you,” Evelyn says, dread filling me. I had forgotten she was even here. Great, she probably thinks I’m an invalid as well.

  Once the girls have left the doctor went to fill out discharge papers. Being back in this place brings back so many memories. Ones that I would much rather ignore and never have to deal with again.

  “Okay, we are all set, let’s get you out of here.” My sister’s broad smile lets me know this conversation isn’t finished.

  Chapter Two

  Evelyn

  I steel myself knowing I would see him again; the image of his face has not left my mind since I left his house yesterday. I knock on the door “Coming” I hear and his deep baritone voice washes over me. I stood back waiting to see how the night was with Gracie. Sending up a silent prayer that she behaved, she was still so young she needed a lot of work.

  Her bark alerting to me, as I knock again. Only this time her bark is deeper, more incessant accompanied by a crash.

  “I’m coming in,” I yell through the door just out of respect, I race through the house toward Gracie’s bark. Lying on the floor halfway in his room and halfway in hallway was Jackson, unconscious, fear shot through me.

  “Jackson, Jackson,” I try and bring him around.

  “Mr. Cole, are you okay?” I say one more time as he slowly opens his eyes, I sag in relief. “Thank god.”

  “I’m okay.” He attempts to sit up with Gracie whining over him and licking his face.

  “How is your hip, do I need to call someone?” I ask, trying to keep the concern out of my voice. “Let me take a look,” I say, feeling around his hips and rib cage.

  “I think it’s okay.” He pulls away.

  “May I?” I ask, pointing to his leg. I can tell by the suction that it has separated.

  “No, I got it really, it’s okay,” he says, and I fear I might have overstepped my bounds.

  When he tries to sit up the look of agony on his face tells me everything.

  “Okay, that’s it, I’m calling your sister.” I stand and call.

  “Rebecca, this is Evelyn May from Dogs Inc. I am here at Jackson’s and he has fallen, I am slightly concerned with his hip. He landed pretty hard,” I tell her.

  “Please call an ambulance he needs to be looked at, please,” she begs. “Wait, I’ll call; can you just please stay with him until I get there?” she asks.

  “Sure, I will meet you at the hospital,” I tell her, and I have no idea why the hell I would do that.

  For some reason the only thing on my mind is to get back to him as soon as possible. I check on Gracie and make sure she has food and water, then I head out. Racing to my car, following the ambulance.

  “Listen, I’m fine. I know that I need to pay better attention to my leg and to go back and have it refitted, I don’t need a babysitter,” he barks at the young doctor.

  “Well, since you can’t seem to take care of yourself and you lie to your sister maybe you do!” His sister Rebecca reprimands him like he is a toddler while tapping her left foot.

  “Becks, I promise, I’m fine. Nothing serious, just some bumps and bruises. I promise I will be more careful, and I will go back to the VA,” he says, looking up at us and I know what he is expecting to see.

  “Mr. Cole, you have an infection right now. Your amputation site is swollen and you need to rest. Unfortunately, you will need to be without your prosthesis until it is all healed. So, you will need help,” the doctor says and my urge to take care of him takes over.

  “Rebecca, can I speak to you?” I hear myself say before I realize I have said it. “I can stay with him during the day.” “I know that he hardly knows me, but I’m a nurse and I have taken care of patients like this before, plus it will give me time to teach Jackson how to interact with Gracie. If you’re okay with that,” I offer.

  What in the hell have I done?

  Chapter Three

  Jackson

  Gracie greets us at the door all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, licking and sniffing me. “Hey, girl, you need to go out?” I ruffle her fur as I head to the back door to let her out. My body stiff and sore from my fall, telling me to sit down and rest a bit.

  “Sit down, I will let her out,” Rebecca says, beating me to the back door.

  “Listen, I need to go to the store. So, I’m going to bring back groceries for you, since you are to rest and relax for the next couple days,” she informs me.

&nbs
p; “Thanks, right now I just want to take this pain pill and sleep. What time will you be over in the morning?” I ask since I know she won’t let this go.

  “I will be over at nine, don’t worry I will just use my key. I want you to rest as much as possible,” she tells me before I drift off to sleep again.

  Gunfire and shrapnel are everywhere, screaming is coming from several locations muffled from the explosions and flying debris. Mothers running toward children, villagers grabbing other shoppers off the streets of the outside market. Trying to stay alert from one side to the other, moving victims off the street out of the line of fire. Out of the corner of my eye I see two kids playing and I call out.

  “Riggs, grab those two and bring them back, get them out of the way,” I yell since he is the closest to them.

  Just as he steps forward, I notice a reflection glint to his left. I look up and see two snipers waiting for Riggs to make his move toward the small children playing. Screaming for him to stop he turns toward me and runs to take cover. Just as shots ring out again, this time making contact with one of the children playing in the street. I rush out to him, praying to reach him in time.

  “Listen, kid, stay with me,” I say to him, applying pressure to his chest where the bullet made impact.

  “Cover me,” I yell toward my unit, trying to maintain pressure on his chest.

  My only thought is I can’t lose a kid to this hell hole. All the while gun smoke and debris permeate my senses.

  “Hey, buddy, it’s okay, you will be okay,” I tell him. Inside my head I am thinking just the opposite. I press harder as his eyes tell me he is terrified; he can’t say a word. He is gasping for air and I know then his lung has collapsed, and he won’t make it.

  “It’s okay, buddy, I am here with you,” I tell him, one hand on his chest and the other holding his bloody, dirt covered hand.

  I jerk awake dragging in deep breaths trying to calm myself, that memory gets me every time. I know there was nothing I could do to help that kid but damn it he was a kid; he didn’t deserve anything like that. His family didn’t deserve to lose a child due to war, but then again in what circumstances does a child deserve to die.