Love In The House Of War

by Scott A Meehan

  Mariam nodded her head approvingly and managed a weak smile.

  Ron smiled back. “Are you hungry or thirsty?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, let one of us know when you are, okay?”

  She nodded her head.

  Turning to Lyna, “we need to be going quickly. Whoever set us up…”

  “What do you mean whoever?” Lyna interrupted. “You know who it was!”

  “Well, I can't be sure…”

  Lyna interrupted him for the second time. “It all makes sense now. It is Davis. He is working for the director. How could I have been so foolish?”

  “We'll discuss that when we see him. For now, let's get moving before whoever it is finds out we're still alive.”

  “Why don't you call Sergeant Short? Maybe he can help us.”

  “Not yet. If you're right about Davis, he'll know we made it through his trap.”

  “He won't stop, you know. Take the main road back, the fast one.”

  “You know something I don't?”

  “Yes, trust me. Going back the way we came will be a trap. It all makes sense now.”

  “What does?”

  “I didn't think anything about it before, but Davis told me, 'If your mission succeeds, be sure to come back the long route, the same way you'll go down.'

  “I said, 'what do you mean, if?'

  “He said, 'Huh?”

  “What do you mean, 'if?”

  'Oh, I meant, when.”

  “Well, you know if we go back this way, we'll have to go through Tikrit.”

  “So?”

  “Well, Iraqi forces are trying to reclaim the city from the Islamic State militants and there is heavy fighting.”

  “We have to take our chances.”

  Ron looked at her without saying anything.

  “Please! Just trust me. I don't want to die.”

  “Neither do I. Okay, the high road it is.”

  11

  Clarksville Academy was seven miles from the Hawkins household, too far for walking as Asha, Caleb, and Seth were accustomed to doing when they attended the nearby public schools. The school bus let them off two blocks from their home on Suellen Way and they always came across many other kids, students they knew from their previous school and others from around the neighborhood. Most of them walked home from Barkers Mill Elementary, West Creek Middle and West Creek High School.

  The three headed home, Asha wearing a blue jacket with a gold letter C on the front, for Cougars. She made the girls varsity basketball team as a seventh grader. While in sixth grade, she quickly rose to the starting team and considered a star at West Creek Middle school.

  The best player, eight grader, Rebecca Bridges, overheard the coach tell someone that Asha has great talent and will be a superstar. This assertion did not set well with her and now that Clarksville Academy, a rival to West Creek Middle school, now laid claims to Asha, a personal rivalry ensued, one that carried over beyond the hardwood floor.

  Caleb was talking about his classes when a mixed group of three girls and three guys walked directly towards them from their left side.

  “Well, if it isn't the little miss basketball queen.” A girl in faded jeans mocked.

  “She's a lot better than you!” Seth yelled.

  “Ssshhhh, be quiet Seth.” Asha warned.

  “Yeah, why don't you listen to your big sister, you little brat.”

  “Oh, great, here it goes.” Caleb whispered.

  Asha stopped. “You two go on. I can handle this.”

  “No way.” Seth answered. “I'm staying right here. I'm not afraid.”

  “What's the matter queen bee, bratty brother disobeying you?”

  Asha gave the girl wearing a tan buttoned shirt a daring look. She also assessed the odds of having two other girls and three guys standing behind her, all watching Asha, some chuckling, at the unfolding drama. “Why don't you take your gang to another hole to crawl into and stop wasting my time?”

  The dirty-blond haired girl, Rebecca Bridges, seemed determined to finish something that lingered between them. “Because I'm talking to you, and the way I see it, I still owe you.”

  Asha guessed that Rebecca would be her first contact, but not her most serious threat. She had already thought of a backup plan. Removing her jacket quickly, she handed it to Caleb. “Here, hold this.”

  Caleb took her jacket and laid it down on the ground.

  “You're supposed to hold it.”

  “You'll need my help!”

  Asha grinned and then she moved her right leg behind her and set her left leg forward, bending it at the knee. Then she lifted both her arms, clenching her fists and stood in a front karate stance. “Bring it on, loud mouth.”

  “She's a black belt!” Seth yelled at the crowd.

  Rebecca first looked at those around her, who all stood still. “Ah, you guys!”

  Putting her head forward like a bull, she took off, charging towards Asha, yelling in the process. “Aaaaaaa.”

  Asha held her ground and then grabbed the first part of Rebecca's upper body about to make contact, performing a trained maneuver using an opponent's momentum, to send Rebecca flying through the air before hitting the ground hard. Asha moved swiftly towards Rebecca and stood over her preparing for the next move but Rebecca did not move.

  Another girl, Cyndi, charged at Asha from behind yelling, “Come on you guys!”

  Seth, almost half her size, charged forward and laid into her like a linebacker on a wide receiver, sending them both to the ground. Another boy moved forward and immediately confronted by Caleb, who was in a boxing stance. The boy looked around him to see that nobody else was moving, so he backed off.

  Rebecca stayed on the ground and gave Asha an intense look of hatred, but after seeing her friends were of no help, and her best friend Cyndi laying on the ground below Seth, she got up slowly, brushing the dirt from her jeans. Wiping the strings of blond hair out of her eyes, she stormed away, not even looking at those around her. “Come on Cyndi!”

  Cyndi had also gotten up slowly, brushed herself off and followed behind Rebecca. Two of the other guys and the third girl, shrugged their shoulders and went about their separate ways. One boy remained behind, leaning against a tree, watching the quick rumble begin and end. Being the most muscular of the bunch, he was the one Asha thought would give her the most trouble. She had never seen him before.

  “Wow, Becky said you were all from the geek squad but, wow. You all are a bunch of cool kids. That's all I can say.” He walked towards Asha who immediately went back into her initial karate stance.

  “It's okay. My name is Jeff,” he said while extending his hand. “I just moved here from Fort Bragg during the summer.”

  Asha hesitantly relaxed her stance and extended her hand. Seth and Caleb moved in closer, just in case. “I'm Asha and these are my brothers, Caleb and Seth.”

  “Nice to meet you…all of you. I've never seen anything like that before.”

  “We look out for each other. Always have. Our mom and dad instilled tight family values in us, including standing up for each other.

  “You all certainly do well together. I really was not sure what Becky had in mind. We met at the school gym after basketball practice last month. After watching the girls practice, I was impressed by her ability so I introduced myself and we just kind of, you know, hung out.”

  “Well, as you can see, we don't get along very well.”

  “I noticed. Why?”

  “An old feud, which started last year during a basketball game.”

  “Yeah, Asha made Rebecca look horrible during a big game.” Seth added.

  “Wait, you made Rebecca look bad? You must be very good.”

  “She's awesome.” Caleb said with a smile. “She smoked Rebecca in a playoff game and they were both on the same team. The coach sat Becky because of her frustration, and her lousy play. She fouled out of the game.”

  “Wait, you're only in seventh grade now?”


  “That's right. What grade are you in?”

  Jeff chuckled. “I'm a sophomore.”

  “Oh, sorry to disappoint you. Come on guys, let's get home before mom comes looking for us.”

  “No wait. I didn't mean anything in a bad way. I mean, I'm just amazed, that's all.”

  Asha stopped to look at him intently and was about to reply until she saw something in his piercing blue eyes looking directly into hers. He has a beautiful smile too. Asha thought. “Well, no offense taken. We really do need to be going. It was nice to meet you, Jeff—and thank you for not joining in. I was worried about you.” Asha extended her hand again, mainly to get another close-up view of his eyes.

  Jeff took her hand softly and replied. “It was my pleasure. Besides, you did not have any need to worry. My folks brought me up better than that. I would never, ever, hit a girl.”

  Both of them laughed together while Caleb and Seth exchanged looks with a grin. “Bye.”

  “I hope to see you around soon. That was a great show! You're all cool.”

  As the three headed home, Asha spoke first. “Thanks guys, you both were awesome.”

  “What are brothers for?” Caleb answered with a smile.

  “Wait 'til mom hears about all of this. She'll be happy!”

  “No she won't, Seth! Don't tell her anything!” Asha retorted.

  “I might be able to keep a secret.” Seth answered.

  “You will if you know what's good for you!”

  “That sounds like a threat. I was hoping to negygate.”

  Both Asha and Caleb laughed. “Negygate?' There is nothing to negotiate. Did you forget the part about you tackling a girl twice your size?” They both continued to laugh. “But, since you did help me, I will consider something extra for you.”

  “What about me? I helped too,” Caleb added.

  “You too, of course.”

  As the three approached their house, Sarah was pulling into their driveway. Seth ran up to her as she was getting out of the car. “Maaam!”

  “Hey big guy, how are you?” She responded with a hug.

  “I'm good! Can we have pizza tonight?”

  Asha and Caleb exchanged glances, relieved by Seth's excited expression—motivated by pizza. “Hi mom, good day at work?” Asha said quickly.

  “Yes, thank you. How was your day, darling?” Sarah stepped towards her to kiss her on the forehead.

  “It was good.”

  “Yeah, you should have seen her…!” Seth began.

  Caleb lunged towards Sarah and gave her a hug. “Great to see you mom!”

  “Well, it's great to see you too, little man! Wait, is something going on?”

  “Why would you think that?” Asha answered.

  “I don't know. It just seems…”

  “We're always glad to see you, mom, really!” Seth yelled.

  Sarah leaned against her vehicle, folded her arms and looked at each one of her kids, from one to another, waiting to see if someone felt guilty enough to talk. “You know we don't hide anything from each other, do we?”

  “No, we don't.” Caleb answered.

  “So, who wants to begin first? Asha? You're the oldest.”

  “Way' ell, okay. Can we talk about it inside though?”

  Sarah looked into three pairs of pleading eyes, feeling emotionally proud and joyful towards her children. “Let's go inside. We'll have a snack while we all sit around and discuss our day.”

  The three kids looked at each other and then fell into step behind Sarah to the front door, where Farsi waited on the other side, barking. When the door opened, Farsi greeted each one with a vicious wagging tail and a lick to Seth's face.

  “Seth, please take Farsi around back so he can do his business.”

  “Why can't he just do it out here?”

  “Seth…”

  “Oh, okay. Come on boy!”

  When all four of them finally were able to sit around the table with some fruit, crackers, breads, and cheese, Sarah began. “Okay Asha, you're on.”

  “Asha beat up a girl today!” Seth yelled.

  “WHAT?”

  “SETH! You…”

  “Don't Seth him. What is he talking about, ASHA?”

  “Well…”

  “No more stalling!”

  “It's not what you think, mom.” Caleb quickly interjected. “The girl attacked her and Asha was just defending herself. She really didn't get beat up.”

  Sarah looked at Asha in dismay. “I'm surprised at you.”

  Asha lowered her head in remorse.

  “Mom, I was fighting too.” Seth said quickly.

  “What? Seth? Okay, Caleb, tell me what happened, from the beginning.”

  Caleb shared the events with their mother and then all three sat quietly.

  Sarah looked at each of her children again, still feeling the pride and joy for them, but with an added mix of concern and admiration. “Look at me, all of you.”

  Asha raised her head but stared at the bowl of fruit in front of her. “Asha, darling. Please look at me.”

  “I want to say, I'm proud of you, all of you for supporting each other the way you did.”

  They all looked surprised.

  “And, if anything like this happens to any one of you, I would expect each of you to protect one another. But, you must not go looking for this kind of behavior.”

  “We didn't mom, honest to God, cross my heart!”

  “I believe you! However, you must try to avoid this kind of conflict if possible. You all promise me this.”

  “We do!” Asha blurted.

  “Yeah, we do too.” Caleb added.

  “Me too, mom.”

  “Good. Now for your punishment.”

  “Huh?” Seth answered in surprise.

  “There will be no pizza tonight. I'll make my home-made pizza Saturday night.”

  “Yes!” Seth yelled, relieved by the severity of the penalty.

  Asha and Caleb exchanged discrete smiles.

  “Now, go do your homework.”

  Seth bounded out of his seat first followed by Caleb and then as Asha was standing, Sarah said, “Asha, please sit down.”

  She complied. “I-I'm sorry mom.”

  “Asha, darling. Look at me and hold out your hands.”

  Asha gave her both hands, which Sarah took into hers. “Darling, I love you with my heart. What you did today was-was good. However, I worry for you. These hands are a weapon. You must be careful.”

  “I know mom. I didn't even have to use them though.”

  “I'm glad. Please be careful.”

  “Always.”

  “I would die if something ever happened to you.”

  “Oh mom. I-I…”

  “It's okay. You don't need to say anything.” Sarah got up, walked around to where Asha was sitting and embraced her, laying her head on her shoulder. “I love you sooo much, Asha, my precious girl.”

  “You're the best mom ever and ever! I love you too mom!”

  12

  “I never thanked you for saving me back there.”

  “You're quite welcome. After all, you are my wife, right?”

  Lyna chuckled. “I was impressed by your knowledge of the Koran. How did you come up with that verse so quickly?”

  “I don't know, it just came to me, spur of the moment. It was all I could think of at the time to stop them.”

  “And you thought it would stop the bearded man?”

  “No, not really. I was hoping to reach the ones holding you though.”

  “Well, it worked. When you shouted the Koran verse, those guys released their grip enough for me to break free and run away.”

  “I'm extremely glad you're alright and nothing happened to you.”

  “You and me both! Anyway, I was thinking about what you said when you came back from the berm.”

  “Which time?”

  “After you looked for the sniper.”

  “Refresh my memory.”

&n
bsp; “About Russian involvement.”

  “Just speculating, unless of course you know something.”

  “Well, before we left America, we were briefed about possible involvement from them, but not likely.”

  “Why?”

  “It has been reported that the Russian president wants to redirect their South Stream project to deliver natural gas to Europe through Turkey instead of the Ukraine.”

  “Interesting twist.”

  “Yes, in fact, just recently, the Russian Foreign Minister pledged to support the Iraqi government in its efforts to fight the Islamic State terrorist threat.”

  “You have my attention. Go on.”

  “Well, talk around the office suggest the Russians are in the process of developing a cooperative relationship with the Baghdad government, which of course is supported by Iran.”

  “Of course. It also would undermine our influence in the region. Since they already have good relations with Iran and Syria, they could monopolize the whole region with a Shi'ite federation.”

  “The Americans support the Saudi led Sunni Arab nations as friends.”

  “Really? After we pulled out of Iraq and double-crossed the Sunni tribes we unified during the Sahwa?”

  “This is why ISIS came here. Talk on the street is Americans helped them form to stop Assad in Syria.”

  “Heaven forbid.”

  More than three hours later, traffic came to an abrupt halt at a checkpoint on the northwest outskirts of Tikrit. Plumes of smoke rising skyward in various locations where clashes between government forces and ISIS militia erupted around the city.

  While Ron assessed his options, noticing Lyna and Mariam's apprehension of the situation, a white car, three ahead of theirs, maneuvered from the line and sped towards the guards as pedestrians dodged for safety. Rapidly approaching the soldier's position, it swerved off course when sprayed with a hail of bullets. Heading back uncontrollably into the line of cars, exploding upon impact.

  A deafening blast ensued, followed by an eerie silence as if the sound waves had somehow evaporated. The force from the concussion shook the ground and lifted Ron's vehicle two feet off the ground spinning it around, causing it to tip sideways. Smoke billowed into the sky as if it came from a brick kiln. Ron could not hear or see anything in front of him.