Chapter 2: Honors
“Sergeant Green may I speak with you,” Mitch came into the office that the Sergeant was working out of the next evening. She was packing up to get over to General Alphine’s office at Fletcher Militia Base, where she would be the night Duty NCO for the Imperial Marines.
“Sure Mitch,” Millie Green said, “but you have to walk with me.”
“The cadets want to have a parade in honor for Lady Wilson.” Mitch said, “A couple of them have come up to me and asked if they could.”
“A parade,” Millie asked, then she got it, “You mean a pass in review with Lady Wilson as the reviewer?”
“Yes,” Mitch said.
“Why didn’t Colonel Wilson or Major Atomi ask?” Sergeant Green said getting into her jeep.
“Major Atomi wanted to do it; but wasn’t certain if she should make the request.” Mitch said. “She was afraid of the proprieties of her asking, and we haven’t discussed it with Jill.”
“Write up the request, and present it to Lady Hawthorne,” Millie said. “I think we can make that happen. Oh why?”
“Sir she is an example that all of us should be.” Mitch said, she had met Lady Wilson a couple of times over the last few weeks, and had spent a weekend with Jill at the palace. “Besides she is one classy lady!”
“That she is,” Millie Green said starting her vehicle and leaving.
A week or so later Mitch in her full dress uniform presented herself at the public gate to the palace, “Cadet Sergeant Major Valerie Mitchum with a message for Lady Wilson.”
“Okay,” the guard said. Sergeant Green had given the palace a heads up. They didn’t know when she would show up; but the word was to treat her as a VIP. He called the Wilson residence and got Francine, “Cadet Mitchum is here with a message for Lady Wilson.”
“I’ll be down in a moment to pick her up.” Francine said. The personal secretary and aide to Lady Wilson left her office and got into one of the small electric carts that they used around the palace grounds. Soon she was at the gate. There she found cadet Mitchum standing at, at ease waiting for her. “Hello, you have a message for Lady Wilson?”
“Yes Ma’am,” Valerie answered.
“Hop in then,” Francine replied and the cadet got into the electric cart. It was only a few minutes to the Wilson residence. Francine escorted the young woman into the study where Georgia and Lady Wilson were going over some photos they had taken earlier in the week.
Valerie came to attention, Georgia nudged Lisa who stood up and said, “Stand easy Mitch. Are you here for Jill? Did something happen at the academy?”
It was then that Jill entered the room also dressed in her dress uniform. Lamile had called her to let her know that Mitch was coming to the palace for a presentation and she should climb into a dress uniform might want to witness it. Jill had no idea why or what was going to happen,. hHer friend Lamile wouldn’t tell her.
“Yes ma’am!” Valerie who had been carefully coached by Sergeant Green said. “I have a message from the Queen’s Owns Royal Corps of Cadets for Lady Lisa Wilson.” She handed the sealed envelope to Lady Wilson.
When the lady opened the envelop, Valerie said in a nearly conversational voice, “The Queen’s Own Royal Corps of Cadets request the honor, and privilege, of passing in review for Lady Lisa Wilson, wife of Knight Commander Lord Michael Aaron Wilson, the Marshal of the Trena Constabulary on Sunday next before midday rations.”
Lisa was speechless. She didn’t know what to say. She was fully aware of the honor that was being bestowed on her. Usually it was reserved for members of the academy who had done something spectacular, or for alumni of the academy who had gone on to greatness. VIPs, or the Queen or the King, not someone such as her. A bioengineered human being. Deep in thought Lisa didn’t say anything until Francine cleared her throat.
“Oh,” Lisa said coming back to reality, “I would be honored and privileged to review the cadets of the Queen’s Own Royal Corps of Cadets.”
“We look forward to your presence.” Valerie saluted turned on her heel and left.
“I’ll take her to the front gates.” Jill said.
In the cart Jill turned to her sergeant major and stated, “You kept this under your hat Mitch.”
“I know.” Mitch asked, “Mad at me?”
“No,” Jill replied, “just want to know why?”
“I don’t know if I can say it as elegantly as Gene said it.” Mitch answered.
“Gene?” Jill said remembering the mast where Gene had been disciplined, “the same Gene who…”
“The very same,” Mitch chuckling, she had been very surprised by Gene’s statement, “but he said that Lady Wilson, because of what she did for other kids, and for other people, is the role model we should all be striving to follow.”
“Gene said that?” Jill asked.
“She is something special,” Mitch continued, “but so are all you Wilsons!”
“But…” Jill said. But Valerie interrupted here, “Jill things just happen around you. But the cadets think an awful lot of you, your father, and the entire group of adults who are making things happening for us. Your father and mother have so much going on that for them to take time to help us is something special.”
“But mMom hasn’t done much,” Jill retorted.
“She has done more than you think,” Mitch replied, “She gave us our cadet commander, has made sure she is able to do her job, I saw how she looked after your father. I also saw the look on her face when Least asked her about the marshalyour father. She is the one person who is not officially on anyone’s staff; but she does more for us than anyone else who is. I saw how she and your father awere.”
Jill was quiet she hadn’t realized that Mitch was that observant. She was finding out more and more about her officers. Learning the same way cadet officers had learned since the beginning of time; by observing the work and behavior of their officers and cadets.
Every Last Mother's Child Page 178
