Chapter 28
“Hello may I help you sir?” the lady sitting behind the reception desk asked.
“I'm Samuel Waters, I have a job interview,” I said.
“Have you filled out an application yet Mr Waters?” she asked.
“If I would have known I needed to do that I would have come in last week to pick one up,” I said.
“It's quite alright Mr Waters, Robert is running a little late so there is time now, and if you don't get finished you can always finish it after your interview,” she said.
I took the application and walked over to a table and started filling it out. The questions all seemed so mundane and pointless. Work history. Yea like I have one of those. The only job I've ever had was the military and I couldn't talk about most of that.
“Mr Waters?” someone said.
I looked up and saw a face that seemed very familiar only much older.
“No sir, I'm Samuel Waters, my father is Mr Waters,” I said.
“I do believe you're the one here applying for a job?” he asked.
“Yes sir that would be me. Sir, if you don't mind me saying you look familiar only a lot older than I remember,” I said.
“It's probably my son you remember, if you're Captain Samuel Waters of White Rose reconnaissance, I have you to thank for him being alive today,” the man said.
“I'm sorry sir, but you have me at a decided disadvantage. You know who I am and while the face seems familiar I can't seem to find a name to go with it,” I said.
“I sorry Mr Waters, my name is Robert Carter, my brother and I own this company,” Bob said.
“Mr Carter it's a pleasure to meet you. I believe I know now who your son is as well and that was a long time ago, even before I formed my White Rose unit. Colonel Carter isn't it, 191st airborne?” I asked.
“It's General Carter now,” he said.
“I guess congratulations are in order then,” I said.
“I'm surprised you never made it beyond Captain. From what Rick has told me you should have been at least a Colonel,” he said.
“I think it had something to do with me telling superior officer to blow their ideas out their ass, if they expected me to get them out of the mess they got themselves into, I was doing it my way and not taking advice from the people who got themselves into the situation to start with,” I started.
“I don't have any problem with authority sir, as long as I'm not the one being called in to fix a mess they created, if they'll sit back and just let me do my job without questioning everything I do, I get along fine with authority. Sir, since you know who I am and I'm sure you watched the national news on the war you know my unit was the one called in any time a company or battalion got trapped behind enemy lines with no visible way out. You also know I never lost a man in my care in doing my job. When you look at that kind of record along with the fact that several of those companies had been warned before getting themselves into the situation, I believe I had the right to act like a son-of-a-bitch and tell those senior officers what to do with their ideas. Add to that, the fact that any time the enemy found out my unit and I were in the field they strengthened their force considerably, and I was still able to walk those men out without anyone getting killed, wounded or captured. I believe I have a track record that speaks for itself,” I said.
The interview seemed to drag on and on. The work they had sounded interesting, not as interesting as going into a situation where lives were on the line, but interesting nonetheless. I needed a job since the only money I had coming in at the moment was from all the leave time I hadn't used while in the Air Force. And that wasn't going to last long. I really wasn't very sure about getting the job, but considering what else was available I hoped they were willing to give me a chance to prove myself.
“Mr Waters, we do have other applicants trying for this job, if you can give us until the end of the week...” Bob said.
Don't call us, we'll call you. I heard people talking about receiving that from prospective employers and every time never hearing from them again. I suspected all those times of telling higher ranking officers to go fuck themselves, was catching up and going to make it hard for me to find any kind of employment that wasn't flipping burgers at the local fast food joint. I had a couple other places I planned on checking, places whose ads said much the same as this place had. “No experience required.” All I really cared at the moment was finding a job that wasn't flipping burgers.
I hated being alone. In the military I enjoyed my alone time, in part because of how rare it was. Now all I had was me though. I really didn't know any of my neighbors, and it seemed the only time I ran into them was early in the morning and they were still half asleep on their way out to work. I had never been big on going to bars and since I had given up on there being a god back when I was still in school I didn't have a church, or church activities I could participate in.
I needed something, but wasn't sure what. I had my veterans benefits if I wanted to go back to school, but they would only assist in paying for school not living expenses as well. I looked at what kinds of courses they had and even scheduled an appointment with the veterans advisor at the college to see about taking classes that might make finding a job easier.
“Hey Sam. Would it be okay if I stayed with you this weekend?” Jeff asked.
“I take it mom and dad want some alone time,” I said.
There was always my little brother who seemed to spend more weekends with me then at home of late. A couple months after moving into my apartment a three bedroom had come open and since Jeff was spending so much time I moved from the two bedroom over to the three bedroom. If it weren't for Jeff I doubted my TV would ever be on, and I sure wouldn't have been spending the money for cable since I didn't even watch the free channels. The radio on the other hand was on most of the time, but turned down so it was more just a back ground noise than anything.
Jeff had his own car now that he had his driver license, so he wasn't begging me to run him around any longer unless he had some girl he was really trying to impress, then he wanted to barrow my car since it wasn't the junker his was.
“Actually I was kind of hoping to spend the summer,” he said.
“Jeff weekends are one thing, but the summer... maybe if I had a job, and you were willing to tell that dam religion of yours to shove it where the sun doesn't shine,” I said.
“I don't talk about your being an atheist like that Sam,” he said.
“You're right and I'm sorry. Jeff I just want the best for you and I don't see that religious stuff doing anything but sucking people in to get their money,” I said.
“It isn't just one religion you hate is it?” he asked.
“No, it's not. I don't know maybe if I had been better accepted things would have been different. I've since looked at a lot of different religions and I don't see much difference in any of them. They all teach belief in a god you can't see. A god who only talks to a select few who in return tells everyone else what to believe. If god exists show me he exists not through a book that's who really knows how old that has been translated into who knows how many languages. Show me irrefutable evidence proving his existence,” I said.
Shortly after Jeff showed up I got a call from the company I interviewed with.
“Mr Waters, my name is Judy and I've been asked to call to see when you could start,” the lady on the phone said.
“You mean I got the job?” I asked.
“Yes sir, Mr Carter said he hopes you'll be able to start on Monday morning, but does understands if you need more time,” Judy said.
I asked about how much I would be making and was told the job I had been hired for paid a little more than the job I actually applied for.
“Judy I was thinking of going back to school depending on the shift would determine whether I take night classes or day classes. I believe I told Mr Carter the only shift I'm not willing to work is graves, because I have trouble sleeping during the day,” I sai
d.
“That won't be a problem Mr Waters. There's a training period and for that you will be working day shift, once the training is complete however it would depend on which shift is available. Some guys like working swings because it does pay a little more and the bosses aren't usually hanging around,” Judy said.
“How many hours a week are we talking?” I asked.
“That seems like a strange question Mr Waters. The standard week is forty hours anything over that pays time and a half,” she said.
“I'm sorry if some of my questions sound strange, it's just I've never work in the private sector before, and in the military we worked whatever hours it took to get the job done. When I was on the front lines there were many nights my men and I didn't get any sleep,” I said.
“I heard you were a war veteran Mr Waters. Is it really as scary as the news makes it sound?” she asked.
“I don't really know, since I don't watch the news. I've seen it a few times when my brother stays with me, but from what I've seen those few times what the news shows is nothing like what it's really like,” I said.
“Mr Waters have you ever heard of, I think it's called a reconnaissance team called White Rose?” she asked.
“I've heard of it, yes. May I ask why you wish to know?” I asked.
“It's just it was really big in the news not long ago and I think the commander of the team had the same last name you have,” she said.
“He had the same first name I have as well. I was Captain Samuel Waters of White Rose reconnaissance,” I said.
“Oh shit, I feel like such a fool now,” she said.
“Judy don't feel foolish because you didn't know, and let Mr Carter know that I'll be there on Monday morning,” I said.
I looked over at Jeff and hoped with this phone call I might be able to finally have the time to spend with him to change his mind about that damned religion he was so involved in.
Jeff had seen me as Samantha before, but it had been some time and I wondered if he understood what his religion would say or do if they ever had the chance of seeing me as myself. Maybe then he would understand just how bad that religion really was. How they would not keep their bigotry only aimed at me, but also at anyone who accepted me, and since he would be staying with me that included him.
“I take it that was good news?” Jeff asked as I set the phone back in its cradle.
“You could say that. It was a company I put in an application with. They want me to start work on Monday morning,” I said.
“See God does work in ways no one understands,” he said.
“Your god had nothing to do with this Jeff. My men and I saved the life of the owners son and he wants to pay me back for that. I have no doubt that's mostly why he's giving me this chance,” I said.
“You can believe what you want Sam, but just because you don't believe doesn't mean I can't believe,” Jeff said.
“Jeff you're welcome to stay here for the summer, but if you do, keep in mind this is my home and I don't want yours, or anyones god preached here. It doesn't mean I don't love you, if you have to bring your god in my home keep him in your room and only your room,” I said.
“I know better than trying to convert you Sam, but what you're asking is that I become the same kind of hermit you are. Why can't I have friends over once in a while?” he asked.
“You can have friends over as long as they understand their god is only allowed in your room and only as long as you're living here,” I said.
“I'm glad I only have one more year of school, then I go on my mission,” he said.
“Jeff, I'm not going to tell you again. You don't like me defaming your god and your god doesn't belong in my life. You know I would rather see you go in the military, but I'm not going to hound you about it unless you persist on bringing up your religion every time you feel the need to speak,” I said.
He went back down and got his luggage out of the car and took it in the spare bedroom and started putting it away. I noticed something that didn't quite fit with his insistence on believing in the religion the way he did, but I wasn't going to say anything unless he wanted to talk about it, and I was sure he didn't.
I went back in the kitchen and started fixing some lunch figuring on holding off on my run now until evening.
The first week after Jeff moved in there wasn't really much going on and nothing was said about the clothes I had seen him putting away. On Friday night however everything changed. Jeff walked out of his room in a dress that had to have been at least two sizes to small with a skirt short enough the panties he was wearing showed with him just standing there his arms at his side. He was wearing a wig that looked more like a rats nest than a wig any longer and in spite of myself I started laughing.
“I hope you don't plan on going out looking like that,” I said.
“What's wrong with how I'm dressed?” he asked.
“Nothing if you want to make people laugh. If you want to try passing as a girl all you have to do is ask, I'd be more than happy to help,” I said.
“But these are the only clothes I have, and I got these because mom was getting rid of them,” he said.
“I don't understand. Why would mom have had a dress like this? This dress would almost be to small for Kelli,” I said.
“You'd really help me dress like a girl?” he asked.
“Do you want to tell me why you want to dress like a girl?” I asked.
“I'd rather not, but if it's the only way you'll help, I guess I could,” he said.
“It's up to you whether or not you tell me, as for helping I haven't got anything else to do,” I said.
I went into my closet and found a dress that was a bit tight for me, but I thought would fit Jeff just fine. I had a beautiful pair of shoes to go with and I found a wig I was sure would be very cute for him. After getting everything laid out I asked him to come in and take off everything he had on even the panties that looked to be worn out.
“Jeff to start you really should pick out clothes the right size, I think this dress will fit, at least it should fit better than the one you were wearing, and these panties are new and once you have them on I don't want them back. If you notice that bra does match the panties so that will be yours as well, while I might be willing to share my dresses I'm not willing to share my bras and panties,” I said.
“You do still dress up like a girl some times don't you?” he asked.
“On occasion,” I said.
It took twenty minutes before Jeff was ready for makeup and I insisted on helping after having seen his first attempt at getting dressed. I hated the idea of using my makeup, but after seeing the condition of the makeup he had I wasn't about to try figuring out what was good and what was bad.
“If you're going to be doing this very often we'll need to go shopping so you can get your own clothes and makeup. So what name do you go by when you're a girl?” I asked.
“I like Jennifer, I think it has a nice sound to it,” he said.
“So are you going out?” I asked.
“I don't have anywhere to go. I just like dressing up it makes the world seem right. I never looked this much like a girl before though. I could really get use to looking this way,” he said.
“Like I said Jenny, if you want to dress like this very often we need to go shopping and get you your own makeup and clothes. I don't have a very big selection and I enjoy wearing what I do have. This dress is the only one that is a little to tight and if you want it it's yours. As for underwear what you're wearing now is all you're getting out of my drawer, I don't share underwear,” I said.
I changed as well pulling on my favorite dress and boots fixing my hair and makeup just right for going out dancing and told Jeff we were going out.
If my little brother wanted to look like my little sister then I was taking him out where people could meet the real her. Jenny balked at first until I said something about getting her some clothes of her own along with some good makeup. I wanted my ears p
ierced so bad since they had sealed from when I had gotten them pierced, yet knew now was not the time, but offered to let Jenny get hers pierced if she wanted.
“You're out of your mind, you know that Sam?” Jenny asked.
“Why? Because I'm willing to help you become who you know you are inside. Jenny I know what it's like to be thought of as weird for just thinking of being who you feel you are,” I said.
“Do you have any idea what my friends would say if they saw and recognized me right now?” she said.
“Dam she looks hot? Jenny if you're so worried about what other people think of you, you'll never find out how truly special you really are,” I said.
“Like you have room to talk. Sam how can you say something like that to me when you hide who you are from the world. You think I don't know how much this is who you want to be all the time?” she asked.
“I can't right now Jenny. I wish I knew how to explain, but for now this is something I can only do part-time. You're right though I love being Samantha instead of Samuel, but I know now is not the time,” I said.
Could I tell her about my dreams without her laughing at me? No it wasn't out of fear of her laughing at me it was that every time I tried to talk about it with anyone other than Kathy, the words just vanished. Something kept me from talking about why I couldn't be myself yet and it was frustrating beyond belief.
I looked at Jenny and wished she could be herself, but worried what might happen if she tried. Was this shopping trip a waste of time and money? After the summer was over would she go back to being the stick in the mud she'd been? I had a chance of winning her away from the church that seemed to hold her so completely, and if I wasn't careful that chance would be gone in a heart beat.
She started looking at the dresses for her age group and I smiled as she told me how this girl had this outfit and that girl had another one.
“The only thing stopping you from having them is you Jenny,” I said.
“Their yesterdays styles I want something more original, something that's just me,” she said.
“If you're going to be picky it's going to limit just what you can get,” I said.
“I know, but I don't want to look like everyone else. I just want to be me,” she said.
“Jenny what difference does it make what others are wearing? If you like it you'll make it look new and different than anyone else can,” I said.
She picked out a couple dresses and I insisted she try them on or I wasn't paying for them.
“Sam they'll never let me in the dressing room to try these on,” she said.
“How do you know? Jenny you look like a woman you sound like a woman. Why should they think you're not a woman?” I asked.
“You really mean that? You think I look like a woman?” she asked.
“Alright a teenage girl, that's almost a woman,” I said.
She giggled like a teenage girl and we headed for the dressing rooms so she could try on the dresses.
I waited while she went back in a room. Before long I heard her squeal and went back to find out why.
“Is something wrong Jenny?” I asked through the door.
She opened the door and pulled me inside.
“Sam I'm a real girl,” she said.
“Of course you are Jenny, our whole family is girls,” I said.
“I can't believe this Sam. I'm really a girl. I don't understand how I can really be a girl though,” she said.
“Kathy would be the one to talk to about it not me. All I know is if that wig is how you want your hair after this time you won't need a wig again. If you want to change your hair, or would rather the style of another wig all you need to do is put the new wig on before you put on your dress and that's the hair style you'll have next time,” I said.
“Kathy knows about this? I mean about me being a girl?” she asked.
“I don't know if she does or not, I do know she could tell you how it is you're really a girl though, but I'm not sure you'll like her explanation any better than I did,” I said.
“You mean witchcraft? I know she claims to be a witch, and is even the leader of a group of women that claim to be witches,” Jenny said.
“Yes I mean witchcraft. Jenny I don't believe in magic anymore than I do god. I think they are both superstitious nonsense,” I said.
“Samantha you know magic is real after all you're the White Rose once Chris shares his blood magic with you,” I head someone say.
I looked around sure someone said that out loud, and not just my imagination.
“Are you okay Sam?” Jenny asked.
“Do you want these dresses Jenny?” I knew I sounded nervous, but the voice telling me I was the White Rose scared me. Never before had anything like that happened, yet I knew what it said was true.
I paid for the dresses and we started looking at shoes to go with, and again the voice started telling me the time was soon. Soon I would be who I have always been meant to be. The time for hiding my true identity would soon be over.
We found a couple pairs of shoes and picked up some makeup so Jenny wouldn't be using mine any longer. The voices echoing through my head, and my determination to block them out, at war with each other.
I wasn't this White Rose other than I had named my reconnaissance unit White Rose. When I had come up with that name it was shortly after Mac had told me one of the stories about this fictitious character from stories his mother and father told him when he was just a child. Stories of a witch that became a vampire, yet retained her abilities as a witch, something that wasn't supposed to be able to happen. In the past whenever a witch took of the blood of life they had forsaken their birthright in favor of the blood magic, but not the White Rose.
No the White Rose did accept the blood magic of the vampires, but somehow kept the elemental magic that was hers by birth. Two magics that combined unlocked the secrets of all magic. The power she would have had to have to be able to hold onto her elemental magic would have made casting covens seem inept by comparison.
I thought of all the missions my unit had been on and how we never really felt threatened, my plans always seeming to come together in the best possible way, as though by magic.
Magic was a myth the only real magic being that of friendship, of love, of mutual respect. Each of my unit members respected each other, and that respect had built a bond between us creating a friendship that would only end when each of us moved past this life into whatever there was when this life ended.
“Sam don't you think we should get something to eat?” Jenny asked.
Something to eat? Surely it wasn't that late already.
“You're right Jenny, we really should get something to eat. Do you have anything special in mind?” I asked.
Every weekend throughout the summer Jeff insisted on being Jenny, and that I in turn should be Samantha. The fight I had with the voices telling me it wouldn't be long I knew I lost the first time I heard them. The problem was it was going to be longer then I wanted and that I knew because I wanted to be Samantha now.
Jeff moved out as soon as school started again, and all the progress it seemed we made over the summer of him no longer wanting anything to do with that religion was gone within two weeks of him being back with mom and dad.
I knew having kids his own age around would affect how he viewed the world around him, but I hoped I had made more of an impact than it appeared I had with how quickly he fell back into the cliques he had been in leading him to accept religion as a way of life that nothing else could match.
I stopped dressing on the weekends and found over a period of six months I was doing good if I dressed as Samantha even for just a few hours a month.
The depression of failing with Jeff and not being myself started setting in, but on occasion I would get a call from General Wentworth asking if I would be able to help out with some special training he needed and things would perk back up.
The first couple calls I stopped just short of refusing out right ho
ping my boss would say they couldn't allow me the time off work to help out with the special training. Robert the owner that hired me however was more than willing to allow me the time, and just wanted me to be back as soon as possible after the training classes they needed me for were over.
“I don't suppose you can tell me anything about what it is the military wants,” Robert asked.
“I'm sorry Bob I really can't. The classes they're asking me to help with are special training for missions that are classified, even I don't know what they are,” I said.
“The military does like its secrets, doesn't it?” Robert said.
We both laughed and I called General Wentworth while still in Bob's office, letting him know I was able to get the time to help with the training.
It seemed every time I went out to base for the special training classes as soon as I walked in the security building at the front gate they wanted to know if I was back to stay, and had a permanent sticker for my car so I could bypass having to stop every time. It wasn't until the third time General Wentworth called me I finally gave up and accepted the decal for the front of my car. Since I was now a civilian contractor I no longer had access to most of the base facilities such as the base exchange or commissary, but I did have access to the gas station on base and the price of gas there was almost ten cents a gallon lower than the stations off base, so I tended to make sure to fill my car on my way off base when the training classes I helped with were over.
It seemed the classes they wanted my help with most were about how to get into high security areas and then get back out having only a minimum of information to work with.
Close to the end of Jeff's school year he came by wanting to spend the weekend. He started telling me he was already scheduled to leave on a mission for his church a month after school was out and hoped I'd be willing to let him practice teaching the religion with me.
“Jeff you know the rules of staying here, that damn church isn't allowed in any part of my apartment other than your room. I want no part of you religion and if you come here and start talking about it, you're welcome to leave and not return until you are willing to abide my rules regarding religion,” I said.
“I see. So you can talk about your military anytime and in any room, but I can't talk about what interests me,” he said.
“Are you paying the bills on this place? I live here all the time, you're a guest here. As long as mom and dad are your guardians, and main care providers you'll only ever be a guest in my home. Since it is my home I set the rules not you,” I said.
“I still don't think it's very fair,” he said.
“No one ever said life is fair,” I said.
He seemed determined to have things his way, and for all I knew at home with mom and dad he did, but this was my home and here he was a guest, which meant here I set the rules and if he didn't like them he could always go back to mom and dads.
The whole matter was settled an hour after he arrived because General Wentworth called and asked if I was free for the weekend. Something very important came up and he needed someone to help out and since I had been so willing he was sure I wouldn't mind now.
“Jeff the matter is closed. I'm needed on base and you aren't staying here by yourself,” I said.
“Sam I'm eighteen now why can't I stay here? I promise I won't have any wild parties,” he said.
“You can't stay here because I'm not going to be here. If I have to remind you again that I'm the one paying the bills here, you won't be staying here even when I am here. I need to go and so do you, if you can't go back home try Kathy or Sarah and see if one of them have room for you for the weekend,” I said.
“Nobody wants me around anymore. Sarah and Gordon don't have room and Kathy has worse rules than you do, she won't even let me have anything to do with church if I stay there,” he said.
“I don't know what to tell you Jeff, but you aren't staying here if I'm not here,” I said.
I grabbed my bag that I kept packed for when General Wentworth called and headed for the door. I knew Jeff still had a key he thought would unlock my door so he could stay at my apartment even though I said no, what he didn't know is I changed all the locks since the last time he stayed with me.
He went out the door ahead of me and I pulled the door shut and locked it making sure I locked the deadbolt as well as the knob.
“I'm sorry little brother, but I can't have you staying here while I'm gone. I know you still have the key from last summer, but I've changed all the locks since you got those keys,” I said.
He gave me a dirty look and ran down to his car.
“Jeff I'm not doing this to hurt you,” I said.
“You hate me. You think I'm just like the kids that didn't want you around when you were growing up,” he said.
“I don't hate you, and I know you aren't like those kids were. I know that church hasn't changed from what it was when I was a kid, and that it teaches a god it doesn't even believe in. if you want to believe that church is right and has decent people leading it that's your choice. I can't have you staying here when I'm not here for your safety, not because I don't trust you. These people know me so they leave me alone, they don't know you and you just aren't able to defend yourself as well as I can,” I said.
“You could teach me,” he said.
“Not before I have to leave I can't. I tried teaching you last summer and you did great as far as we got, but you still have a long way to go before you're ready to live in a place like this on your own,” I said.
I didn't have time to argue any longer and turned for my car. The neighborhood was a tough neighborhood, but if I let it be known Jeff was my brother and if anything happened to him whoever was responsible would answer to me I was sure he would be safe enough, but I still didn't want him staying in my apartment when I wasn't there. I didn't need that damned church hounding me, and I was sure he would let them know where he was staying and even after he went back home they would send people around constantly.
I was on base within an hour of receiving the phone call asking for my help.
“General Wentworth, you said you needed my help this weekend,” I said.
“Actually Sam I was hoping to talk you into coming back permanently,” General Wentworth said.
“You mean as a civilian contractor?” I asked.
“No Sam I mean as a Lieutenant Colonel,” he said.
I wanted to laugh. This had to be some kind of joke, but I didn't know General Wentworth to be able to tell this kind of joke and keep a straight face.
“I'm sorry General, but I would have to see the orders making me a Lt Colonel before I would even consider coming back thinking I was finally going to get the promotion I've earned,” I said.
“Sam without your promise of coming back, trying to get you reinstated let alone a two grade promotion would be a waste of time,” he said.
“General the only way I will come back is knowing the promotion is there. If you can't guarantee the promotion in writing then what we have now is the best you'll have,” I said.
“Sam I'm retiring and they want me to suggest someone to take my place. You're the only person I know of besides Jason qualified and the only way you could be base commander is if you're at least a Lt Colonel,” he said.
“General I don't know that I'm qualified, but do appreciate that you think I am. The problem I see is that when I left I did so as a Captain, you're talking skipping a command grade and I have serious doubts the brass in Washington would be as eager to have me back as you or Jason might be,” I said.
“You know Sam sometimes I hate how well you know this system. If I can get you your Major cluster would you consider coming back?” he asked.
“I don't know sir. Maybe if I had received it before I left I would have been willing to stay. Sir, the one thing I want, I know you can't give me is my unit back and to get back on the front lines where we can make a difference. The only way I can get back on the front lines is with a psych
ological profile and a doctors release affirming that I am both physically and psychologically fit for such duty. I doubt you could find a doctor or psychologist willing to give me that kind of clearance,” I said.
I hoped he now understood I wasn't coming back to active duty without promises he couldn't and likely wouldn't make. Of course if he could get the pentagon to recall me to active duty there was little I could do other than report or be considered AWOL, but he didn't want me back that way. I think he was afraid getting me back that way would get less than my best and it was my best he wanted.
“Can you tell me someone who would make a good base commander?” he asked.
“Sure if the choice were mine I would ask for Colonel Chuck Wright, Charlie company commander. I know he wants off the front lines and was talking about retiring as soon as he had his twenty in which I believe is in a couple months. I'm sure if you offered him a star he'd be delighted to stay a few more years, especially if it meant no more combat,” I said.
“I assume he's under Jason's command at present,” General Wentworth asked.
“The last I knew. You have to remember I haven't had much contact with those guys since I was transferred here over a year ago,” I said.
He picked up the phone and pushed a button that had been flashing since I before walked in.
“You still there Jason? What about Colonel Chuck Wright, I understand he's your Charlie company commander and is thinking of retiring in a couple months,” General Wentworth said.
He nodded and handed the phone over to me.
“Hello Jason, I'm guessing you knew I was sitting here because of Chuck,” I said.
“I was just getting ready to accept his retirement. Sam what make you think he'd be willing to stick it out longer if he took over as a base commander?” Jason asked.
“Because he'd have me to call on whenever he needed help, but if you aren't willing to get him that star he was hoping for he might turn it down and retire anyway,” I said.
“I understand you were offered Lt Colonel clusters to take the job,” Jason said.
“Promises are hallow when all they are is words. Jason how many times did you put me in for a promotion, only to have them tell you no, as far as they were concerned Captain was the highest rank I'd ever achieve?” I asked.
The Hidden Rose Page 76
