“You’re not gonna change your mind, are you?”
“I’m sorry, Jake, but everything in me is telling me to stay here and be here for my dad.”
“Okay, I understand.”
We sit quietly for a few minutes, and Jake begins to fidget. He usually does when he has something to say that he’s sure I’m not gonna be happy about.
“What’s going on with you?” I finally ask. “You’re fidgeting, Jake, and I know what that means.”
He laughs. “I could never get anything past you, could I?”
I shake my head.
“Well you’re right, I do have something to tell you.” He gets up and paces in front of me. “It’s important, Jayden, and I’m afraid you’re not gonna be happy when you hear it.”
“Oh?”
“You’ve been asking me for some time now what my plans are after high school, and I’ve never really given you a straight answer.”
“Yes, and it’s pissed me off.”
He laughs. “I’ve been vague because, one, you have had a lot to deal with over the past several months, and two, I’m probably going to piss you off more by telling you.”
Now he really has me curious. “What’s going on, Jake?”
“I’m joining the air force.”
“You’re what?”
“You heard me. I’m joining the air force. I’ll be starting at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in early August.” He continues to pace. “Remember when Mom and Dad and I went to Colorado last summer?”
I nod.
“Well, we went to the Academy’s summer seminar. And well, after that, I realized it’s where I need to be.”
“You’re leaving?”
He walks toward me and pulls me into his arms. “I’m only a plane ride away, and I will be home on holidays. You can always come and visit too.”
“So does this mean that if we get involved in a war, you will have to fight?”
He smiles. “Yes and no. First of all, I’m not going in as a pilot. So you don’t have to worry about that. I want to major in the engineering side of things and work on the planes. So yes, I will serve during a war, but I won’t be out in the front lines fighting. And when I am done at the Academy, I will come out an officer.” He looks directly into my eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Just surprised. You’ve never mentioned anything about joining any type of military before. I feel like this came out of left field.”
“I’ve always wanted to but never thought I would get accepted at the Academy. I never said anything ’cause I didn’t want to be embarrassed if I didn’t get in. But I got in.”
“Of course you got in. You have great grades, you aced your SAT, and you are an all-around great guy.”
He laughs. “So you are okay with all this?”
“Jake, it’s your life. I mean, yes, I am going to miss you, but I would never hold you back from doing something you really want to do.”
He gives me a hug and squeezes tightly. “There is something else I need to talk to you about.”
“Oh?”
“Come, let’s sit down.”
