Page 2 of Rowe

“Good luck,” he nodded. She nodded back, leaving him there to wonder if she would be alright. He didn’t want her as a girlfriend, but he also didn’t want her stepfather getting near her.

Rowe left school and stopped at the mall to pick up some new cleats and socks for baseball. Outside the sporting goods store were five tables set up. Each one was clearly labeled. Army. Navy. Marine Corps. Air Force. Coast Guard.

“Young man how are you?” asked the Army recruiter.

“I’m fine sir,” he said respectfully. All of the recruiters raised their heads to look at the young man standing before them.

“How old are you son?” asked the Marine Corps recruiter.

“I’m seventeen, sir. I’ll be eighteen in three weeks.”

“Have you chosen a college?” asked the Navy recruiter.

“No, sir. Not yet. I’ve got offers from several. I’m just not sure what I want to do and they’re getting impatient with me.”

“Yeah,” nodded the Coast Guard recruiter. “I’m sure they see dollar signs when they look at you.”

Rowe stared at him, tilting his head, a bit confused.

“I assumed you play sports,” said the man. “If you play for them, with that physique and that face, you’ll make any university a lot of money.”

Rowe sat on that for a few minutes and then looked back at the tables. He hadn’t even considered the military. The world was a fucking mess, and he wasn’t sure he wanted in on that. Then again, what if he was a peacekeeper? He’d proven it over and over again at school.

“I’d like to hear what you each have to say,” he said calmly. The men all smirked, nodding.

“Have a seat.”

Almost three hours later, Rowe pulled up to his house and saw the FOR SALE sign in the front yard. He grabbed his bags from the truck and walked inside.

“Sit down, Rowe. We have something to tell you,” said his mother.

“Let me guess. You’re selling the house,” he said calmly. His parents looked at one another, then realized the sign was already in the front yard.

“Yes,” nodded his father. “We’ve told them we will not close until you’re out of the house, but it will be no later than the end of July.”

“I’ll be out the day after graduation,” he said staring at them. They both smiled excitedly then stared at their son.

“Wait. Where are you going?” asked his mother.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve got it handled.”

He barely spoke to his parents after that. He realized after speaking with his counselor that it was normal to love your parents, but difficult to love them when they were selfish and narcissistic.

After walking across the stage and heading home to change his clothes, he told his parents he’d be out the next day. He didn’t say where he was going or what he was doing and they didn’t ask.

He packed everything he owned, withdrew all the money he’d saved from birthday money to holiday money given by parents and grandparents. It seemed like his family’s tradition. No gifts. Just cash.

That was okay with Rowe. He now had a bank account with six figures that would provide a start for his new life.

“This is for you,” said his father. “We’re very proud of the man you’ve become.” Rowe took the envelope, no card, opened it and saw the check. Fifty thousand dollars.

“It should help pay for tuition,” said his mother. Rowe just nodded.

“Thanks. Enjoy your cruise.” There were no hugs, no crying, no long goodbyes. He went to three graduation parties, finally leaving when he noticed that all three had parents sobbing about their kids leaving the nest. His parents were home picking out cruise wear.

Choosing the Marine Corps felt the wrong decision during boot camp. But when it was all done, Rowe was happier than he’d been in years. He liked the structure and precision of the Corps. He enjoyed being deployed and helping others. And he was good at his job. Very, very good.

So good, in fact, that he was hand-picked for an elite squad. His commander? One of the greatest ever. Grayson Michaels.