Redemption
By Andrew R. Jones
We sit on opposite sides of a table in a back
corner booth as Mom makes her way over with the
diner’s famous apple pie.
into the pie and if she doesn’t do the same soon, I
have no problem eating her half.
Finally Chamille takes a bite and tries to
continue talking. It sounds like she mentioned
something about penguins. I’m not sure. She continues to ramble on, but most of it came across like
Charlie Brown’s mom, so I keep eating. After two
weeks of starving my body, this pie has never tasted
better. I’m sure later on I’ll regret eating so quickly.
“Where in the hell you been Aaron, and what’s
with that God awful smell all over you? You look like
you haven’t bathed in weeks.”
“You’re not looking so hot yourself.
come down with a fever?”
“It’s nothing.
Mexican woman as
she walks away.
You
I’m fine,” says the little old
Later on.
Earlier I didn’t have
a later on.
Mom
isn’t
really my mom. I’ve
been coming here
since I was a teenager and even then, it
seemed she had been
a midnight waitress
forever. I’m convinced the tips I’ve
left over the years
put her daughter
through college.
***
On a concrete bench
I sit as the moon
glares from above--a
spotlight for my performance. If all the
world’s a stage, this
is my final act.
Crickets supply an
orchestra of the
world’s smallest violins, playing the world’s saddest song. This bench
is as cold as the death surrounding me. Rows of
tombstones belonging to Warriors of the past line
the grass fields.
She smelled of her usual generic perfume and
the red-framed glasses covered half her face. Her step,
a bit slower and strained. She coughs hard and immediately washes her hands behind the counter. I can’t
help but notice something isn’t right with her.
I’ve performed the ceremonies and handed
the Flag to loved ones of many of these fine men
and women. Fear is nowhere to be found in my
body because these dead are my friends. My brothers.
“Aaron?”
“What?” Her voice brings me back to the table.
I almost forgot she was sitting there.
“Your name’s Aaron. Good to know. I had a
cousin named Aaron. Lived on the Rez until he was
14. We had high hopes for him, but he stole his dad’s
truck one night and ran it into a pole. Crazy things
happen out there. I stay in the city and go to school.
You go to school? I think a higher education is important. My niece is 3 years old and loves kid’s
shows. Some of them are a little weird, but they help
her along. I remember shows when we were kids…”
They are the ones who witnessed the end of
war. Found peace. I envy them and choose to join
their ranks this evening.
Tonight, nightmares stop.
Guilt subsides.
Pain resolves.
Some people would suggest getting right
with God or finding Jesus. Truth is, my faith in
God is strong. After surviving Iraq, I felt He had a
plan for me, or I was meant for something special.
Here we go again. I’ve already begun to dig
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