In a small house in Kentucky a woman stood in her kitchen, making brownies for her grandson’s birthday party. He would be turning four in five days. She was going to pick up her son at the airport tomorrow. He had managed to save up leave for Tommie’s birthday party. Tommie had been so excited that he could finally see his father again. It had nearly brought her to tears when Tommie asked about his mother.

She shoved the thoughts from her mind and continued to stir the batter. Tomorrow was going to be a happy day and nothing was going to ruin it.

Behind her near the front door a small clattering came to her ears. Then someone knocked on the door. When she answered a tall woman was standing there with tear streaked eyes. One look at the tall woman told her all she needed to know. The old woman fell to her knees and cried. The tall woman knelt next to her and placed a small envelope into the old woman’s hands. She quietly said,

“I’m sorry”

Then left. The old woman opened the envelope and pulled out his broken dog tags and a small bloodstained piece of paper. It started, Dear Mom,. Tommie walked behind her and said with all of the innocence of a child,

“Whats wrong grandma?”

She hugged him tight and just said

“I just miss your father is all, nothing more.”

She let him loose and said,

“Go upstairs and play, I have to cook the best dinner ever for my Tommie.”

He ran upstairs to his room while she stood and finished the letter. She stood and closed the door. She walked to the kitchen wondering if her son had died with a friend. He had so few.

Author's Note

Conclusion. All seems right except for the untold scars on any who met him.