” Special duty? What special duty are you talking about. That’s just bullshit.” Marilyn said and spat on the new Turkish carpet that gave the parlor a semi Arabian setting. Gustavo’s years of serving as a personnel in Afghanistan had in a way or two tuned his taste of interior to be blend with those of the Arabs. His marriage of three years had not enjoyed many physical conformity due to the fact that he was always on the move and didn’t think of taking his wife and daughter to a war plagued country so they could enjoy some bonding. Such was the situation for the first three years until eventually, he had a permit to return to Texas and treat his knee injury for a while.
” Life is quite good for us because I’m employed. If I ignore the call of duty, I will be laid of. It’s been two months and my bunched knee is all set and ready to swing into action.” Gustavo said in plea, while trying to calm his wife down. She wasn’t listening. For all she cared, two months resounded to her like two days and it came and left so quickly.
” Oh so I’m to blame cause I’m not employed? You always wanted me to be a full time Housewife. You made me quit my job in the hotel. You should provide and don’t even make a fuss out of it. It’s been ten years of service to the motherland. Quit and get a better job where I don’t have to worry about a bullet piercing through your thick skull!” She said and knocked on the side of her head with the tip of her fingers.
” And what would you have me be? A janitor perhaps or a room steward? My place is in the battlefield. It’s what I’m born for and it’s where I may die. Live with it woman and stop being such a pain. We had two months together. It should mean something to you. Duty now calls and all you do is try to stop me from going.” Said Gustavo as he walked out of the living room and headed to his bedroom. He was clearly loosing his cool and it wasn’t going to be late before he went full military on her.
” Take all the jabs you can take at me. Myself and Erica are following you to Afghanistan if you must go.” She said, and quickly rushed to the room of the three year old child who was sleeping in her court. She scoped her up, smacking the slumber off the sentient of the confused child, and rushed back to bedroom where her husband was.
” Emotional sabotage won’t work here. Put the young lad back to sleep. The both of you are the reason why I go through this regimen year in year out. I want the best life for you two. It’s never about me and you know it.” Gustavo enunciated and began to pack his bag. His mind was made and all he could think of was duty. Erica was either too sleepy or too young to fathom what was happening, she simply rested her head on her mum’s shoulder and refused to care on whatever drama was raging around her.
” Gustavo! Don’t you have a heart. It’s difficult for me living all my life in fear knowing the father of my child can be killed at any moment. It’s not a life I wish for my enemy. Resign from active service if you must work in the military. I’m tired.” She cried out. Her heart breaking the more, with every single item he stacked into his bag. ” Lets see how this mission goes. I’m making no promises but if it goes as planned then I may never have to travel again. He said, and lifted up his khaki hand bag. He sauntered straight to her where she stood in sobbing silence feeling petrified by his doggedness. She was tired of begging, all his missions began with her, pleading to him to abandon the army. They ended with her waiting for him with a giant bouquet of flour at the airport. He was used to her drama and didn’t take it too seriously.
” I love You Honey. Please be safe.” He said and made to hug her. She stepped backwards gazing at him with a hateful eyes that was moist with tears. If she wasn’t going to allow him touch her, then she was not going to allow him touch their daughter.
” Goodbye.” He said and left the room, while the sobs of his wife inversed with the sounds of his footsteps, the fainter his footsteps went, the louder her sobs became.
Days later, Marilyn heard of the news of a very influential man there in Texas who was renowned for solving the problems of the masses even though he took a pound of flesh from them. She heard he was well connected in the state and federal level and lived most of his hours among the masses. She knew quite a few people who could help her in her current situation but getting to them was the problem. After much deliberation, she was convinced that he was her man for the job she had at hand. Yes she wasn’t working but her husbands credit card was always with her and she was at liberty to pay the bills and do all things necessary to maintain a soft life with her daughter. By the next morning, she got a hold of Erica and dropped her at a neighbor’s place. ” Please Alice. I would be out of for an hour or two. Erica doesn’t fare too well on the road. She throws up and falls sick. Is it okay if I keep her here for the said period.” She asked looking all dope in her tight jean trousers and crimson top.
” Oh well. Sure you can. Erica is always welcomed to stay here.” Said Alice, a middle aged Caucasian with three children who she had to fend for by working two jobs. It was already ten in the morning and she still had her pajamas on.
” Thank you Alice. Baby please be of good behavior. I will be out but will be back soon with some candies. Go ahead and play with Mira and Micah.” Said Marilyn after squatting before the three year old Latina.
” Oh sorry one more thing Marilyn. You see it’s just about time for breakfast and I will have to serve some to my little neighbor here. I’m sadly out of extra bread but I can quickly buy some for her if you have some little cash to spare.” Alice said with a smile that brandished her overly yellow teeth.
” Oh yes please. Here. I think I have some change with me. Ah a twenty. This should serve right.” She said and stretched forth a twenty dollar note to Alice after taking it out of her bag.
” Oh mine. It’s much. A ten is good enough.” Said Alice who had already taken hold of the notes in her hands.
” It’s fine. You can get some candies for the kids as well.” She said with a staged smiled and kissed the forehead of Erica who was mostly contented to say nothing.
A hours drive in the Chrysler and she was at a tavern where she had been told that the big man could be found. It was in Bear Creek and wasn’t in a hidden location as she had thought it to be.
” I’m looking for some man Called Gallagher. I was told by the locals that I can find him here.” She said with a smile as he she gazed at the strange looking fellow at the door. He was wearing a faded leather jacket which was unzipped to expose his wrinkly hairy stomach, a red scarf was tied across his neck with a greater part of it descending to cover his very flat chest. The jean trouser he wore was slightly oversize and out of fashion even though it wasn’t as dirty as his tobacco scarred teeth. He had a long and narrow face with a thick hairy brow and big red lips that were as cracked as the crater’s of the canyons. His eyes seemed to be in a constant peek as they were always narrowed than opened. His long nose was pointed slightly the heavens as were the tips of his giant black boots.
” The boss huh?” He spoke in an overly slow tone. “Sorry to disappoint you but even when you find the boss he is the one finding you.” Said The lanky fellow, in what Marilyn agreed to be the most lifeless tone she had heard in many years. The held on firm to a dying cigarette who was so smoked out that it’s base was almost burning his fingers.
” Okay yes. Can I see him please.” She asked again, feeling rather dumbfounded by the hullabaloo of the strange fellow before her.
” Just wait. I will inform him that one of those fine Latinas is here to see him.” Said the dude and placed within his lips, the dying cigarettes which was now as short as a seed if beans. He Dragged it so horrendously, that it made Marilyn cringe. He held the unburnt part of the cigar with the tip of his fingers and gazed at it, contemplating if it was safe enough to place it between his lips again for one last drag. Convinced that he could drag but get burnt in the process. He called it a day and flung the burning fold away before abruptly turning to inform his boss of the visitor before him. A step away away from her and quickly made a circular turn back at her.
” Do you have a name I can call for the boss. Or is Latina just okay.” He asked her but had his eyes on the meadow like she was standing an acre away.
” Mrs. Marilyn Gustavo.” She stuttered and clutched tightly to her bag.
” Mrs. then. Just a minute.” He said and made another turn before slowly walking into the entrance of the building.
” Please come in ma. The boss would see you now. ” Said the fellow and still had his eyes on the meadow. So shocking it was to Marilyn that she had to turn around just to make sure he was talking to her. There was no one but herself in sight.
” Don’t spend your lifetime looking around while the boss awaits you.” He reaffirmed_ his eyes still stuck at the far distance.
” Yes please. Yes! “She said and hurried into the Tavern. To meet a shocking revelation that almost gave her an eyesore.