Sunlight filtered through my kitchen window and the sounds of children’s laughter came through the window. Four months after moving to Marietta, Mera and I had built our new life. I was working on publishing my first book, and Mera was going to Pre-K every morning. She had lots of little friends in the neighborhood, and they spent the last days of summer outside.
I sat at the kitchen table with my laptop, chatting with ArmyDaughter and writing another scene for my Wattpad book. I heard the mail truck drive by, and I got up to check it. It was sunny outside, and Mera ran around our front yard with Emmy and Liza, two kids from up the street. Our mailbox was full with envelopes, and I struggled to fit them all in my arms as I made my way back into the air-conditioned house. Tossing the mail on the table without a second glance, I sat down again, only to get up immediately after hearing a thump as a particularly large envelope hit the table. I picked it up out of the stack and read the return address. California. Was it something from home? Curiosity gnawing at my insides, I opened the envelope.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW5ikIQ2rg
To Colonel Benjamin Anderson,416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkYCxeVzPZ
Recent events considered, your battalion has been requested in Iran for the duration of nine weeks to train a legion of Arab soldiers. More information to follow…
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AiBn2y4Bb
I dropped the paper back onto the table, and sat down with my head in my hands. They were sending me back, for nine weeks. How was I going to explain this to Mera? Who was going to take care of her while I was gone? It had been almost five years since my last mission, why now? I closed my eyes and tried to wish it all away.
“Hello?” a voice sounded through the house, “Mr. Anderson?”
“In the kitchen,” I replied, not looking up.
Footsteps, and then someone entered the kitchen.
“Are you alright Mr. Anderson?” the voice said, “I was just coming to get some water.”
I looked up; Emmy was standing in the center of the kitchen, looking concerned.
“What’s up?” she said as she sat down across from me.
“I’m being deported,” I said, “In three weeks, for nine weeks.”
Emmy nodded, she knew what that meant, she was a writer and one of her favorite characters was a soldier. She had done a lot of research to make him as accurate as possible.
“Well,” she said, “I may not be a grownup, but we’ll all chip in and take care of Mera. Just say the word and we’re ready.”
I smiled, grateful of her eagerness to help, but I had another idea.
“We’ll see,” I said, “I’ll set it up.”
Emmy nodded and left the kitchen to go back outside. I opened up the chat, AD was still on.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD4dxm62Sx
CaptainDad07: Can I ask you a favor?416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp3ezeOHHF
ArmyDaughter01: Sure416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfC5dAfBOP
CD: I’m being deported to Iran for nine weeks, and I need someone to take care of Mera.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUwk1esOAP
AD: You’re asking me? You’ve never even met me416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUMRDWWeZy
CD: Now’s a good a time as any
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtaF1HuQS6
We set up a time to meet each other, and I logged off.
_______________________
Suddenly, it was Saturday. I woke up feeling like crap and found Mera in the exact same state. Feeling bad to cancel our get together, I chatted AD and told her we could reschedule it. The only problem; she wasn’t free until three days before I had to drop Mera off. But I had already decided to leave her with AD. The only problem was telling Mera that I was leaving.
“Hey girl,” I said, “Daddy needs to tell you something.”
Mera looked up from her coloring book and stared intently at me.
“What?” she asked innocently
“Daddy has to go on a trip for a little while, and you're going to stay with Daddy’s friend,” I explained, “She’s really nice and you’ll have lots of fun. And Daddy will be back before you know it.”
Mera nodded, “You leave and right come back?” she asked
I nodded, “Yes sweetie, I’ll right come back.”
Mera smiled and turned back to her coloring. She was just so small and innocent, and I felt awful leaving her for such a long period of time.
________________________
Before I knew it, it was time for me to leave. AD and I had planned to meet at the airport and do a hand-off. I packed Mera’s suitcase and my suitcase, and the two of us set out to the airport. Emmy’s dad drove us, so I didn’t have to leave my car at the airport, and dropped us off with a ‘Good Luck’ and a ‘Have Fun’. I checked in my bags and walked Mera to the restaurant I had planned to meet AD at. Once there, I signed on to the chat on my phone and chatted her.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJYfulcYTq
CaptainDad07: I’m here. Sitting at the table by the door, there’s a little blonde girl with me.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2fJSvIils
ArmyDaugher01: I see you, coming over now.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu1nayGOtA
A second later, Beth Jackson walked up to my table and held her hand out.
“ArmyDaugher01, at your service,” she said, “I’m Beth.”
I looked up, and her eyes widened as she saw my face.
“Ben,” she said, “You’re CaptainDad?”
I nodded, “In the flesh.”
Beth blushed, a lot. But she composed herself quickly and smiled.
“Well who is this?” she said to Mera, who looked up from her coloring page and grinned at Beth.
“I’m Mera,” she said sweetly, “And you’re Daddy’s friend right?”
Beth nodded, “I’ll be taking care of you while your Daddy is gone,” she said, “Is that okay?”
Mera gave her the once-over, and nodded. “Yes,” she decided.
Beth turned to me, “She’s adorable,” she said, “You’re a good dad.”
I smiled slightly and handed Beth a sheet of paper.
“Here are some basic instructions,” I said, “Mera is allergic to any seafood of any kind, and she is allowed to watch Harry Potter.”
Beth pumped her fist in the air triumphantly.
“Here’s the key to my house and the alarm code. Go on in if you need anything. I’m not sure when I’ll have Internet but I’ll chat you when I do.”
Beth nodded again, “I’ll be fine Ben. I’ve babysat tons of kids before.”
I sighed, still a little frazzled that Beth was the girl I had been talking to online for years. Beth didn’t show it, but I knew her too well not to see that she was frazzled as well.
“FLIGHT B-10 TO FRANCE, BOARDING IN TEN.”
I stood up, “That’s my flight,” I said, “Come here baby girl,”
Mera hopped down and hugged me tightly.
“You be good Daddy and right come back,” she said, “Okay?”
I nodded, feeling close to tears, “I’ll be right back.”
“Bye ladies,” I said, “Be good.”
I picked up my things and turned around to walk out.
“Ben,” Beth said, “Wait.”
I stopped and turned around. Beth walked forward and hugged me tightly.
“It’s good to have you back,” she said into my jacket, “I missed you, and I’m not angry at you anymore.”
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged back.
“I missed you too,” I said, “See you in nine weeks. ”
We pulled away, and I walked to my flight.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn5UtLGT7V
While sitting on that plane, millions of emotions were running through my head. Beth, she was ArmyDaughter01.
We had been talking online for four years…and I had almost fallen in love with her.
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