Shadows of Shelly

Brit - The Assignment 9b

NINE-b

Brit – The Assignment

After the Cadet First Class Ball you will be assigned Temporary Duty (TDY) to Thailand as Commander of an Elite Squadron of Thai Front Line Guard. They are composed of Chinese defectors, with an international group of mercenaries all of whom are former Thai prisoners, and are trained as Masters of FF. Your ability to speak fluent Chinese, Russian, English and Thai make you a perfect fit for the job.

And your status as fourth place in the Fraternal Fear affords the probability that you will not get killed by your own men. You are highly regarded by the Thai people, and hero of children world-wide who read comic books, with your fighting name, SMOOTH THUNDER.

You will lead three Stealth Lockheed C-130JX8s into a yet to be determined secret location. Free prisoners from a make-shift penal facility destroy the interment structure and fly them to Chiang Mai. Are there any questions?"

"Yes Sir! Who will instruct my students while I am gone?"

"You have received the files of two Doctoral Candidates who have taught exploratory engineering classes at the University of Illinois. They are already on campus and will meet with you after our meeting adjourns. Also, the model they taught under is from the guide you developed for your program.

One of the graduate assistants has converted your notes into a textbook that has sold thousands of copies through universities and engineering schools around the world."

"Any other questions?"

"How long will I be gone?"

"Two to five weeks. General Olander will brief you with the details. Brit do you need a couple of days to think about it?"

"No Sir, I will be honored to serve anyway I can. Sir, may I ask you an unrelated question?"

"Yes, you may Brit!"

"Sir! Did my Mom and Dad finance the endowment for my professorship?"

"I am not at liberty to answer that question."

Momma yelled, "You might as well tell him."

"Yes, your Mom and Dad along with your uncles Jerry Lee, John, Bobby, their wives and a dozen corporations funded your chair. However, I recommended you to the promotion board who presented your name to the Department of Defense. The Director included it with a list sent to the President. He approved you to be promoted to Major.

The President on down want to keep you from leaving the Air Force. Sizeable companies and universities have offered you large salaries to come to work for them. The part from your family was only a small token to what others contributed. Some of the same ones that offered you ten times the salary you will receive from the Air Force underwrote most of the endowment.

Yes, you will receive promotions with the minimum time in grade because you save the government and corporate structures millions of dollars a year. The ideas from you and your classes are like gold. Money is not only saved, but new products fuel the economy. Unless there are questions we will adjourn to the finger foods in the clerk's office."

"General Green, thank you very much!"

Mom squeezed me, and Dad shook my hand. Congratulations and embracing were received by me! Shelly looked at me and walked away. Something tugged at my heart. I called, "Shelly!" She stopped, turned and slowly walked toward me. I motioned with my arms to give me a hug. There was indecision in her eyes as tears rolled from her face.

Was she going twist around and flee? No, each step was a struggle for her to move in my direction. Her focus went to the floor as she carefully draped her arms around my neck. Shelly's whole body was violently rattling as her words burst forth from her mouth, "I'm SORRY!"

The shaking increased. I thought she was about to collapse when her legs folded. My vision was obscured when enormous teardrops gushed from my eyes. I blubbered, "Sweetheart, I'M SORRY TOO. DON'T YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU?" Her tears immediately disappeared, the frown flipped, and the hold around my neck tightened. Her face sparkled. She kissed me with massive passion. Giggling sprang forth like a little kid receiving her favorite piece of candy.

O my, my, my! That must have erupted from somewhere deep. Love unleashed the power to forgive. Anger had suppressed it. Momma laughed, Aunt Nang Chom said, "I knew it all along." Uncle Jerry Lee added, "For a smart boy, you had a bad case of dumb mule headedness." Daddy edges in, "It's about time!" Uncle John quietly mumbled, "Now, what you 'gonna' do about it?" I gape at Shelly and returned her kiss stronger and more inflamed.

General and Mrs. Green were puzzled, and asked, "What just happened? Momma said, "Boy loves girl, but did not realize it until now." Both smiled with a shrewd smirk