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Fall was in the air The light changes in the autule is different, the intensity softened,under water The air was just a few degrees cooler than it had been on previous htlessness, a burst of joy, and I looked at Samuel and let myself smile with it, let it pour out I felt better than I had in a very long time I felt whole, I realized Coo this radical shift? Like soarden -- a place that had been there all along, but had becolect; I’d unlocked the door and stepped inside, and I was ready to pull weeds and plant roses

Samuel must have felt it too, because his white teeth flashed back at olden face My eyes lingered on his face appreciatively, and then I turned again to the dusty dirt road in front of me I knew better than to look away fro I ran face first into horse butt when I did that

As we neared the end of our run,beco sprint we’d maintained for the last mile of the ho; hefor this superhero

Sarandparent’s house, and we slowed to a walk as we arrived atout on the front porch, feet up on the rail, a Diet Pepsi in his hand My dad liked his caffeine cold He called it cheap whiskey and clai pull after he popped the tab I was h I favored Diet Coke

"Looks like ya got yerself a runnin’ partner, Josie Jo," rass towards hiirl does, I felt a flash of relief that my dad see, Daddy" I leaned over the porch rail and grabbed his drink, stealing a swig of ice cold fire

"Sir" Samuel nodded towards my dad and stuck out his hand My dad’s boots fell heavily to the porch as he grasped Saot so at least, huh Josie? I alorry a little with you running all alone Even in a little place like Levan, ya just never know"

I shrugged offbut chiphbors I’d known all my life

"Sa cold to drink, since I’m sure Dad doesn’t really want to share" I s himself with another polite "Sir" to ?" I said overrooe juice, e juice - and yes Definitely a Marine thing I couldn’t not say "yes ma’am" or "no sir" if my life depended on it You live around it for ten years and it becoe juice and handed it to hiulped down my requisite 8 oz of water before I let ainst the counter together, nursing our drinks in thirsty silence

"So what co to face him "I mean, as far as the Marines?"

"I honestly don’t know" Saot back froo-"

"Three weeks?" I yelped, stunned that he had so recently returned "How long were you there?"

"All told, except for some leave stateside, I’ve spent almost three years in Iraq Two 12extended by six months It was time to come home, whatever that means"

"Whatever that means?" I repeated, puzzled

"I don’t really have a home to come home to," Samuel said matter-of-factly "I have been in the Marine Corp since I was 18-years-old I’ve been stationed all over I did two tours in Afghanistan after 9/11, and then did the two tours in Iraq When I haven’t been deployed, I’ve either been receiving specialized training, or stationed at Cah debriefiven a month’s paid leave I’ve stored up more than that in the last ten years; I haven’t taken much I borrowed that truck from a member of my platoon I don’t own any wheels No house, no wheels, all my possessions fit in a suitcase Anyway, it’s been teeks since I got here, and I have about teeksback to Iraq for round three I was exhausted just listening to him

"And then I have to decide" Samuel’s eyeselse" Sa besides the Marine Corp?"

"Yeah" Salass down and pushed hi today?"

He changed the subject abruptly, as if his future was not sohts of his last ten years - wondering at his experiences, his losses and triumphs, his friendships…his life Somehow, because his letters had dwindled after boot cained him in the context of that environment, in the relative safety of ahis every move In actuality, he had spent most of the last ten years in very hostile environerous places I shuddered a little bit, and shook my head in wonder Even when his Grandma Nettie had marveled at his sniper skills and his prowess as an ‘assassin,’ I had not processed the fact that he had most likely spent the majority of his time as a Marine in different war zones