Chapter 2: The Promise He Never Spoke About
Colonel Reed pulled a chair closer to Samuel.
"Sir, may I tell them?""
Samuel looked down at his hands.
"There's nothing a chair closer to Samuel.
"Sir, may I tell them?""
Samuel looked down at his hands.
"There's nothing much to tell.""
"Respectfully, Mr. Hayes, I think there is.""
The colonel turned toward the audience.
much to tell.""
"Respectfully, Mr. Hayes, I think there is.""
The colonel turned toward the audience.
"My father, Captain Daniel Reed, served alongside Sergeant First Class Samuel Hayes during an overseas deployment in"My father, Captain Daniel Reed, served alongside Sergeant First Class Samuel Hayes during an overseas deployment in the late 1970s.""
A few older veterans in the audience leaned forward.
"My father rarely spoke about his service. But when he did, he always the late 1970s.""
A few older veterans in the audience leaned forward.
"My father rarely spoke about his service. But when he did, he always mentioned one man.""
Colonel Reed looked at Samuel.
"He called him the reason he was alive.""
Samuel mentioned one man.""
Colonel Reed looked at Samuel.
"He called him the reason he was alive.""
Samuel closed his eyes.
The memory returned with painful clarity.
He was twenty-nine again.
The closed his eyes.
The memory returned with painful clarity.
He was twenty-nine again.
The air was thick with dust, and the evening sky had turned the color of burnt orange. A radio crackled inside air was thick with dust, and the evening sky had turned the color of burnt orange. A radio crackled inside a temporary command post while young soldiers hurried between vehicles.
Captain Daniel Reed stood over a map.
"Hayes, tell a temporary command post while young soldiers hurried between vehicles.
Captain Daniel Reed stood over a map.
"Hayes, tell me what you see.""
Samuel pointed to a narrow road.
"An ambush waiting to happen.""
Daniel laughed.
"You always assume the worst.""
"That's me what you see.""
Samuel pointed to a narrow road.
"An ambush waiting to happen.""
Daniel laughed.
"You always assume the worst.""
"That's why we're still breathing, Captain.""
Daniel folded the map.
"One day, that pessimism of why we're still breathing, Captain.""
Daniel folded the map.
"One day, that pessimism of yours is going to save my life.""
Samuel shook his head.
"One day, that confidence of yours is going yours is going to save my life.""
Samuel shook his head.
"One day, that confidence of yours is going to get you killed.""
They both laughed.
Those had been easier days.
Before everything changed.
Back to get you killed.""
They both laughed.
Those had been easier days.
Before everything changed.
Back in the auditorium, Colonel Reed continued.
"My father told me about a mission that went wrong. His unit was trapped, communications in the auditorium, Colonel Reed continued.
"My father told me about a mission that went wrong. His unit was trapped, communications had failed, and the extraction route was compromised.""
He paused.
"According to his account, Sergeant Hayes went back into the danger zone after being ordered to withdraw.""
Samuel shifted un had failed, and the extraction route was compromised.""
He paused.
"According to his account, Sergeant Hayes went back into the danger zone after being ordered to withdraw.""
Samuel shifted uncomfortably.
"Daniel was injured. I wasn't going to leave him.""
"How many men were withcomfortably.
"Daniel was injured. I wasn't going to leave him.""
"How many men were with him?"" someone asked from the audience.
Samuel looked toward the voice.
"Seven.""
"And how him?"" someone asked from the audience.
Samuel looked toward the voice.
"Seven.""
"And how many came home?""
"All seven.""
The colonel nodded.
"My father said you carried him almost a mile before the evacuation many came home?""
"All seven.""
The colonel nodded.
"My father said you carried him almost a mile before the evacuation team reached your position.""
Samuel shook his head.
"He was exaggerating.""
Colonel Reed gave a faint team reached your position.""
Samuel shook his head.
"He was exaggerating.""
Colonel Reed gave a faint smile.
"That's exactly what he said about you.""
The audience laughed softly.
But the colonel wasn't finished.
"My father also told me about something smile.
"That's exactly what he said about you.""
The audience laughed softly.
But the colonel wasn't finished.
"My father also told me about something that happened after the mission.""
He looked at Samuel.
"You gave him your word.""
Samuel's expression changed.
"Colon that happened after the mission.""
He looked at Samuel.
"You gave him your word.""
Samuel's expression changed.
"Colonel, perhaps we should leave that part alone.""
"Why?""
"Because it was between two soldiers.""
Colonel Reed noddedel, perhaps we should leave that part alone.""
"Why?""
"Because it was between two soldiers.""
Colonel Reed nodded respectfully.
Then he looked at the audience.
"My father died eleven years ago. Before he passed, he gave me a small respectfully.
Then he looked at the audience.
"My father died eleven years ago. Before he passed, he gave me a small envelope. Inside was a photograph of two young men standing beside a military vehicle.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a envelope. Inside was a photograph of two young men standing beside a military vehicle.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded photograph.
"I have carried it ever since.""
He held it up.
The image appeared on the large screen folded photograph.
"I have carried it ever since.""
He held it up.
The image appeared on the large screen behind the stage.
Two young soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder.
One was Samuel.
The other was a behind the stage.
Two young soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder.
One was Samuel.
The other was a smiling Daniel Reed.
Jordan stared at the screen.
He had never seen his grandfather so young.
He had smiling Daniel Reed.
Jordan stared at the screen.
He had never seen his grandfather so young.
He had never known the man in the photograph had existed.
His grandfather looked completely different. His shoulders were broad, his uniform never known the man in the photograph had existed.
His grandfather looked completely different. His shoulders were broad, his uniform immaculate, and his eyes full of confidence.
But it was unmistakably Samuel.
Denise leaned forward.
"That's impossible.""
Jordan turned toward her.
"What?""
"Nothing.""
"Mom immaculate, and his eyes full of confidence.
But it was unmistakably Samuel.
Denise leaned forward.
"That's impossible.""
Jordan turned toward her.
"What?""
"Nothing.""
"Mom, what do you know about this?""
She stared at the stage.
"Not now,, what do you know about this?""
She stared at the stage.
"Not now, Jordan.""
Colonel Reed held up the photograph.
"On the back, my father wrote something. I'd like to read it.""
He Jordan.""
Colonel Reed held up the photograph.
"On the back, my father wrote something. I'd like to read it.""
He unfolded a small piece of paper.
His voice softened.
"'To unfolded a small piece of paper.
His voice softened.
"'To Sam Hayes. The man who brought me home when I had already accepted that I would die there. If my boy Sam Hayes.
The man who brought me home when I had already accepted that I would die there. If my boy ever grows old enough to understand what courage looks like, tell him to find you.''"
The ever grows old enough to understand what courage looks like, tell him to find you.''"
The auditorium fell silent.
Samuel looked away.
Colonel Reed continued.
"My father wanted me to meet you.""
Samuel swallowed.
"I wish auditorium fell silent.
Samuel looked away.
Colonel Reed continued.
"My father wanted me to meet you.""
Samuel swallowed.
"I wish I'd known.""
"So do I, sir.""
The colonel lowered the paper.
"After his death, I spent I'd known.""
"So do I, sir.""
The colonel lowered the paper.
"After his death, I spent years trying to locate you. Records had changed. Addresses were outdated. Your old unit had been reorganized.""
He smiled sadly.
"I thought I'd never find you.""
years trying to locate you. Records had changed. Addresses were outdated. Your old unit had been reorganized.""
He smiled sadly.
"I thought I'd never find you.""
Samuel rubbed his thumb against the edge of his medal.
"I moved around quite a bit after retirement.""
"Where have you been living?""
"Same littleSamuel rubbed his thumb against the edge of his medal.
"I moved around quite a bit after retirement.""
"Where have you been living?""
"Same little house outside town for twenty years.""
Colonel Reed laughed softly.
"Then I should have looked harder.""
For the house outside town for twenty years.""
Colonel Reed laughed softly.
"Then I should have looked harder.""
For the first time that morning, Samuel smiled.
Jordan watched him.
He remembered that house.
The small kitchen where first time that morning, Samuel smiled.
Jordan watched him.
He remembered that house.
The small kitchen where his grandfather made pancakes every Saturday. The garage where they repaired bicycles. The old wooden his grandfather made pancakes every Saturday.
The garage where they repaired bicycles. The old wooden workbench where Samuel had helped him build his first science project.
He remembered being twelve and crying after his father left.
workbench where Samuel had helped him build his first science project.
He remembered being twelve and crying after his father left.
Samuel had sat beside him until sunrise.
He remembered the college application fee that his mother said the family couldn't afford.
His grandfather had quietly paid it.
He remembered the nights SamuelSamuel had sat beside him until sunrise.
He remembered the college application fee that his mother said the family couldn't afford.
His grandfather had quietly paid it.
He remembered the nights Samuel drove forty minutes to bring him dinner when he was studying for examinations.
And now Jordan was looking at a man whose entire life seemed to contain drove forty minutes to bring him dinner when he was studying for examinations.
And now Jordan was looking at a man whose entire life seemed to contain chapters he had never bothered to read.
Colonel Reed turned toward the graduates.
"Today, each of you will receive chapters he had never bothered to read.
Colonel Reed turned toward the graduates.
"Today, each of you will receive recognition for your achievements. But remember this: you didn't reach this stage alone.""
His gaze settled on Jordan.
recognition for your achievements. But remember this: you didn't reach this stage alone.""
His gaze settled on Jordan.
"Some people sacrifice their comfort so someone else can have an opportunity.""
Jordan lowered his"Some people sacrifice their comfort so someone else can have an opportunity.""
Jordan lowered his head.
The ceremony continued, but the atmosphere had changed.
When the graduates were called to receive their certificates, Samuel remained head.
The ceremony continued, but the atmosphere had changed.
When the graduates were called to receive their certificates, Samuel remained seated at the front.
Colonel Reed insisted.
"You're staying here, sir.""
"I don't want to take anyone else's seated at the front.
Colonel Reed insisted.
"You're staying here, sir.""
"I don't want to take anyone else's place.""
"Nobody is giving you a place, Mr. Hayes. You earned it.""
Jordan's name was called.
"Cad place.""
"Nobody is giving you a place, Mr. Hayes. You earned it.""
Jordan's name was called.
"Cadet Jordan Hayes.""
He stepped forward.
The colonel handed him his certificate and shook his hand.
"Congratulations, Cadet.""
"Thanket Jordan Hayes.""
He stepped forward.
The colonel handed him his certificate and shook his hand.
"Congratulations, Cadet.""
"Thank you, sir.""
Then Colonel Reed glanced toward Samuel.
"Your grandfather must be proud.""
Jordan's mouth went dry you, sir.""
Then Colonel Reed glanced toward Samuel.
"Your grandfather must be proud.""
Jordan's mouth went dry.
"Yes, sir.""
"Make sure he knows that.""
Jordan nodded.
But when he looked toward Samuel.
"Yes, sir.""
"Make sure he knows that.""
Jordan nodded.
But when he looked toward Samuel, the old man was watching him with an expression Jordan couldn't understand.
It wasn't anger.
It was something more painful, the old man was watching him with an expression Jordan couldn't understand.
It wasn't anger.
It was something more painful.
Disappointment mixed with love.
After the ceremony, families flooded the stage area.
Phones.
Disappointment mixed with love.
After the ceremony, families flooded the stage area.
Phones flashed. Flowers changed hands. Graduates hugged parents and grandparents.
Denise approached Colonel Reed.
"Sir flashed. Flowers changed hands. Graduates hugged parents and grandparents.
Denise approached Colonel Reed.
"Sir, that was a wonderful speech.""
"Thank you.""
She smiled brightly.
"My father has always been a little, that was a wonderful speech.""
"Thank you.""
She smiled brightly.
"My father has always been a little private about his military days.""
Colonel Reed studied her.
"Private, or simply never asked private about his military days.""
Colonel Reed studied her.
"Private, or simply never asked?""
Denise's smile faltered.
"Excuse me?""
The colonel didn't answer.
Instead, he turned to Samuel.
"Sir,?""
Denise's smile faltered.
"Excuse me?""
The colonel didn't answer.
Instead, he turned to Samuel.
"Sir, would you join me for lunch? I'd like to hear more about my father.""
Samuel nodded.
"Of course.""
Denise stepped forward.
"Actually, would you join me for lunch? I'd like to hear more about my father.""
Samuel nodded.
"Of course.""
Denise stepped forward.
"Actually, we have a family gathering planned.""
Colonel Reed looked at her.
"Then perhaps the family should come.""
Jordan glanced at we have a family gathering planned.""
Colonel Reed looked at her.
"Then perhaps the family should come.""
Jordan glanced at his mother.
Her fingers tightened around her purse.
"That won't be necessary," she said.
The colonel's expression remained his mother.
Her fingers tightened around her purse.
"That won't be necessary," she said.
The colonel's expression remained polite.
But something in his eyes had changed.
"Mrs. Hayes, I believe it is polite.
But something in his eyes had changed.
"Mrs. Hayes, I believe it is necessary.""
Then he reached into his folder and removed another document.
"There's one more thing I need to ask your father necessary.""
Then he reached into his folder and removed another document.
"There's one more thing I need to ask your father.""
He placed the document on the table.
Samuel looked at it.
His face went pale.
Because at the.""
He placed the document on the table.
Samuel looked at it.
His face went pale.
Because at the top of the page was a name he hadn't heard in more than thirty years.
And beneath it was a sentence that made him whisper:
"Where did top of the page was a name he hadn't heard in more than thirty years.
May you like
And beneath it was a sentence that made him whisper:
"Where did you get this?""
