| David Klovis grew up in Fresno. His father had been in | | | | wept.David pulled his wife to him and shut his eyes |
| the Air Force, loved everything about airplanes and | | | | against the bright heat of his own tears. Stroking her |
| moved his family into a new home within a mile of the | | | | hair he repeated the only thing he was able to utter.... "I |
| airport's runway.David had inherited his father's love of | | | | love you. I love you, Ellie."~~*~~The night before David |
| all things associated with aviation. He never tired of | | | | was to leave he tucked Ginene into bed, sat on the |
| watching the aircraft land and take off--or hearing the | | | | edge of the mattress and studied the drowsy face of |
| growl of the ANG--144th Fighter Wing, F-16 Fighting | | | | his little girl. Images of the day-to-day moments he |
| Falcons.So it was that David had a house built as | | | | shared with his family played out in his thoughts. That is |
| close to the airport as the one he had lived in as a | | | | what he'd miss the most--the simple pleasures that |
| child. At most, it was a ten minute drive from home to | | | | gave life to the heart of him. He shook his head, then |
| work--The Air National Guard. Eight years ago Staff | | | | looked out into the night. Winter's cold breath had |
| Sgt. David Klovis had made a career of the Guard and | | | | frosted the edges of the window. Unawares, David |
| he had never regretted his decision.At thirty years of | | | | shivered.He felt a tug on his sleeve. "Daddy, what's the |
| age he was very satisfied with life. He had a wife, | | | | matter?"David turned to his daughter. "I'm going to be |
| young daughter, and two lovable male Labs--one black, | | | | gone for a while. I'm leaving tomorrow and you and |
| one chocolate. He had a job he enjoyed and going | | | | Mommy will come to the airport to see me off.""Will |
| home at the end of the day was always a pleasure. | | | | you be back before dark? Will you be here to tuck me |
| His wife, Ellie, with her ready smile and welcoming | | | | in at night?" A troubled expression creased her |
| embrace was something he looked forward to. Shortly | | | | brow.David smiled. "I'd love that. But I don't know when |
| after arriving home he'd usually find his daughter, | | | | I'll be able to. Soon, I hope.""Me, too!" She pursed her |
| Ginene, in the backyard with the Labs.The two "boys" | | | | trembling lips. "I don't much like the dark.""Ah, Honey, I |
| and his daughter were inseparable. David had brought | | | | know." He nodded to the Labs. "Hunter and Duncan will |
| the siblings home six months before his daughter was | | | | keep you safe."Ginene looked from the Labs to her |
| born. They were gifts; one for his wife and one for his | | | | dad. She then reached out and hugged her father |
| unborn daughter. Ellie had named them--the black pup | | | | around the neck.~~*~~It had been a splendid spring |
| was Duncan, and the chocolate pup's name was | | | | day. From her swing Ginene watched heavy, fat |
| Hunter.Today they were celebrating their fifth birthday. | | | | clouds with gray bellies traveling west from the Sierras. |
| True, the boys' birthday and Ginene's were six months | | | | The setting sun cast clean, bright light out, limning the |
| apart, but his daughter insisted that their birthdays be | | | | clouds in an orangy glow. A breeze kicked up and |
| observed on the same day, as they were all family in | | | | blew over Ginene like a sigh.Hunter and Duncan were |
| her eyes.He and Ellie had a special evening planned for | | | | tussling on the lawn. They suddenly looked up and |
| Ginene and the boys. A DVD rental, popcorn, and | | | | whined happily.Ginene climbed out of the swing and |
| drinks. David was to get take-out Chinese food for | | | | stood watching the Labs. Curious as to why they |
| dinner. After their meal they'd all gather in the family | | | | were behaving so oddly."My sweet daughter, you |
| room to watch a Disney movie, "Homeward Bound." | | | | have grown some since last I saw you. Oh, how I |
| Ellie was not too big on cake. Neither were the boys. | | | | have missed you."Duncan and Hunter whimpered and |
| Popcorn was everyone's favorite and was a must | | | | wagged their tales. Ginene crossed over to them and |
| when watching a movie. Ice teas or diet colas were | | | | looked around."You two take care of her, will you?" |
| the cool frosty beverages of choice.When the night | | | | The Labs stood, one to each side of Ginene. They |
| wore down and David and Ellie found the little ones | | | | were panting and smiling--their whole bodies wagging |
| snuggled together on the soft carpet, with pillows all | | | | their welcome.Then, with the senses that children and |
| around them... it was time for bed. David went to | | | | a few gifted adults possess, she gazed out toward |
| Ginene and talked quietly to her, while rocking her | | | | the sunset and muttered one word... |
| shoulder in an attempt to awaken her. He ended up | | | | "Daddy?!"~~*~~That morning the global war on |
| pulling his daughter into his arms and carrying her to her | | | | terrorism had claimed the life of many American |
| bedroom. Ellie convinced the boys it was bedtime and | | | | patriots. David was killed in a grenade attack on the |
| directed them to follow her. Reluctant, with sleepy | | | | Iraqi-Kuwait border. His name, rank, and cause of |
| faces on, they shuffled behind.David gently settled his | | | | death would be added to the growing Memorial of |
| daughter into her bed, pulled the covers up to her chin | | | | National Guard men and women who had given their |
| and kissed her warm cheek. Ellie nodded to the boys. | | | | lives for the freedom of strangers.To their family, they |
| They circled three times, then laid down beside | | | | are everything. To their country, they are the blood of |
| Ginene's bed. Within the hour they'd be nestled 'round | | | | the nation. The fiber of integrity, and valor. They are |
| Ginene. All three breathing deep and steady, dreaming | | | | the spirit of freedom and every American should be |
| dreams and sighing contentedly.After changing into his | | | | proud to call them "kin."May your day be blessed, and |
| sleeping clothes, David lumbered into the kitchen and | | | | every day that wakens you anew...~~*~~***~~*~~For |
| prepared a pot of coffee. He pulled out a chair and sat | | | | all the men and women who have served their |
| at the table. He was dearly hoping the coffee would | | | | country, I dedicate this story.Copyright 2005 Kathy |
| clear his mind, anchor his thoughts, so he could sort out | | | | Pippig HarrisI live in central, sunny California, where I |
| the frantic reality that was delivered to his inbox earlier | | | | share my life with my husband and our furry family. I |
| in the day."Honey, something the matter?" Ellie walked | | | | work full time for a living, and I write in order to live |
| over to him and gingerly put her hand on his neck. Her | | | | fully.My works have been featured in many online |
| skin was cool and silky. Her touch, calming. She sat | | | | publications and in traditional print. I am also a weekly |
| down beside him, squeezed his knee reassuringly.His | | | | columnist for the publication "Frank Talk" which is |
| voice was rough, subdued. "I received orders today." | | | | distributed in several counties in the tri-state area of |
| He turned to Ellie. "I'm being sent to Iraq."Ellie drew in a | | | | Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri. I've written four books and |
| quick breath, then bit her lower lip. Her eyes grew wide | | | | my fifth book, "For the Spirit-Soul," a collection of my |
| and gleamed with sudden tears. She nodded, flashed | | | | short stories and poems was recently published. |
| him a weak smile, put her hand to her mouth and | | | | |