by Denise Calaman

Created on: May 20, 2008   Last Updated: December 29, 2009

The automatic doors of the bus station parted for Teddy as he stepped inside, blowing a warm breath into his frostbitten, cupped hands.  He rubbed his hands together vigorously in order to create a warming friction that would help to thaw them.  Being stationed at Fort Drum, New York you get used to the travel delays but you never get used to how the cold violates your body.    But even the weather couldn’t sour Teddy’s mood today.  It was Christmas Eve and he was going home for the first time in two years since joining the Army straight out of high school. The last time his family saw him was at his boot camp graduation.  He had still been a boy.  Now, after a tour of duty overseas and two years of maturity under his belt, he was excited to see how his family would receive him upon his returning home.  When he left for the Army he had not been on the best of terms with his parents or the neighborhood police department. He was just a kid back then doing what kids do when they’re bored and have no goals. 

He took off his hat and scratched his buzzed head looking for a seat.  There was only one seat available in the overcrowded bus station.  The only seat was in a far corner, beside a man, who had looked like he had seen better days.  His hair was unkempt and wild, standing up all over his head.  He looked like Albert Einstein.  The man’s clothes were filthy and he looked frail.  He had a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.  Teddy reluctantly sat down beside him and dialed his cell phone. 

“Hey Ma.  Just calling to let you know that I probably won’t make it home tonight for dinner.  There’s black ice everywhere and the snow is really piling up.  Tell the family I love ‘em and hopefully I’ll see everyone tomorrow as soon as this God forsaken weather clears up.  I love ya, Ma.”  Teddy held his phone to his lips after leaving a message for his mother.  His thoughts lingered on home for a minute or two.  Lovingly he thought about the warmth of the fireplace that his parents only used during the holidays, his niece’s toothless grin and the excited yelp of the family’s hound dog whenever Teddy walked through the door.

The unkempt stranger sitting beside him rustled the newspaper that he was reading and folded it neatly on his lap.  “Where’s

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>