Kyle peered through the store opening. It would be the last thing he did before heading to Los Angeles to be shipped off to boot camp. Everything else was ready. There was only one more thing to do.
"I'll take this one."
The flip phone was compact and could fit into the small pocket of Kyle's jeans. He needed this. He needed to be able to talk to her one more time before who knows how long it would be until he's able to reach out. The uncertainty plagued his mind.
Kyle checked out and was eager to use his new cell phone. He had memorized her number so it was just a matter of getting to the hotel in L.A. and then placing a call to her—to hear her voice one last time before dozing off and making his way to San Antonio, Texas.
"I'm ready, mom."
Leah My was a woman of short stature and jet-black hair. She was ready to take her son, Kyle, to the hotel he was staying at until being shipped off. The short, one-hour trip seemed to only span five minutes in her mind. As they approached the hotel, the realization that this may be the last time in a long time she would see her son finally set in.
Kyle opened the door and grabbed his bag as Leah turned on the emergency blinkers. She walked over to give Kyle a hug. After the hug, Kyle turned away to leave, but the realization prompted Leah to pull her son toward her again and give him another hug. Kyle had never seen this side of her. His whole life, he didn't think he mattered much to his mother.
"I love you, my son."
"Love you, too, Mahk."
Kyle walked away and didn't look back. He didn't want anything to sway his resolve in leaving for boot camp or basic military training or whatever it was called. The thought was almost laughable. He would have never in a million years thought he would be enlisting, but it seemed the only way to be independent and to get his father off his back.
"At least I don't have to tell you how to cut your hair!"
That was the last thing Kyle's father said after hearing he had enlisted. He wondered if all parents were this way toward their children. Nevertheless, he pressed on and made his way to his hotel room.
Finally, some peace and quiet. Kyle pulled out his cell phone and began dialing her number—the only girl on his mind: Jeni. The phone started ringing. He began to let the excitement of hearing her voice wash over him.
"Hello…?"
"Hey, it's me."
"Hey! Where are you?"
"I'm at the hotel in LA."
"OK… is this your number?"
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you one more time before heading out."
"…"
"I'll call you whenever I get the chance."
"…"
"I won't turn off this phone so it'll be active even after training is over."
"…I don't want you to go."
"We talked about this. It won't be long…"
"I know… it's just…"
"…It took this long for you to finally realize you like me?"
"I know. I hate it… I'm sorry."
"All I'm saying is that I'm not gonna mess this up."
"Ok..."
"…"
"I'm gonna miss you…"
"I'm gonna miss you, too."
Kyle and Jeni didn't know what else to say to each other.
"I should probably get some rest…"
"…"
"I will call…"
"…"
"It might not be from this number, but I'll call you. You're the only thing at home that I will miss."
"…This just seems like bad-timing."
"I don't know what to say."
"…I'll be thinking of you."
"Good night."
"Good night."
Kyle hung up the phone. All that was left was to shower and then head to bed then a flight in the morning to San Antonio. Six and a half weeks of training, and then he would be part of the United States Air Force. Everything was set in motion. He'd continue his life with Jeni as soon as he was done. Only six and a half weeks in the way.