The Storm

“Why did you do it in the first place, Henry?” I asked. “It was because I was a patriotic young American and talk of what was happenin' in Southeast Asia sparked my attention. I deployed on several operations and then returned home.” I asked Henry, “Where were you living when you came back?” Henry responded, “I kind of dropped off the face of the earth and married and settled down with my girlfriend, Sharon, in Knoxville, TN. She divorced me six months later and walked out on me, so I headed out here and bought the old family house in Ruby and just dropped off the radar. I’ve been fishin' ever since and didn’t want to connect with anybody." Then I asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, why did she leave you, Henry?” “Nightmares, Zach, nightmares,” Henry r esponded. “I'd wake up fightin' and almost hurt her one night. I don’t blame her at all. I knew I could not safely have her by me when I re- lived operational events. It was mutual.” “Did you love her, Henry,” I asked. “Still do,” Henry answered. “Always wi ll, but just like this river, life just rolls on and you have to roll with it. I’m an old man now, and she was several years younger, and I wouldn’t even know how to contact her. I wouldn’t anyway. I have nothin' to offer but an old house, an old boat, and an old man.” Gunny Sanders walked in with hot coffee filling the room with a comforting aroma. “Okay, gentlemen. Let’s get down to business.” Henry looked relieved at the chance to get away frommy questioning him about his personal life. I turned my attention to Gunny. Gunny poured the coffee and handed us both a hot cup of Louisiana “mud”, as they call it. “Okay Kid, you ready?” “Ready Gunny,” I responded with my notebook computer in hand and took a deep breath. Gunny

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