Chapter Forty-One

PHILLIP

March

"AMERICA!" Men shouted as they practically ran off the bus of soldiers returning home to Oklahoma. Philip was amongst the men who seemed more than well. The last to exit would be the men who lost limbs and couldn't walk. Bernard, who was being assisted by Philip, would have been one of the men without a leg but God gave him a permanent limp instead.

"We made it man! We're god damn alive!" Philip smiled at Bernard who was jumping around on his injured leg without a care in the world. "We hit the bar then go to your house. What do you say?"

Philip nodded as he watched people sprawl out to different buildings. Just when he was about to enter a phone booth, he saw two men fighting it out right outside the bar. One in their army clothes and the other appeared to be a bartender. Bernard rushed over to Philip who was equally confused.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Philip wondered out loud. The vet lost the fight when he was thrown into the street. "What the hell are you doing man!" Philip ran up to the bartender. "He fought for you! You ungrateful fuck!" The man then cooked up a large wad of spit that landed right on Philip's shoe. Philip looked down at the disgusting mess and his face turned red immediately.

Bernard grabbed his friend who was as stiff as a board in preparation to throw a punch that would land him in jail. "Philip! Look around, man!" What was thought to be cheers and screams of joy were actually insults being thrown at his fellow soldiers by anyone walking on the street. Even bar owners were outside causing a fuss. "They don't like us, Phil."

A long walk home left both boys tired and out of breath especially with their large bags on their back. Philip dropped his things on the sidewalk just so he could run up the steps and greet his family with open arms. Before he could even reach the door, his mother, grey streaks in her hair, opened it for him. She looked stressed out but her glowing face came back when she saw Philip's face.

"Oh my God!" She fell into her son's arms due to her knees giving out on her. "Harry! Roy! Annabelle!" Despite her screaming in his left ear, Philip held on to her tighter than ever. "Oh my God! My baby! I knew it! I saw the news, Phil! I knew you'd come back home to me!" Her tears stained his uniform but no one seemed to care.

The sound of more feet stomping down the stairs caused Philip to snap his eyes open. Roy was standing by the door with his jaw on the ground. Harry was trying his best to get down the stairs that he almost tripped over himself.

"Damn it, Veronica. Move out the way and give someone else a chance." She let her son go and her embrace was relaxed with his fathers large arms. "Philip?" He hummed at his dad. "I believed in you, son. Everyday... I believed in you."

Philip almost died at the sound of that but a little grip on his leg made him straighten himself up. He didn't want his little sister to see him sad. "Annabelle!" Philip cheered as he threw her into the air. She screamed and giggled when her little body finally pressed up against his chest.

"I missed you, Philip!" He was surprised she even knew who he was, but that was the whole reason of him sending them pictures.

Last was Roy. He wasted no time slamming into his brother when Annabelle stepped out of the way. "I hated being the man of the house!" Philip laughed as he hugged his brother tighter. "But look at you, dude. I thought you'd be a bag of bones forever. And when is the last time you shaved that rat off your face."

Philip pushed his brother's shoulder. "Oh yeah? But I had no problem getting the ladies."

"Philip?" His mother called out over the joking around. "And who is this?" Everyone turned to face Bernard who waved awkwardly at the family. "You've brought a friend?"

"Oh... yeah. If you don't mind. Bernard will be staying with us for a while until we find our own place and move out."

Veronica almost choked. "Moving out?! Philip, you two just got out of the worst thing the government could ever put you through. You shouldn't be thinking about moving out."

Harry raised a hand up causing her to close her mouth quickly. "Now, Veronica. Philip is a man now. He can do whatever he pleases. If he wants to move out then let him. All we can do is provide him a safe home until that time comes. Right?" Philip nodded proudly.

Roy jumped up in excitement. "Can we go for a ride while mom cooks dinner?" Philip looked at Veronica who nodded her head. "All right! I want to hear about how Bernard got that cool ass limp. Like what'd you have to do?" Bernard started blabbing his mouth the second Roy led him to the car.

Philip picked up both of their bags to take them to the house. "Philip..." His mother whispered in a begging tone as he walked past her.

"You know it's what he wants." They both looked at Harry as he examined Roy's car to make sure his son wasn't driving reckless on the roads. "I don't want to fight anymore."