• 'hello?" came the sound of the voice at the other end of the phone. it was a sweet voice, one whose voice made me feel weak inside. it was my wife, Rose.
    "hi hon, its michael." i replied softly. " i just got back to the base and wanted to call and see how you and the girls are."
    "oh im so glad you called! the girls and i are fine. we all miss you very much. how was your day?"
    that question made me jump. my day!! how could i tell her how my day went? i could just come out and say 'oh it was good. i just watched a building blow up with innocent people inside' or 'not bad, we raided a house today and were almost killed.' none of those things seemed right to tell her.
    so all i said was, "my day was interesting, but i cant telll you the details right now, later i will if you want me to but not now."
    "ok. i miss you so much. i just wish you could be home again so we could all be together. Marina and Noelle ask about you everyday. our little girls dont know you that well and it breaks my heart."
    the sadness in her voice brought tears to my eyes and i let them fall. all i could do was say. "i will be home soon i promise. and we'll go on a family vacation somewhere special so we can spend time together."
    "im sure that will make the girls very happy. maybe we could go to disney or something."
    while she was talking i heard a soft voice in the background say, "mommy whose on the phone? can i talk?"
    "its daddy noelle."
    "DADDY!" came a shriek. "daddy hi daddy. i miss you. when are you coming home? can i wear your helmet again? oh please daddy." my little girl shouted into the phone.
    "hi to you too noelle. of course you can wear my helmet." as i sat there a song popped into my head that i had heard when i was last home. once again i started to cry.
    "oh daddy dont cry please. dont worry we'll see eachother soon. heres marina she wants to say hi. oh and daddy i love you lots and lots."
    "bye sweety be a good girl for mommy. i love you too."
    "i will"
    "hi daddy" says my other daughter marina.
    "hi marina darling. have you and noelle been good girls for mommy?"
    "yes we have. oh guess what!! mommy said we could get a puppy when you get home! can we pretty please?"
    "of course. you and noelle can pick the puppy out."
    "yay!! ok mommy wants to talk again. i love you daddy."
    " i love you too."
    "michael? we dont have to get a dog."
    "its ok, the girls will be happy if we get one. so how have you been? are you doing ok?"
    "yes im fine. very worried and tired but fine. im really worried about you darling. every time the phone rings i dread the worst."
    i was about to answer, give her a reassuring answer when i looked up and saw a boy. he looks at me and quietly says, "sir im sorry but the commander needs you."
    i sigh and say ok.
    "rose sweetheart, i have to go. i will call soon. be strong and keep your chin up. everything will be fine. i will be home soon. i love you."
    "i love you too darling. be careful."
    and with that the line went dead.