Page 52 of Forever Flustered

Maybe I should say something like Bode did - and get kicked out…

“See, in the military, we’re a large community, but word gets around,” Bradford began, his voice hushed but powerful, like he was enjoying this a little too much – and shouldn’t be. “People make friends, we remember faces, call signs, we bump into other people at other duty stations… and that becomes a weird, misshapen, dysfunctional family – and with your brother, I’m sure you understand what I mean.”

Eli glared at the other man, biting his tongue to keep his job – but Bradford chuckled. He actually laughed at Eli for a moment, before pointing at him.

“You’re going to have to work on that face,” Bradford said simply. “See, that glare comes with confidence… and frankly, you can’t pull it off. There’s a soft spot in you that I see, and others do too.”

And. Here. We. Go…

Unemployment – here I come – in three… two… one…

“But I got an unexpected phone call four days ago that shocked the heck out of me,” Bradford said, leaning forward a little further. “A good friend of mine put his neck out for you – and claims that you’d be an incredible recruiter for the Air Force, given that you only have six months left on your initial contract.”

Wait - what?

Eli froze.

The unspoken questions hung there in his brain as he stared at his boss, waiting. Bradford chuckled, withdrew a piece of paper from his uniform pocket, and opened it slowly before laying it down on Eli’s desk – directly on top of the stack of papers he’d been working on.

Re-enlistment papers.

He was being offered two more years, the lowest reenlistment bonus that he’d ever seen… in Tyler, Texas. His eyes shot to Bradford’s as the man sat back and smirked. Eli picked up the paper, read over it once more, looking for loopholes or problems, and hesitated.

This had to be a trap… didn’t it?

“What’s the catch?” Eli asked bluntly. “That bonus is a pittance, and we both know it.”

That’s forty minutes from Maureen - we could be together…

“I’m not a fan,” Bradford said candidly. “I didn’t like your brother – and you weren’t my choice, either. Piranha insisted you were the right man for the job… until a certain flyboy was ready to take the lead.”

Interesting, he’s already got my replacement lined up…

Each pawn on the chessboard had a move, each secret had a secret, every door had a hidden door behind it, a chamber waiting to be revealed… and Eli was outmatched, outwitted, simply because he didn’t have that sort of guile, planning, and subterfuge within him. He wasn’t a leader, a planner, a master tactician – and while he never wanted to admit it, that truth was there regardless. He picked up the paper once again, needing time to think, to process, and felt like a timer was ticking above his head.

This is what people meant when they spoke of ‘the long game’ - hold on…

In that moment, Eli had a sudden flashback to that night at Flyboys. He’d been so angry, so frustrated, so pissed off that he was in the process of telling Bode about being recalled… wait a second!

“There were always options if you played your cards right – and don’t let Bradford bother you. He’s a tough guy, but fair…”

He looked at Bradford in shock.

Bradford shrugged and rose to his feet, pointing at the paper. “You have twenty-four hours to sign that, and I’ve got things to do.” Walking away from the desk, Bradford turned and looked at him. “It turns out that one of my former pilots owns some property in Texas, and I’m going this fall with an old friend you might know.”

“Reaper?” Eli rasped in comprehension as it suddenly clicked in his head.

“I never said that – and we don’t condone the ‘Good Ol’ Boys’ club’ in the Air Force. Time, honor, duty, and merit… and a good friend, a confidant that has spoken with me during a few tough times, believes that you have merit if given a chance to shine – especially with an ego and call sign like you got,” Bradford chuckled, tapping his watch. “See you soon, Archangel.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Oh – and Archangel?”

“Yes, sir?”

“A Texas hunting license is about thirty bucks or so,” Bradford told him with a smirk. “You’ll need one – and you’ll be responsible for the cooler. No beer. I prefer Big Red Cream Soda or Barq’s Root Beer,” he said in a hushed voice – and then held up his finger to his lips, chuckling. “I’ve got an image to maintain out here in front of the boys.”

Eli grinned, nodding. This was unbelievable. He was being given a chance to go back and see Maureen, a chance to work within driving distance of her home, a chance to extend his career instead of giving it all up like Bode did, and a chance to make some friends with the boys – the other flyboys, that is.