Chapter Two ----part ten

    Monday was the beginning of a new future for Andy in many ways. He had gone with his oldest sister to D.C. for the week. He needed to get his military boots and he wanted to get away from home for a few days. The idea of going to D.C. had actually been Jackie's, but it sounded great to him. He would have his days free to do what he needed to do and just think, with nobody around to distract him. At night he could spend some time with Jackie and her husband. He didn't get to see them often and he had missed Jackie. She had been a sophomore when he was born and he had only a few memories of her, but she had always seemed to understand him when nobody else did. He was only closer to Sandy among all of his sisters. He started his day by going jogging with Jackie. They were out with the sun, so there were few people out yet where she did her running every day. It was a nice park in a very nice neighborhood.

    Jackie and he did a lot of talking that first day while they jogged and every day that week. He learned that she had been trying to get pregnant for a while and was about to give up. He also learned that she was more concerned about his career choice than she had admitted. She was directly involved with a lot of stuff that had made her very concerned about the direction of things in the nation and its courts. Her husband worked directly with people in congress on a regular basis too. They spent a lot of time talking to him about the current political conditions. Andy soon learned that the military was indeed being used to shape the direction of many events in the world, far more than even he had realized. He also learned that he would need to be very aware of politics as an officer. On his third night there, Jackie had her husband introduce him to his friend Jason. Jason was a Major in the Air Force who was currently stationed at the Pentagon. That introduction would prove to have a big effect on Andy and on his career. Jason helped Andy get the boots and other items that he would need at the Academy. He even took Andy to the Pentagon one evening for a tour. That was where Andy began to learn a lot more about his future. Andy had met Jason at the Pentagon after most people who worked there were already leaving. He had tried to call him Major, but Jason told him he would get to do plenty of that soon enough. The tour had been almost over when Jason introduced him to his boss. Jason hadn't attended the academy. He had gone ROTC in college and progressed along that path. His boss was a one star general who was an Academy graduate. Andy quickly found out this was the real reason behind the entire 'tour'. General Kendrick invited them to come to his office so he could talk to Andy about the Academy. It seemed innocent enough until those doors closed and the general took his seat. Then it all changed very quickly.

   "Well, I see what you meant about the resemblance, tall, dark hair, bluish green eyes, and good looking. He does look a lot like his sister." The general laughed at the surprised look on Andy's face. "The first thing you should learn is that nothing will ever be exactly what it seems anymore. You are now in a world filled with hidden agendas and motives. I am the one who arranged for this 'tour'. I know your sister personally. When I learned that you were headed to the Academy, I knew I had to talk with you. I am going to make some assumptions. If I get any wrong stop me. First, you are a Christian, and you don't like what you see going on in the world. You also want to do something to change it. The best way you saw to be able to do that was in politics or the military. Politics don't interest you, so that left the military. Navy is out, you are a farm boy, and have no real interest in leaving home to see the world. Army was possible, but you didn't like a lot that they are sent to do. That leaves the Air Force. They are very much in the front on everything, but they seem to be able to have a little more control of what they actually do. Did I miss anything?"

    Andy was stunned to hear all of that. He glanced at Jason who just smiled, but never moved. Turning to face Brigadier General Kendrick, Andy nodded his head as he answered. "No sir, I think you got it all about right." Now the general leaned forward. "Good, you don't get rattled easily. You should be able to handle things. Son, you need to hear this, but if you say anything outside this office about what I tell you I will have your tail for dinner, your head for a footrest, and your hide for a rug. Do I make myself clear?" Andy didn't hesitate. "Yes Sir!" The general just smiled and then leaned back. After a moment he began to talk. This time his tone was the same friendly one it had been outside the office.

    "Very well, I think I can trust you. Andy, we need more men like you, but the truth is we are getting fewer every year and those have a tough go of it. I think you already know that the government and a lot of folks in the military have effectively declared war on Christians. What you may not know, is just how serious they are about it. Things were bad enough when I was at the Academy. Now they are a lot worse. You will be reprimanded for any gathering for religious purposes other than a Sunday service and you will only be expected to attend a single service, not morning and night both. In addition to that, if you take a Bible with you it will make your life a lot more difficult. Best to carry a small one that you can keep secured out of sight. Unless you are any religion except Christian you can worship daily as long as it is done alone. As a Christian, any more than once a week will cause you even more problems." He stopped and just watched Andy for a minute before starting again.

    "Now after hearing all of that, I hope you can manage to hang onto your faith. I am a Christian, but I don't make a big deal of it. If I didn't have this star I wouldn't even tell you that much. Things have changed and are still changing. It will take strong willed men with even stronger faith to make a difference that matters. What you need to understand is that you will have very little support and see even less, even when it is there. They can make life a living hell, but the fact is they can't do anything that will really matter, not unless you try to push back too hard. I pulled your file. You have a good head and from the looks of you, I don't think you will have any problems with the physical training. The only issues for you will be the psychological ones. You can't let them get inside your head. If they ever do, it is over for you. They will win. You will have a few friends who will support you and maybe even support your faith, but you have to learn how to survive without that support too. I did and I think I have at least slowed down the changes. You can make a difference too, but you will pay a high price to do it."

    After that he sat there silently watching Andy and waiting. This time it was Andy who leaned back. He studied both of the officers for some time before he finally spoke. "I will accept that you are trying to help me, mostly because you know my sister. Maybe you do want to make a difference in things, but why me? You didn't set this up just to help Jackie or even to help me. What is your hidden agenda? What is your motive for stepping in now?" Andy was careful to try and hide any emotion in his voice or reveal anything with his face. That was one thing Jackie had really impressed on him while they were jogging every morning. As a lawyer she had learned to see more and hear more than most people. She had tried to teach him as much as she could in such a short time. The general was very good at hiding his emotions. He showed nothing, but Jason didn't quite manage to hide his surprise before Andy saw it.

    Brigadier General Kendrick sat there for a moment before he began to nod his head. Then he leaned forward once more as he spoke. This time his voice was more commanding. "My agenda is to make sure that when things come to a head we still have enough Christian officers left to make a real difference. My motives are likely the same ones you have. I don't like what I see happening in our world in general and our nation in particular. Somebody has to be prepared to stand and fight when the time comes for what is morally right according to God's law, not just according to the laws of man. It will take a united group of men and women to make that stand." He leaned back and after a moment grinned as he shook his head. "I honestly don't know exactly why I decided to step into this. Normally I watch and wait, but for some reason, I just knew I couldn't wait this time. Believe it or not, I have said all I have to say." With that he stood up and showed them to the door. At the door he shook Andy's hand as he spoke one last word to him. "I hope you are as strong in your faith as you are in your mind and body. You could make a difference with that kind of strength, intelligence, and faith working together. Good luck to you."

    Jason hadn't said much until they were well out of the Pentagon. Then he had just warned Andy not to mention any of this to anyone, not even Jackie. Andy had promised he wouldn't and thanked Jason. He also told him to tell the General thanks and that he would give it a lot of thought. The remainder of his week at D.C. had been uneventful.  He had enjoyed his visit and he had a lot to think about. He was glad to head home Saturday morning. He hadn't planned to deal with all of this while he was in D.C., but he was glad he had learned what he had. The world seemed to be changing more than he had realized and maybe faster too. He still knew in his heart this was the right choice, but the more he learned the less he seemed to know. Once he got back home he started training again in earnest. He knew he was in pretty good condition, but he wanted to be in great condition. He was scheduled to leave the third Friday in May and he wanted to be in the best condition possible by then. He spent as much time as possible with his family and friends. His time with Pamela became more limited as the days passed. He had a lot of good times with his friends, but each time they parted it was a little more somber.

   The biggest problem for him wasn't friends or even Pamela. The biggest issue for him was his parents. He worked with them both each day, but it was hard not to see them dreading each day that passed. He finally made another decision that he knew was going to be even harder on them all at first, but he knew it would be the best for him. He made them promise not to go with him. That had really ticked the girls off, but his mom had finally ended their objections. She just told them that he was right about this. It would be easier for her to say goodbye at home. She wasn't even going to go to the airport with him. Then she blew everything up when she told the girls they couldn't go either. She thought it should just be him and his dad who went to the airport. Andy never told her so, but he had wanted it that way too.

   The big day finally arrived. Pamela had said her goodbyes a couple of days before. She didn't want to watch him leave either. The family was all there to say goodbye. He was going an extra week earlier than he was scheduled to report. There was a sponsor family that would be putting him up near the Academy grounds until the big day arrived.  Everybody was there to say goodbye. Even Pastor David and his wife had come. Andy managed not to cry, but there were tears in his eyes when they pulled out of the drive. His dad wasn't any better than he was though. They didn't talk for a long time and when they finally did it wasn't about anything to do with him leaving. It was a nice trip. They talked and laughed a lot once they got started. His dad didn't go all the way in with him. He just walked with Andy inside the airport door and they said goodbye there. No tears, but it was still hard to let go and watch his dad walk back out the door. Andy waited until he couldn't see his dad at all and then he got in line to be screened. He didn't have much, you weren't allowed much at the start. Once actually on the plane Andy began to relax a little. He was on his way, the first step into a new life and a new future. He leaned back in the seat and tried to rest. Somehow he knew he wouldn't be getting much rest once he put on that first uniform. At least he wasn't nervous anymore. He was ready. It was time and he was ready.