Page 3 of Mama & Pops
“Joined the second you left school?”
“Yeah. But I didn’t want to be in the Army.” He sniffed once and I thought the kid was probably crying.
“You don’t wanna hurt these people.” Jo’s voice was calm. She spoke to him like a mother. Firm but loving, like she truly felt sorry for the kid. “Put your gun down and let me take you to the police. You might not have to go to ‘Nam, because they’ll probably put you in jail, but you’ll survive. And if you do it now, voluntarily, you won’t hurt anyone and maybe you can get a service lawyer to negotiate a less than honorable discharge so you can go home after you serve your time.”
That was promising a little much, but it was possible the military had more important things to worry about than one scared teenager in over his head. The kid stood there with his head down. I could see him where I crouched behind the barrier to the stairs, maybe twenty-five feet away. He had the shotgun in one hand at his side, not like he was ready to start shooting again.
“No. I don’t wanna really hurt nobody. Was kinda hopin’ what you said’d happen. They’d just kick me out. Maybe put me in jail for a while, then I could go home.”
“Put your gun down, honey. Lay it at the top of the stairs and put your hands behind your head. Can you do that?”
It was hard to reconcile the Jo who’d threatened to bury me if I kissed her again without permission to this soft-spoken, motherly woman trying to talk down an airport gunman. My hackles rose when she came out from her hiding spot, her hands up in a non-threatening gesture. I didn’t like her being away from cover, so I slowly stepped out into the open, keeping my hands palm up and out to my sides.
“I got a buddy behind you to your left, kid. He ain’t gonna hurt you, but he’s gonna get your weapon and stay at your side. If you’ve got any other weapons or ammo, we’d appreciate it if you’d lay them next to your shotgun and back away. Do it slowly so everyone knows you ain’t gonna hurt no one.”
“Ain’t got nothin’ else,” he said. “Just this one. Ammo’s in the bag beside it.”
“That’s good. Very good. Now, can you put your hands behind your head and take five steps straight backward? My friend Mike’s gonna be right with you.”
“You ain’t gonna shoot me, are you?”
“No, honey,” Jo said. “We’ve both had enough shootin’ to last a lifetime.”
“I’m right here, buddy,” I said, letting the kid know where I was so I didn’t startle him. “What’s your name?”
He sighed, putting his hands behind his head. “Alex.”
“I’m Mike. I ain’t gonna hurt you, but I need to come to you and pat you down. That way when the police get up here, they’ll know you’re not a threat anymore. Will you let me do that?”
The kid looked so defeated I felt sorry for him. I’d seen that look in every new soldier who set foot in my battalion. Fear. Resignation. Everyone knew your life expectancy plummeted the second you got your draft notice. Sounded like this kid was just like all the others.
He didn’t give us any trouble after that. Jo climbed the stairs and secured his weapon before approaching us. “Thank you, Alex. It was very brave of you to trust us. Do you want me to call your dad?”
Alex shrugged, shaking his head. “He’ll just box my ears. I ain’t supposed to do nothin’ to get sent up to ‘Nam. He said once the war ended, I might have a future if I kept my nose clean. ‘Course he don’t know we got ordered to ship out.”
“Right now, I think he’ll tell you the most important thing is that you’re alive.” Jo smiled at him. Again, it was a kind smile, so at odds with how I’d first pegged her. She said she was a doctor. Maybe this was her bedside manner.
Alex met Jo’s gaze with a frightened but grateful one of his own. “I ain’t smart, but I know what you done, ma’am. You saved my life.”
“I’ve seen more than enough death to last me a lifetime, honey. Just remember this. Take your punishment like a man, then go home to your family and take care of them.”
“I will. Thank you, ma’am.” He glanced in my direction before lowering his eyes again. “Sir.”
I cringed inwardly, trying not to let Alex see. Last thing I wanted was for him to feel like he’d done something else wrong. I’d feel like I was kicking a fucking puppy.
We waited with Alex until the police had him cuffed. Every time one of them would get a little rougher than Jo thought strictly necessary, she’d calmly say, “That’s enough. He’s going peacefully.” When one of them called Alex a yellow-bellied nigger, Jo stepped up to him and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and got right up in his face. “You say one more word to that kid tryin’ to provoke him, and I’ll cut off your nuts. Then I’ll take my jail time with a fuckin’ smile. I may be in prison for a while, but you’ll be minus your balls. Forever. Get me?”
Surprisingly, the officer backed down. Probably because this was a completely different Jo than the woman who’d been so kind with Alex. She also looked scary as fuck. Even more so than when I first pegged her on the plane.
For his part, the boy looked startled, like he hadn’t expected anyone to take up for him. As the police led him down the stairs, Alex turned his head over his shoulder to look at us.
“Kid’s gonna be lucky to survive the next few days. If his CO will get him back to Fort Knox to await trial, he might have a chance.” She spoke absently. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head.
“What’er we gonna do?” I asked. Because I just knew Jo wouldn’t let this go.
“Nothin’. Ain’t my fuckin’ problem.” She snarled her words a little too harshly to be believed.
“Nope. It ain’t.” I had to bite back a smile. I had the feeling the next few days were going to be interesting.