Afterward we went to dinner in town, and the mood gradually turned from somber to happy as we laughed and reminisced. Doug had grown up with Gunny as a surrogate father, and he regaled us with stories.
“I remember one time I was coming home from work,” he said. “It was late, almost midnight, and the road from town was empty. The moon must’ve been full, ’cause I turned off my headlights and floored it. I hit a hundred, easy, and was just about to slow down to make the turn when blue lights started flashing behind me.”
Susan’s eyebrows went up.
“Oh, I remember him,” Susan said. She explained to the rest of us, “The
“That’s it. Didn’t write me a ticket or anything. And I kept my foot off the gas for a month. Drove like a little old lady on Sunday.”
“He should’ve told me,” Susan said.
“I got the impression he didn’t want to deal with you.”
“He got the short end of the stick every time he did.”
“He would not! He never laid a hand on you.”
He could put me in my place with a single look.” He glanced at me. “You know what I’m talking about.”
“One time,” Doug continued, “I was supposed to work the hay harvest with old man Stevens. I thought I was too cool. Besides, I didn’t want to get all hot and dusty. But then Gunny found out, and…”
He told several more stories, all with the same theme: he or his brother had done something ignorant, arrogant, or reckless—one time all three—and Gunny had put a stop to it, usually with a project around camp that required lots of hard work and personal supervision. He’d spent his career in the Marines turning boys into men, and he’d clearly done the same with Susan’s sons.
We talked for a while longer but eventually wound down and paid the check.
“Do you mind if we stop at the grocery store on the way home?” I asked Susan as we walked out to the car.
clubhouse. Nothing fancy, but you won’t starve.”
“Cool, thanks,” I said. “But… did you get any veggies? Fruit?”
“Paul, no,” Christy said quietly. “I’ll be fine.”
“Are you still on a health kick?” Erin teased. “You’re looking a little…
I pointedly ignored her.
“I still think you look too thin,” Mom said.
“No,” Susan said to me. “Mostly lunchmeat, breakfast cereal, things like that. We can stop at the store, though.”
“You’re not serious, are you?” Erin asked me. “Do you really wanna eat that stuff?”
“Be nice,” Christy whispered. Louder, she said to Erin, “It’s for me.”
Susan suddenly grew concerned.
