Day 48

When I enter Kyle's room, Polk jumps out from the chair he sits in and run towards me. I put my arms up to hopefully stop what I thought would be some sort of weird bear hug, but instead, Polk snatches Kyle's 48th birthday card out of my hand.

"POLK!" yelled Kyle while Polk danced around with the card up in the air, causing his girlfriend Tripoli to smirk. "It's for my eyes only," said Kyle weakly.

"No it's not, it's for everybody who has ever heard the cards being read and now..." Polk slowly opens Kyle's birthday card as he says, "It's my turn to read out loud." Polk had his back to Kyle as he stood in front of Tripoli and read aloud, "You and Harley spend some alone time together. You soak it all in because you know Harley will be heading off to college after the summer ends."

Tripoli puts a hand to her chest as she said to Kyle, "Aw, your children are growing right before your eyes. What will you do?"

"Let them go. Obviously," Kyle replied with a scoff.

"Well, if I'd have children, I'd want to keep them forever," said Tripoli. "I'd find a way to buy a house on a bunch of land just so I can keep on building the house so my kids could still have their own space, but still eat breakfast with me and stuff. You know, similar to the barracks."

"How do you know anything about the barracks? And who said anything about kids?" asked Polk with a shaky voice.

Tripoli looked hurt for just a moment before she said, "How do I know about the barracks? Military brat remember; also, I got around." She gave her words a moment to just float and sink in before also saying, "And as for the kids Polk, if you're not ready I understand. Then again, I never said you'd be the father."

Kyle burst out in laughter before wheezing from the strain. I walked quickly to his bedside and patted his back. "Are you okay?" I asked him rhetorically, even though I was worried despite the act.

"Yeah," said Kyle as he looked up at me with a grin.