G Hopf: The End

“Ms. Gomez you have the last word, please respond to what the Speaker just said.”

“Mr. O’Reilly, this administration is doing an incredible job at defending our nation. After almost 10 years of war, it is time to take care of the homeland by addressing domestic issues. We have everything under control as far as defense. We need to get issues like education and healthcare in the forefront.”

“Well, I have to leave it there. Ms. Gomez, Speaker Conner, I appreciate your time. Next on the lineup we have retired General McCasey here to talk about the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and London.”

Samantha grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. “Sorry, it’s the only time I can listen to what’s happening. It’s scary out there right now with so many attacks happening overseas, I just feel it’s only a matter of time before it comes here.”

“Yeah, maybe so; I wouldn’t focus too much on that; I think we’re pretty safe here. As far as the talking heads on TV, I just don’t listen at all. Sounds like a bunch of hot air to me,” Sebastian said.

“Can I grab you a beer?”

“I’ll get it, I know where they are, can I grab you one, too?” Sebastian asked, opening the fridge.

“Why yes, thank you.”

“Get one for me too!” Sebastian recognized his brother’s voice. Gordon was grinning ear to ear as he entered the kitchen; he was always thrilled to see his little brother.

“Gordo!” Sebastian boomed, setting the beers down on the counter. He approached his brother and gave him a big hug, “Great to see you, thanks for the invite.”

“Of course, little brother. We just wish we saw you more.”

Gordon turned to Samantha and asked, “Where are the kids?”

“Outside, playing with the toys Sebastian brought for them.”

“Tell me what’s up with you?” Gordon asked Sebastian after taking a swig from his beer.

“I guess I need to ask you that,” Sebastian replied pointing at Gordon’s fingers, “You know if it was the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy that made you leave the Corps, you’re good to go now.”

“What?” Gordon asked, puzzled for a second by Sebastian’s comments before realizing he still had on the pink fingernail polish from earlier.

“Kids,” he explained, shrugging off the comment.

Gordon walked over to the fridge to get the meat for the grill, “Well, Mister Smartass, how about helping me with this outside?”

“Roger that.”

“Dinner was great. I’m stuffed,” Sebastian said, leaning back against his chair.

“I’m glad you liked it. Why don’t I clean up and you boys go enjoy a beer and chat,” Samantha said while stacking plates.

“Are you sure?” Gordon asked, looking up at her from his chair. Gordon respected Samantha and looked at his relationship and the responsibility of parenting as a true partnership. He never wanted to take her for granted.

“Yes, I’m sure. You boys go be boys. Drink some beers, talk shit and solve the world’s problems. I can take the kids upstairs to watch a movie,” she gave him a kiss on the cheek, “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, sweetie.”

Sebastian watched their interaction and smiled. When it was time for him to settle down, he wanted exactly what his brother had. Of course that wouldn’t happen for awhile since he had another year on his enlistment and life was just too much fun.

Samantha grabbed the remaining dishes and walked back into the kitchen. The brothers could hear her talking to the kids. After a minute of squealing and cheers from the kids, the house fell silent.

“Let’s grab those beers and go to the back patio,” Gordon stood up and Sebastian followed him to the fridge before heading outside.

“Here,” Gordon handed his brother a cold beer and sat down.

“Thanks, so what you been doing lately?”

“You know the usual. Oh, I have been getting to the range more lately.”

“Good, any new acquisitions?”

“Yeah, when I was in Idaho I stopped by a gun show and finally bought an M-4 and another Sig.”

“You were always more of the collector than me, you and Dad were alike that way,” Sebastian commented then took a drink.

“So, tell me more about Scout Snipers,” Gordon asked, kicking his feet up on the table.

“I really want it; I get to try out in a couple of weeks. I’ve been training, so we’ll see.”

“As long as you’re clear,” Gordon said looking down at his beer in his hand.

“What does that mean?” Sebastian asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just that.”

“Listen, don’t project your anger with the Corps onto me,” Sebastian said with a bit of attitude.

“I’m not projecting anything. I just want to make sure you’re making the right decision. I don’t think you made the right decision by signing up for six years initially. All you had to do was sign up for four, and if you liked it, go for another enlistment,” Gordon admonished.

Sebastian stared his brother down, frustrated. He loved him so much, but hated when Gordon acted like a parent. He figured that after two combat tours, one in Iraq and another in Afghanistan, his brother would finally treat him with respect. He knew it stemmed from two things, one being that Gordon and Sebastian’s parents had died a few years back. Gordon took it upon himself to fill that role for his much younger brother. The other issue was Gordon’s anger toward the Marine Corps. He felt betrayed after the incident in Fallujah 10 years before.

“Gordo, I know what I’m doing. Scout Snipers are a tight unit, professional and motivated. I wish you would stop second-guessing me. I know you asked me not to join the Marines, but I did. Then you were against me signing for six, but I did that too. I needed to guarantee the job I wanted. You were against me being a TOW gunner and now you’re second-guessing this. I’m a man; I know what I’m doing,” Sebastian sat straight up in his chair and looked his brother directly in the eye.

“Okay. Okay,” Gordon replied, waving his left hand in the air and rolling his eyes.

“I’m gonna make a head call,” Sebastian put down his beer and walked inside.

Gordon rested his head on the back of the chair and looked up at the stars. He thought back to that day in the mosque in Fallujah. In the years immediately after, he’d mentally replayed the incident over and over again. Every time, though, he’d concluded that he’d do it all the same. It frustrated him to no end, the ridicule and hatred he received. The investigation from the NCIS team proved he made the correct decision, but those stories are not interesting and always land on page D9 of the newspaper. Stories of Marines shooting “unarmed and wounded’ prisoners, on the other hand, make for headline news and political fodder. He hated the politics most. The entire situation changed how he looked at his country and countrymen. When his time for reenlistment came around, he opted to get out. He could no longer risk his life to defend a country wherein half the citizens either hated him or, only slightly better, thought nothing of him.

Gordon had joined the Marine Corps right after the attacks on September 11 th. He dropped out of George Mason University in his third year because he felt it was his generation’s calling to serve, walking away from a full academic scholarship. At the time it felt like the right thing to do, but now things had changed.

He often questioned why he had sacrificed so much. For what? So people could hate him? So people could take their freedom for granted? For all the lazy asses and all the dumb shits who want to sit around and do nothing? Fuck them, he thought. Never again would he sacrifice himself for anyone but his family and friends. Now his brother was putting himself in harm’s way so those same worthless people could sit back and enjoy their freedoms and abuse their rights.