The Homecoming | Teen Ink

The Homecoming MAG

December 14, 2012
By Matraca SILVER, Shawnee, Kansas
Matraca SILVER, Shawnee, Kansas
6 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A man kills a tiger and calls it sport. A tiger kills a man, he calls it slaughter." or "If all of mankind lay in one grave, the epitaph would read, 'It seemed like a good idea at the time!'"


We've just arrived at the airport. There's all the usual flurry of activity. A man in a suit walks past, arguing with someone on his cell phone. A young woman with brown hair in a pony rushes to get to her plane on time. Voices over the intercom tell people which planes have arrived and are departing.
We sit on a bench to wait the long hours until Dad's plane arrives. My sister, Carolyn, sits beside me. Her presence, which normally causes annoyance, is oddly comforting. My stepmom, Claudia, and my little brother, Justin, take a seat across
from us.
Mixed emotions and confusing half-thoughts fill my mind. Doubt. Excitement. Trepidation. Happiness. Fear. Thankfulness. Panic.
“What if he doesn't recognize me?” my heart asks. “It has been a whole seven months!”
“You don't look that much different, stupid,” my brain answers, and on and on and on.
Guilt suddenly takes over my body. I haven't talked to Dad since he left. I've had plenty of opportunities. Claudia talks to Dad on the phone every Sunday morning and video chats with him sometimes. I know this, yet I haven't made an effort to get up early and join the family. I felt terrible, but I just couldn't bear the pain of not having him there. I'm thirteen, older now than the other times he was deployed. I actually understand he may not come back. Better to just deny he's even gone. Or at least easier. Still, in my heart I know that I have hurt my dad and made my stepmom angry.
Claudia checks her watch, then stands up and begins to gather our things. It's time. Excitement and fear are pumping through me now. I am frozen, dazed. The world is suddenly in slow motion, slithering past like a snake on a hot Arizona day. The family is already moving out, I notice belatedly. Yet, still I sit, trying to come to grips with my mixed emotions. Claudia glances back. One glance and I know, I just know, she's irritated. Carolyn bends down to listen to Justin, brushing his hair from his forehead. I run to catch up, feeling like I am running through sand.
Suddenly, everything is in hyperspeed. Blurs of color. Smells of food from restaurants. Too much perfume. Not enough perfume. The yap of a dog. The chaos of hundreds of voices. The droning of announcements. All this crashes into me in waves. One thought repeats. He's coming. He's coming.
He's coming. Finally, the voice over the intercom says my dad's flight number. A few breathless ­moments later …
“There he is!” my sister screams, echoing my thoughts. My eyes drink in the sight of my lost father. It's been so long. His hair is almost all gray now. His blue eyes are still piercing but more faded. He has more wrinkles, and he has a sunburn. Iraq has not been kind to him. He is still wearing his ­fatigues.
He catches sight of us and waves. For a second, I don't think he sees me. My heart stops. Then, he looks at me and smiles. I know – I suddenly, thankfully know – all is forgiven. My heart swells. A smile like a thousand suns lights up my face. He goes through the metal detector and scanner. In breathless anticipation, we wait.
I am antsy. I want to run through the gate and leap into his arms, but I know my stepmom would disapprove, so I stay put. Finally he's through and surrounded by my family. I am suddenly trying hard not to cry, but tears slide down my face anyway. I can't stop staring at him. I am afraid if I look away he will disappear. Then he hugs me, and at last the world is at rights.


The author's comments:
I wrote this about one of the times my army dad deployed and came back for a week or so for R&R. (Rest and Recoup)

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This article has 4 comments.


Matraca SILVER said...
on Feb. 26 2014 at 11:28 pm
Matraca SILVER, Shawnee, Kansas
6 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A man kills a tiger and calls it sport. A tiger kills a man, he calls it slaughter." or "If all of mankind lay in one grave, the epitaph would read, 'It seemed like a good idea at the time!'"

I am really glad that my article could bring back some memories. I hope that you were lucky enough to have your soldier returned safely. 

on Dec. 13 2013 at 10:50 am
abs__of__steel BRONZE, Newark, Delaware
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
DONT BE THE SAME BE BETTER!

I THINK IT WAS A GOOD ARTICLE. IT IS A GOOD LESSON FOR ME TO READ IF IM GOING OUT THEN COMING HOME TO MY FAMILYCAUSE IM THINK ABOUT GO TO THE MILTARY.

on Dec. 13 2013 at 10:48 am
DeFeNsElAxEr BRONZE, Wilmington, Delaware
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment
i liked the article alot. it was really touching but really well written. i have family in the military and it really brought back memories from when my family would be returning from over seas.

Rara814 said...
on Dec. 31 2012 at 8:59 pm
Awe, this made me cry Traca, it reminded me of the first time dad was deployed. We had to stay with kimmy, and all I wanted was dad, its when he was in bagdad we were so afraid, but you were so young I don't think you really understood, yet we all just wanted dad back. We went out and when we got back I knew I just knew something was up, I knew he was home, its like I could feel him again. When we walked in he was no where to be found but then he came out from the bedroom and we all 3 just tackled him. You hit the nail on the head, its absolutely beautiful. Love you Traca.