Letters to a Sailor - Part 1

Thursday, 5 November 1970
1535 CXT
Officers' Tent
Da Nang, Vietnam

It had been a long and tedious mission, but Lieutenant AJ Chegwidden's SeAL team had completed their assignment successfully... as always.  'Don't get cocky, Chegwidden,' he told himself as he stripped out of his shirt.  'That's when you make mistakes that get people killed... your own people.'  He threw himself across the bunk that was to be his until he received orders for their next mission.  It might be tomorrow.  It might be next week.  It might even be tonight. 'God, I hope not. We need a break!'  

AJ was exhausted.  He wanted to sleep.  His eyes drifted shut.  But before his breathing evened out, two members of his team opened the flap on the tent and walked in.  "Hey, Lieutenant!  Did you get your letter?" asked Ensign Louis Donaldson.

AJ's eyes flew open.  "Letter?  The mail found us?"  He was on his feet in a second and ready to fly out of the tent.

Lieutenant J.G. Joseph Smith nodded, "Sure did."  He tossed AJ an envelope.  "I picked it up for you."  

AJ caught the envelope.  It was long, more like a business-type envelope than one for personal correspondence.  "Damn," he muttered.  He was so hoping for a letter from home... specifically from Noreen.  He hadn't heard from her in almost two months now.  Granted, they were on the move so much, it often took that long for mail to catch up to his team.  

But here was the mail.  And there was nothing from Noreen.  He wondered if he'd ever hear from her again.  Or if he'd be the next one on his team to receive a "Dear John" letter.  Or worse... hear from his mother that his almost-fiancée was now married to someone else. That's what happened to Joe earlier in the year.

AJ looked at the return address. "Siler City Elementary School?  Siler City, North Carolina?"

"Is there really a town called Siler City?" asked Joe.

"Sure there is. Andy Griffith used to go there all the time," replied Lou. "Siler City and Raleigh."

"Yeah, but I didn't think Siler City was a real place. I mean, Mayberry isn't, you know. It was made up for television," replied Joe.

"Ah, man! Don't tell me that! I've always wanted to go to Mayberry," Lou almost whined.

AJ ignored them and ripped open the envelope he held. He pulled out two pieces of paper. One was a typed form letter, obviously run off on a ditto machine. The other was written in a child's handwriting. AJ read the form letter first:

August 26, 1970

Dear Sir:

My fifth grade students chose to participate in the "Adopt a Soldier" Program during this school year. Each child has written a letter to a serviceman, I mailed them to the Program director, who, in turn, addressed and forwarded them to individual soldiers.

It would be most kindly appreciated if you would spare a few moments to reply to the child's letter, sending your letter in care of myself. They are all very excited about this program, and each one is hoping to be the first to receive a response from "their" soldier.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of the children... and more importantly, for your dedication to our country.

Sincerely,
Louise Pratt
5th Grade Teacher
Siler City Elementary School

AJ sighed to himself, wondering how his name got included in the National program to begin with. 'Probably Adele,' he realized. His sister always participated in things like this; she wouldn't have hesitated to submit his name for this program. 'But who wants to take the time to reply to a little kid? I have more important things to do.  Now if it was a college-age girl who was writing...' he smirked to himself as he reached for the child's letter. As he unfolded the first third, he saw a note handwritten in ink on the reverse side:

This letter is from the younger sister of one of my students. She so desperately wanted to participate in this program, I didn't have the heart to say no. Brianna is only in the second grade. --Louise Pratt

That peaked AJ's curiosity. What on earth could a second grader have to say to him? A fifth grader would have been bad enough... but a second grader?  He opened the missive to its full size and smiled at the large printed letters written in pencil on a ruled piece of tablet paper:

August 25, 1970

Dear Mr. Soldier,

My name is Brianna.  What is your name?  I am  7   6 years old.  I will be 7 next week.  My birthday is on Thursday, so I have to wait to have my party on Saturday.  When is your birthday?

Miss Pratt says that you are far away from home and that you are serving our country and helping the people where you are.  I think that is very nice of you.

I hope you will write me back.  I really hope you will.

From, Brianna Donnelly

P.S.  I am in the 2 grade.  My brother is in the 5 grade.

AJ was smiling broadly by the time he finished reading Brianna's letter.  But did he really want to waste his time answering her?  'Ah, what the hell.  It'll only take a minute.  It's not like I'm going to have to write her a second time.'  "Hey, Lou!  Spare a piece of paper and an envelope?"

Tuesday, 17 November 1970
0915 EST
Siler City Elementary School
Siler City, North Carolina

Weeks ago, Louise Pratt had given up expecting a reply to Brianna's letter.  More than likely, the recipient met his maker before he even received her letter.  But then, wouldn't it have been returned with the other three letters whose addressees met the same fate?  

The three fifth graders had cried for "their" soldiers when they heard, but they quickly wrote new letters and sent them off.  And now that it was the middle of November, they already had replies from their new men.  

Yet Brianna still received nothing.  She had been a brave little girl all the while, waiting patiently for her reply.  But when the last student in Miss Pratt's class received an answer and Brianna still had nothing, she cried.  Every day, she was permitted to go to Miss Pratt's classroom at 9:30... hoping for a letter from her soldier.  And every day, she cried when there was none.  

Her brother, Lyle, knew that Brianna cried at night, too... something she never used to do.  She was always a happy child, giggling and laughing as she went to bed.  But not lately.  So he was always there for her in his classroom, and in front of his friends and classmates, he held his little sister while she cried.  Then he walked her back to her own room, shaking his head as her teacher looked up expectantly. 

But when Louise arrived at the school this morning, there was envelope in her box.  Her heart in her throat, she pulled it out and saw that it was addressed to her and Brianna.  She quickly opened the letter and scanned its contents.  The last thing she wanted to do was give the child anything that would cause her any more pain.  She smiled as she read the letter, a plan forming in her mind as she headed for her classroom.

Louise looked at the clock on the wall and knew it was time.  She clapped her hands together lightly and spoke to her class, "Okay, kids.  We're going to do something special now."  She picked up the envelope and tapped it against the palm of her other hand.  "I have here... a letter!  I wonder who it might be for?" she smiled.

None of the children even ventured a guess.  Not until Lyle noticed his teacher's sparkling eyes.  "Brie?  Is it for Brie?" he gulped, tears forming in his eyes.  But not before Louise's eyes spilled over.

She nodded.  "It sure is!"

The children exploded in excitement.  Louise let them whoop and holler until she was afraid they'd disturb the other classes.  She raised her hands to calm them down.  "I thought we'd take a little walk down to the second-grade classroom this morning.  What do you think?" she asked her students.  Before she'd even finished her question, the kids were lining up at the door.

The entourage reached Brianna's classroom and Louise knocked lightly on the door before she opened it and stepped inside.  The second graders all looked up at the older kids filing into their room.  "Excuse me, Miss Tilley," began Louise.  "But I wonder if we might interrupt your class for a few minutes?"  

"Why, of course, Miss Pratt.  What can we do for you?" the other teacher smiled.  She saw the envelope in Louise's hand; it was obvious what she wanted.  And Miss Tilley was thrilled for Brianna.

Louise turned to the second-graders and spotted Brianna in the third row.  "Brianna, dear?  Would you come up here with me, please?"  

Brianna was nervous, as were the others in her class.  Fifth graders never went to the younger classrooms.  The little kids always went to their room when there was reason for them to be together.  Always.  Why in the world would they be here?  And why would Miss Pratt be calling her to the front of the room?  Brianna stood and looked warily at her brother.  She saw excitement in his eyes.  She looked at the others; they were all excited and smiling... at her!  She looked at Miss Pratt... and then she saw the envelope.

"My soldier?" she whispered.  "Is that a letter from my soldier?"  Tears sprang to her eyes as she ran forward and hugged Louise's legs.  "Is it?  Is it?"

Louise squatted down to her level.  "It sure is, Sweetie.  And it's a very nice letter."  She handed the child the envelope.

Brianna hugged it to her chest, her tears flowing freely down her face.  Then she turned back to her classmates and boasted, "My soldier wrote me a letter!"

"What does it say?  What does it say?" the kids, both second and fifth graders, called out.

Brianna took the letter out of the envelope and unfolded it.  "It's on real stationery," she said proudly.  She looked intently at the scribbling on the page, but she couldn't read it through her tears.  She walked over to her brother and handed it to him.  "Would you read it for me, Lyle?"

Lyle smiled and straightened up, looking for all the world like a strutting peacock.  He was proud that his little sister asked him to read her letter instead of one of the teachers.  Proud... and very surprised.  "Of course I will, Brie," he replied.  And he began:

November 5, 1970

Dear Brianna,

Happy birthday!  I know it's a little late, but I only received your letter today.  Sometimes I'm away a long time in the jungle and it takes weeks for mail to reach me.  

I hope you had a fun birthday party.  And I hope you got everything you asked for.  My birthday is June 1.  

I need to set you straight about one thing:  I'm in the Navy.  We like to be called sailors, not soldiers. I think your wanting to write guys like me is very nice.  We're a long way from home, on the other side of the world.  If you have a globe in your classroom, have your teacher show you where Vietnam is.  That's where I am.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me, Brianna.  By the way, I like your name.  It's very pretty and feminine.  I'll just bet you are, too.

Yours truly,
AJ Chegwidden, Lieutenant, USN

Brianna smiled and took the letter back from her brother's hands.  "My sailor wrote to me!" she announced, unnecessarily. "And he thinks I'm pretty." It never occurred to her that he couldn't possibly know that, having never even seen a picture of her.

Thursday, 10 December 1970
2105 CXT
Officers' Tent
Pleiku, Vietnam

AJ's team was packed up and ready to head out at midnight. They'd only arrived in Pleiku at 1730 that day, but orders were orders. And this 'Operation Phoenix' mission sounded far worse than any of the others. AJ didn't like working with the CIA; he always dreaded this type of assignment. And the guy they sent this time, Jack Holford... he sent chills up AJ's spine. He was blood thirsty; AJ knew he'd have to keep a close eye on him.

AJ was surprised when the rest of his team came into the tent; he'd thought they were all sleeping. Well, all except Lou and Joe. They were off playing poker. 'Evidently not,' he realized. "What's up?" AJ asked his men.

"When'd you meet someone from Mayberry, Boss?" asked Petty Officer Miller Muslich.

"Mayberry?" parroted AJ. "What are you talking about...?."

Before he finished, Joe piped up. "Got another letter here for you from Siler City, AJ."

"I thought that was a fictitious town?" asked Chief Strauts. "Just made up for the TV show."

"No, it's a real town in North Carolina, Chief," replied Lou. "The Lieutenant here got a letter from there last month."

"Now he's got hisself another one," inserted Miller.

"And this time, it's in a pink envelope," grinned Lou.

"Mmm, pink, huh? Sounds like a girl," teased the Chief.

AJ grabbed the envelope, "Give me that!" He was surprised to receive another letter from Brianna. It never occurred to him that she'd write a second time. But as he sat on his bunk, he opened the envelope and smiled as he read:  

November 17, 1970

Dear Lt. Chegwidden,

Thank you for writing back. I was so happy when I got your letter. I am sorry I called you a soldier. But if you are a sailor, why are you in Vietnam? You should be on a boat, not in the jungle. You should tell someone that so you can go back on a boat.

My brother's name is Lyle. He is a good brother. He lets me play with him and his friends sometimes. Especially when they play cops and robbers. I always get tied to the train tracks and the cops have to rescue me. They forgot me one time, but Lyle remembered before supper and untied me. Maybe one day I will get to be a cop. I do not want to be a robber. Do you have a sister or a brother?

I have two cats and a dog. My cats are Winkin' and Blinkin' and my dog is Rover. I also have a pony. His name is Shoe. My Daddy named him that because he runs away when Daddy wants to put new shoes on him. Lyle has a snake and 2 gerbils. And my Mommy has a whole big tank of fishes. Do you have any pets?

Where do you live? I mean when you are not in Vietnam. I hope you will be careful over there. My teacher says it is dangerous and you could get hurt.

From, Brianna Donnelly

P.S. My brother said I should tell you that they don't tie me to real train tracks. It is just pretend.

AJ chuckled as he read the postscript.

"New girlfriend, Boss?" asked Miller.

That confirmed it. They all knew that Noreen had dumped him.  AJ just laughed. "Yeah, right. I'm not that desperate! This kid's only 7 years old!" But AJ felt a warmth inside that he'd missed for a good while. A feeling that someone back home, other than his parents and sister, really wanted him to be safe. It didn't matter that it was a 7-year old child... someone really cared! AJ smiled as he tucked Brianna's letter into his pocket. He checked his watch. He had two hours before they had to leave. 'Plenty of time,' he decided. "Hey, Lou. You got any more of that paper?  Two sheets, this time.  And two envelopes."

Monday, 21 December 1970
1715 CST
Chegwidden Residence
Lubbock, Texas

Joyce Chegwidden thrilled at the sight of her son's name on the return address.  She tore into the envelope as she entered the house calling for her husband and daughter.  "Albert!!  Adele!!  A letter from AJ!!"

Adele came flying down the stairs and into the kitchen.  "Is he okay?  Where is he?  What does he say?  Are you sure he's okay?" her words tumbled forth.

As Albert entered the kitchen from the family room, he chuckled at his grown daughter's behavior, but he knew Adele was scared that her brother wouldn't come home in one piece.  "Honey, I doubt that your mother has read the letter yet.  She usually waits for us, you know."  He turned to his wife.  "Joyce?"

She smiled as she nodded.  "I waited, as always.  Whose turn is it to read?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"Mine!  It's my turn!" Adele said as she reached for the letter.  

"Slow enough that we can understand it this time, okay?" requested her father.

Adele nodded and began to read aloud:

December 10, 1970

Dear Mom, Dad, and Adele,

Sorry I haven't written in a while; it's been pretty hectic lately.  Of course, I can't tell you what we've been doing or where I've been, but I can tell you that I'm still in Vietnam.  And I'm well.  Thought I was getting a cold a couple of weeks ago, but I drowned it the way you always taught us, Mom.  See?  I was listening!  

Thanks for sending the care package in August.  Those socks are really nice; they dry so fast!  And that's important out here; it rains all the time.  Joe wants you to let his mom know what kind they are so she can get some for him, too.  

The pound cake was great!  The guys had it half eaten by the time I even knew I had a package, but that's pretty typical.  We share just about everything.  They did leave the peanut butter cookies alone, though.  They know those are my favorites.  (That's a hint.)

Adele, I imagine it's you I have to thank for my new pen pal.  I was a little miffed at first; why would I want to get letters from a kid in grade school?  But I've had two from her now, and I like it.  Makes me feel good.  Thanks for putting my name in, Sis.

Speaking of my pen pal.  Her name is Brianna, and she's in the second grade.  I wonder if one of you would buy a stuffed animal for her and send it to her from me for Christmas?  If you could find a stuffed seal, that would be perfect.  Do they even make those?  I'll put her address on the back of this letter.

Have to close now; I have a plane to catch.  I don't guess I'll get to write again before Christmas, so in case I'm not where I can phone home, here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas.  Love you all more than I can say.

AJ

P.S.  By the way, if you could send me a package of stationery, I'd appreciate it.  I'm out and had to swipe some from Lou.  Thanks!

Adele's tears were dripping on the paper as she finished reading.  "He's okay.  He's really okay," she sniffed.  "And he didn't even mention Noreen.  That's good," she smiled.  "I never liked her anyway."

Albert took the letter and skimmed through it again... just to be sure Adele didn't miss anything.  She never did.  But he always checked.  Just in case.  "So, a second grader, hmm?" he questioned his daughter as he handed the letter to his wife.

Adele grinned.  "I put his name in for the 'Adopt-a-Soldier' program for school kids this year.  I did think it was supposed to be older kids, though..."

Joyce took the missive in hand. "Today is Monday.  Christmas is on Friday!  How am I going to find a stuffed seal and mail it to..." she flipped the letter over and saw Brianna's address, "...to North Carolina by Thursday?" she wondered aloud.  

"Why don't you call Information for her town and see if there's not a toy store there," suggested Albert.  "I think it would be more important to the little girl that she receive something in time for Christmas than it necessarily be a stuffed seal.  We can find one of those later."

"Who knows?  North Carolina is on the ocean.  They might even have a stuffed seal!" Adele offered.

"Siler City isn't on the ocean," Joyce supplied.  "It's inland."

"How do you know that?" her husband asked curiously.

Joyce blushed slightly.  "I looked it up at the library back when 'The Andy Griffith Show' was on first runs.  I wanted to know if Mayberry was a real place."  She sighed.  "It's not.  But Siler City is.  And Raleigh, of course."

Thursday, 24 December 1970
1335 EST
Siler City Elementary School
Siler City, North Carolina

Louise Pratt locked the door behind her as she left the school building.  Somehow she just knew there would be some letters arrive this week while school was in recess for the holidays.  And she was right.  She knew the letters could wait until school resumed in January, but she also knew that it would be a special treat for her students if she delivered the letters to them.  So she decided to make two trips.  One this week and one next week.    

She climbed in her car and headed for the Donnelly's home first.  She had letters for both Lyle and Brianna.  As she pulled into the driveway, she noticed Denise Taylor pull up right behind her.  They climbed out of their respective vehicles and greeted each other.  "Merry Christmas, Denise!"

"And to you, Louise!  How are you?"

"Absolutely wonderful," Louise stated.  She noticed the large box that Denise was balancing in her arms.  "What in the world is that?"

Denise grinned.  "It's a Christmas present for Brianna."

"I didn't realize you were delivering now.  When did you start that?"

Denise was the owner of the only toy store in town.  "I didn't.  But I made an exception for this one.  This request came from Vietnam," she told her friend.

Louise's face burst into a smile and tears sprang to her eyes.  "Vietnam?  For Brianna?  It's from her sailor?"

Denise nodded.  "I had a phone call on Tuesday morning from his mother in Texas.  He'd asked her to send Brianna something for Christmas.  She knew she couldn't get anything here in time, so she called Information... and got me!"

"Ingenious!"

"It took me some looking, and I had to go into Raleigh to get it, but I have exactly what he asked for."  She looked around, and seeing no one, whispered, "A stuffed seal."

Louise looked confused.  "I wonder why he requested that?  Brianna probably won't even know what it is," she mused.

They reached the front door and pressed the doorbell.  Lyle opened the door and greeted his teacher. "Miss Pratt!  Hi!  Merry Christmas!"  Then he noticed Denise behind her.  "Merry Christmas to you, too, Mrs. Taylor."

"I have letters from Vietnam," Louise grinned at Lyle and tapped the envelopes on her hand.  

His eyes lit up.  His mother was behind him now.  "Well, what a surprise," she smiled.  "Do come in, ladies."

They settled themselves in the living room by the Christmas tree, and Lyle went to the staircase to call his sister.  "Brianna!!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.  "Miss Pratt is here with letters from the soldiers!!"

They could all hear Brianna running down the staircase and the yowls her cats made as she accidentally stepped on their tails.  "Sorry, Winkin'!  Sorry, Blinkin'!" she called back to her beloved pets... but she didn't stop running.  As she rounded the corner into the living room, she corrected her brother.  "My Lieutenant is a sailor, not a soldier!"

The kids stood expectantly in front of Louise, smiles so big, she could hardly see their eyes.  "Let's see... who should get to read their letter first?" she teased.

Lyle and Brianna looked at each other.  Lyle turned back and sighed, "Let Brie read hers first, I guess."

"That's very generous of you, Lyle," said his teacher with a smile.

But Brianna interrupted.  "No, Lyle.  It should be you first this time.  You let me go first at lunch today, and I got the biggest piece of pizza."

Her mother grinned to herself, 'And then didn't eat half of it.'

Lyle smiled.  "You mean it?"  She nodded.  Lyle turned back to his teacher and held out his hand for his letter.  He opened it quickly and read it aloud for all to hear.  "Wow!" he said when he finished.  "My Private has to do a lot of important things."

"He certainly does, Lyle," agreed Louise.  "Everyone in the Armed Forces has important jobs.  Some might seem more important than others.  But they're all very important.  Every one of them."

Brianna waited patiently... well, as patiently as she could.  She kept quiet, but she was fidgeting, constantly shifting her weight from one foot to the other... and then back again.  Louise smiled, "Are you ready for your letter now, Brianna?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" she exclaimed, reaching for the envelope.  She tore it open and pulled out the letter.  She looked at it intently for almost a minute before she finally looked up at her mother.  "Would you read it for me, Mommy?  I don't know all the words."

Her mother smiled.  "Of course, Sweetheart."  Brianna jumped up into her mother's lap and handed her the letter. 

December 10, 1970

Dear Brianna,

I'm glad you have such fun playing cops and robbers with your brother and his friends.  And I was very relieved to hear that they don't tie you to a real train track!  What about your friends?  Do you have any other little girls to play with?

I have one sister.  Her name is Adele and she's 4 years younger than I am.  I love her very much, and I miss her a lot.  I do have several pets, but of course, I can't have them with me here in Vietnam.  So Adele is taking care of them for me.  I have a cat named Hay.  I named her that because I found her in the barn in a pile of hay when she was about 6 weeks old.  

I also have a dog.  I named him Ewe because he thinks he's a sheep.  He's supposed to be a sheep dog... you know, one that chases the sheep and makes them go where you want them to?  Only instead of herding them, he plays with them.  It sounds funny when we call the animals in at night.  It sounds like "Hey, you!"

I also have a horse.  Her name is Mistral.  She's all white except for her mane and her tail, which are red.  She's a beautiful horse. I miss riding her every day, but I know my sister is taking good care of her.

You asked where I live when I'm at home.  That would be Texas.  My parents have a ranch outside of Lubbock.  We have cattle mostly, a few sheep, a bunch of chickens, and a couple of milk cows.  Is Siler City a big town or a little one?

I have to go now.  My team is getting ready to leave again, and since I'm in command, I guess I'd better be sure they're ready.  We are SeALs; that's why we aren't on a ship right now.  We're needed in country.  I'll explain more about that another time.

Merry Christmas, Brianna!  I hope Santa brings you everything you asked for.

Yours truly,
AJ Chegwidden, Lieutenant, USN

Her mother smiled as she finished the letter.  "Wasn't that nice?"

Brianna nodded.  "Hey, you!" she giggled.  "That's funny!"  Lyle laughed with her.

Denise decided to speak up; it was now obvious to her why the young man had requested a stuffed seal, and she was ever so glad she'd taken the time to go into Raleigh and find one.  "Brianna?  Your sailor sent you a Christmas present, too."

Brianna looked up, her eyes wide with surprise.  "He did?" she whispered.

Denise nodded.  "He sure did."  She picked up the box and set it on the table in front of Brianna.  Then, looking at her mother, "Do you suppose it would be okay for her to open it today?  It just seems fitting to open it now, after his letter," she hinted.

Brianna's mother agreed.  The child tore into the wrapping, pieces of the brightly colored paper flying everywhere.  She opened the box and pulled out a stuffed animal that was about half the size she was.  She hugged it to herself and then turned to show everyone else.  "It's from my sailor," she told them.  Then she looked at it again.  "But... what is it?" she whispered.

Her mother replied, "It's a seal, Brie.  Remember?  We saw seals at Marineland last summer."

"My sailor said he's a seal."  She looked at the face of her new stuffed animal.  "How can he be a seal?" she asked, thoroughly confused.

Louise smiled and began to explain, "In the Navy, there are very specially trained men who do very, very dangerous work.  They go where no one else will go.  And their missions can have them be at sea or in the air or on the land.  So they took the letters from 'sea', 'air', and 'land' and called themselves 'SeALs'.  Lieutenant Chegwidden said he was in command of his team.  That means he is in charge of the other men on his SeAL team."

Brianna hugged her stuffed seal.  "I'm going to call him 'AJ'," she announced proudly.  "He's my seal."  

Friday, 28 May 1971
1810 CXT
Officers' Tent
Da Nang, Vietnam

AJ and Brianna continued to exchange letters over the months that followed, so it didn't surprise AJ when he received a birthday card from her. What did surprise him was that she also sent him a present. He ripped off the shipping paper and opened the lid on the shoe box. On top sat a manila envelope and a greeting card. He opened the card and read the note she enclosed in it first:

May 17, 1971

Dear Lt. AJ,

Happy birthday!! I wanted to be sure you have your birthday present on your birthday, so I asked Mommy if I could mail it early. I hope you don't get it   two   too early, though. I hope you like the cookies. Mommy and I made them. And I drew the picture of my cats and dog and pony. Miss Pratt said that you might like to have a picture of me, so I sent that, too.

Happy birthday on June 1.

From, Brianna

AJ's mouth began watering as soon as he read the word "cookies". He wondered what kind she'd sent. But the next thing he did was open the manila envelope. He pulled out an 8-1/2 x 11" piece of paper on which was Brianna's drawing. AJ chuckled as he tried to determine which animal was which... all four of them looked incredibly alike except for color. "Let's see... she said Winkin' is yellow, so that must be this one," he tapped one of the animals in the drawing. "And Blinkin' is black, so that must be him. And Rover is red, so this is him. And that leaves this one as Shoe," he decided.

He was grinning from ear to ear as Lou and Miller walked inside the tent. "Hey, Boss!" said Miller. "Whatcha got there?"

"From the look on his face, I'd say it's a care package from a girl," said Lou.

AJ nodded. "Yep. Birthday present, as a matter of fact. Cookies and a couple of pictures."

"Cookies?!" Lou and Miller screeched together. They lunged for the box and ripped open the plastic wrap. "What kind?"

AJ just rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Don't know. I obviously hadn't opened them yet." That didn't phase either of his men. They each had two cookies in their mouths and another three in their hands when AJ turned around. He barked a laugh and shook his head. "Save me a few, would you?"

"You know it, Boss," agreed Miller.

"These are good, AJ," Lou told him. "She's a good cook."

AJ laid the drawing beside him on the bed and reached into the manila envelope again, this time pulling out the photograph of Brianna. His smile grew even wider if that was possible. Staring back at him was an adorable little girl with short dark brown hair, almost black really, and a pert grin on her face. He wasn't sure, but it looked as though her eyes were aqua. "You are a darling little thing," he said to her picture.

"Picture? You got a picture of her?" asked Lou. AJ nodded. Lou got up from his spot by the cookies and looked over AJ's shoulder. If there was anything he liked better than cookies, it was to see a picture of a gorgeous female. He gulped. "That's a kid," he said flatly.

AJ nodded. "Sure is. Isn't she adorable?"

Miller had reached AJ's side by now. "But, Boss, ain't she a little old to be your kid?"

"She's not my kid. You know I don't have any kids, Miller," AJ laughed.

"Then who is she? Your sister's a lot older than that," observed Miller.

AJ nodded. "Yeah, Adele is..." he hesitated, "...old enough that you lechers aren't gonna see a picture of her anytime soon." Then he grinned as he poked Lou in the side. "Don't want you guys lusting after my sister!" He looked back at the picture again. "This is Brianna. She's my pen pal."

"She's that kid you've been writing? The one from Mayberry?" asked Lou.

AJ chuckled. "Siler City. Yes, that's her. Isn't she precious?"

"She the one who sent us the cookies?" asked Miller.

AJ smirked, "She's the one who sent me the cookies, yes."

"Then she's absolutely adorable. Precious. Gorgeous. Anything you want to call her... just so long as you keep writin' her and she keeps sendin' cookies!"

"Cookies?!" questioned Joe as he lifted the tent flap and walked inside. "We've got cookies?"

The rest of the team heard Joe's exclamation and hurried inside the tent. AJ shook his head. 'Guess I'd better grab one before they're all gone!' And he reached for the box.

Tuesday, 3 July 1973
1335 EDT
Donnelly Residence
Siler City, North Carolina

Brianna flopped across her bed, the cats flicking their tails wildly as she disturbed their naps. She ripped open the letter she received and began reading:

June 17, 1973

Dear Brianna,

Guess what? I'm getting married today! My fiancée's name is Marcella, and she is a beautiful woman. I met her a month ago when my team was assigned to Italy for a short while. She is Italian, but she will be going to the United States with me after our honeymoon here in Italy. As soon as I have one, I'll send you a wedding picture. I know I've been rather bad about sending you a picture of me until now. But I didn't have a camera while I was in Vietnam, you know. I promise to send you a picture before Christmas.

I do have some bad news, though. My father called last month to tell me that Mistral died. She was giving birth to a new foal and something went wrong. The foal survived; it's another girl. But poor Mistral didn't make it through the night. The new foal needs a name. Would you like to name her, Darlin'?

Are you enjoying your summer vacation? Is your family going anywhere this year? The beach maybe? Or Florida again? I hear Disney World is the place to go these days. If you go, be sure to tell me all about it.

And hey! You start fifth grade next month! Wow, you're really growing up fast. Do you realize that you'll now be in the same grade as Lyle was when you and I first started writing to each other three years ago? Amazing, huh?

You have a birthday coming up, too. A big one. Two digits. Have you told your folks what you want yet so you'll be sure to get it?

I have to close now and get ready for the wedding breakfast. Weddings in Italy are a lot more complicated than they are at home. Maybe we should have just eloped. Oh well, too late now.

Yours truly, AJ

Wednesday, 10 November 1976
2345 EET
Officers' Cabin, U.S.S. Farragut
Pacific Ocean

AJ came off duty and walked into the cabin he shared with three other officers. Only Lieutenant Daley was in the room, and he was fast asleep in his bunk. AJ toed off his shoes and yanked his shirt out of his pants as he unbuttoned it. Then he unzipped his pants and pushed those to the floor. Stepping out of them, his eye caught sight of a pink envelope resting on his pillow. A letter from Brianna, he knew. He wasn't really sure he wanted to read it right now. She probably didn't understand his last letter; why had he bothered to explain about Marcella's leaving him? What would a child of 13 care about that anyway?

But it had seemed right to tell her. He told her when he got married. He told her about Francesca's birth the next year. It was only fair to tell her that he and Marcella were now separated and well on their way to a divorce. AJ sighed as he sat on his bunk and picked up the envelope. When did her handwriting change? It was no longer the scrawls of a young child, but the writing of a teenager trying to find just "her style". He chuckled to himself as he looked at the writing on the envelope. He certainly hoped this wasn't what she'd decide on... 'too hard on the eyes!'

October 31, 1976

Dear Lt. Commander AJ,

I was so sorry to hear about Marcella leaving you and taking the baby away. That is so sad. I know you didn't do anything to make her leave; you couldn't have! So it makes me wonder why she left? She must have had a reason; I mean no one would just leave you! You're perfect! But I can't for the life of me figure out what her reason could possibly have been.

I wish I was old enough to be your wife. I'd cook and clean for you and we'd have a dozen babies. And I'd be so happy to see you when you came home from being at sea or wherever the Navy sent you. But I know I'm too young for you. And it isn't fair to ask you to wait for me to grow up. But if you think you could, that would be the best! Really and truly, the absolute best!

Have to scoot now and get dressed for Halloween. Mom says it's my last year to go trick-or-treating, so I want to make this one good. I mean really good!

Luv ya!  Brianna

AJ was a bit startled at Brianna's suggestion, but as he read her last paragraph, he chuckled at her childishness. He reread the first paragraph, and he smiled. It made him feel better. 'At least someone thinks I'm perfect.'

Monday, 27 August 1979
0715 EDT
Donnelly Residence
Siler City, North Carolina

Brianna awoke with a start, hearing a truck and trailer coming up the gravel driveway. It was so early... her alarm hadn't even gone off yet.  But the sun was up... way up!  That just wasn't right.  She looked over at the clock on her bedside table.  "7:15!  Oh my gosh!  I'm gonna be late for school!" she realized, jumping out of bed.  She picked AJ up from the floor where he'd fallen in her haste, kissed the stuffed seal on his nose, and laid him back on the bed.  "Sorry, AJ."

Then she heard the truck door slam, so she pulled the curtains to the side to peer out the window. It wasn't just any old truck and trailer. It was a truck pulling a horse trailer. She watched as her father went outside to greet the man who had climbed out of the truck. She watched as they disappeared around the back of the trailer. She knew she should start getting ready for school.  Even if it was her birthday, she still had school.  

And then she saw the man leading the most beautiful white horse around the side of the trailer.  Brianna stared at the horse. She couldn't believe it. She'd begged for a horse for years, ever since she outgrew her pony. But her parents flatly refused. But here was a horse. And it was her birthday! This had to be for her! 

She grabbed her jeans and shirt, pulled on her boots, and tore down the stairs at breakneck speed. By the time she flew out the front door, her mother was already outside with the men.

But as Brianna got closer to the animal, she gasped. "Oh, my God!" she breathed as she saw the red mane and tail. "Misty?" The horse lifted her head and looked at Brianna. "Are you Misty?" Brianna asked the horse.

Misty whinnied and pawed at the ground in answer, as though saying, "Yes, of course I am Misty.  Whom else would I be?"

Brianna looked at her mother, then her father, then the man who held the rope on Misty's harness. "I don't understand," she whispered.

The man smiled. "This might help," he said as he handed her an envelope.

She tore it open and quickly read the note.

August 17, 1979

Dearest Brianna,

Happy birthday! I know you've wanted a horse for a long time; I hope that you'll like Misty. It doesn't look like I'll be living anywhere that I can have her with me anytime in the foreseeable future, so I thought perhaps you would enjoy her and love her. After all, you named her!

I wanted to do something extra special for your 16th birthday, and I decided giving you Misty would be just the thing. (Don't worry, I called and asked your father first.) I had hoped to be able to be there on your birthday this year; I would so love to actually meet you... you, who have been so faithful in writing these last nine years. But I'm in the middle of the Pacific Ocean again this summer, so that's not going to happen.

I will be going home soon; I'm going to become a lawyer. This should be interesting. Me, going back to school. Adele laughed when I told her. I was never a very good student; I was rather wild, I'm afraid. Anyway, when they tell me which school I'm attending, I'll let you know.

By the way, did I tell you? I made full Commander last month. Fancy that. Pulled the wool over someone's eyes, I did!

Happy birthday, Sweet 16!

Love, AJ

Brianna beamed as she read his closing. She folded up the letter and stuffed it in the pocked of her shirt. She stepped closer to Misty and reached her hand up carefully to pet the horse's nose. "Hello, Misty. You are such a beautiful horse, you know that? And you're mine now. Commander AJ gave you to me. And I'm going to take good care of you... such good care of you..." she purred. Misty nuzzled Brianna, and the bond was formed.

Her mother smiled, "Happy birthday, Darling.  Your father and I thought you might like to skip school today so you could get to know Misty."

Brianna turned surprised eyes to her parents.  They never took their children out of school except for illness.  But Brianna wasn't going to argue the point.  "Did you call the school?"

Her father nodded.  "Sure did.  They all said to wish you a happy birthday."

Tuesday, 26 May 1981
1535 EDT
Cornell Law School
Ithaca, New York

AJ entered his apartment and tossed his books on the sofa. He grabbed the phone and started dialing the number he'd committed to memory years ago... even though he'd never actually dialed it before. This would be a first. He would actually speak with Brianna. He'd hope to be there today for her high school graduation, but unfortunately, his own final exams didn't end until Thursday, so he was unable to get away. And now he was even later calling her than he'd planned. He'd be lucky if she was still at home.

"Hello?" came a deep voice over the wire.

AJ replied, "Good afternoon. I'd like to speak with Brianna, please."

"Brianna's not available right now. We're all just about to leave for the school..." her brother's voice trailed off as AJ interrupted him.

"I won't take but a minute of her time. I'd really like to speak with her before she leaves for graduation if that's possible, please."

"Who is this?" her brother asked abruptly.

AJ sighed. "My apologies. I should have already introduced myself. This is Commander AJ Chegwidden. Brianna and I have been writing..."

"Hold the line, Commander. I'll get her."  When Lyle yelled for his sister, AJ realized who he'd been talking to. "Brie!!! Brianna!!! Get the phone!!!"

"Lyle!" reprimanded his mother. "I taught you better than to yell for your sister. Besides which, she's already in the car waiting for us. Tell whomever it is that they'll have to call back this evening."

Lyle ignored his mother and was already out the front door calling his sister. "Brie!! Come back inside and get the phone!"

She leaned out the window. "I most certainly will not! I'll be late for graduation!"

"Brie, you won't be late. It doesn't start until 4:30."

"I'm supposed to be there at 3:45, and we're already going to be later than that arriving. Get in the car and let's go!" she insisted.

Lyle shook his head. "Nope. Not until you've taken this call."

"Fine!" shouted Brianna. She'd never known her brother to be so pig-headed... especially not about a phone call. She ran inside, picked up the receiver, and said, "Hello and goodbye!" Before AJ could even utter a sound, she slammed the phone on the cradle and ran back out to the car. "Now! Let's go!!"

Lyle stared at his sister. "You hung up on him?"

"I said hello. And I said goodbye. And then I hung up," she nodded smugly.

Lyle sighed as they got in the car. "I guess I had you figured wrong, Brie. I really thought you'd want to talk to him. I mean... you still sleep with that stupid stuffed animal..."

"Don't you dare call AJ a stupid stuffed animal!" she retorted. "He's very special to me."

Lyle shook his head. "Couldn't prove it by me."

"Lyle, what are you talking about?" asked his mother as they pulled out of the driveway and headed for the school.

"That was Commander Chegwidden on the phone. He wanted to talk to Brie.  And she hung up on him."

"Whaaaaaaat!?!" screamed Brianna... and then she burst into tears.

Meanwhile, AJ set the receiver back in the cradle and plopped himself on the sofa. 'Damn. All I wanted to do was congratulate her personally... well, as personal as it could be over the phone.'  He knew that Lyle had surely told her who was on the phone... and she obviously didn't want to speak with him. 'I guess she was really angry that I couldn't go down for her graduation. Didn't even want to talk to me. I hope she gets over this soon; I'd really hate to lose her...' 

He had no way of knowing that as soon as graduation was over, Brianna hurried them all home, skipping all the parties... and sat by the phone until midnight hoping that he would call back.

Tuesday, 26 May 1981
2355 EDT
Donnelly Residence
Siler City, North Carolina

Brianna sniffed back her tears as she climbed the stairs.  "Honey, he'll call you back," her father assured her.  "You have to remember that he's a grown man; he's not going to let your hanging up on him..."  She moaned at his choice of words.  "...deter him from calling you again.  He's your friend, and I know he's appreciated your letters all these years.  If he didn't, he wouldn't have kept writing you.  And he certainly would never have given you Misty."

She sniffed loudly.  "But I hung up on him, Daddy.  How could I have hung up on him?"

"You didn't know it was him, Baby," her father pulled her into his embrace and patted her back.  "And Lyle just wanted you to be surprised; I'm sure that's why he didn't tell you right away who was on the phone."

"I know," she said.  "I just wish he'd called again tonight."

"Why don't you write him, Sweetheart?  You know you always feel better after you've written to him."

Brianna remembered then that she hadn't checked the mail today.  It was her job to bring in the mail every day; it had been since she entered the third grade.  She turned around and started back down the steps.  "Where are you going?" her father asked.

"I forgot to bring in the mail today.  I was so excited.. and then so upset..."

Her father interrupted her.  "Brie, I think we can live without the mail for a day.  Come on now.  Go to bed."

Brianna shook her head.  "Maybe there's something from him," she replied with a hopeful shrug.  When Brianna reached the end of the driveway, she found a package inside their enormous mailbox.  It was too dark to read the address on it or any of the envelopes, so she ran back to the house.  "It is!  It's from him!" she breathed as she spied the handwriting on the box.  She knew his handwriting as well as her own by now.  She ripped off the mailing paper and found a beautifully wrapped present with a card on top.

She ripped open the envelope and pulled out the graduation card.  She laughed as she read it; it was a silly card.  She'd come to expect those from him over the years.  But there was always a note enclosed.  

May 21, 1981

Dear Brianna,

So, you're a high school graduate now, or you will be soon. Depends on the speed of the U.S. Mail whether you get this before or after, I suppose.

Are you still planning on a degree in Veterinary Medicine from NC State?  Or have you changed your mind again?  Nothing wrong with changing your mind... just be sure to take classes the first few years that will carry with you to a new major.  

Law school has been interesting.  I finish my final exams next week and then I take the Bar the first of July.  After that, there's no telling where I'll be.  The Navy has law offices all over the world; they're called JAG offices.  The Admiral who's over all the JAG offices is called the Judge Advocate General.  Seems rather odd, doesn't it?  A General title for an Admiral?

By the way, I'm sending you a little something for your graduation.  I hope it fits and that you like it.  When I saw it in the store, I thought of you.  The color matches your eyes... well, at the least the color of your eyes in photographs!  Maybe one day I'll actually get to see your eyes in person.

I also thought I'd send you my IBM Memory 100 Typewriter this summer.  I'll need it until I pass the Bar, but then I won't have much use for it... and you will.  It's a great typewriter.  Holds 100 pages in memory so you can change things around, fix spelling errors, etc., and then print the pages again.  It's been a God-send during law school, and I think it'll come in handy for you at college.

Happy graduation, Darlin'.

Fondly, AJ       

Brianna laid the card and the note down on the counter as she gently unwrapped the present.  She pulled the tissue aside and gasped.  "Oh my gosh!"

"What's going on down here?" her mother asked as she and Brianna's father walked into the kitchen.  "I thought you were going to bed?"  They saw Brianna pull the aquamarine-colored peignoir set from the box.  "Oh, Brianna.  That's beautiful."  

"But who would have sent you that?" asked her father.  "Everyone knows you wear ratty old t-shirts to bed."

Brianna's face glowed as she hugged the fabric to her.  "It's from AJ," she breathed.   "It's from my AJ."  Never again did Brianna wear a ratty-old t-shirt to bed.   

Thursday, 26 April 1984
1225 PDT
Bachelor Officers' Quarters
China Lake, California

AJ took his lunch break and returned to his quarters.  He was pleased with his new assignment in China Lake, and he felt certain that he was chosen above the other candidates because of his unique skills.  How many JAG lawyers were also SeALs, after all?

His three years in the Administrative division of JAG had taught him a lot, mostly that he didn't want to be there for any longer than he had to be.  And now he was out.  In the real world of JAG where he'd be able to truly use his skills as a lawyer.  He grinned to himself, "I made it."

He sat on the edge of his bed and flipped through his mail.  It took a while to catch up to him, but it arrived today, and he was glad.  He missed it when he didn't get a letter each week.  At some point several years ago, Adele and Brianna started writing him every other week, like clockwork.  And, lucky for him, they wrote on opposite weeks.  So not a week went by that he didn't hear from one of them.  

AJ knew exactly when it was this routine started.  He tried to block it out of his memory, but he wasn't often successful.  It was February of 1982.  

He shook his head fiercely to erase the memory of the dreaded phone call that came Valentine's Day night.  But it wouldn't go away now that he'd remembered it again, word for word:  

"Commander Chegwidden, this is Lieutenant Fowler with the Lubbock Police Department.  Your parents were involved in a hit-and-run accident this evening.  They were on their way out for dinner when a truck came up behind them and...  AJ, their car went over the cliff and exploded.  I'm so sorry.  So very sorry.  They didn't have a chance..."

Was it any wonder that he despised Valentine's Day now?  AJ's eyes flooded with tears again.  He was able to keep them at bay when he was around other people, but alone in his room was a different matter entirely.  He brushed his hand over his face angrily and shook his head again.  'I will not let this get the better of me!' his brain yelled.

He hadn't concentrated on the mail when he flipped through it the first time, so he had to do it again.  This time, he found two letters from Adele and one from Brianna.  He decided to read Brianna's first and then Adele's.  Adele's were always longer, he reasoned, and would take longer.   

April 12, 1984

Dear AJ,

I have such exciting news!  I'm engaged!! Can you believe it?  I can't!  For the life of me, I can't believe it! But it's true!  Joey proposed last night while we were sitting in the library studying.  Truly!  

There I was, reading "The History of Civilization" and he was sitting next to me, reading some thesis about physics, and the next thing I knew, he'd reached over and put a little velvet box on top of my open book!

I was so surprised!  I think he was even more so when I said yes.  We're not rushing it, though.  I really want to finish and get my degree, and that's not until May of '85.  So we'll wait until next summer to get married.  You will come, won't you?  Oh, please say you will.  You have to be here for my wedding.  Please, please, please?

Oh, AJ, I'm so excited, I can't begin to tell you!  I guess you had a pretty good laugh at me several times over the years when I suggested you wait for me.  Of course, I can see how silly that sounds now.  And you were right, of course.  Love finally did come to me.

Joey's here!  Gotta run!

Love, Brianna

AJ chuckled.  "Finally?  She's not even 21 yet!"

Monday, 17 June 1985
1830 AEST
Bachelor Officers' Quarters
Marianas, Guam

AJ hadn't expected to be moved away from China Lake quite so fast.  But he was needed in Guam.  This time, his selection was not only based on his SeAL experience, but also on his JAG Admin experience.  

He'd once again missed Brianna's graduation... this time from college.  But he was not going to miss her wedding!  His leave was approved, and he was scheduled to fly back to the States on July 19.

He pulled the envelope from his pocket and slid this index finger under the flap to open it.  He picked up his mail at noon, but he preferred reading Brianna's letters in the privacy of his room; he was never quite sure what she'd say.  He smiled as he saw her familiar handwriting, but his smile quickly turned to a frown.  

June 3, 1985

Dear AJ,

Well, the wedding is off.  Joey informed me this weekend that he expects his wife to stay at home and have babies.  I can't have a job.  I can't have friends that he doesn't approve.  AND he doesn't even want me to have a car; he wants me to be completely dependent on him!  Sounds like the 1880s, not the 1980s!   

But I could live with those things, AJ, because I love him.  I knew he had some rather backward, out-of-date notions.  And that was okay.  Really.  But when he told me last night that I had to quit writing you, that was it.  I couldn't agree to that.  I wouldn't agree!  How could he ask me to stop writing you?  He knows how much you mean to me... how much you've always meant to me.  I don't understand him at all.

"Oh, Darlin'," AJ sighed aloud.  "He's jealous..."  But he kept reading, groaning at her next words. 

There's a tiny little problem, though.  I think I'm pregnant. I'm almost sure of it.  We stopped using anything last month because the wedding was so close.  Well, obviously that was the wrong decision, and now I'm two weeks late.  I haven't told anyone else yet... and frankly, I'm afraid to.  I'm afraid that my parents will insist I marry Joey because of the baby.  And if I tell Joey... God only knows what he'll do!

AJ, I know you're a long ways away.  But can you help me?  Can you tell me what I should do?  And what could Joey do if he found out?  Legally, I mean?  Could he force me to marry him?  Could he take the baby from me?  Or worse, could he make me have an abortion?  

What if I married someone else?  Yes, I mean you; 19 years isn't such a big difference in age, is it?  And you're coming here in a month anyway.  We could get married instead of me and Joey.  I'd be a good wife for you, AJ.  I know I would be.  And you know I'll always love you.  I always have, and nothing's going to change that.  

I'm at my wits end, AJ.  Please help me.  I don't know what to do.

Love always, Brianna  

AJ read through the letter again.  "Oh, Brie," AJ sighed again.  "My poor little girl."  This warranted a phone call, not just a letter.  He'd finally spoken to Brianna on the phone a year ago, and since then, he called her every so often.  This would be one of those times.

He looked at the clock. 1840.  That made it 0440 in Siler City.  AJ decided to grab some dinner and think about what he would say to Brianna when he called in... "three hours," he decided.  He knew she was a fairly early riser, and he didn't want to take the chance that she'd already be out of the house when he called. 

Monday, 17 June 1985
0730 EDT
Donnelly Residence
Siler City, North Carolina

Brianna took one last bite of her English muffin before she drank an entire glass of milk.  She heard the phone ring, but she was running late, so she decided to let her mother answer it.

"Brianna!  Get the phone, Dear!  It's Commander Chegwidden calling from Guam!"

Brianna froze.  "AJ?"  She knew there hadn't been enough time for him to receive her second letter.  "You can do this, Brie.  He won't make fun of you.  He won't tease you.  You know him better than that."  She put her hand on the receiver but didn't pick it up.  "Come on, Brie.  Talk to him.  You can do this."

"Brianna, didn't you hear me?" her mother asked, walking into the kitchen.  "It's Commander Chegwidden calling from Guam."  She looked at her daughter questioningly.  "Is something wrong, Brie?"

Brianna shook her head and pasted a smile on her face.  "No, Ma'am.  Everything's perfect:  AJ's calling me!"  She lifted the receiver and spoke as her mother headed to the laundry room.  "AJ!  Hello!  What a delightful surprise!"

"Good morning, Brianna.  How's my favorite girl?"

"Feeling a trifle foolish, actually," she replied.  "I was a little hasty in jumping to conclusions.  I was wrong."

AJ pondered her words.  Was she hasty in refusing Joey?  Was she hasty in thinking she was pregnant?  Or was she hasty in practically begging him to marry her?  He wasn't quite sure how to ask.  Fortunately, he didn't have to.

"I wrote you on a Monday... the day after I broke up with Joey."

"Yes, that's why I'm calling, Darlin'.  We'll work this out..."  He didn't get to finish his sentence.

"I wrote you again... that Friday."

AJ replied, "I haven't received that one yet.  I was concerned about you.  You sounded pretty desperate."

"I know.  I'm sorry, AJ," she whispered.  "I overreacted."  She groaned to herself as her mother returned to the kitchen.

"So, the wedding is back on?" he asked carefully.

"No!" she suddenly realized that AJ thought she meant she'd overreacted to Joey's ultimatum.  "Oh!  Not about that!  I mean... I... um..."

"Darlin', are you alone there, or is someone in the room?"

"You got that right," she said.

"Ah.  Okay... When you say you overreacted, do you mean that you jumped the gun in thinking you were pregnant?"

"Exactly," she smiled into the phone.  'AJ is so perceptive.  I knew he'd figure it out.'

"I see.  So... no baby.  Which means you don't have a problem now?  Everything's okay?"

"Everything's fine now, AJ.  Thank you."

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Brianna, do me a favor?" he asked.

She didn't even hesitate.  "Of course, AJ.  Anything.  What is it?"

"Don't do it again without protection until you're married.  Please?"  Then he emphasized it, "Actually married; not just engaged.  A done deal."

She giggled, "I won't.  I promise."

AJ continued, "You nearly gave me heart failure, you know."

Brianna whispered, even though her mother had left the kitchen.  "Did I?  Why?  Because I thought I was pregnant?  Or because I asked you to marry me?"

"Both!!"  They laughed together, talked for another couple of minutes, and then hung up.  Neither mentioned her proposal again... or her sex life.  Not for many years to come.


Continue to Part 2.