Read Online Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas - Free Book Online Page B

ribs, curly fries, and cornbread, and even ordered cheesecake for dessert, like it was his last meal. He asked whether they would be able to come to the swearingin ceremony the next morning, but they said it was a full day at the clinic and Neil had a surgery scheduled.
    He spent the afternoon playing Rock Band with his brother, and all the while Bebe sensed that the time to say important things was slipping away. Thirteen weeks was a long time and a lot of change could happen. He wouldn’t be the same Scott when he returned, and she was reluctant to give him up.
    Scott made small talk with Dylan in the backseat on the way to the recruiting office that afternoon, and he seemed nervous when they finally arrived. He recorded an away message on his phone, telling callers that he’d be back in October. Then he shut it down and handed it over to Bebe along with his wallet.
    He blew out a big breath of air. “I guess that’s it.”
    They got out and walked up to the storefront office where theymet the recruiter, who went over some brief instructions with Scott. Bebe could tell the recruiter was also sizing up Dylan and she didn’t like it. Dylan wasn’t the military type. The recruiter finally let them know it was time to go. He gave them some privacy, but she noticed that he kept his eye on them. He’d probably seen some pretty emotional farewells and she wondered if he would try to intervene if things began to escalate, or if they tried to talk Scotty out of it at the last minute.
    They each hugged him. Bebe kept her voice as level as she could and looked him in the eye to make the most of their last few moments. “Listen,” she said quietly between them, struggling not to cry, “you remember who you are. You need to find good friends and stick with them. You need to ask God for help every single day. We’ll be praying for you all the time—every day. We know you’re going to be all right.” She pulled out a small Bible from her purse and gave it to him. “There’s a letter inside for you to read on the plane.” He nodded, and she felt her face crumble as she kissed him good-bye. Neil and Dylan said their good-byes, and as they left for the car, she looked back at Scott for one last glimpse.
    The evening was long and hollow, and it was impossible to think of anything other than him—whether he was nervous or homesick or worried, or whether he’d already read the letter in the Bible she’d given him.
    The next morning, Neil got to the clinic early. Soon after, he called Bebe to say that he’d found that his morning surgery had been rescheduled. He’d moved their appointments until later in the day so that they’d have time to go to surprise Scott at his swearing-in ceremony. Bebe felt elated. He swung by the house to pick her up, but Dylan couldn’t get time off from work. Bebe felt a surge of gratefulness that she’d be able to see Scotty one more time before he left.
    They checked in at MEPS, the Military Entrance Processing Station, and waited in the lobby with other parents whose young men and women were being sworn in for every branch of the service. They watched every face that appeared, hungry for some sign of him. The officers gave the recruits simple instructions that involved walking onthe line leading from one location to the next, and more than one young man found out that they meant this basic command literally, and had to sheepishly retrace his steps. Finally, Scotty’s unit was called and their spirits rose as they saw him go past. They were soon ushered into a formal room with flags and plaques on the walls for every branch of service and a small stage. The parents lined up around the walls and waited. The doors opened and he entered with other young men in civilian clothes. They caught his eye and his face lit up briefly before resuming his stoic demeanor.
    Bebe’s heart swelled with conflicting emotions