Chapter 2

Jim Johnson knew after seven years of marriage, the best way to tell Keiko, his wife, anything was to tell it straight out. No beating around the bush. They were sitting at the table in the breakfast room having their morning coffee and he asked her, “Have you spoken to Megumi lately?”

“Yes, I spoke to her last night. She seems very cheery about something. Do you know something I don’t? She seems to talk to you first, even though I’m her mother.”

James tried to slough it off saying, “That’s probably because I spoil the hell out of her.”

“Maybe. You never answered my question.”

“Well, there is something I was going to mention to you this morning, but you seem to have a sixth sense about things, so I’ll get to it. You know Megumi went to the Naval Academy to pack Christmas boxes for servicemen overseas, right?”

“Yes, she told me. I think it was a wonderful idea.”

“Yeah, so do I. Anyway, they asked her while she was there to be a pen pal to a serviceman. It’s a new program the military started to try and cut down on holiday season depression and suicide. She agreed and wrote to a young Airman in the Air Force. She didn’t know it at the time, but he’s stationed in Jordan somewhere, and he’s from Maryland. He’s a Born-Again Christian and he’s half Chinese. His mom is from Beijing.”

“How old is this young man?”

“I think she said he was twenty-three.”

“And? I hear an ‘and’ in your voice like there’s more to this story.”

“Well, they are talking on Discord instead of writing. She really likes the guy, and they want to get to know each other.”

“She ‘likes’ this guy? Is she crazy? She’s a baby! She needs to finish school before she starts conversing and cavorting with young servicemen. You know they are all horny rabbits looking to spread their seed near and far...” She added with a smile “Present company excluded.”

James chuckled and said, “Thank you for not calling me a ‘rabbit looking to spread my seed near and far.’ Listen Babe. First of all, Megumi certainly isn’t a baby. She may look like she’s in middle school, but she’s a twenty-one-year-old woman. He’s in Jordan. She’s in Baltimore. They are simply talking and becoming friends. Don’t make more out of this than it is. Besides, he’s Born Again. What she’s told me, he has his head on straight and wants to take things slowly, one step at a time.”

“What? She’s talked to you about this?”

“Yes. I tried to call her the night before last, and she was on the phone for about thirty minutes, and she told me about volunteering to write a serviceman. They simply gave her a name; she didn’t pick out a specific person. They just seemed to connect. I really do think she’s got her head on straight and can talk to a guy on the phone and keep her priorities straight. Don’t go getting your panties in a bunch and flipping out on her.”

“Well, I need to make sure she’s concentrating on her studies and not some flyboy in Jordan. I’m going to see her tomorrow evening. And get this straight once and for all.”

“And how do you propose to do that? Read her the riot act, then rake her over hot coals when she hasn’t done anything wrong?”

“Listen James, she’s my daughter.”

“Keiko, I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that. Not unless you really want to go to war. You will lose, I can guarantee that. Now calm down. You cannot put her in a cage and lock her up. If you do that, you will certainly lose her. Give her some freedom and we’ll keep an eye on things. Remember the first rule of parenting. We are supposed to teach her to leave us, not to be chained to us under lock and key.”

“I hate it when you’re right!”

“Listen. She is seriously behind the social skills curve for twenty-one. I’ve given this some thought, and I think it is a safe way for her to spread her wings a bit and have a relationship with a man who, if he proves to be who he says he is, could be safe and good for her. Just let her know that you’ll be watching and keeping an eye on her, and not pull any funny stuff. That’s what you tell a girl that seems interested in a guy. You don’t throw her into the ivory tower like Rapunzel.”

“Who the hell is Rapunzel?”

“It’s a fairy tale where a girl was locked in a tower her entire life. Her hair grew abnormally long and when a prince came along, she lowered her hair and escaped with him.”

“Maybe you’re right. I just don’t want her to screw up her life like so many other kids do at this age. They think college is for partying.”

“Do you know why? It’s because kids who have lived a sheltered life and been chained up are finally away from home and can do what they want. They don’t know how to handle freedom. Let me guide her in this and we’ll know soon enough if this guy is worth his salt for her to get serious about.”

“Honey, I’m sorry for what I said. It wasn’t called for; I know you love her like she’s your own. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He kissed her nose and quipped, “You can make it up to me tonight.”

She playfully slapped his arm and retorted, “You military types are all the same. Thinking with the little head.”

“Guilty as charged, Ma’am.”

They both chuckled

Sean’s job on the base was basically to watch the locals and make sure they did their work correctly, and that there was no “funny business.”

He managed to get off at 1pm. That gave him the entire afternoon off, and he could call Megumi without any time constraint. He stopped by the canteen and picked up a double cheeseburger with an egg sunny side up and a giant bag of fries, and a quart of green tea.

He got back to his quarters and wolfed down the burger and dialed Megumi on Discord. “Hello, Sean?” Megumi asked.

“Hi, Megumi! Whatcha doing?”

“I’m sitting here with my mom. I think she’d like to talk to you.”

“Okay, cool. Put her on”

“Hello?” Keiko asked tentatively.

“Hello, Mrs. Johnson, how have you been?”

“I’m fine. Megumi tells me that you’re a Born-Again Christian?”

“Yes, Ma’am. My dad is a youth group leader at church. He teaches kids from twelve through high school. He’s been doing it for years. He’s led quite a few kids to Christ. Me and my brothers included.”

“How many brothers do you have?”

“There are four of us. Mom and Dad wanted the girl, but they got four boys instead.”

“Sean, I will get right to the point. What are your intentions towards my daughter?”

“Well, Mrs. Johnson, We haven’t set a wedding date yet. Sorry, just kidding. At this point in time, we really don’t know much about each other. She knows I’m in the Air Force. I know she’s in medical school. That’s it at the moment. Look, Mrs. Johnson. I know there are a lot of misconceptions and prejudgments regarding servicemen overseas. But give me a chance and I will tell you who I am.

“I am not like the average serviceman. I’m a Born-Again Christian, a twenty-three-year-old virgin. I don’t drink, smoke, or take drugs. Whenever me and my friends go out, I’m the designated driver, because I don’t drink. I think Megumi and I seemed to connect is because she said she doesn’t drink, smoke, take drugs or party either. She’s a good Christian girl whom I can get to know, talk about Christ, and study scripture together. We both agree that sex before marriage is a sin and if things ever got that far, we would be abstaining.

“Ma’am, I have a Chinese mom who is what is called a “Tiger Mom.” She, like you, wants all of us to focus on school, grades and getting a decent job. I think I know where you’re coming from and all I can say is this. If things progress like I hope they will, if I really care about Megumi, I will care about her hopes and dreams as much as I do my own. If I didn’t, I really wouldn’t care for her very much, would I?”

Megumi and James were keeping score and they smiled at each other because Sean was ahead on points.

Sean continued, “Look, Ma’am. Megumi has a few years left in school before she starts her residency. I have three years left on my enlistment. I am currently also attending the University of Maryland online working towards a degree in international accounting, working for someone like Legg Mason or Charles Schwab. Our relationship will mostly be long distance.

“My Mom and Dad met in Baltimore, but their relationship developed long distance with her in Beijing and him in the states. When Dad discussed with me meeting a girl while I was still in the service would mean that our relationship would be a long distance one. He told me that if your love is true, a long-distance relationship will prove it. It’s a lot harder being faithful to someone you can’t see, hold, or spend time with. It takes true honesty and commitment.