v12-final1

Facebook or through emails.
“I know Daddy,” Hailey said, rising from her chair. She leaned
forward and kissed the web cam. “I love you and miss you. Merry
Christmas!”
“I love you and miss you too,” he said, kissing his web cam as
well. “Merry Christmas from Mosul!”
Click!
The video screens on both laptops went black. Once again,
Specialist Jordan felt seven thousand miles away from the family he
loved. His façade of happiness was gone now, and it had taken a great
amount of energy to display, even if only for a short, ten minute Skype
call. He felt the weight of the world return to his shoulders.
“Listen up!” Staff Sergeant Prendergast said, entering the men’s
room unannounced. “Wake up dirt bags!” He kicked the bunk of the
sleeping soldiers.
“Yes, Sergeant,” the men, rubbing tired eyes, said.
“We’ve just had a squad leader’s meeting. We’ve received intel
that Hajji’s gonna hit us hard today.”
“I just love how we don’t bomb them during Ramadan, but
they always hit us hard on our holidays,” Specialist Jordan said, barely
audible.
“If you leave here to go to the chow hall, the latrine, anywhere,
wear your body armor,” Prendergast said, ignoring the comment. As
quickly as he had entered the room he was gone, off to spread the word
to the rest of his troops.
“Great,” Banks said. “We think we’re gonna have an easy day, and
we gotta wear our cages to the chow hall. To hell with that. No turkey
for me.”
“I’m not going,” Estep said. “I’ll eat beef jerky for Christmas. That
shit has destroyed my back. I’m just happy to have the day off.” He rolled
back over, putting his pillow over his head. His bunkmate above him
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