A Marine Called Jason
(Revised)
by: Peter

(© 2007-2015 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 41
Meeting the Family

I suppose it was rather cruel, the way I sprung Jase on my family, especially my parents, at a family get together soon after our return from Vietnam. When my mom called to tell me what she was planning, I told her I would be there and that I would be bringing someone with me. She sounded happy about that. I knew she assumed it was a woman. Maybe I should’ve but I didn’t tell her any different.

Jase was excited to discover that he had grandparents after all but he was a little apprehensive about meeting my family.  When we were getting ready he kept looking at himself in the mirror, fussing over whether he looked all right. He was funny.  He had used the shampoo and liked what it did to his hair. He said it really was different than using soap. He had also shaved with my razor, although he didn’t need to, I think so he could use my aftershave.  I told him he smelled good.  He told me he’s used the deodorant.  He had on a pair of Levis we’d bought and a pale yellow T-shirt and the heavy-soled Caterpillar hiking boots I’d bought for him. He really liked the boots after I explained to him what Caterpillar stood for. The kid looked fantastic, muscles outlined under the shirt, his muscular arms showing, and his muscular thighs bulging against the denim material. The way he filled them out in the butt was almost criminal.  I could hardly wait to get my niece’s reaction when she saw him. I finally took him by the shoulders and turned him away from the mirror.

“You like fine, Jase.  If you’re worried about your features, don’t be. They only make you look more handsome,” I told him.     

“Do you think they will like me?” he asked.

“Of course they’ll like you.  Especially my niece.  Just wait till she gets a look at this,” I said, smacking his tight butt.  “Technically, she’ll be your cousin but she’ll see you as a handsome stud.”

He laughed and asked, “Is she pretty?”

“She’s gorgeous.”

“Then I think I will like my cousin,” he said.

My brother and his wife were there, and Hunter and Melissa, and her boyfriend, Roger, and my parents. I wondered why Hunter’s girlfriend wasn’t there. They were out in the yard, sitting in lawn chairs under the sprawling weeping willow tree. It looked like they were having a good time; till we drove up and got out of the car.  Faces sort of went blank and iced tea glasses and beers were set down as they watched us coming toward them. All eyes were fixed on Jase, except for my mother’s. I watched her closely; she looked at him then her eyes fixed on me; it was one of those, “son, what have you done” looks. There was no other way but to come right out with it.

“Here’s somebody I would like you all to meet.  This is Jase, from Vietnam,” I said. “He is the son of my buddy who was killed. I’ve brought him to live in the United States.” Then I introduced Jase to each one of them by name and what relation they were to me. I watched their reactions carefully as he shook hands with each one with a slight bow.  He was very gracious, with a special greeting for each one.  Everyone was polite but they were too surprised and confused to be gracious.

Jase had a look of stern respect for my father, less stern for my brother and Hunter.  He gave a polite bow to my mother and sister-in-law, and with a smile, kissed their hands.  I thought Melissa was going to piss her pants when he kissed her hand. Roger didn’t look too pleased.  All in all, he was a real charmer.  I could see right away that my brother and his wife were okay with him, even with my brother’s wary glance at our mother.  Melissa was way more than okay with him.  Hunter, too, I thought had a mischievous gleam in his eye as he shook his hand.  My dad dutifully shook his hand, but without getting up out of his chair. My mother stood from her chair, took his hand loosely in hers then wiped her hands on her apron, like she was wiping off chicken grease from the kitchen.  I didn’t think Jase noticed. She offered him iced tea, which he accepted graciously, and Hunter got him a chair.

The conversation was, understandably, strained; I was sure my mom had surmised aloud to the others that I might be bringing a lady friend.  But as I explained the situation and answered questions, everyone seemed more at ease and even accepting of Jase. Except my mother.

When my mom got up to go inside to check on dinner, I squeezed my sister-in-law’s shoulder to keep her from getting up, and I followed Mom inside.  Neither of us said anything for a moment. I stood leaning back against the counter with my arms crossed; it was a stance that said "we are going to talk about this." She avoided looking at me.  Finally, she spoke, because she knew I was waiting for her to say something.

“Is he yours, Brad?” she asked bluntly.

“No, I told you, he is my buddy’s son,” I replied. I said it gently even though I was ticked off that she was half accusing me of lying to the family. And I wasn’t pleased over how she wiped her hand after shaking hands with Jase.

“What is your connection to the boy, then?” she asked.

“I told you, he’s my buddy’s son,” I said again. “The nun who runs the orphanage in Saigon wrote to me a couple of years ago about him, begging me to bring him to the States.”

“You’ve known about him for two years?”

“Yes.”

“When were you going to tell us?” she asked.

“There was no need to tell anyone till I was sure I could bring him back,” I said.

“How long has he been here?” she asked.

“I wanted to get him settled in with me first. It’s been quite a transition,” was my reply.

“There were thousands of American boys over there, and naturally, I’m sure a lot went on that we back home don’t know about.  How does it happen that this particular boy ends up in your care?” she asked.

“Because he was my buddy’s son and I agreed to accept responsibility for him,” I said flatly, with some exasperation in my voice. “Look, Mom, if you don’t believe me, I’ll show you pictures of his dad; he is undeniably his.  But even if Jase were mine--and he could’ve been--would that make a difference?” I asked.

She was visibly taken aback by my remark. “Do you plan to adopt him?” she asked, avoiding my question.

“I’ve given it some thought. You don’t have to accept him as a grandson, Mom.  Believe me, he’s used to not being accepted,” I said with scoffing laughter. “Kids over there with American blood are treated a cut below second class citizens.  They treat them like they were responsible for the war.”

“I would never treat him badly,” she said. “I just don’t know if I can accept him like I do Hunter and Melissa.

“That’s all I ask.  He may end up being my son, but he doesn’t have to be your grandson if you’re not comfortable with that,” I said.

It was a strained conversation, but a necessary one.  I wasn’t happy but we knew where we stood and it was out of the way.  Hunter and Jase hit it off like life-long buddies, and Melissa was a bit ga-ga over him, much to Roger’s chagrin. I was most surprised and impressed by my brother’s reaction.

“I would not say this in front of our mother, but it’s a noble thing you’re doing,” he told me in private as we were walking out behind the shed toward the garden.

“It’s not noble; it’s just something I had to do,” I said.

He smiled.  “Well, now you’re going to know what it’s like, raising a teenage son.”

“I hope you don’t mind if I come to you for advice. You’ve done a great job with Hunter.”

“My advice probably wouldn’t work on Jase.  They’re all different. But you’ll do okay.  Now, the only thing you need to do is find him a mother.”

“He’s been used to not having a mother and he’s about past the stage of needing one,” I said.

“I think Mom would be more accepting of him if there was a woman in the picture,” he offered.

“If it takes that, then I don’t much care if she accepts Jase or not,” I said. “I supposed that Mom and Dad would be reconciled to the fact by now that I won’t be presenting them with any grandkids of my own.”

“Oh, I believe so; Mom doesn’t talk about it anymore but it still gnaws at her.  I don’t think it was ever an issue with Dad. But I think you got Mom’s hopes up when you told her you would be bringing someone today.”

“I didn’t intend to, she jumped to conclusions,” I said.

“You know we all just want you to be happy,” he said.

“I am happy,” I said.

“Yes, but there’s a big empty hole in your life,” he said. 

“A woman isn’t going to fill that hole,” I said. “It’s not that kind of hole.”

“I wish I understood better, Brad, about the war; about everything,” he said.

“I wish you did too, but you can’t, and that’s all right. You had to be there and go through it. Anyway,” I added with a shrug, “we all have our own demons. Do you think Mom and Dad know why I never got married?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Do you?” I asked pointedly. It was the first time we had ever approached the subject together.

“I think so.”

“You never gave any indication.”

“It wasn’t my place to bring it up,” he said. “I figured you would tell me when you were ready.”

“What about Hunter and Melissa?” I asked.

“They’ve never said anything but I think they’ve figured it out,” he said.

Yeah, I was well aware that Hunter knew, first hand, but I was a little surprised about Melissa. I raised an eyebrow, with a tight-lipped smile.  “Well, you’ve got smart kids,” I said.

“They’re okay with it,” he said.

I didn’t smile.  If he only knew how okay Hunter was with it; and Melissa’s boyfriend.

“How about you and your wife?” I asked.

“Doesn’t matter to us either way,” he said. “I do have a question, though, if I may get personal, now that it’s out in the open.”

I shrugged.

“I think your involvement with the boy’s dad ran pretty deep, didn't it?”

“It did,” I said.

“How does he figure into things?”

“Jase?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think you know what I mean,” he said.

“I brought him back here to raise him as my own. That’s how he figures in,” I said. “I didn’t bring him back as a boy toy, if that’s what you mean.”

“No, I was just concerned about your demons,” he said.

“I think you’re using Jase to voice your concern about Hunter,” I said bluntly.

“I admit I have wondered,” he said.

“Ask him,” I said.

“No,’ he said putting his arm around my shoulder. “If anything like that ever happens, or has, I don’t want to know, okay?”

We left it at that.

Driving home, Jase was excited about meeting my family, especially Hunter and Melissa.  I told him that I didn’t visit my family often but that Hunter sometimes came to visit me.  He was happy about that.

“And how about Melissa?  Does she come to visit?” he asked.

“Not as often as Hunter.  Do you want her to visit? We can invite her,” I said

“You don’t want to know what I think of Melissa,” he said with a bright smile.  “Anyway, she’s got a boyfriend. He’s really in great shape, though. If I had a girlfriend like Melissa, I would be in shape for her.”

“I think she noticed that you are in shape,” I said.

“I don’t think your mother liked me,” he said.  It saddened me to hear him say that and it made me a little angry that she’d been so obvious.

“She will need time to get used to you.  I sort of sprung you on her. I never told any of my family about you.  She thought I was bringing a lady friend today.  She’s always hoped I would give her grandchildren.”

“So I will not have grandparents after all. I won’t be her grandson,” he said. He didn’t sound hurt or disappointed; he was just stating fact.

“Yes, of course you will.  She just needs some time.” 

I wished I could take him to meet his Uncle Allen, but I wasn’t sure he even knew Jason had a brother, and of course Allen didn’t want to have anything to with him anyway.  I decided to wait a while to take him to visit his dad’s grave and show him around the place where his dad grew up.

To be continued...  

Posted: 02/27/15 rp