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 76
The Ring

Sister Mary Margaret was elated when we went to meet with her about the boys.  She was very surprised when we mentioned two boys. 

“I think I know the one boy you have in mind--but two?” she asked.

“Yes, that little tyke who follows us around, too,” I said.

In the courtyard she took us over to where the boys were playing. We pointed out the two boys and she introduced us.  They looked so small, crouched down in the dirt, playing, and we must have looked like two giants towering over them. The one called Devon seemed to cower a little, with sad eyes.  Kyle had a more determined look.  I was surprised when Jason bent down and picked Devon up.  He held him easily on one arm and walked toward the swings and slide and teeter-totter.  He had obviously made his choice. I had to smile at the look on the boy's face.  Not scared….he seemed to trust this giant of a man who had taken him.  It was more a "who are you and what are you doing with me" look but he wasn’t afraid.  I picked up Kyle and we joined them at the playground.  Jason set Devon in one of the swings and he took the one next to him.  The boy just sat there.

"Come on, I know you know how to operate a swing," Jason said as he began to swing himself.  Finally, Devon began swinging but it was a moment before a smile crept over his little face.

I set Kyle on the teeter-totter and took the other end.  He knew how to operate it.  But he didn't smile.  He didn't smile the whole time we were there. I mentioned it to Sister Mary Margaret.

"He is not so trusting as Devon," she said.  "You will have to win his trust. Your friend will have to win his trust, too, because he is very protective of Devon."

We didn’t limit our play to just Kyle and Devon; we brought all the kids into it and it made me wish we could take them all back with us. When playtime was up we tried to make the boys understand that we would be back but I wasn’t sure they believed us.

Walking back to Toby's I decided to give Jason the ring but I didn't know where, or how, or what I would say.  It couldn't be too romantic.  I looked for a bar or café but none seemed appropriate.   Then….hell, why not Toby's?  But I couldn't be sure of his reaction and I didn't want to take the chance of embarrassing him.  Finally I stopped.  Jason was two strides ahead of me before he stopped. He turned, with a funny look on his face.

"Before we go back, I've got something for you," I said, digging into my pocket.  

He came back in two easy strides, a curious frown on his face.  I handed him the velvet pouch.  He didn't say anything as he opened it and took out the ring, nor the whole time he was inspecting it.

"Geezuss!  It's beautiful," he said finally.  His voice was a bare whisper.  "Where did you find it?"

"I had it made."  I laughed.  "There's not much call for rings with all of that on them."  Suddenly I realized he was fighting his emotions and I was sorry I'd given it to him right there on the street. 

He walked slowly over to a huge, gnarled tree growing out of the strip of sidewalk.  I wondered why he didn't put the ring on.  "Where did you get it?" he asked, as he hefted it in his hand.  I told him.  "Show me," he said.

I was confused and sick at my stomach.  Didn't he like the ring? Was he going to take it back.  "It's engraved, you can't take it back," I said.

"Oh, don't worry, it'd take an army to get this ring away from me.  But I can't accept it by itself."

"I don't understand."

"There has to be two rings," he said.  "Now show me where you bought this."

"No, Jason, you don't have to do that…."  But I knew my protests were futile.  I took him to the jewelry shop.

The old man came out smiling from ear to ear when he saw me with Jason.

"He like?"

   "Yes, I like very, very much," Jason said.  "I want to see your other rings."

The man brought the display rack out of the window and Jason picked out the Marine Corps ring. It had the emblem in the stone and US Marine Corps on one side. The other side was blank, apparently left for engraving. He handed it to me.  "See how this fits."

"It's a tad too big," I said, without trying it on.

Jason took the ring and handed it to the man.  "Make it fit," he said.  "And I want it engraved.” 

The man gave him the pad and pencil.  Jason printed Marine Sniper to be engraved on the other side. “Also, is there room to put Vietnam?"

"Yes, yes, plenty room."

"Good.  Put Vietnam on mine, too.  And this….”  He wrote Brad Courter, Love Jason. i

"Yes, yes, I can do.  Big fingers, big rings, plenty room."

"Jason, you didn't have to do this.  I didn't intend for you to."

"Neither did you.  But I'm glad you thought of it. I am so proud of this ring."

When the man brought the rings back out Jason inspected them and paid him but then the man motioned that he wanted the rings back.  We didn’t know why but we gave them back to him. He gave me Jason’s ring and gave Jason mine.

“Now you put on each other,” he said.

I thought, Oh, no, Jason was going to be so embarrassed, and I expected him to change rings with me.  But instead, he glanced toward the front window then took my right hand and slipped the ring on my finger.  It wasn't any kind of expression of love or affection; he simply put the ring on my finger. It was a terribly emotional moment for me but I managed to quell it.  He held his hand out for me to slip his ring on.  Our eyes met for a second before he reached across the counter to shake the man's hand and thank him.

"I'm really glad you thought of this," he said as we were walking out.

So was I. 

To be continued...  

Posted: 03/13/15 rp