With The Old Breed
It hadn't taken a lot to convince the recruiter that he was actually eighteen instead of seventeen when he had gone to the station set up in the center of town. Everyone knew the young man's story of how his mother had made the sacrifice after her husband had died from exposure to mustard gas during the Great War to split the twins up. It hadn't been an easy decision, but one that had to be done in order to keep them all alive. Hannibal had been adamant about singing up passing all the tests with flying colors to get his A1 stamp on his papers passing him off to the Marines like he had requested. King could still remember that day as he stood outside the Jordan's front door dressed to the nine's in his green dress wools. It had been after school had started back, the second half of their Junior year, when he had left the grounds without telling his brother or his friends what he was doing. When he had come home that evening, his adoptive father nearly tanned his hide until he had passed the papers on to him showing that he had enlisted in the Marines explaining to him why he had done it without his permission. Sure his father had spoken little to him since then and only a few words as he packed what few personal belongings he could take with him in to his duffel bag. His mother had cried and was more understanding to her son's need to be... to preform his civic duty to his country after the attack on Pearl. It was one of the only thing next to sports that he felt compelled to do in a selfless act. Did he knew he might die? Yes. Was Hannibal afraid? Oh yes. But if he helped take a few Japs with him the he sure as hell was going to go down swinging.
It had taken Hannibal three days to build up the courage to tell Hal that he had signed up without him. Even if he was the eldest, King still felt the need to protect the more book learned of the pair hoping that the War would be over faster than Jordan could think of signing up. Just like it had taken three more just for the other brother to speak with him again. Hal had every right to have lashed out like he did, calling him egotistical, irrational, and reckless without thinking of what the consequences might be. Many of the Seniors were already booking spots in the Navy and the Marines wanting a chance to get in to the action before things heated up in Europe. It had taken Lois' help to prod Hal to even talking to him again, reminding him that time was drawing closer for King to be shipped out to Camp Pendleton for basic and if he ever wanted to speak with her again he'd go make up with his brother. Sure it had almost lead to a fist fight between the two as both aired their frustrations out on each other. What came out of it though was a stronger friendship and the two near being glued at the hip.
That was why it made this particular day harder than the rest.
Clearing his throat a little, Hannibal raised his hand knocking on the outer wood storm door. The weather was still rather cool for the time of the year, snow had fallen earlier in the week leaving mucky streets and walks. King didn't care though as his polished black boots, Anchor and Globe, and leather belt were shined to perfect making him the perfect poster boy for the recruitment offices. When Ms Jordan answered the door he removed his cover, tucking it under his arm as the woman tried not to burst in to tears seeing her boy ready to go off to War. Even if he hadn't known her as a mother like Hal had, she had always been there for him. He was lucky that he had two such wonderful women in his life even if half the time he didn't act like it. After a tight hug and hushed words she had gone off to get Hal who was going to drive him to the station. Someone had to bring back the prized Plymouth car the two had shared since they could drive.
Hal had paused on the steps, having been in the process of pulling his jacket on when he had seen King standing at the bottom of the steps. It was like getting hit in the gut, the realization that this was really happening seeming to finally settle in. "Hey," the younger of the two spoke as casual as he could.
"Hey yourself. Ready to get on the road?" Most of their lives the twins had spent together doing sports, pranks, running around, double dates... it felt strange knowing that Hal wasn't going to be there for this too. Of course the recruiter had told him he was glad that there was just the one heading in. He didn't think the Corps could handle two of the same mold at once.
Quietly Hal nodded his head stopping long enough to give his mom a kiss on the cheek looking away as Hannibal said one last goodbye. Jordan hadn't cracked a smile since he had come down the steps keeping his eyes on his fingers or a convenient spot on the floor. It wasn't until they were in the car, Hannibal behind the wheel, that Hal finally spoke up again. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, waiting another year wouldn't hurt. If anything it would keep you from getting kicked out if they ever found out you weren't eighteen yet."
Chuckling a little the uniformed man relaxed back in to the drivers seat. "No. I'm not sure it's a good idea. It's just something I have to do, Hal. I can feel it in my gut that this is what I need to do whether it's right or wrong." Quickly he gave his brother a toothy smug grin before looking back to the road. "Besides. Next year you'll be off probably galvanizing around Europe if the rumors are true. Leave all these beach girls in hula skirts to me."
"What and let you have all the fun? Hell no. I'll be having those pretty island girls hanging on my arm faster than you can blink," Hal replied with a laugh as he gave a shake of his head. Of course that wouldn't be true. There was Lois to think of back here in Mayfield. King had never had a steady girlfriend leaving him open to being the more adventurous one when it came to the ladies. "Besides knowing you, you'll probably be introduced to their boyfriends or husband's fists pretty fast."
King scoffed. "Oh cut me some slack, brother! I do have a little decency even if you and Ma don't exactly think I do."
The drive to the station was a good twenty minutes, their conversation changing with the topics like they were both on their way to pick up their dates to go dancing. When the burgundy red car pulled in to the station lot both brothers grew silent seeing the long black train waiting at the station for its passengers to board. Hal pulled his jacket closer as Hannibal gathered his things from the trunk, watching only from the corner of his eye as the other half of the dynamic duo shifted it on to his shoulder, ticket sticking out of his jacket pocket. King carefully slipped the hat back on to his head giving it a cocky little tilt most service men seemed to wear it at.
Coming to his side Hannibal studied the train once over with the same brown-eyed gaze his brother was giving it. "I guess this is it then."
"Yeah," Hal responded, swallowing hard as he tore his gaze away from it to look at Hannibal, "I guess it is."
King felt that same lump in the back of his own throat as he handed the keys to the car behind them to Jordan. "Keep her safe for me- no scratches or racing her you hear? Burn that engine out again like we did last year and I will figure out a way to murder you in your sleep from wherever I'm at."
The laugh that his brother managed was choked as they pulled each other in to a hug, slapping each others backs as the train whistle blew warning patrons it would be departing in a short time. Pushing Hal back at arm's length the Marine gave his brother's shoulder a playful punch to the shoulder before he started to back away. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do while I'm gone. Mom would kill us both if you did."
"I'm reserving all that for you," Hal replied as he sniffed his nose a little blaming the cold on the red around his eyes. "Lord knows you're instructors are going to be wishing they had kicked you out before you signed up." Then he paused, watching as King took the steps to the platform and shifted the cool keys between his fingers. "Hey, Hannibal? You be careful out there. Don't do anything overly stupid since I won't be there to watch your back, okay? Promise me."
All Hannibal could do was grin one wide mischievous grin as he raised his hand in farewell to the Hal. "Okay, okay. I promise. Catch you around, Hal." Both knew what the outcome could be making it an almost selfish thing for Hal to even ask the other man. It was the same fiddle and tune that had been happening throughout the States though and one that King was going to try his best to keep. Another year and Hal would be joining him. One very, very long year.