Page 91 of Brighter Shades of Light
He leaned into my side, and I wrapped an arm around him. One of the other Marines looked over, and his brow furrowed. It was a sad reminder of how things still were in the world. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was no longer in effect, but Cody mentioned how homophobia was still alive and well in all branches of the military. Not in a policy sense, but in a personal one.
“Are Marcus and the others coming?” Blake asked.
“Nah, I don’t think so,” Cody answered. “Rachel just got to Camp Barrett and didn’t want to come, and Marcus stayed with her. Keith is going out drinking with some guys from Mike Co.”
“Can’t believe Keith got recycled to Mike.” Tristen shook his head. “Poor bastard.”
“What’s wrong with Mike Company?” I asked.
“It’s not written anywhere, but it’s kinda common knowledge that Mike is where guys get sent if they fuck up, like fail in academics or physical fitness, or if they get injured,” Cody explained. “A guy hurt his back a few months ago while on the O-Course and was placed in Mike where he did shit work like monitoring endurance courses and mowing the lawn. Not saying guys or girls in Mike are beneath anyone, but it’s not the place you want to be.”
“Why did your friend Keith get sent there, then?” A lot of what Cody said about his training went over my head, but I tried to follow as best as I could.
“The dumbass got caught speeding in Virginia,” Tristen said with a laugh. “His ass was doing eighty-five in town, which got him a misdemeanor for reckless driving. He had to pay a fat fine and everything.”
“Surprised he didn’t get kicked out of TBS for that,” Blake said, his eyes wide.
“Eh, it’s dumb luck. Kind of like me meeting you.” Tristen placed a hand on Blake’s lower back.
“Would you like a drink?” I asked, leaning in toward Cody.
“Please.”
We walked over to the bar station, and he grabbed a beer while I took a glass of wine. The cocktail hour provided each guest two free drinks before they had to pay, so we left after getting our drinks. Cody saw more of his friends from his squadron and introduced me to them. One was his staff platoon commander, who appeared at first to be an uptight bastard but was actually very nice.
As time went on, Cody relaxed and didn’t seem nearly as nervous. A part of me wondered if he was worried what people would think about him being with me. Some, as I had witnessed earlier, reacted with glares or confusion. But most of them—the ones he seemed friendly with, anyway—smiled and didn’t seem to think anything of our relationship.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a man said over the speakers. “The ceremony will start in ten minutes. Please make your way to your tables at this time.”
Several Marines gathered in one area and took formation. I assumed they were participants in the ceremony. There was a band, as well, that filed out of the common area and into the room we were heading toward.
Cody and I entered the ballroom and walked over to our assigned table. We were soon joined by Tristen, Blake, and another couple. There were roughly five hundred people in attendance, and tables were placed close together to seat them all.
“Sebastian, this is Barry,” Cody said, making the introductions. “Barry is the guy I told you about who’s been helping me with the O-Course.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I shook Barry’s hand.
“Likewise,” Barry responded. “Miller and that asshole”—he motioned to Tristen—“have become good friends. I see more of their ugly mugs than I’d like to.”
“Whatever.” Tristen rolled his eyes. “You love it. And who is this beautiful lady?”
“This is my wife, Samantha.” Barry draped an arm around her delicate shoulders.
“Hi.” Samantha smiled. She was lovely. The red ball gown went well with her black hair and red lips.
When the ceremony started, the speaker welcomed everyone to the celebration before reading a message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Afterward, we were asked to rise as the chaplain led everyone in prayer. I bowed my head to be respectful.
Following the prayer, the band began to play.
Two Marine escorts stepped forward, and eight counts later, the next two did the same. Once all of them had walked forward, the band stopped playing, and two men proceeded down the line and halted. One was the guest of honor, and the other was the Senior Marine. The band started playing “Ruffles and Flourishes” as the color guard entered. Halfway down the line, they stopped. All hands presented arms as the national anthem began to play.
Cody watched the ceremony, and perhaps it was the lighting, but his eyes looked as though they started to mist over.
After the national anthem, the color guard continued their march down the line. A cake was brought forward as the “Marines Hymn” sounded, and behind the escorts were the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Please be seated.”
General John A. Lejeune’s birthday message was read aloud before the cake cutting ceremony. One of the escorts stepped forward and took a sword from the cake cart before passing it over his left forearm and holding it out for the Senior Marine. The cake was cut with the sword, which I thought was neat, and a piece was handed to the oldest Marine. He then passed the piece to the youngest one.
