Page 35 of Switch!
We pass most of the attractions without stopping. When I show interest, Caleb’s father informs me that I’m too old for carnivals. Maybe for the petting zoo, sure, but some of the rides look fun. We only slow when we reach the vendors who sell homemade crafts, so Mrs. McCain can browse. Joining her would be more interesting than watching from a distance, but that’s what Major McCain expects me to do. While she shops, he talks incessantly about the base, pointing out distant hangers and rattling off information I forget as soon as he moves on to the next subject. I’m more interested in the celebrations. The festival is similar to the Frontier Days Fair that I knew back home, although I don’t see any sign of a rodeo. Not that I miss it.
When we reach what my father calls the officer’s pavilion, the vibe changes. Now it’s more like a wedding reception. A number of tall tables draped in white cloth are arranged beneath an arched roof. The people here are dressed in uniforms or elegant clothing. A jazz ensemble plays music but no one dances. They only move their feet toward the bar to get refills. I begin to feel nervous, which is weird, until I realize that Caleb’s memories of such places are to blame. I dip into his past, my confusion increasing, because the memories are of him being introduced to people. Nothing else.
“Major McCain!” an older man with graying temples calls out. He marches over to shake my father’s hand before turning to my mother. “This must be your lovely wife. How nice to meet you.”
“Geraldine,” my father says, “this is Lieutenant Stewart.”
“So pleased to meet you,” she responds. “Robert told me how welcome you’ve made him here, which we both appreciate.”
The lieutenant smiles. “It’s my pleasure. We’re very happy to have such a dedicated officer here on our base. And speaking of which—” He turns to me and thrusts out his hand. “You must be Caleb. I understand that you’ll be joining the Air Force soon.”
“Yes, sir,” I say, matching the firmness of his handshake. I’m not sure what to say, but luckily, Caleb has a go-to line that he always uses in these situations. “It’ll be an honor to serve.”
“Glad to hear it.” He releases my hand and turns to my mother. “Now then, why don’t you let Robert and me get you something cold to drink?”
“Oh!” she replies. “That would be wonderful. Nothing too strong though.”
The men smile at her. Then they walk away. When I look to her for guidance, her expression is concerned. “Go on!” she says, nodding at my father.
I’m supposed to follow him like a dog. That’s how Caleb perceived it. Personally, I don’t really care. I’m mostly ignored as I stand dutifully behind them, which allows me to take in the scene. I notice other people my age and nod at a couple of them, but my attention is always pulled away by my father. At first he has me run a drink over to my mother, who is now socializing with another woman, and as soon as I’m back from that errand, there are more introductions that I respond to with polite enthusiasm and an endless chorus of sirs and ma’ams. It isn’t a difficult game to play, but I also don’t want to make it my career.
“Captain Valadez,” Major McCain says, nudging me to get my attention, “this is my son, Caleb.”
I shake another hand, say how excited I am to be here, and try not to die of boredom.
“You’re entering your senior year?” Captain Valadez asks me. He’s a heavy-set man with a thick mustache.
I nod. “That’s correct, sir.”
“Then you’ll be enlisting at the same time as my son.” He turns toward the crowd and bellows, “Eduardo! Get over here!”
His son has the same brown skin and chubby build as his father, although the weight is distributed more evenly, resulting in a strong chest above the thick torso. He looks happier than I feel, maybe because he just finished talking to a group of girls, or because he’s dressed comfortably in a short-sleeved button-up and shorts. His tone of voice and body language become more formal when he reaches us. Eduardo addresses my father first, introducing himself and ending each sentence with sir. He’s more laidback when talking to me.
“Hey, man!” he says. “How’s it going?”
“Pretty good,” I say, bobbing my head.
“Caleb will be enlisting next year too,” his father explains.
“That’s great!” Eduardo says, beaming at me. “We’re not the only new recruits here, you know.”
“Does that include the young women you were speaking to just now?” my father asks with a knowing expression.
“No, sir,” Eduardo answers. “But they do have a different sort of interest in the military.”
“It’s the uniform,” Captain Valadez says. “You’re not there yet, recruit, but just wait until you are. You’ll be a busy boy. I used to write down the name of the gal and keep it in my pocket, so I wouldn’t forget which one I was with.”
This prompts a round of laughter, which I make sure to join while wondering if Sarah likes a man in uniform. I kind of hope she doesn’t.
“Hey!” Eduardo says to me. “Want me to introduce you to some of the guys?”
I look at my father for permission, relieved when he nods. The world of adults is exceedingly dull, from what I’ve seen so far. I’d rather be around people I can relate to.
“Call me Eddie,” my new associate says as he leads me away. “Eduardo sounds so nerdy, you know?”
“Yeah.” I manage to laugh, despite being a nerd in wolf’s clothing. When I notice him sizing me up, I wonder if he can tell.
“You play football?” he asks.
