The metal springs creaked under me.

I looked at the family Christmas photo taped inside the door of my open wall locker.

Haley stood in the back row with her arms folded, her big headphones around her neck.

Cody held his baseball glove tight to his chest.

Kendra stood in the middle with a bright, flawless smile.

Before I got on the transport plane, Kendra made me a specific promise.

She swore my extra deployment pay would go straight to the mortgage principal on the Elm Street house.