Christopher stepped off the plane and shouldered his duffle bag. He walked down the ramp and onto the long runway, rifle on his back, his uniform, dusty but pressed. He heard the cheers and turned with his fellow team mates to see quite a few family members and friends gathered behind a taped off area waiting as patiently as possibly for their husbands/sons/brothers/friends to be released to them once more. Christopher smiled and turned to his best friend in the Corp, Gene.
"Looks like they came out in droves today, Gene." Gene nodded towards his commander and friend.
"Looks that way, Sir. What did you expect, though? We're heroes in their eyes." Christopher nodded. Gene was right it looked like.
Christopher and his Marine Expeditionary Unit had just returned from Kandahar where they had been successful in securing the airport there in the war against terrorism. Christopher loved the action, thrived on the danger and excitement, but he was glad to be home. His sister, Michelle, was picking him up this afternoon. They had not seen each other in several years, since the death of their parents just after Christopher had left for boot camp. For a long time, Michelle was cold towards him, indignant. She'd blamed his leaving for the death of their parents. But she'd been too young to understand. Now she was eighteen years old and in a matter of weeks, she'd be headed to Parris Island to follow in her brother's path.
Finally the crowds were released and they ran towards the tarmac to meet their loved ones. Christopher spotted Michelle first and dropped his bag as she ran at him. Had he not steeled himself, she'd have probably knocked him over in her enthusiasm. For a long time, they just stood there, Michelle latched on to him, crying this time in happiness to see him alive. Christopher held her tightly, stroking her hair lightly, reassuring her that he would be home for awhile this time. Holding her felt strange at first, but slowly it sank in that this, indeed, was not the little girl he'd last seen six years ago.