a phone call.

about 1 month ago.

"hey, alex it's dad"

"hey dad, whats up?"

"well this guy keeps on calling for you at the house. and he won't tell me what his name is and he won't let me take a message. he says he'll call back."

"really? how weird?"

"yeah, i just thought i'd let you know."

"ok thanks dad. is he young? like did he sound young?"

"yeah he sounded pretty young. maybe you know him"

"yeah maybe...ok thanks dad"

this morning.

"alex!"

"yeah dad?"

"remember that guy that called a month ago?"

"..."

"he finally called back!"

"when?"

"right now! he's on the phone right now!"

"uhhhh"

i pick up the phone.

"hello?"

"hi, alexandra?"

"yes, hi."

"hi my name is Sergeant ___________. i'm with the United States Army. how are you today?"

"i'm fine thanks how are you?"

"good good i'm good. well, what's new? what are you up to these days?"

"oh you know, just getting ready for school."

"oh yeah? are you still at pasadena?"

"oh no i'm transferring [how does he know this!!!]"

"oh yeah where to?"

"up north"

"oh right on right on... what are you going to study?"

"international relations"

"is that like sociology?"

"well, my program is like a combination of sociology, anthropology, and political science..."

"oh right on right on. my wife is studying sociology."

"oh thats great! its really interesting"

"yeah... yeah... so do you know how much college is going to cost?"

"yeah it will be pretty expensive"

"do you know how much the army can help out paying for college?"

"yeah, i heard they can pay a lot..."

"yeah yeah....so what do you see yourself doing in the future?"

"probably living somewhere and just serving how ever i can with the things i've learned"

"oh right on right on. you know, the army can really help you with your goals of international relations and serving the world"

"..."

"i'd like to sit down with you and  talk to you abut how they can help you."

"oh, thank you so much, but i'm not interested"

"why not?"

"i've never been interested in joining the army"

"why not?"

"i appreciate and respect a lot of what the army does but i've never seen myself joining it [and a myriad of other reasons i didn't have the guts to tell him]"

"oh. well, i know you don't want to join the army now, but maybe in the future."

"thank you for calling me, but i'm not interested."

"ok well, before i let you go, do you know anyone who is interested in joining the army?'

"no, i don't. have a great day!"

"ok have a great day."