Chapter 23: Farewell
"Congratulations," White said from inside the barracks, extending his hand to Rhys, who was packing his bags. "I can't believe we have to part ways now, but this is a really great opportunity, isn't it?"
"Thanks, White. Don't worry, I'll be back. It's only for thirty days," Rhys said with a smile, trying not to make it too emotional. But honestly, the thought of leaving these brothers he had spent day and night with was hard to bear.
"I hear you'll be getting a new assignment after this. If I'm not mistaken, you'll definitely be promoted," Cobb said with a sigh. "Parks, you really are a lucky bastard. Will you remember us after all this?"
"Shut up, Cobb," Tipper said. "Parks won't leave his brothers. Right?" The question was directed at Rhys, but Tipper wasn't sure of the answer himself; it was just what he hoped.
Rhys held up his hands in a helpless gesture. "No matter what, I will do my best to request a return. You know I have feelings for Easy Company. I'm not going to leave without firing a single shot. Brothers, don't forget, we still have to go to Europe. That little mustache, Hitler, is waiting for us to take care of him."
The men all laughed, and the atmosphere lightened a bit.
"Parks, you should go say goodbye to the other brothers," George Luz said. "Honestly, I'm not going to miss you at all. It's just a month, right? Maybe when we jump out of the plane, we'll land and smash our asses right on Parks's head."
The men laughed again. Hearing Luz's words, Rhys went from one barracks to the next, saying his goodbyes.
"Parks, you still owe me money! You really screwed me over," Buck Compton was the loudest, still bitter about losing the bet to Rhys. "If you don't come back, who am I supposed to collect from?"
"Come on, Buck, you were just outmatched," Guarnere chuckled. He then stepped forward and gave Rhys a hug. "Congratulations, Parks. You deserve this."
Rhys nodded and smiled. "Yes, this means a lot to me. But if I had to choose, I'd rather be with my brothers." He then lowered his voice. "You know, I've spent my whole life in the United States. Soon, we'll get a free trip to Europe. What could be better than that?"
"Come on, Parks. You've earned this. We're all happy for you," Talbert said loudly. "Do you know where you're going? Washington? Or Chicago?"
"Washington and New York."
"Whoa, those are some great places!" someone exclaimed.
"Of course, the girls in New York are very generous. Hey, Parks, don't you get lost and forget the way back! Remember to come home!" Buck laughed. "New York is a city where you can lose yourself. But I love it!"
"Buck, it sounds like you've charmed quite a few girls yourself," someone shouted at him.
Rhys smiled. "Alright, fellas, I have to go. There are still a few more barracks I need to visit." He stood up and straightened his uniform. "I will be back."
'I will be back.' The words were easy to say, but Rhys knew it wouldn't be that simple. After saying goodbye to the men, he felt he needed to speak with Lieutenant Winters.
"Parks?" Nixon said, surprised, as he opened the door to their quarters. "Here to say goodbye?"
Rhys saluted and nodded. "Yes, sir."
Winters walked over with a smile and extended his hand, giving Rhys's a firm shake. "Congratulations, Parks."
Rhys nodded, then said to Winters, "Lieutenant, you know that I don't actually want to leave the brothers."
"I know," Winters nodded, looking at Rhys and gesturing for him to continue.
"Colonel Sink said that if I wanted to, he would request the right for me to be reassigned from Division," Rhys said, taking a deep breath and looking at Winters with determination. "I don't want to be assigned to another unit or to leave Easy Company. You know that I joined Easy to become a paratrooper, and I haven't even become one yet."
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Winters asked, a smile touching his lips. He was beginning to understand. To be honest, he would also find it a great pity if Rhys were to leave for good.
"If it's possible, after the bond tour is over, I want to stay in Easy Company," Rhys said.
Winters thought for a moment, then nodded.
"But you need to think this through," Lieutenant Nixon spoke up then, a glass in his hand. "Not everyone gets their wish to return to their original unit. And this tour of yours will definitely be tied to your rank. It's possible that by the time you come back, we'll have to be calling you Lieutenant."
"And if you get promoted," Winters added, "you will be reassigned to a command position in another company, not back to Easy as you requested."
"Of course, this is just my speculation," Nixon smiled. "If you want to return to your original unit, you will definitely have to wait for a promotion. When the time comes, you'll have to choose."
Rhys smiled back. "I know how I will choose, sir."
"Well, congratulations again," Nixon said, shaking his hand.
Winters, however, gave Rhys a salute first, then shook his hand. "Do good work," he said, clapping him on the shoulder. "I very much look forward to your return."
***
The next morning, Rhys had his bags packed. Winters had specially driven a military jeep over.
"Parks, let me give you a ride," he said, waiting for him to finish his final goodbyes.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Rhys said with a grateful smile.
The jeep kicked up a cloud of dust and disappeared from the temporary military camp in Atlanta.
"And just like that, Parks is gone. I'm really going to miss him," White said, looking dejected.
"Don't overthink it, White," Tipper said from the side. "Don't worry, he'll be back. He's our brother, isn't he? No matter where he goes."
"Parks is a good man," Denver Randleman said. "Let's head back."
"Oh, he's a good man, alright. But why couldn't it have been Sobel who left?" Guarnere grumbled. "I'd rather Sobel go off and get famous than have Parks leave. But there's nothing to be done about it. Brothers, tomorrow we leave for Fort Benning. We're one step closer to becoming paratroopers."
"Yeah, I wish we could get there sooner. That way I could get my silver wings earlier," Warren "Skip" Muck said.
"Silver wings? I like the sound of that," Luz said happily.
***
"Alright, here we are," Winters said as he pulled up to the station. "This is as far as I go. I have to get back to camp."
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Rhys said.
Winters nodded, started the jeep, and sped back the way they came.
'Am I really leaving just like this?' Rhys thought, his mood sinking as he watched Winters's jeep become a smaller and smaller speck in the distance. Just then, the train whistle blew, and the conductor urged the passengers to board.
"Are you taking this train, sir?" the conductor asked, looking at the dazed Rhys.
"Oh, sorry. I'm getting on now," Rhys said, climbing aboard and finding a seat by the window. After a jolt, the train began to move slowly forward.
Outside the window, the Atlanta train station grew smaller and smaller as the train picked up speed. It looked lonely and desolate in the cold air.
Rhys took one last, lingering look, then turned away from the window. Just then, two young conductors walked over, looked at Rhys, and then said to him very respectfully, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Rhys Parks?"
Rhys looked at them and smiled. "Yes, I am. Is there something I can do for you?"
"That's great!" the two of them said, smiling happily. "We're the conductors on this train."
"I figured," Rhys said with a smile.
"Excuse me, but could we have a photo with you?" one of them asked, his eyes full of hope.
"Of course, you can," Rhys shrugged, as if it were no big deal.
"Wonderful!" one of the conductors suddenly produced a camera from behind his back. He looked at the passenger sitting across from Rhys. "Miss, could you please take a picture for us?"
Rhys looked across the aisle. It was only then that he noticed the passenger opposite him was a young woman, a very beautiful one at that. She had a hint of a smile in her blue eyes, and she wore a well-fitted, long wool dress that made her look noble and elegant.
"Of course," the young woman said with a small smile, taking the camera. She glanced at Rhys. "Why not?"
*****
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