Christmas With Its Ears Cut Off - Page Two

    Andy had smuggled the ears home, in fact, they hung around his neck as he crawled behind a low hill that abutted Than Quan's X-Mas Forrest. Actually, "smuggled" was Andy's term for how he brought the ears back home. On those rare occasions when Andy would show the necklace to friends, he'd end the presentation by saying "Of course, I had to smuggle 'em back into the country." The truth was that, although Andy had done his best to conceal the necklace in the bottom of his duffle bag while preparing for his return flight home, they were found by a young Lieutenant checking for contraband.

    "Some kinda fruit?" asked the Lieutenant.

    "Hell no, Sir. I like girls, Sir", Andy shot back.

    The Lieutenant smiled and shook his head. "No, I mean this" he said, pointing at the necklace. "This some kinda fruit?"

    "No, Sir." Andy said, "Those are ears, Sir."

    " Well," the Lieutenant said, handing the necklace back to Andy "we're s'pose to check for fruit and animals, and such. Don't say nothin' 'bout ears."

    "Sir, Thank you, Sir."

    "Had a fella try to sneak a dead bat past me, last week. Imagine that, a big, ugly dead bat."

    "Sir, I guess it takes all kinds, Sir", Andy said.

    Twenty hours later the transport plan carrying Andy and one hundred-and-four other soldiers touched down on the West coast of the United States. Two months later he was back home in White Oak, Ohio. Less than a month after that Andy was working, full time, as a mechanic for Lessik's Garage. Two years later Andy married the former Miss Noel Kerrlitt. Seven months after that, and almost eight years ago, Andy's son, Kristopher Kerrlitt Kevels was born. It was Kristopher who indirectly provided Andy with a "cover story" for the mission he was on. "I left one of Kris' presents back at the garage. I wanna bring it here and wrap it before he wakes up." Andy explained to his still half-asleep wife as he slipped out of bed at four o'clock on Christmas morning. Andy's change of clothes, weapons, and good luck necklace waited in the cab of his truck.