“You are the bridge crew, and that’s why tonight all of you are relieving the mess crew, and cooking for the whole ship. Good luck.” He turned his back on the crew, “at ease.” The crew finally relaxed their chest and shoulder muscles as the captain walked out of the room.

          Kodi walked down the stairs, and back towards Balto, “that’ll show em’.”

“Show them what?” Balto asked.

“I put them in charge of cooking dinner tonight.” Kodi chuckled.

“Oh, and I heard Saba is the cook,” Kodi looked at Balto with a smirk on his face as he spoke, waiting for him to finish, “and I’ve also heard how her food tastes.” Balto grimaced as he finished.

“Don’t even start. Dinner starts in two hours.” Kodi shook his head. The entire bridge crew walked past as he spoke, his volume increased as they walked by. C’mon, let’s go see the gang.

          The two of them entered the mess hall, all of Kodi’s siblings were sitting at a table on the edge of the hall. As soon as they saw them, they stood up to greet Balto.

“Kids!” Balto yelled out. Lena was the closest, so she wrapped Balto in a tight hug.

“Hi daddy.” She spoke in her always soothing tone.

“Hey pumpkin, so you’re a lieutenant now?” Balto raised a brow.

“Yup, oh I mean, yes sir!” Lena saluted while stepping back. Aleu then walked up and hugged her father.

“Hey dad. It’s good to see you.” She softly, her voice was hoarse from yelling over jet engines all day.

“Good to see you too honey.” Balto looked at Saba, “Front and center.” Saba stood at attention in front of Balto. “At ease.” She grabbed him in a hug so tight that he began to choke.

“Oh, I missed you dad.” Saba cried.

“Okay, okay, can’t breathe!” He choked out.

“Oh…sorry.” She let go of him. Dingo then walked up to Balto, and held out his hand.

“Good to see you sir.” He spoke crisply. Balto looked at him for a second. Dingo stepped forward and hugged Balto. After the introductions were over, they sat down at the table, and enjoyed their meal.

Dingo cracked out a joke, “Hey Saba, maybe you should pilot the ship and let these guys cook for the rest of way, they’re way better at it.”

“Or, maybe you could have Dingo’s job, and we’ll put him in the kitchen to see how hard it actually is to cook. I had to cook for six pups until Kodi was old enough to cook for you.” Balto spoke up.

“Really, you did?” Dingo asked.

“Yup, you know your mother can’t cook, and she was busy doing everything a mom does.” Balto chuckled.

Kodi nodded, “Other than cooking.” They all laughed.

          As they sat there exchanging stories about when they were pups. Oh, remember this, or hey, do you remember the time that, was how they all started, Kodi couldn’t help but have a bad feeling, a feeling that he would never enjoy a conversation like this with his siblings again. At this very moment, Jenna was at home, uttering the same prayed that she had for the past three months, Dear Lord, I know I don’t speak to you much, but from now until my babies come home, I’ll ask for your guidance every day, please, please keep them safe, and watch them when I can’t keep my eyes on them. Please comfort them when I can’t wrap my arms around them and whisper to them that it will all be okay. Please give them a kiss goodnight when I cannot have the privilege of doing so, and please, please, lick their wounds when I cannot, for if you don’t, I cannot go on living. Dear Lord, please make my children come home safe.

End of Part 1