A troubled veteran

You turn quickly to see a heavily bearded man dressed in ragged but relatively clean clothes, some of them military fatigues. His eyes are dark and wary, his body poised and tense as if ready to flee. His eyes flick at you, and you have the sense of being assessed before he glances at Brian with the same gaze.

"Hi Pete," Monica says, her voice cheery. "These are my friends Brian and Kyle. They're good guys. They won't harm you. They just wanted to meet you."

"Ol' Pete ain't good at bein' social," he rasps, his eyes settling on you. He rubs his chin with one hand and you see that it's missing two fingers, the skin wrinkled and puckered with scar tissue. Your eyes are caught by two medals on his chest, obviously worn with pride and care. You recognise them both.

One of them you hold yourself. It's the Iraq Campaign Medal, awarded for service in the conflict there. The other is the Navy Cross, the second highest award for valor in combat, awarded to Navy and Marines for extraordinary heroism.

Whatever else he is, if he has a right to that medal, Ol' Pete was a hero once.

"Marine or Navy?" you ask him, dragging his eyes back to you. They're dark and probing as he searches your face as though looking for an answer. "I'm a Marine. Served in Iraq," you add, hoping to ease his wariness.

"Jarhead," he says as if remembering the word after years of disuse.

"That would make you a squid I guess," you answer, using the derogatory term for the Navy.

He draws himself more erect and his eyes seem to darken. "That would be Petty Office Second Class Squid to you," he snaps, all trace of the wary and slightly obsequious tone suddenly gone from his voice.

"Sergeant Kyle Hawkfeather," you reply, holding at attention for a moment, then stepping forward and extending a hand in greeting. He looks at it and then at your face as though considering whether to take it before reaching out his mangled hand to grasp yours. He looks at you with his dark eyes and once again you get the sense of being judged and assessed.

"Ol' Pete don't seek company," he says, his voice slipping back into his previous tone. "Only come out 'cause Running Girl asked. What you want with Ol' Pete?"