trouble as they have no breath left to fight.
“Mrs. Keller, we owe you our thanks,” Colonel Riley says, “Both for your assistance in breaking the drug ring and in giving us a very good pianist for the lounge.”
“Until you know what they were planning, I don't think I broke anything, and Landon has done all the work. I just provided the encouragement.”
“Encouragement is sometimes hard to find.” Colonel Riley pauses. “I understand you bought him a baby grand.”
“Only once I knew he was serious about playing every day.” Janice answers. “He has really appreciated having an interested audience.”
“Still, I wish to thank you. We are going to have to put those young men through rehab.”
Janice just nods.
Rather than going back to empty evenings, Janice spends a Saturday off base and returns with enough sewing projects to last her into retirement. She digs out her old sewing machine and sets up her bedroom as a place to sew, leaving only enough room to sleep and dress.
She also returns to the wives' meetings. The other women look uncomfortable.
“What's eating you?” Janice demands of another woman.
“You wouldn't sign Landon's enlistment papers. You protect your baby while our husbands suffer.”
“My son would never make it as a soldier.”
“And you are the expert how?” The women move to form a solid wall against her.
“I am fourth generation professional army. I spent five years in the military, starting the day after I graduated high school. I know army and my son is not cut out for army life. It would be a waste of his talent. Just because a child gets an idea in his head does not mean it is a good one.”
“So he gets off with a free pass.” A woman with an ID tag saying she is Mrs. Bower curls her lip.
“Only if you call sitting at a piano for at least five hours a day, every day, since he was four, a free pass.” Janice pauses.
The woman's eyes widen and her mouth forms an O. Then a hard look comes into her eyes. “You still got no right choosing for him.”
“I know my son and the army is not the right place for him.” Janice answers.
The jaws of half a dozen women tighten. Janice turns around and walks out of the meeting.
Besides her job, Janice goes nowhere for the next two weeks. Landon knocks on her bedroom door.
“Come in.” Janice calls as she pins quilting pieces into place.
“Mom, are you coming to my competition?” Landon leans against the wall.
“Yes, it's the week after next on Friday night. I have not forgotten. I just seem to get into trouble if I leave the house.”
Landon pauses. “I heard rumors about what happened with the other wives. Why is it so important to them for me to go to boot camp?”
“Misplaced loyalty.” Janice frowns.
“The colonel said he wants to come to the competition, so he was asking if I wanted a ride with him.”
“How do you feel?”
“I guess I'm superstitious. I want it like it always has been.” Landon bites his lip.
“We will make it like it always has been.” Janice tells him.
“Thanks Mom.” Landon comes and gives her a quick hug. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
At the library the next day, Janice books herself off for three days at the end of the following week before going to story time. Her supervisor comes over as soon as the majority of the children leave.
“Three days? Isn't that overkill?”
“It's the last competition before Landon turns eighteen. It is two days drive and one day for practice before he competes. Exactly the same as we have done for every other competition.”
“If he's going to Benning-”
“I have three weeks of holiday coming. I am taking three days. I will go over your head if it is necessary to get approval.”
The supervisor frowns. “You don't deal with authority very well.”
“I don't deal with meddling very well. Real authority, I respect.” Janice answers.
The supervisor snaps his mouth shut. “If you must take off three days.”
“I must.”
Janice is at home when Laura phones.
“Mom, you were right something else did come up.”
“What?”
“A cadet camp.”
“And what are the fees?”
“No fees, I am teaching. They wanted someone with academy training to teach orientation.” Laura answers. “I scored highest in their testing.”
“Congratulations.” Janice puts a smile into her voice.
“I've got everything I am going to need here. I might have a week at the end of summer to come home.”
“Time to shop for the next year at the academy.”
“Mom, is Landon really going to enlist?”
“I hope not, but after he turns eighteen there is nothing I can do to stop him.” Janice answers.
“I can just see him telling some master drill sergeant 'I will get there after I practice piano'.” Laura tries to mimic her brother's voice.
“Jack Fraser was here trying to convince Landon that being a musician meant he wasn't a real man. I hope I got rid of his influence.”
“Jack Fraser? Wasn't he blacklisted from bases?” Laura replies.
“Around the world.”
“I have to go, curfew.”
“Have a good time with the cadets.” Janice tells her.
“First exams, then cadets.” Laura allows the change of subject. “I spoke to Grandpa. He said not to give you a bad time.”
“Thank your grandfather for that.” Janice answers. “Landon and I will be away for a few days. He has his last competition for the school year.”
“Wish him luck.” Laura says before she hangs up.
Janice locks the house and goes to join Landon in the car. They drive for twelve hours and find a hotel. The next day is the same, only they check into the same hotel as the rest of the contestants. Landon goes off to register his presence and find his place on the practice schedule. Janice gets them unpacked. She goes to listen to all his practices. There are no deviations allowed from the other competitions.
No one says anything to Janice the whole time. It is only after the competition when the colonel comes up to her. “Excellent playing.”
“I think his time in the lounge playing for other people has helped him.” Janice nods.
Landon finds them standing in the aisle of the auditorium. “Mom, they want me to stay and be part of the next group. Can we stay? It will take until Tuesday.”
“I have to work on Monday.”
“I have some pull. I think I can get you another few days.” Colonel Riley offers.
“Then yes, we can stay.”
Landon's grin gets even larger. “I need to practice a new piece. I've got to get my new practice schedule.” He heads off.
“I have never seen someone so keen on playing the piano.” Colonel Riley shakes his head.
“When his Dad teased him at eight about wanting a car at sixteen, Landon asked for a grand piano instead.” Janice answers. “This is why I could not sign his enlistment papers.”
“I heartily agree. That boy is not meant for the army.”
The second competition is tough; the competitors more focused and able to wring emotions out of the keys with full body workouts as a side effect. Landon turns to a piece that he plays when he is upset. Janice listens, but can find no fault with the performance. She sits perfectly still while the winners are announced for the bronze medal, the silver medal, and the gold metal. Landon's name is not announced.
“Ladies and gentleman, we have a very special award tonight for a young man whose accumulated points for the last year have won him not only a scholarship to Julliard but a contract to play with philharmonic orchestras all over the country. Although just seventeen and not yet graduated from high school, he has shown discipline and a love for piano that is head and s
houlders above his peers. Help me in congratulating Landon Keller.”
The whole audience jumps to its feet while Janice is wondering if she has heard correctly.
Landon goes to the stage.
Placing her hand across her mouth, Janice finally rises to her feet.
“We have a tutor ready to help Landon through his last six weeks of school. Depending on the date, we will fly him back to attend his graduation with his classmates. Now until he goes to Julliard, he is booked for a concert a week. It is a special tour with other young musicians who are outstanding for their age.”
Janice turns to her son. “You have worked your whole life for this if it is still what you want.”
Landon cringes. “You can't say no now.”
“I am not saying no. I am asking you to state plainly that this is what you want.”
“I want it,” Landon answers. “No ifs, buts or maybes.”
“Then I will sign the papers.” Janice tells him. Landon hugs her.
Janice and Landon drive home, but he stays only to pack his bags and catch a Greyhound. Janice is in the library when Mrs. Bower enters.
“I hear Landon left for boot camp.”
Janice finishes helping the young patron while the woman waits for an answer.
“Boot camp doesn't start for another week.” Mrs. Bower pushes.
“Has your son signed up? Is that how you know?” Janice asks.
The woman glares at Janice. “That's none of your business.”
“And Landon is none of yours. If you will excuse me, I need to help a patron.” Janice walks over to a child eyeing the book shelf with uncertainty.
Mrs. Bower follows. Janice bends down to speak with the girl. Janice's supervisor comes over. “Is there a problem?”
“I asked Mrs. Keller a question, and I am waiting for an answer.”
“Unless it is about