Page 22 - Self Talk

“How will I know a real disaster from a drill?” she asked.
“I'm not at liberty to tell you that ma'am, but trust me, you will know,” he replied in a confident tone as he snapped the pointer stick on the palm of his hand, turning it into a pen again. The man and his two silent partners rose in unison and snapped to attention.
“This concludes your briefing Mrs. Nelson. The United States Navy is confident that you will uphold its fine tradition in supporting our country's vital interests.”
Not waiting for a response, the men marched single file to the front door and let themselves out.
I ran to the window and watched the unmarked gray sedan speed away as mother deposited the civil