It’s already 11 pm and I’m still waiting for my dad to come home, he promised that he will be at home tonight and will join us for dinner. This is something strange for me because he usually comes early, but rather than thinking of something maybe he has a valid reason for not fulfilling his promise tonight. I think it’s better to wait while doing something interesting, I will get some food downstairs and watch my favorite movie series, I’ve already missed some episodes due to lots of school tasks.

Oh someone is knocking on the door and I guess it was my dad,

Yes, it’s him, and he looks tired. “Hi dad, why are you late? Did forget our dinner tonight?”
“I didn’t forget about it, my commander asked us to have over time due to some urgent matter.”

He carried something in his hand and it was inside a plastic bag, he placed it on the dining table and directly goes to their room to take his shower and have some rest, mom fell asleep while waiting for him. It’s almost 1 am and I feel sleepy.

The smell of hotdogs and sausages that is mom cooking awakens me, it’s already 7 am. I need to go downstairs to have breakfast with them. But this is unusual, dad is cooking for breakfast?

“Dad, where is mom?
“She is doing some laundry outside, can you call her?

Let’s have our breakfast, everything is already prepared”.

I was surprised when I see dad doing some cooking stuff, I guess this is something to do with his promise last night. I should take some selfies with them; I missed this moment. While having our breakfast, dad talked about last night. He asked for an apology for not fulfilling his promise to have dinner with us, it is because his commander made an announcement regarding the new area of assignment effective next month and my dad is the one who is affected by this. My dad is in the military for almost 12 years and this is the first time he will be assigned to another location, a bit far compared to the existing one.

He also explained that there are a lot of things to do in that location, just to summarize his point, he will be busy and can’t visit us weekly. Mom and I were sad and look each other when we heard that, but we need to accept it, this is a part of his duty. After eating my breakfast, I went to my room, I noticed the thing that dad carried last night was placed on the dining table and still inside the plastic bag, I forgot to ask about it during breakfast. Anyway, maybe it’s his personal stuff so I should stop thinking about it. I was thinking about what would be the possible effects of dad’s change of area assignment to us. If dad visits us once a month compared to once a week that would be hard for us, especially for mom, dad is the only one who knows how to check and fix things in our house, especially plumbing and electrical works. We can hire some plumbers and electricians but this is another expense for us, besides dad is very skillful when it comes to these jobs.

I think it is about time for me to learn some house maintenance skills, maybe I can watch some video tutorials on the internet. I am the only son and don’t have siblings so I need to be more productive, especially now that dad is going to be busier and can’t afford to visit us weekly starting next month.

Oh, before I forget there is a water leak in the kitchen and I need to inform dad about this, this is good timing for me to learn, I will watch how he fixes our kitchen sink.

“Dad, there is a water leak on our kitchen sink, can you show me how to check and fix it?”
“Hmm, sounds unusual, what’s on earth why does it sounds like you are interested to do some house maintenance?”

While dad is fixing the leak on our kitchen sink, I explained to him that since he will be busier and could not pay some weekly visits to us, it’s about time that I should learn some things he usually does in our house so that I can help mom.

Dad looked at me and smiled.

After he showed me how to fix the leak in our kitchen sink, he introduced me to some tools that might help in fixing some house problems. I’m happy not because I learned how to fix a leaking kitchen sink, it’s because I and dad were having a bonding together which is rare to happen due to his work. Mom called us to have lunch together, she cooked roasted chicken for lunch, this is my dad’s favorite food.

While eating our lunch together, dad continues to discuss with me some ideas and things to do when he is out of the home. I noticed that mom is a bit silent and doesn’t throw any words from our conversation maybe she is thinking about my dad’s new area of assessment. Dad asked her but she only responded with very minimal words. While eating, dad received a call.

“Please excuse me, my commander is calling” …

Mom and I just looked at each other, we feel that there is something strange happening.

And just like we thought, dad needs to leave this afternoon due to an urgent operation and his transfer to the new area of assignment will be effective immediately probably this week. I was sad when I heard that dad leave us this afternoon, it was supposed to be by the next day. After I finish my meal, I go to my room and lie down on my bed and looked at the ceiling, honestly, I feel disappointed but we don’t have an option. Mom helped dad to pack his things.

I did not notice that I fell asleep for almost two hours and I just woke up when dad knocks on my door several times. Dad said he is now going back to work and reminded me to practice those things he thought, I just nod my head. Dad goes back to the dining table to get the plastic he carried last night; I was surprised when gave it to me. After dad left us, I opened the thing he gave in its another plastic inside, I pulled it to see what was inside.

It’s a Ration pack with hot dog sausages, Irish stew, nuts, fruit muesli, an energy bar, fruit drink, coffee, chocolate, water purification tablets, and a fork inside.