The Auction and The Aftermath (Part 7: Insert))

Part 7 (Insert): Courtney's Call

Courtney hadn't been expecting a call from anyone so when the name Bobby came through her phone she figured she should take it.

Bobby Hellford, 19 and the one of the many older brothers to Courtney. While loved all of her brothers and her family was close; Bobby was the one she was probably closest to. Not only was he the brother closest in age to her but he also was into sports and mechanical things the way she was. He didn't get the grades she did, exactly, but he did fairly well in school.

Courtney went outside and called her brother back.

Bobby: Well, howdy sis.

Courtney: Hi, Bobby. I reckon ya must have news.

As much as her southern accent and manners faded, somewhat, when she was at school. They came right back when talking to her family

Bobby: Heck, of course ya'd know that. I guess ya weren't 'pecting my call.

Courtney: Nope. Ya didn't even text me to let me know you were gonna call.

Bobby: I know. Ya could have been busy with stuff or something.

Courtney: Well, right now I'm busy trying to not let my pizza get cold. So, what's up?

Courtney was, of course, joking about the pizza. She liked hearing from Bobby. Bobby who spent several minutes talking about how one of the heifers finally had its calf. About how Holt, the oldest sibling of the Hellford clan, had interviewed with one of the large industrial farms in South Carolina. About how Lawson, the second oldest, was still with Crimson. A local girl he'd been dating for five years. He caught her up with news from home both old and new and then finally got to what he actually called her about.

Bobby: Ya 'member back when we was kids. I always talked about joinin' the military.

Courtney: Yeah. Ya ain't talked about that in years. What does….

Courtney got quiet for a moment as a thought came to her and she went and sat down at one of the nearby picnic tables.

Bobby: Ya still there.

Courtney: Yeah, I'm here. You didn't.

Bobby: Yup, I did. Joined the Army. Ya know I wanna go to college, eventually. And I never really stopped wanting to join up. I just had put it on the back burner.

It wasn't that Courtney had a problem with the military. Not at all. It was just she hadn't expected this. She knew her brother had been denied any scholarships he had applied for and that had left him with no feasible way to pay for college. She just hadn't thought about this as his decision with how to fix it. When she didn't speak up, after a few minutes, her brother spoke up again.

Bobby: I really want this. I talked it over with mom and dad, too. They support it. I'll miss everyone but it's a good thing.

Courtney: When are you leaving?

Bobby: Three weeks. I know it might be a while 'fore we see each other again, in person, but I promise I'll keep in touch.

Courtney: You better.

Bobby: I know, I know or you'll hunt me down.

Courtney: Damn right. Look, if that's what you want then I'm happy for you but I'll still miss seeing you on breaks.

Bobby: Well, I'll miss ya too, sis but yes this is what I want.

Courtney: Okay, then. I should really get going though.

Bobbi: Okay. Go enjoy the pizza. Talk to ya soon. Love ya, sis.

Courtney: Love ya, too. Bye.

Courtney sat at the table a few minutes thinking about what this meant. Wondering about a lot of things. She glanced down to her phone and noticed the time; figuring if she didn't get back inside someone, likely Conner or Matt, would come looking for her. She got up from the table and went back inside.