“Have you heard anything about how I can get into the Baghdad airport?” I asked. It turns out that getting tickets to Iraq is a much bigger pain in my ass than I imagined – and I imagined it would be a giant pain.
“Athena, I’m really not okay with you coming to Baghdad. It’s just not safe.” Admiral Fubar groaned.
“You just got done telling me it was safe.” I countered after his spiel about how safe he would be so I shouldn’t worry.
“For me. Not for you.” He argued.
“Double standard. Besides, what would make you more uncomfortable, me flying into the Baghdad airport or me flying into Jordan and finding a way across the border by myself?” I knew I had him. “Your call.”
There was silence for a moment and I knew that after being related for 24 years he knows that once I have my mind set on something – I pretty much figure out a way to get it.
“Okay, I have an idea…” He sighed. “I’m allowed to take a two week break in the middle of my deployment and I can go anywhere in the world for two weeks. What if you just happen to be in New Zealand when I’m in New Zealand?”
I tapped a foot while I thought about it… “Okay. I’m listening.” I knew he knew I can probably only afford to go to one or the other destinations, so baiting me with a country he knows I’ve always wanted to visit is sort of cheating – but no one fights fair in this family.
“I can take off two weeks and we can tour New Zealand, maybe even hit up Australia. So if I find a way to get to New Zealand – will that keep you out of Baghdad?” He pleaded.
“I will think about it,” I agreed, and we fussed over details
“Why is it such a big deal?” He asked.
Duh. I wanted to say. You’re my baby brother. I’m coming to see you. But admitted, “I just don’t want you to have to spend Christmas in Baghdad alone. I thought I could come for Christmas.”
“Oh,” he said. “Then I guess I better get a passport so we can meet in New Zealand.”
There are only so many times I can shake my head and wonder – how has my brother made it this long. No passport? He deploys to Iraq without a passport? *Big hearty sigh* Sometimes it’s a lot of work being the big sister.
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