All for Allie by Julie Bailes

putting his dick back into his pants. Now I feel more comfortable having this conversation.
    “This weekend? Leaving them?” I ask, nodding out to the diner.
    Kyle’s head drops as he shoves his hands into his pockets. His shoulders tense as he begins to answer, “No, not really. You see how happy they are? I’m going to miss seeing them every day. Miss my baby sis bugging the living hell out of me...” His voice becomes strangled before he’s able to finish his sentence. He lifts his head and I see that his eyes are watery. I hear his gulps as he swallows hard several times, attempting to fight back unwanted tears. Because men aren’t allowed to cry, or so we’ve been taught.
    “Allie won’t listen to anything I have to say, well, anything that’s military related. She needs to know where I’m going, how things work, and their contact policies. She thinks I can call her every day, but I can’t. Which I need her to know, or else she’ll assume I’m dead or abandoning her. But she’s so fucking stubborn. She flips out before I can get my words out. She believes I’m already headed to Iraq, man. I tried to explain to her that it’ll be a few months before I leave the country, but she insists I don’t give her any information,” he continues.
    “You think you could explain it to her, for me?” he asks.
    I shake my head “No. I mean, I’ve tried. She won’t listen to me either. I’m sorry, bro,” I explain.
    “Pussy,” he coughs. Seriously? We’re name calling now? “Did you just call me a pussy?”
    He holds his arms out to the side, as if he’s calling me out, “Yeah. What of it, pussy?” I can’t afford to pay for the shit I will break in this bathroom when I wipe this floor with his face. I’ve never looked up the price of a stall, urinals, sinks, and shit, but I can imagine they’re pretty pricey. “I don’t like or want to know what y’all do behind closed doors, but I know you can use your ‘charm’ to make her listen. So do it,” he orders.
    “Are you kidding me? She uses her body as a weapon against me, and her lips are like poison, numbing my brain. I can’t think straight when—”
    “Ugh! Shut up. I can’t...” Kyle says, twisting his face in disgust.
    “Well, don’t assume I have any type of control over her. I don’t,” I inform.
    “Huh. So, you’re pretty much admitting to being pussy whipped before you’ve gotten any?”
    If he calls me a pussy one more motherfucking time, it’s on.
    “How would you know what I’ve gotten?” I wink, teasing him.
    Kyle rushes me and pulls my chest to his by my shirt. “Tell me you did and I’ll cut your balls off and mail them to your mother,” he spits through his teeth as he threatens me.
    “Ask her how much she enjoyed me,” I retort, taking his wrists in my hands and slamming them to his sides. “You need to realize, you aren’t the only one leaving them behind. This isn’t any easier for me, if that’s what you’re thinking. They’re the only family I have, and leaving Allie behind is torturing me both physically and mentally,” I throw over my shoulder as I exit the men’s room.
    Once I get back to the booth, Allie and Lucille are standing up and gathering their purses. “Y’all finished already?” I ask.
    “Yeah, we thought you boys fell in in there. Allie and I ate already. We’re going to give you two some guy time while we go gather some stuff for Kyle’s departure party,” Lucille informs. My smile falls, immediately. I had plans on spending the rest of my day with Al, but I can’t show my disappointment or she’ll suspect something’s wrong.
    “Okay, cool. See you later, babe. You need any money for anything?” I ask, kissing her goodbye.
    “If you’re dying to give me some moolah, yes. If not, I’m good. I don’t really plan on buying anything.”
    I love giving her my money; everything I have is hers. And I don’t need it; I can’t use it once I’m gone. I went by the bank