me to do.” Joseph continued. “He made me promise, that if I were stationed in the Jersey area, I would continue to live at the apartment. I guess he wants to keep a close eye on me. Perhaps even to try to convince me about converting. I agreed to this because I have gotten used to living off base and I even like that apartment. Besides I get free room service and laundry.” He joked.

“Well do what you want. If it was me, I would just take the woman and marry her right now.”

“For all I know, you might be right. But I don’t want our life together to start out that way. We will have enough problems without adding an angry in-law to the list.” Joseph said.

The next morning, after a fitful nights sleep, the two of them got ready for the school graduation ceremonies. They walked down to the auditorium where the ceremony was to be held. By 1000 hrs the buses loaded with relatives and friends had begun to arrive. As Fazzi, Mary, and Kassie got off the transport, Joseph ran up to them and kissed and greeted them. After introducing them to some of his classmates and seeing that they were seated in a good area he joined the rest of his class. At 1100 hrs the company commander got up and started the commencement exercise. The usual speeches and congratulatory remarks were made. Then the graduates were called up to the dais to receive their certificates. They were called one by one, by alphabetic order to get their certificates of graduation, that is all except Joseph. The Commanding Officer had purposefully left him for last.

After the rest of the class had received their certificates, the Commanding Officer then said, “That leaves just one last graduate. I did not forget him; I saved him for last because he has been a special student. He is the best of the best. He passed out at the top of the class. This school has decided not to waist his talent. We have decided to take him on as a teacher in training. He will be staying on here at the school and teaching other students what he has learned here. Private Benson, please come up and accept your certificate of graduation. Well done!”

The assembled graduates and their families applauded as Joseph sheepishly made his way to the podium to accept his diploma. After receiving it, the C.O. held him there and then announced to the audience, “As everyone knows the position of being a teacher here at this school carries with it the rank of Sergeant. I am therefore pleased and privileged to also present to you this notification of promotion to the rank of Sergeant, congratulations.”

After the ceremony a group of Joseph’s friends came over to shake his hand and congratulate him on the promotion. Fazzi and his family crowded around him and Kassie hugged him and kiss him.

“I am so proud of you, habibi.” Kassie said.

“I owe this all to you and your family.” He said kissing her. “All of you have taught me so much. I would not have been able to do it without that help.”

Taking Fazzi in his arms and hugging him he whispered in his ear, “I hope you have set up everything. I can’t wait to thank you privately for everything.”
“Yes everything is arranged. We will talk about the details later when we