#mcu insert

Custer Grove, Georgia 2010

Graduation was weeks away and I had just been told that I would be valedictorian. Something neither of my older brothers had been. Sure Mike and John were captains of the football team during their time at Custer Grove High School but I would be graduating with honors and as valedictorian. Finally I was starting to step out of the shadows casted by my older brothers.

I raced home on my bike that night after school. The excitement added a bounce to my step. Mom was in the kitchen when I arrived. I skipped into the room with a grin on my face. My mom looked up from the pot on the stove, she was already cooking dinner. “What’s the grin for, peach?”

“Guess who was made valedictorian of Custer Grove’s class of 2010?” I hopped in place. Before she realized what I meant or I could firmly announce the news the front door opened. My head turned and I leaned back to see my dad entering with a large grin. Mom lowered the temp on the stove and hurried towards the door.

“Here he is, the Walker’s newest West Point graduate, Johnny boy!” Dad announced stepping out of the way to let my older brother in the house. John looked just like a blonde version of Mike, Mike having darker hair than both John and I. He was dressed in the military camouflage uniform, Formal outfit on a hanger in a dress bag slung over his shoulder. It had actually already been a month since he graduated from West Point but was just now making it home.

“Oh Johnny!” Mom squealed in delight while pulling him down to kiss his cheek proudly.

“I missed you too Ma. Hey peaches.” John nodded his head at me and I waved awkwardly. “Hi, John. Congrats on the graduation. I take it Lemar has finished his training too?” John grinned, nodding his head quickly to confirm that his childhood best friend had finished his basic training with the army.

I would never admit it aloud but I definitely had a favorite brother and it wasn't John. Heck I would even take Lemar over John as a brother. Maybe it was me or maybe it was the age gap but John and I just didn't really connect. Or maybe it was the whole shadow thing for him too but it just made it worse for me. John was impulsive and the only time he followed a plan was if it was given to him. Not to mention the hidden temper he had. Yet that was a side no one got to see so no one believed it. No, instead they saw the young small town boy, ex captain of his high school football team and now an American soldier.

My mom never did ask me more about the valedictorian mention. I tried to bring it up again that night at dinner but I kept getting talked over. Like usual I helped clear the table and put the leftovers away. My earlier excitement completely diminished. I glanced at the time before going to grab my jacket, it was Friday, meaning movie night at the park. Given the weather was nice the nearby park would show movies on a projector against the side of a grocery store.

“Ma, Pa. I’m going to head to the park for the movie.” I called to my parents as I zipped my jacket. “Hold on, peach. John can take you. He’s going with Lemar and Oliva in the truck.” Dad called back and I let out a silent groan dropping my head back. Yet I patiently waited for my brother.

John and I climbed into dad’s truck after he threw some blankets into the bed. We picked up Lemar first before going to get John’s girlfriend, Olivia. Olivia and I got along well, she was the sister I never had and I really liked that. The girl got in and smiled at me. “Peaches!” She gave me an awkward hug given we were in the back of the truck and I laughed.

“So I missed the details. How did it go? Where did he take you for dinner? Was he a good dancer? Did you kiss?” Olivia’s burst of questions made the two men in front look back at us. “Wait, Alex went to prom?” John wondered aloud. “Went?” Olivia scoffed at her boyfriend as he started to drive. “She was nominated for prom queen! Oh my gosh, Lemar, your mom got her the prettiest dress.” Olivia leaned forward to tell him while I sat back blushing.

“Did you have a date?” Lemar winked at me and I buried my face in my jacket to hide my blush. “Yes she did. She went with Benny Braden.” Olivia answered for me, my brother looked in the mirror skeptically. “How do you know?” Olivia wrapped her arm around me. “I was there when he picked her up. Someone had to help the peach get ready.”

“Where were mom and dad?” John asked as he stopped at a red light. “Visiting Mike for the weekend. They forgot it was prom weekend. I called Olivia after I accidentally burned my neck with mom’s curling iron.” Olivia nodded in confirmation. “So, details.” She poked my side and I sighed. “It was awful. We didn’t get dinner and no he didn’t do something cute like a picnic either. He kept stepping on my feet. By the end of the night he ditched me for his ex. I got a ride home from Amanda Lawrence and her date. So clearly no kiss.”

Olivia looked downcast at the news. “So nothing good is happening?” I shrugged my shoulders as John parked the truck. “I’m valedictorian.” I comment like it wasn’t a big deal. Lamar ran over to me after I got out and he lifted me over his shoulder. “That’s our peach!”

I laughed until he put me down but as we turned to the couple I gasped. There was John on one knee and a ring in his hand, proposing to his childhood sweetheart.

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Mom and Dad threw a party to celebrate John's graduation from the academy. It was there that John and Olivia made their big announcement about being engaged. After two hours I was done with hearing about how proud I must be to have two brave brothers in the military. Eventually I just grabbed the book I was reading for class, found a semi quiet spot outside and began to read.

A throat was cleared drawing my attention away from the book pages up to my father’s face. He gestured for me to stand so I let out a small huff as I closed my book after inserting my book mark. Standing, I made sure to smooth out the skirt my mother picked out for the family pictures we took this morning before the party. Ma grinned as she held a hand out to me as if presenting something magnificent. “George, this is our youngest.” I forced myself to smile as I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. George Ford was the recruiter who had worked with both of my older brothers.

“So, Alexandra, your parents tell me you graduate this year. Have you thought about what part of the army you’ll be joining?” The recruiter questioned as my parents waited to hear that their daughter was joining the nurse corps after her admiration for the Howling Commandos’ ‘Amazing Grace’ growing up.

“Well, I was planning to join the nurse corps. However, I am no longer planning to join the military.” I politely informed George. My eyes glanced over to see my mom’s horrified expression. My dad’s shoulders had even slumped at the news.

“Oh? Why the change of career path?” George inquired thinking I was probably misinformed on something and he could change my mind.

“Honestly, I don’t want to be in my brothers’ shadows anymore. Now if you excuse me, I need to grab some more peach tea from the house.” I walked around my parents to the house leaving them speechless with George.

I hadn't told anyone but the school guidance counselor about my decision. Mainly because I needed help applying for colleges. Sure if I was a sophomore I might still want to join the nurse corps but after Christmas my junior year I had made up my mind, I was going to be an engineer at Stark Industries. Which became even more obtainable when I received my acceptance letter to Columbia University in New York, New York.

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My parents didn’t talk to me for the next few days. Dinner Wednesday night was when John finally spoke up about it. I was pushing some corn around my plate not really feeling hungry after eating part of my meal. Mom and Dad hadn’t made their usual small talk and John had enough as he dropped his fork to the plate. The metal clattered against the ceramic plate drawing my mom’s eyes to him.

“Okay, what’s going on with you three? None of you have been talking to each other since my party.” John looked between our parents and me. I gently put down my fork and looked at John. “Mom and dad are upset that I’m no longer joining the nurse corps or any branch of the military.” I informed my brother, glancing at our parents.

My dad huffed as he sat down the glass of water he just took a sip from. “It’s not that, peaches. It’s more the fact that you never told us.” He tried to defend their actions and I scoffed leaning back so I could cross my arms.

“None of you listen to me.” I shook my head and looked away. “What do you plan on doing now Alex?” John asked curiously. “Engineering. I got into Columbia University in New York. I was planning to start my studies and then apply at Stark Industries.” I explained my plan that I had talked about with my school counselor.

“Where did this come from?” Ma questioned pouring herself more peach tea.

“You know I looked up to Amazing Grace for more than her medical skills. Howard Stark even admitted that she had been a huge help on all his big first inventions. She might have been a nurse but she could take apart and rebuild all of Stark’s gear. She was the real one behind the Captain America signature round shield. So maybe I don’t want to be out in the field helping the world but I can help it in other ways.” I stood up and grabbed the rest of my plate. “Now if I may be excused. I have to finish studying for my exams.”

I went to the kitchen to clear my plate before heading up to my room. Closing the door I leaned back on it. Taking a deep breath I steeled myself. I never really spoke out like that. It was a strange feeling but I felt confident. If this is what it would be like stepping out from my brothers’ shadow I would continue to follow my own path.

☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰

Graduation day was finally here. I paced around my room repeating my speech over and over again as I waited for it to be time to go. My blue graduation gown flowing slightly in the breeze caused by my repetitive steps. The matching cap anchored on my head with bobby pins so it wouldn’t blow away in the football field where the ceremony was held. My hands kept fiddling with the cords and stole that adorned my neck. I wasn’t the best public speaker, that was more Mike or John’s thing, but I was proud to be able to give a speech.

A knock at my bedroom door stopped me in my tracks. Lemar poked his head in with a smile. “Hey graduate. How are you feelin?” He asked, walking into the room and over to me where he fixed the tassel on my cap to be on the right side. “Nervous but you said the speech sounded good so I got this.” I nodded my head more confidently then how I felt.

“You’ll be fine. Besides, a special big brother is going to be here but I didn’t tell you.” Lemar whispered, wrapping his arm around my shoulder ushering me to the door. “Mike’s coming?! I thought he was on deployment?” I gasped. “He got in yesterday and arranged to get home for your big day. Meaning John and I are taking you to the ceremony.”

I smiled and gave Lemar a hug before we headed out to the car to head to the high school. We went our separate ways at the school and I went to get in line for the possessional. Being valedictorian I was one of the first to enter the stadium to sit down. I patiently sat waiting in my seat till I was called to the stage, “Now Custer Grove’s class of 2010’s valedictorian, Alexandra Walker.”

With a wide smile across my face I walked up onto the metal stage and over to the podium. I looked out at the crowd of fellow students, parents, siblings, teachers, and other people who were all staring at me now. My eyes landed on my oldest brother, dressed in the same formal attire as John but with a few metals. Mike gave me a supportive thumbs up.

“Afternoon Custer Grove, on behalf of the graduating class of 2010 I want to thank everyone for being here to share this moment with us. Without you we would not be here. Today we feel like Avengers accomplishing a four year long battle that we call high school. But as we have witnessed just in the last four years proves how unpredictable the world can be. We know now that we live amongst heroes. We know we are not alone in the universe. Now it is our turn to step into the world and make a difference. A wise woman that the world knows as Amazing Grace once said ‘Wars happen every day. It's our choice to fight or not.’ Let’s step into the world and make our choice Custer Grove. Just don’t be like Captain America and take 70 years to visit home.”