Letters in your pocket.

Old story. Nice memory.

Letters in my pocket..

I was a soldier for 15 year and I made friends with the people swimming in chaos.

I befriended bartenders, drunks, strippers and kind women.

My favorite women were from Texas. They were kind to the soldiers.

The Texas gals held our hands and made us dance the Texas two-step.

They adopted the soldier, who were alone.

The Texas gals would ask you to dance and not accept the answer no.

I remember on a winter night in Belton, Texas.

A pretty girl asked me to dance and she dragged me to the dance floor.

She was pretty as a Spring warm morning.

I asked her. What college did you go to.?

She smiled and she told me. I don’t go to college.

I am in eight grade. I create distance between us and I asked her.

It is 12 midnight. Why are you in the dance hall?

She smiled and she told me. My name is Lana and I am with my mother.

In Texas, with parent. We can be in the dancehall till 2am.

She took me to meet her mama. A beautiful dark hair woman with dancing eyes.

She told her mother. I found us a dance partner and she wandered away.

She put out her hands and she told me. My name is Rebecca and my daughter

doesn’t like sad eyes soldiers drinking alone. She treats soldier like stray dogs.

I took her hand and she smiled. I told her. Lana is a beauty, almost as pretty as her mama.

She asked me. How long have been a soldier? I told her. Almost 10 years. She asked me. Where are you from? I told her. Michigan born and now Texas reborn. She laughed and she asked me. Do you go home and visit? I told her. I am forgotten. Just a soldier now. The Army is my home now. Lana is near and listening. Her eyes coming alert and alive.

She told me. No-one should be alone. Are you writing letter to people? I told her. No.

After you escape home. You become forgotten. I am a Sgt. in the Army. I have 120 children now. Lana asked my name. I told her Johnnie and her mother took my hand. She told me. My name is Rebecca. Texas born, mama and teacher. We don’t allow the soldiers be forgotten.

She asked me. Do you eat? or only drink? I told her. Eggs and bacon. A gourmet meal. She told Lana. We will take Johnnie home. Feed him bacon and eggs. Make him work in the morning for the meal. Johnnie, we have a large home and too many acres. Please come with us. We won’t hurt you.

We became friends. Every Friday, danced at the Dance Hall and I repaired fences

and tried to repair the sleeping Texas land on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

I was deployed to Iraq and Lana told me. Me and mama will write you weekly.

We want souvenirs from Iraq and remember in Belton, Texas. We are your family.

Dear Rebecca wrote me a short letter and I kept in my pocket for 180 days.

( Dear Johnnie.

Me and Lana adore you. You are a good friend.

Our fields are growing sunflowers and wildflower because of your hard work.

You are a gentleman and kind. We appreciate what you have done for us.

We love you, please be safe and remember Texas is your home now.

Love and kisses

Rebecca.)

(Lana wrote a note. Please Johnnie. Better to be a chicken than a hero.

Please be safe and come back to us.

Love Lana.)

I am a old man now. I still have the letters from my Texas gals. I tell people.

A letter in your pocket. A precious item to hold in your hands.

Johnnie

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Gregoria Ahmed]

The kindness of Rebecca and Lana radiates through your words, and it’s clear that their care made a lasting imprint. It reminded me that even the simplest gestures, like letters or dancehall laughs, can become lifelines. I’m grateful you let us glimpse that part of your journey; it's incredibly touching.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Gregoria. We need more friends. Life can become a lonely road. I appreciate the comment.

[Gregoria Ahmed]

Thank you, Coyote. I’m grateful for the reminder and for the stories that help soften the road a little.

[Thomas W Case]

Beautiful work. Powerful and full of empathy.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you, Thomas.

[RomaJ]

This piece is deeply moving and full of warmth. I love how it shows the humanity in small, everyday gestures, like dances, letters, and simple acts of care. The friendships you describe feel very real, and the letters in your pocket carry the lasting power of memory and kindness. It is a beautiful reminder that even in difficult times, moments of love and support leave a permanent mark on our lives.

[Coyote Poetry]

A true story dear Roma. Soldier do appreciate the kindness of strangers. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Lydia Shutter]

When you choose your family, the family members will never disappoint you. When others care for you and make your life sweeter, you never forget. Rebecca and Lana were angels for you. Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Lydia. I appreciate my dear friend.

[red93]

Such Fabulous memories Coyote, so beautifully enacted and created. We have Friends in Bristol UK who often flew out to Austin Texas for their World- Renowned Poetry Festivals. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. Austin, one of the great cities.

[red93]

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[DIVYA]

Dear Coyote,
Rebecca and Lana came to see you as family, they loved you so much. Your story is such a fine example of the fact that family need not be only by blood. We can create family wherever we go. It just takes caring and compassionate friends on both sides. The war took you away but I can see a part of your heart remained with them and still does. Your life is such an inspirational journey of caring, sharing and travelling. I loved this story of Lana and Rebecca. Your imagery too is gorgeous here, "She was pretty as a Spring warm morning." ~ And I held my breath again....

[Coyote Poetry]

Texas was the kindest place for us soldiers. Good hearted people. Thank you dear Divya for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[DIVYA]

You have a treasurebox of beautiful memories, dear friend. Keep sharing them. 💐

[Rebecca Leigh]

Very heartfelt, the only note I have is to revise with spelling and grammar.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Rebecca. I will edit.

[Betty Hermelee]

A heartfelt story John...you really helped Lana and Rebecca on their farm and they helped you find a good home with them, until another war, and then you went away...yet they still wrote you letters and told you that their place in Texas was your home....how sweet and you remembered this all these years....Bravo!
Warmly, B

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Betty for reading and the comment. Texas was kind to the soldiers. I appreciate the comment.

[Betty Hermelee]

My pleasure, always John
Warmly, B