Page 31 of Relentless Surrender

Sage nodded her head in acknowledgment. Too excited to speak. She heard the rat-a-tat-tat of the drums first. The sound got louder and louder as they marched out onto the field. They then launched into several rounds of recognizable John Phillips Sousa songs.

“This is so cool!” squealed Sage.

“Just wait and see,” smiled Conner, pleased she was enjoying it so much.

Next the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon marched in perfect precision on to the open parade ground.

“The Ruger n1 rifles they carry weigh just over ten pounds including the sharpened bayonets,” explained Conner. “They will go through the entire drill without any verbal commands.”

“Hence the name Silent Drill Platoon,” teased Sage. Conner smiled.

It was like a well-orchestrated dance. Fifty men all moving in perfect unison. Shifting their rifles from shoulder to shoulder. Spinning and twirling them left and right. The sound of the rifle butts hitting the ground at the same time was thunderous. It was all very impressive…and then they took it to a whole new level.

They started throwing their heavy rifles with the bayonets several feet into the air and catching them by only the rifle butt!

Sage covered her mouth in shocked excitement and awe!

As if that was not crazy enough, she watched on the edge of her seat as they paired off and began to throw two rifles in the air simultaneously, watching as they twirled and exchanged places high above, each catching the other’s rifle. Unknowingly, Sage clenched on to Conner’s sleeve, in her anxiety and wonder at the spectacle.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he whispered against her ear, as always, inhaling her signature sugared orange scent. He needed to make sure she never ran out of the perfume!

“Are you kidding me?” she breathed. “This is without a doubt one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. I will never forget this night! Thank you for taking me!” Sage gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“It’s not over yet, Spitfire.”

Once more the bright red uniforms of the President’s Own Band marched on to the field. After a rousing of Sousa’s classic Semper Fidelis, the announcer was heard over the loud speaker once more.

“Will Captain Benjamin Conner please escort Sage MacGovern on to the Parade ground.”

Sage turned shocked curious eyes to Conner who rose with crisp military straightforwardness and offered his hand. No hint of a smile or any indication he knew what was going on.

As they made their way to the parade ground, Sage furiously whispered to him, “Conner! Conner! What is happening?”

He ignored her.

When they reached the parade ground, Conner positioned Sage in front of him and then promptly dropped to one knee.

“Oh my god!” she tearfully said, a hand to her mouth.

“There isn’t a Marine alive who doesn’t enjoy a good fight.”

He was interrupted by a loud oo-rah from the crowd.

“You, Sage MacGovern, were definitely worth the fight,” said Conner with a teasing sparkle of remembrance in his eye. “I am hoping you will do me the great honor of becoming my wife.”

Sage was so overwhelmed by the wonderfully, romantic gesture it took her a moment to respond.

That’s when she heard her best friend Melissa shout out from the crowd, “Say yes, you dumb bitch!”

Sage started to laugh. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” she yelled as she launched herself into Conner’s waiting arms.

The end.