Mitch had some special news for us during his next visit; our criminal records had been erased and this included Luis’s, which was an even bigger surprise.
‘Thanks Boss,’ I said as it was greatly appreciated.
Luis was exhausted from all the training exercises and asked Mitch when his nightmare would end. We could sympathise as the training was a big strain on us all.
‘You need to hang in there as we only have 10 days of training remaining,’ said Mitch as he checked his calendar.
‘WE?’ exclaimed Luis as he sat sweating in his grey training suit.
‘Hey I’m there with you every step of the way, Luis,’ said Mitch as he put his arm around Luis.
Failure was not an option for any of us including Luis. By the end of the training course we would have completed 18 weeks of gruelling punishment, both to our bodies and souls. I kept telling myself it was all for the best and thankfully we’d been excused from the normal 22 weeks training course because the chief needed us out on the streets preventing crime.
With all this going on we still had to find time for band practice. To keep it a secret from the other training cadets, Mitch had arranged for the band to use the back room of his friend’s bar in town and wanted to hear how we’d progressed. He watched the practice session that evening and was encouraged by what he heard. From the combination of daily band practice and the gruelling police training schedule our backs were killing us. I for one could do with a holiday when this was over. This is one luxury item you missed out on when you’re behind bars and I asked Molly to broach the subject with Mitch, as she would have more luck. She promised to ask Mitch when the time was right.
The final few days of training flew by in a haze of body pain. Graduation day was almost upon us. We’d managed to pass the written exams and only had the weekend left to polish our shoes, press our dress uniforms and smile ready for the big occasion. Thankfully target practice, wrestling training and lessons had all finished. Now it was time to enjoy the ceremony.
The police cadet graduation ceremony was everything you would expect from such a special occasion, full of pomp and ceremony. It would probably be the only graduation ceremony we would ever participate in and it was made all the sweeter by our families being able to attend, thanks to Mitch. It was obvious how proud our parents were as they sat together in the middle aisle. Sadly Josh’s father had passed away a year back, but his mother was in the crowd of well wishers waving with great pride as Josh walked up to the podium to collect his credentials. It was my turn next and I shook the captain’s hand before leaping in the air to celebrate. I could see my poor mother’s face as she tried to hide the embarrassment but I didn’t care, I’d earned my moment of glory.
Mitch certainly looked the part during the ceremony, dressed in his best uniform with his chest blazoned with a string of medals for bravery. What was even more impressive as we discovered from Molly, was that Mitch had served in the Marine Corp Special OPs unit, so he was an extremely serious bad ass. I made another mental note never to mess with him. After the class photo with the other graduating cadets, it was time for the now traditional, family group hugs and kisses. Mitch offered to buy dinner for everyone at his friend’s bar and asked if we wouldn’t mind performing after the meal.
‘I’ll have to check with my manager,’ said Josh as he looked over at Luis and smiled.
What better way to show off our much improved musical talents and we certainly made it a night to remember.
There was a brief opportunity to say goodbye to our families before leaving for the airport in the morning and my father wanted to say a few words as I loaded my things on the bus.
‘Try to be careful son and certainly no computer hacking, unless it’s in the name of the law of course,’ he warned with a grin.
‘Yes Father’, I replied.
We waved goodbye as the bus set off for the airport. Things were different this time as we got to fly with a scheduled airline, no more private jets as the criminal records were wiped clean. When the flight arrived in Seattle, we boarded the transfer bus to the terminal to collect our luggage. Mitch travelled back with us and wanted to say a few quiet words.
‘After we get the luggage, there will be a green bus waiting for us outside the terminal marked with a Long Beach visitor sign. This will take us to a motel in Long Beach where you’ll be staying until your new house is ready to move into,’ said Mitch.
‘Wow our own house, party time,’ said Brandon.
‘You should all be very proud at how much you have achieved so far, but now the real work begins. Remember the Washington State Troopers motto at all times, ‘Service with Humility,’ said Mitch.
We would come to appreciate the importance of these words during the hard days ahead.
‘Oh, one other thing,’ said Mitch as he glanced over at Molly. ‘The chief has very kindly agreed to give you a few days off to relax before work begins on Friday.’
Obviously Molly’s words of persuasion had worked. Mitch would be picking us up at 0630 for work on Friday and warned us not to have too late a night beforehand.
‘Yes Boss,’ we said in unison.
Brandon and I both assumed it would be party time when we got to the motel, but sadly none of us had any energy left. In fact the most we could manage during the next few days was to crash out either by the pool or on the beach. It was pathetic really for teenagers to be so exhausted, but we were just content with being free for now and the partying could wait.