In the cozy kitchen, just before leaving for another long deployment, an army officer shares a tender moment with his wife. He starts, “Sweetheart, I’m going to be away for another year.”
Her eyes fill with both affection and worry. “Oh, I’ll miss you terribly!” she replies.
With a playful glimmer in his eye, he adds, “I’ll miss you too—and these lovely ladies of yours.”
Blushing, she teases, “Maybe you should give them some extra attention now to make up for the coming year.”
His face immediately brightens. “Absolutely! I promise to squeeze a little extra love into every month I’m gone.”
And so he begins his countdown: “May”—a gentle squeeze; “June”—another squeeze; “July”—and he continues, naming each month with a playful rhythm.
Suddenly, he notices their 10-year-old son, Michael, quietly standing nearby. In a rush, his wife exclaims, “Oh my goodness, Michael! When did you get here?”
After a moment of thoughtful silence, the boy shrugs and replies, “Umm… mid-September?”
