Until I Met Cleo

By Stan Yocum

Until I Met Cleo is about Seth, an Army corporal who suffers debilitating injuries. He is a young man who then must deal with recovering from this ordeal and determining how he will live the rest of his life so dramatically changed from before. The experiences that Seth goes through are expounding. Then someone tells him about service dogs. Seth, however, doesn’t want a service dog, feeling he can’t take care of himself, so how could he take care of a dog? Eventually, Seth receives Cleo, a service dog that instantly changes his life. What Cleo does for Seth is astounding, more than he ever thought passible.

What Cleo does is not fabricated; everything she does is real and has happened before. Service dogs do unbelievable things. While the story is different than other dog books, it will still make you realize how absolutely wonderful service dogs can truly be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796070262

Stan Yocum

Stan Yocum is a writer who has written suspense/thriller novels, and also general fiction and love novels. He also raises assistance dogs to help physically disabled adults, children and veterans. He is married, has two daughters, two grandchildren, and resides in Palos Verdes California. Other novels by Stan Yocum: The Price of Admission Unrelenting Nightmare Without You Hostile Takeover Corporate Spy Reflection of a Hero Please visit: www.stanyocum.com

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Copyright © 2019 by Stan Yocum.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 11/15/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Final Note

In honor of

Canine Companions for Independence

Whose purpose is to provide extremely well trained dogs to disabled people, children and military veterans

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my wife, Melayne, and Shannon, my oldest daughter, who both read the draft manuscript and commented on how the story read.

To Tim O’Shea for also reading the first draft and giving me input.

And then Becky Hines, who gave me outstanding feedback about the story, including the intricacies of a professional dog-training center and particularly about a service dog in general.

Lastly, to Stephanie, my youngest daughter, who is an instructor with Canine Companions for Independence, and has given me untold help with training dogs and using the best and most proper method of doing so.

ONE

OUTSIDE the Humvee’s front windshield, dust swirled like a blanket of confusion and disorder from a windstorm that had suddenly kicked up. Sitting behind the steering wheel was Corporal Seth Keel, who was having difficulty seeing exactly where he was going. The three privates also in the vehicle were laughing at a joke one of them had just finished.

Hey guys, settle down a bit, will you? Seth said, interrupting the laughter. I’m having trouble seeing anything out the window. Mind helping out a bit?

The privates immediately understood the situation and started peering outside to see if they could help identify anything, especially possible peculiarities that might be harmful to their health.

Seven soldiers in total occupied two separate Humvees. The Humvee following Seth’s had a gun turret on top with one man in it. They had been given orders to go to a small town about fifteen kilometers from camp in order to pick up a Bonehead journalist and his cameraman who had ventured out on their own to the town, which was suspected to have resistance forces present. The two of them had done so without proper authorization or accompaniment by any military escort. Besides that, they had likewise used a Jeep, also unauthorized, for transportation. And guess what? The Jeep wouldn’t start when they wanted to return to camp. This caused the journalist much chagrin when he had to call and ask for assistance. So seven soldiers were now venturing into a hostile environment to save some journalistic butts! Gee, wasn’t dealing with the free press fun?

Corporal Seth Keel was commander of the three privates inside his lead Humvee and three more in the following one. Even though Seth had been in the Army for just over two years, he had accelerated through the ranks because of demonstrated leadership skills and performance. He had been attending college on a baseball scholarship when concern about his ability to actually make it to the major league as a pitcher had caused indecision on his part about his future. Also complicating the matter was his girlfriend. They had been an item since high school, and she certainly expected him to make the bigs. One night at a party she drunkenly announced, My boyfriend is going to be a great pitcher in the major leagues and make all sorts of money. Talk about adding pressure to an already existing problem. Seth went down to the Army recruiting office the next day and enlisted.

Seth Keel was energetic, extremely athletic, had been a good student, and was excited about most everything he ever did. At this very moment, however, just as the temporary sandstorm subsided and the Humvee’s front wheels entered the outskirts of the town, there wasn’t much excitement pulsating through his body. This was a critical situation and he knew it.

Really keep your eyes peeled, guys, he emphasized. Watch the roof tops and cross streets. If you see anything suspicious, warn me.

Got it, Ron said, the private sitting next to him.

Bernie, Seth then said as he tilted his head toward the backseat. Where exactly is this journalist and camera guy?

I’ve got their location on GPS. It’s about one klick from here. Just go down the main street. Bernie then chuckled. That’s the street your on. And it’s the only paved one in town, really. All the others appear to be dirt roads.

Make sure the other Humvee watches our backside.

Bernie radioed the trailing Humvee and passed on the order as Seth cautiously proceeded through town. Men and women were walking the streets and would move to the side of the road as the Humvees approached. Seth had to almost slam on the brakes when a group of children unexpectedly ran onto the road. They stopped when a woman called out angrily to them. They immediately returned to where she was standing and got an earful of scolding.

Probably school kids, Ron said. Same all over the world. It’s amazing when you think about it, considering the situation they live in, and yet they act the same as kids in the U.S. He smiled. Pretty neat, I guess. Certainly better than what you’d expect.

Okay, Bernie called out when Seth started moving again. Just about a half klick ahead. It should be on your right.

So, how much longer, Ron? Warren, the third private, asked a moment later.

A week and three days, guys. Ten more days and I am out of here. Finally going home. Halleluiah!

Going home to be with your sweetheart, huh? Bernie commented.

Bet your sweet ass I am. And I can’t wait. It’s been a long time.

Been a long time for exactly what, Ron? Seth asked with a slight grin.

Love making, guys. Love making! When you guys are bunked down all alone with only your hand, I’ll have a beautiful woman by my side taking care of me.

Like hell you will, Warren said. You may have your sweetheart by your side, but I swear, you’ll be begging her to take care of you, being as ugly as you are.

Lite laughter filled the Humvee.

Suddenly, Seth let out a sigh. Shit, he said as he slowed again. The roads blocked up ahead. Men are working in a ditch in the middle of the street. Is there another way around, Bernie?

Give me a sec, Bernie said as he studied the GPS screen. Yeah. Turn right at the next street. It curves around and parallels this street. We can cut back after a few blocks. That’s just about where the journalist is supposed to be.

Good. Tell the guys behind us.

When Seth reached the corner he turned. Keep a sharp eye, everyone, he then said. This is not where we want to be. It’s tight and were sitting ducks if they plan on hitting us.

Bernie took it on himself to warn the following Humvee and then craned his eyes out his side window. Everyone lifted their rifles, except Seth, and the concentration level went up about a hundred percent.

Holy shit! Warren yelled. I just saw someone peek up from the top of that building right there, he said pointing to his right. I think he had a rifle of some kind.

Do you still see him? Seth called out anxiously.

No. Not anymore.

Anyone else see anything?

The other two men said no.

Warn the other team, Seth instructed.

I’m on it, Bernie replied.

Something told Seth to stop the vehicle, which he did. He then sat and stared out the window for a long moment.

Should we back out of here? Ron asked.

I’m thinking about it.

The radio crackled and the voice of one of the occupants from the trailing Humvee came on the line. What’s the matter?

We saw a head peek out from the top of the building, Bernie said, at about your 2:00 o’clock position.

Yeah, we thought we did too. What do we do?

Bernie waited and then leaned forward toward Seth. Uh, what do you want to do?

Seth sat quietly for a moment longer. We’re sitting ducks if we just sit here, he thought. And if they’ve got a RPG … Tell him we’re moving forward. But damn it, be extra careful! Look behind everything. I can see the street we need to turn on. It’s about two hundred yards ahead. And make sure everyone has their weapons ready.

Bernie passed on the orders.

They pressed on, guns held at the ready position as they searched windows and doors of each building, and the rooftops. Not many people were walking on the road. Seth hoped that was because it was a much rougher dirt surface with potholes and not because they knew something was going to happen and didn’t want to be around when it did.

Stop! Ron shouted. I just saw two guys with assault rifles behind that fence over there. They ran behind that building.

Seth slowed the Humvee but didn’t stop. He moved along as he squinted through the front windshield, searching for any other possible attackers. He could sense the situation was getting serious. He could feel his heart rate elevate, as well as his hands starting to sweat under his gloves.

Do you want us to get out and see if we can find them? Warren asked.

No. Everyone stay in the vehicle. We’re safer here.

Seth kept slowly moving forward as they conversed with the second Humvee. When they were about 100 feet from the intended intersection, Seth saw a pickup truck dart out from behind a row of buildings with a number of men in the bed of the truck with automatic rifles. They started firing at the Humvee just as the second Humvee radioed that they were being attacked from behind.

Bullets ricocheted off the Humvee and Seth instinctively ducked when he saw bullet holes splintering the front bulletproof windshield. He slammed his foot down on the pedal and the Humvee leapt forward, hitting the pickup truck in the rear section and sending it into a tailspin. The armed men were flung from the bed of the truck onto the ground. The radio sounded off again that the rear Humvee was under heavy fire.

You bastards, Ron yelled as he opened the door and fired at the men on the ground, hitting two of them before quickly slamming the door shut as new holes appeared in the protected side windows.

Get on the horn, Seth ordered. Contact the base and tell them we’re under attack.

Bernie immediately keyed the radio and announced their predicament. A moment later he said, Two choppers are on the way.

Good, Seth said as he veered the Humvee back to the middle of the road. Just then he saw several more men rush from a building on his left and start firing at them. He knew the bullets couldn’t get through, but what caught his attention was that one of the assailants was holding an RPG!

Seth swerved the Humvee sharply to the left just as he saw smoke suddenly stream from the RPG muzzle and streak toward him. It missed his Humvee but hit the trailing one, causing the vehicle to lift partially off the ground from the explosive impact before crashing back down engulfed in flames. Seth glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the two men inside the Humvee exit and try to fire at the attackers, but they were quickly taken down with counter gunfire. He couldn’t see the soldier in the gun turret any longer, probably killed by the RPG blast.

Get us out of here! Ron yelled.

Jesus, they’re everywhere, Seth heard from the backseat.

Seth swore out loud as he raced down the street, hoping a second RPG wasn’t being aimed at him. Gunfire was all around with ricocheting sounds coming off the Humvee from all directions. Seth sped forward as fast as he could in the tight quarters, hitting two parked cars and taking out several other obstacles along the way.

The privates were still screaming frantically. Seth abandoned any ideas of getting to the journalist and cameraman; they were on their own. He was just trying to save the lives of the men in his vehicle—plus his own! He looked in the rearview mirror once more and saw another truck following with men shooting their guns over the cab top.

Go, go! Faster! They’re catching up. Warren hollered from the backseat as he too watched the following truck.

Seth pressed his foot harder against a rigid floorboard, trying to coax more speed from a pedal that wouldn’t move any further. Even so, he pressed down even harder.

When he saw it, it was too late and he knew it. Things seemed to slow down for a brief moment as he tried to swerve to the right. The Humvee started to move in that direction but careened off a metal barrier that blocked any exit path. He cursed in frustration as he slammed on the brakes to keep the Humvee from hitting what had caught his attention.

In the middle of the road was a distinct disturbance that had caught his eye; freshly dug dirt. His conscious mind told him what it was, but his subconscious thoughts prayed that it wasn’t. Churned dirt on a road usually meant only one thing—a buried IED.

Seth never felt the explosion. It ripped portions of the Humvee underside from the chassis and shattered the inside of the vehicle. Brilliant light filled his field of vision for a split second before his mind went numb.

TWO

THE assault was quickly suppressed when two military helicopters emerged from above and pelted the area with heavy artillery. They landed a moment later and several soldiers jumped from the aircrafts and sent shots into buildings where there was still light gunfire. The battle lasted for about ten minutes before the last of the attackers fled the scene.

The recovery of the ambushed soldiers was not pleasant as the soldiers searched the two Humvees for survivors. They found two dead soldiers from bullet wounds on the ground, and one other inside the rear Humvee gun turret from an explosion. A search of the lead Humvee found four other dead soldiers, also from an explosion.

As the rescue crew secured the area and started removing the dead soldiers’ bodies, a medic suddenly called out as he was examining one of the soldiers.

This man is still alive. We need to get him to the infirmary ASAP. He’s bleeding badly and doesn’t have long. Load him on a chopper quickly and get him out of here.

Another soldier was called over to help, but when he looked down at the severely wounded man, he said, Jesus, look at his legs.

They’re gone, soldier, the medic said as he tightened tourniquets on both legs, and he’ll be, too, if you don’t help get him on that chopper.

The soldier looked at the man again. Are you sure he’s alive? Look at his head.

Quit with your fucking stupid remarks, will you, and get him on the chopper.

The wounded soldier was loaded on the helicopter and flown to the base infirmary where surgery was immediately performed in an attempt to save his life. The remaining part of his left leg above the knee was surgically repaired. His right leg, still intact just below the knee, was also operated on. His left arm, which had been damaged by shrapnel and fire, was also medically repaired, although the doctors knew there was severe nerve damage. The patient’s head, on the other hand, would require extensive surgery to remove several pieces of shrapnel from inside and around the brain. The doctors agreed that due to the complexity of the required surgery it should be performed by a recognized neurosurgeon and put the patient into a medically induced coma before loading him on a military plane for the United States.

Following eleven days after performing a fourteen hours successful surgery and then reducing the use of the drug that had induced the coma, Corporal Seth Keel awoke from his traumatic ordeal.

SETH was told what had happened to him by the surgeon who had performed the surgery after he successfully transitioned out of his induced coma. She answered all his questions, although he didn’t really ask that many. His main concern after hearing why the surgery was required was about having any mental issues from the shrapnel in his brain.

All the shrapnel was removed, she assured him. The specific parts of the brain that were effected will self repair to some extent. You will probably never notice anything from those that don’t. You might feel slight dizziness from time-to-time, and bouts of disorientation, but I don’t believe those will last that long once your brain makes adjustments. Your legs, unfortunately, are permanent, which I’m sure you understand. The bones in your body that were broken or damaged will repair. Where your body was burned will also be repaired with surgery. Your left arm, though, could be a problem. The muscle damage was repaired to some extent, and with therapy and proper conditioning might improve. The nerve damage that occurred, however, she shook her head slightly, may be permanent, which will limit the use of the arm. We’re not entirely sure to what extent, though. It’s hard to tell in instances like yours. Time will determine how much improvement you will gain, assuming you’re willing to work on it. But overall, corporal, you are a very lucky man. You are alive and you have the rest of your life ahead of you.

Yeah, and what a life that’ll be, Seth thought as he looked straight at the ceiling. I can barely move parts of my body as it is right now. If any of it recovers, that’s great. But I know for damn sure, I won’t be using what’s left of my legs for anything. Something to really look forward to, he thought as he closed his eyes briefly.

The doctor then asked some questions about how he felt, and any areas of pain they should be aware of. He answered and smiled faintly when appropriate, but it was all for show. The doctor finally stood, saying she’d check on him the next day and answer any other questions he might have.

Right after she left his room, his thoughts turned to his legs; at least what remained of them. Heavy bandages covered the top of his head, and his arm was also bandaged, as were other parts, but he hadn’t seen the results of the injury to his legs yet. He could tell it wouldn’t be good; he sensed tingling feelings in parts of his legs that he knew were no longer there. No longer there, he repeated to himself, barely able to comprehend that fact. He didn’t have any legs. This actually caused him to let out an ironic chuckle. Well, certainly glad I gave up on baseball, he thought, because it would be kind of hard to deliver a pitch now. And running the bases might be a bit difficult, too.

He took in a heavy breath and let it out. Now’s the time to look, he said to himself. He cleared his throat and reached down and pulled back the sheet. He had to hold back a gasp. There was nothing there but his thigh on the left side, and just below his knee on his right. They were tightly wrapped in white bandages of some sort that dramatically angled inward were the rest of his legs would have been. He braced himself and then reached down and touched the end of his now very short left leg. He felt a slight pain, even though he had been told there were medications being supplied from one of the IV bottles attached to him that would deaden the pain. He held in check his mounting emotions, although it was very difficult. He touched the end of the other leg, cementing the fact that there was nothing beyond the white bandages. He slowly pulled up the sheet and let his head fall back onto the pillow.

Corporal Seth Keel held on for another couple of minutes or so. He thought about the other men under his command, all six of them, and especially Ron, who should be home by now enjoying his sweetheart. They were all under his command … and he had failed them.

He finally broke down and began to cry, trying to deal with the reality that they were gone; their lives were over. And his, too! He’d never be the person that he once was. Fear of what that meant and how he’d handle it weakened his usually strong mental state and grabbed him from the depths of his imagination and turned his insides into knots, forcing the tears to continue.

He cried softly until there were no more tears. The anxiety he felt about what had happened, the fact that he was still alive when no one else was, was so overwhelmingly clouded with doubt and despair that his body physically shut down. Without knowing it, Seth Keel slipped into sleep from complete mental exhaustion. Thankfully, it was a dreamless sleep that afforded him a short reprieve from the torment his fearful thoughts had placed on him. Unfortunately, though, the next morning when he awoke