The Need for Change

In a large, heavy-duty plastic box, labelled “brushes,” I have all my old combat field gear stored. As I was sorting through it, Kay came into the room and started asking questions about what this was for and what that was for.

“That’s a flak vest — not bullet proof, but it is resistant, and that’s my helmet and that’s my TLBV which stands for tactical load bearing vest,” I explained

She lifted the old teflon vest to which my two canteens are still attached and looked closely at their covers. Each one has a small pocket stitched into the front part of the cover.

“What’s this for, Tom?” she asked, adding before I could answer, “Change?”

I laughed at the idea of carrying a bunch of quarters in the little flap. But then I realized she was asking serious question.

“No,” I answered, “It’s for the water treatment pills to be used when  the canteens are filled with untreated water.”

“Oh,” she replied.

Then I added, “But taking change to feed the parking meters while at war’s practical too.”

Kay jus’ glared at me as I continued to laugh at the thought.