Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the twentyfifteen domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /chroot/home/a6f7779a/9d7429a5d9.nxcli.io/html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6170 {"id":610,"date":"2016-05-29T16:46:24","date_gmt":"2016-05-29T21:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frankdeleon.com\/?p=610"},"modified":"2016-05-29T19:31:25","modified_gmt":"2016-05-30T00:31:25","slug":"life-in-the-fast-lane-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/frankdeleon.com\/?p=610","title":{"rendered":"Life in the Fast Lane…part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Life in the Fast Lane<\/strong><\/p>\n

Part Two<\/u><\/p>\n

Late Summer, 1961<\/u><\/p>\n

Judy T<\/u><\/strong>. <\/u>(The Dancing Queen)<\/p>\n

I began to look forward to the dances at the Town Hall on Saturday nights and attended them when my schedule permitted.\u00a0 Most of the time I rode down and back with Jay, but a few times, when he got \u201clucky\u201d, I found myself walking the three, or so, miles back to the radar station alone.\u00a0 Luckily, I never had to walk all the way back because inevitably someone from the base would be driving up the highway, recognize that I was an airman, and offer me a ride.<\/p>\n

As much as I enjoyed the dances, and in particular dancing and chatting with Sharon, I was beginning to feel a bit paranoid because of my inability to fast dance.\u00a0 Not that I was some kind of slow dance guru, but I found that hardly anyone, boy or girl, knew how to properly slow dance anyway.\u00a0 No foxtrot, waltz, or rhumba for this group\u2014we just slogged along to the dominant beat of the song, shuffling and trying to keep our feet off our partners\u2019 toes.<\/p>\n

Whenever a fast song came on, I retreated to the sidelines to watch the \u201cpros\u201d jitter-bug their way around the floor.\u00a0 As hard as I tried to concentrate on the dance moves, I could never figure out what they were doing with their feet; and all the spinning around did nothing but confuse me further.<\/p>\n

A few times, as I watched the couples fast dance to Little Richard and Chubby Checker, a couple of guys asked Sharon to fast dance.\u00a0 Of course she accepted, and watching her glide around, occasionally dipping gracefully under her partner\u2019s outstretched arm, made me feel clumsy and inept.\u00a0 I stood there, glaring down at my clunky military dress oxfords, wishing that I could somehow make them move in jitterbug fashion.<\/p>\n

It was one lazy Sunday afternoon and I was sleeping late, having finished one of my grueling nine day in a row work schedules, when I decided to walk over to the base swimming pool and lounge around a bit.\u00a0 Probably the nicest recreational amenity that we had on our little base, it was located right behind the Officer\u2019s Club, sized to Olympic standards, and was surrounded by a tall cedar fence.\u00a0 Best of all, during certain weekends in the summer months, the base would allow civilian guests use of the pool and its facilities\u2014namely, the Officers\u2019 Club and its very cheap drink and food menu.\u00a0 The bartenders were restricted from selling any kind of alcoholic beverages to minors, so if the customer wasn\u2019t readily recognized, or looked too young, he\/she would be required to show some kind of identification prior to being served.<\/p>\n

The legal drinking age in Nevada was twenty-one, but those of us assigned to the radar station who were underage (I was nineteen), could drink to our heart\u2019s content without fear of getting into trouble.\u00a0 The base was federal property so the base commander set and enforced the rules.\u00a0 Besides, beer at the club was twenty-five cents and cocktails fifty-cents, compared to the downtown casino prices of seventy-five cents for domestic, and a dollar plus, respectively.\u00a0 A nice little perk to make up for all of the base\u2019s many shortcomings.<\/p>\n

Since there was only one public pool in the city, usually overpopulated with screaming kids, over-protected mothers, and petulant preteens, our base\u2019s civilian guest weekends meant our pool would be filled with a rather nice cross-section of the local female teen population.\u00a0 On these special days, those of us who didn\u2019t have the money to afford girl-watching in downtown Winnemucca could just lounge by the pool, a cheap beer in hand, and lust over the young half-naked local teen talent.\u00a0 Although there were some families in attendance, most of the visitors were single females eager to meet or just flirt with the modest and diverse population of single airmen stationed there.<\/p>\n

On this particular afternoon, after a trip to the chow hall for lunch, I changed into my newly purchased swim trunks, grabbed a clean towel, and sauntered over to the pool to check out the action.\u00a0 \u00a0After taking a brief dip in the icy water I ordered a can of Schlitz from the bartending sergeant at the club\u2019s take-out window and picked out a vacant vinyl recliner where I could air dry my skinny frame.<\/p>\n

Nursing my beer carefully, I had just begun to check out the sights when out of nowhere a buxom red-headed girl in a black two-piece came splashing her way to the edge of the pool directly in front of me.\u00a0 Squealing and flailing about, she appeared to be in a great hurry to get out of the water\u2014her clumsy efforts doing more to splash cold water on me than helping her exit the pool.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d\u00a0 She said excitedly, extending a well-freckled arm in my direction.\u00a0 \u201cGive me a hand, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Having already hurriedly gotten out of my chair to avoid the cold water, I looked around to see if it was me she was talking to but saw no one behind me.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d\u00a0 I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you!\u00a0 Hurry!\u201d<\/p>\n

As I reached out with my non-Schlitz hand for her extended arm I noticed another girl, a trim little brunette, swimming frantically in her direction\u2014giggling maniacally and making more of a splashing motion than actually trying to swim.<\/p>\n

My first attempt to grab her hand fell short a few inches, and she fell back into the pool with a soft splash.\u00a0 Apparently losing confidence in my helping her get out, she put her head down and attempted to hoist herself up and out of the water by pulling herself up to the edge with her hands, then swinging a leg up onto the pool\u2019s edge.\u00a0 This clumsy attempt did nothing but cause her to lose her balance again and tumble backwards back into the water.<\/p>\n

Quickly resurfacing, she shook the water out of her eyes, looked quickly behind her and realized that her antagonist was just about on her.<\/p>\n

She screamed!<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp me get out, dammit!\u201d\u00a0 She shrieked, half laughing, again shooting the freckled arm out of the water.<\/p>\n

Setting my Schlitz down next to my recliner this time, I quickly grabbed her hand and yanked her up and out just as the other girl made a final, arms out, porpoise-like leap\u2014narrowly missing the redhead\u2019s ankle.<\/p>\n

They both screamed in unison: the pursuer in frustration, and her quarry in surprised relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoddammit, Judy!\u00a0 Get back in here!\u00a0 No fair getting help!\u201d\u00a0 The brunette yelled, spitting out a mouthful of water.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re cheating!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo bad!\u201d\u00a0 Judy, mocked.\u00a0 \u201cI got rescued!\u00a0 Game over!!\u201d<\/p>\n

In the excitement of the moment, Judy ended up tightly pressed onto my body with her free arm wrapped around my neck.\u00a0 Rivulets of cold water dripped off her hair and trickled down my stomach and legs.<\/p>\n

Oblivious, she turned to face me and said, \u201cThanks, good looking!\u201d\u00a0 And I noticed that she was breathing extraordinarily hard.<\/p>\n

Embarrassed, I stepped back and pulled her arm from around my neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019re\u2026you\u2019re welcome.\u201d\u00a0 I said politely, feeling slightly uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

By now the brunette had climbed out of the pool and playfully smacked Judy on the butt.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheating bitch!<\/p>\n

\u201cOw! Nah-huh!\u00a0 I was out of the water!\u00a0 You missed me!\u201d\u00a0 Judy said, one hand over her chest and breathing deeply\u2014trying to catch her breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever!\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked around for my recliner and saw that it had tipped over\u2014my towel, now sopping wet, on the cement floor.\u00a0 I righted the chair and pulled it back to where it was when the excitement began.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry, looks like your towel got all wet.\u201d\u00a0 Judy said.<\/p>\n

Bending to retrieve the Schlitz can, I said, \u201cThat\u2019s OK, at least my beer didn\u2019t spill.\u201d<\/p>\n

We sort of stood there, all three of us, looking at each other for a few seconds.\u00a0 Finally, the brunette spoke up.\u00a0 \u201cWell Judy!\u00a0 Aren\u2019t you going to introduce me to your\u2026hero?\u201d<\/p>\n

Judy looked at me, then to her friend.\u00a0 \u201cWell if I knew who the hell he was I would.\u201d<\/p>\n

They looked at each other in mock surprise and again burst out laughing.<\/p>\n

I spoke up.\u00a0 \u201cNo really, we don\u2019t know each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously Judy?\u201d\u00a0 The brunette chided playfully.\u00a0 \u201cYou just go up to some strange guy with your boobs almost hanging out and yell at him to yank you out of the pool?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I did.\u00a0 And I ended up beating your ass, didn\u2019t I?\u201d\u00a0 Judy responded, in a \u201cneener-neener\u201d tone of voice while quickly checking to see if everything up top was well tucked in.\u00a0 Then turning back to me, she said, \u201cHi, my name\u2019s Judy.\u00a0 What\u2019s yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrank.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Frank.\u00a0 She\u2019s Cindy.\u00a0 She\u2019s not really my friend, but she is a pain in the ass!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d\u00a0 The brunette said, squeezing water from her curly brown hair.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t listen to her!\u00a0 Hi Frank.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judy was not a small girl, but neither was she large.\u00a0 About five-five or six, maybe a hundred and twenty or thirty well-distributed pounds, she was broad-shouldered, and no one would ever describe her as being petite.\u00a0 Her skin was very light and generously sprinkled with freckles that matched her darkish red hair.\u00a0 Her oval face framed gorgeous green eyes topped with pale to almost non-existent eyebrows and lashes; separated by a medium wide, gently sloping nose.\u00a0 Full pinkish lips shielding beautiful white teeth hovered above a finely rounded chin deeply accented with a really cute dimple.\u00a0 She was not beautiful, but she was extremely attractive and radiated a robust sexual magnetism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere,\u201d Judy said.\u00a0 \u201cNow we\u2019re all introduced.\u201d<\/p>\n

I started to offer Judy my recliner, then noticed that there was a vacant one a few feet away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou care to join me?\u201d\u00a0 I brazenly asked, looking at both girls and pointing at the empty seat.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, there\u2019s only one,\u201d I said, \u201cbut I guess you can share.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, why not?\u201d\u00a0 Judy gaily said, \u201cHey, can you go get us a beer?\u201d\u00a0 She said, dragging the recliner over next to mine.\u00a0 \u201cThe guy in the window asked me for my military ID, and, you know, we\u2019re not military, as you probably already guessed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d I answered a bit nervously, \u201cI can only get one.\u00a0 If I ask for two, he\u2019ll want to know who I\u2019m buying the other one for.\u00a0 We\u2019re not supposed to buy booze for civilians.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was partially true; but what was really true was that I only had money enough for one more beer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, that\u2019ll work for me. \u00a0Cindy!\u00a0 You\u2019ll just have to do without.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Ju-Ju, we\u2019re sharing\u2014just like the chair!\u201d<\/p>\n

As I dug the last coins out of the little pocket in my trunks I gazed over my shoulder and asked, \u201cYou guys are eighteen, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Judy peeled her speckled green eyes wide and said coyly, \u201cUh-huh, I sure am, honey.\u201d\u00a0 Then pointing her finger at my face and striking a Marilyn Monroe type pose, said, \u201cAnd you<\/u><\/strong>,<\/u> are Elvis Presley\u2019s brother, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Both girls looked quickly at each other\u2014mouths wide open, then suddenly burst out in an almost coordinated peal of laughter, hugging each other tightly while jumping around like a couple of mad kangaroos.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK,\u201d I said, smiling, \u201cFine, I\u2019ll go get the beer.\u201d<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think either of them heard, or cared to hear, what I said.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

We sat there and talked for about an hour until Judy, complaining that she was getting sunburned, suggested we move over to a now empty umbrella-covered table.\u00a0 We\u2019d long since drained our beers, and I\u2019d already refused, at least twice, to go get us fresh ones.\u00a0 Cindy excused herself to go to the ladies\u2019 room and never returned.\u00a0 After a while I spotted her at a table on the other side of the pool talking to Jay and a couple of other guys.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like your friend found some company.\u201d I said to Judy.<\/p>\n

She glanced over to where I was looking.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, good for her.\u00a0 I think she has a crush on that guy ever since she first saw him over at one of those Town Hall dances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d I said, a little surprised.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve never seen either one of you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I don\u2019t go there.\u00a0 My parents refuse to let me go.\u00a0 Says those dances are cheap entertainment for loose girls and horny guys.\u00a0 Oh\u2026!\u201d\u00a0 A freckled hand popped up to cover her lips.\u00a0 \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s OK.\u00a0 But don\u2019t you think that\u2019s a bit harsh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really know.\u00a0 Why? Have you been to one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yeah.\u00a0 I usually go if I\u2019m not working.\u00a0 I ride down with Jay or a couple of other guys.\u00a0 After all, you know, there\u2019s not much else to do in Winnemucca.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must like to dance a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how to dance.\u00a0 Properly, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously?\u00a0 But you go to the dances anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I just ask the girls (girl) <\/em>to dance on slow songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you know how to slow dance, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026.no.\u00a0 I just kinda shuffle along.\u00a0 And, I usually just dance with…uh…just a couple of girls (lie), <\/em>and only to slow songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you don\u2019t jitter-bug or do the swing or anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was when Cindy came bounding back over.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey girl, we gotta go!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh crap!\u00a0 What time is it?\u201d Judy asked me.<\/p>\n

Of course I didn\u2019t own a watch, but there was a big white oval clock (military issue, of course) over the order window of the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like almost four.\u201d\u00a0 I said.<\/p>\n

With that, Judy got up and wrapped her beach towel around her waist.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta run, son.\u201d She said with a little chuckle. \u201cIt was fun talking to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, same here.\u201d I responded, also getting up.\u00a0 \u201cAnd nice meeting you too, Cindy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, me too.\u201d She said.\u00a0 \u201cYour friend Jay is soooo cute!\u00a0 Put in a good word for me, OK?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sure.\u201d\u00a0 I said, not really meaning it.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019re you getting home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a car, but I\u2019m gotta call my mom from the bar inside the club and tell her we\u2019re on our way home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d I said.\u00a0 \u201cYou have your parents\u2019 car then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, got my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Cindy chimed in. \u201cA new one too!\u201d<\/p>\n

I was impressed.<\/p>\n

They looked around to make sure they had all their stuff, then Judy looked up and asked, \u201cHey, do you want to call me sometime?\u00a0 You don\u2019t have a girl, or something like that, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 I mean, yes.\u00a0 I mean, I\u2019d like to talk to you again, and no, I don\u2019t have a girlfriend.\u201d\u00a0 But, I am engaged, <\/em>I thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuper!\u00a0 Can you remember my number?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n

And, that was that.\u00a0 After reciting her phone number twice, to make sure I got it, she and Cindy bounded off towards the back entrance to the Officers\u2019 Club.\u00a0 As they went through the door Judy turned and waved.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

A few days later I walked into the Rec Room and saw that there were only a few guys loitering about and the public use phone was totally free for once.\u00a0 I suddenly thought about calling Amparo.\u00a0 I knew that I needed to communicate with her, and tell her that this long distance relationship (engagement) <\/em>was not going to work out for either of us.\u00a0 I should just come clean and tell her that because of my weak will and lack of courage I had been talked into proposing marriage to her before leaving for my first military assignment.<\/p>\n

I unconsciously pulled a cue off the wall rack and started randomly shooting balls on the vacant pool table.<\/p>\n

But how to do that?\u00a0 By letter?\u00a0 By phone?\u00a0 I had no idea.\u00a0 My mind pictured her sitting back there in Texas wondering when she was going to hear from me made my stomach feel queasy and my conscience overload with guilt.\u00a0 I should tell her that I really liked her a lot, but love?\u00a0 I should tell her a lot\u2014but I just couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 The more I thought the worse my guilt felt.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, the thought of Judy popped into my head.<\/p>\n

Hey! <\/em>I thought.\u00a0 I could call her and see what she\u2019s doing.\u00a0 She did, after all, give me her number.\u00a0 <\/em>I reached into my wallet and pulled out the piece of paper I\u2019d written her number on after I got back to my room the day we met.<\/p>\n

This did wonders\u2014pushing all thoughts about Amparo away.\u00a0 I remember thinking, no, promising myself: Tomorrow for sure I\u2019d sit right down and write her a letter.\u00a0 I could even start the letter at work, during one of my breaks.\u00a0 Or, heck, I could even call her when I got off my shift.\u00a0 I was sure she\u2019d be so happy to hear from me that she\u2019d forgive me for not contacting her sooner.\u00a0 Yeah, that\u2019s what I\u2019ll do.<\/em><\/p>\n

Picking up the heavy black receiver I selected \u201cnine\u201d on the rotary dial and waited for the constant hum of an outside line.\u00a0 As I dialed Judy\u2019s number any thoughts about Amparo were now headed to the deepest recesses of my brain.\u00a0 Out of sight, out of mind.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cHello?\u201d\u00a0 Not Judy.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cUh, yes.\u00a0 Hello.\u00a0 Is\u2026Judy home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is this?\u201d\u00a0 Not annoyed, just curious.\u00a0 A teacher\u2019s voice.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, this is Frank.\u00a0 I met Judy at the base pool the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Frank!\u00a0 Yes, she spoke to us about you!\u201d\u00a0 (She did?)\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cYes, she\u2019s home.\u00a0 Would you like to speak to her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u00a0 Hold the line please.\u201d\u00a0 (So polite.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I heard the receiver clunk, then a faraway voice: \u201cJudy!\u00a0 Judy?\u00a0 Phone.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few seconds went by.\u00a0 \u201cHullo?\u201d\u00a0 Younger voice, very curious.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHi, it\u2019s Frank!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrank?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, from the pool.\u00a0 Uh, I mean the base.\u00a0 You know, the base pool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Frank!\u00a0 Sure!\u00a0 Hey, how are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

We spoke for over an hour that first day.\u00a0 She peppered me with rat-a-tat questions about how it was living in Houston (she\u2019d been born in Oakland, California, but her folks moved to Winnemucca when she was still a baby), asking about my parents, why I joined the Air Force, and how I ended up assigned at the little radar station.\u00a0 She asked if I had brothers or sisters, and when I planned to go home to visit.\u00a0 I deftly avoided answering that particular question.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d been born late in her parents\u2019 life, and the birth had been complicated and difficult for her mother.\u00a0 She guessed that was the reason she didn\u2019t have any brothers or sisters.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut really, I like being an only child because I get pretty much anything I want.\u201d\u00a0 She giggled.\u00a0 \u201cBut, I\u2019m not spoiled\u2014no, just you know, privileged.\u201d\u00a0 This nugget of information delivered with a cute little chuckle at the end.<\/p>\n

And privileged she was.\u00a0 On her seventeenth birthday a few months ago her parents had presented her with a brand new dark blue Chrysler 300 four door sedan.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t even imagine what receiving a gift like that might\u2019ve felt like.<\/p>\n

She continued to ask about my life in Houston and I spared her my experiences with the Pentecostal church, simply explaining that my parents were quite religious and spent a lot of their time in the church.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re religious too then?\u201d She asked, guardedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not at all.\u00a0 I mostly attended church because going gave me the opportunity to play my guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, you play guitar, but you can\u2019t dance.\u00a0 Interesting.\u00a0 If you want to learn how to dance I can teach you\u2014if you teach me how to play guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. \u00a0Oh, you don\u2019t have a girlfriend do you?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want some girl coming over here and starting something because she thinks I\u2019m trying to steal her guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d I lied.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you don\u2019t have some steady girl that you see at the Town Hall dances, or maybe someone waiting for you back in Houston?\u201d<\/p>\n

Boy, <\/em>I thought, this girl is some kind of psychic.\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cNo.\u00a0 Well, I mean, I do dance with this one girl at the Town Hall, but it\u2019s mostly because she\u2019s about the only one that can follow my slow dance technique.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnique!\u00a0 Ha, so you have a technique?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, my technique is try not to step on her feet\u2026too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHa, I get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut as far as teaching you how to play guitar, I don\u2019t know if I can; I\u2019ve never taught anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just kidding about that.\u00a0 So hey, what do you say?\u00a0 Wanna learn how to jitter-bug?\u00a0 Or do the stroll?\u00a0 How about the twist?\u201d<\/p>\n

And so the die was cast with that phone call and my dance lessons were on the way.\u00a0 A few days later\u2014thoughts of Amparo and Sharon temporarily put aside\u2014I borrowed Michael\u2019s car and drove down to Judy\u2019s on a warm and sunny afternoon.<\/p>\n

Judy had suggested that this would be the best time of day since her mom was usually off to one of her sewing circles (I had no idea what that was), or shopping\u2014and her dad was, of course, at work.\u00a0 Further, if her mom did happen to come home she wouldn\u2019t suspect there was any hanky-panky going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that there would be anyway, right?\u201d\u00a0 Judy offered up quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, of course not!\u201d\u00a0 I answered just as quickly.<\/p>\n

So for the next three or four weeks I drove down to Judy\u2019s house a couple of days a week, and began my dance lessons.<\/p>\n

Judy had a brand new portable record player, which when not in use, folded up to look like a small briefcase.\u00a0 Now I was truly impressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad bought this for me in California last year for my birthday.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it cute?\u201d<\/p>\n

Although able to play 78\u2019s and 33\u2019s, the little player did most of its work with Judy\u2019s record collection of 45rpm records; the majority of which consisted of Elvis Presley songs.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the first lesson she asked me just how much fast dancing I could do.\u00a0 I told her none at all.\u00a0 To satisfy herself she thumbed through the stack of 45rpm records and finally settled on one.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis should be a good one to start with.\u00a0 It\u2019s one of my favorites.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I know you know it.\u00a0 It\u2019s called, \u201cLittle Sister.\u201d<\/p>\n

In truth, I didn\u2019t know it.\u00a0 Since I\u2019d left home I hadn\u2019t had too much time to catch up on what was popular on the radio.\u00a0 And, at the Town Hall dances the music just started playing with no introduction; and the acoustics were so bad, with the high ceiling and all, that we were lucky to just to be able to sense the beat.<\/p>\n

Judy moved a coffee table away from the front of a sofa and pushed the two overstuffed chairs against the wall.\u00a0 She carefully rolled the small oval rug that had been under the table into a tube and set it on the sofa.\u00a0 The floor was highly polished hardwood.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, now let\u2019s get those shoes off and we\u2019ll do this in our socks.\u201d She said, daintily pulling her white and black saddle shoes off her feet.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be easier to move around and we won\u2019t mar up mom\u2019s floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

I sat on the sofa and pulled off my dress oxfords; hoping I\u2019d remembered to put on a decent pair of socks.\u00a0 I had.<\/p>\n

She started with the basics: performing the steps by herself\u2014showing me how each foot moved in rhythm to the beat.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne-two, three\/four!\u00a0 One-two, three\/four!\u00a0 One-two, three\/four!\u00a0 One-two, three\/four!\u00a0 See?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, kinda.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the \u2018one\u2019 you rock on the left foot; the \u2018two\u2019 on the right foot; then the three-four it\u2019s a quick left-right.\u00a0 Get it?\u00a0 Also, you step back on the \u2018three\u2019, and your partner does the same.\u00a0 When you\u2019re holding hands it\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re pulling against each other.\u00a0 Just remember, you start on your left foot, but she starts on her right\u2014so when you finish the four count you\u2019re back where you started.\u00a0 Easy, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was easy enough watching and seeing how the pattern of footwork was developing, but I also noticed that there was a lot of body movement above and below the waist.\u00a0 It seemed like her hips were on a couple of hinges.<\/p>\n

After she demonstrated three or four times by herself she pulled the needle off the record and started the song all over again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, time for you to show me what you can do.\u201d\u00a0 She reached out for my hands.\u00a0 \u201cAlso, you don\u2019t grab the girl\u2019s hand\u2014just her fingertips.\u201d<\/p>\n

I felt like I was completely off balance for the first few minutes.\u00a0 Then, as the song kept playing over and over I started to remember my military marching.\u00a0 There too had been a pattern\u2014and I\u2019d gotten used to that pretty fast.\u00a0 I concentrated on the four steps, keeping my head down and my eyes on my feet.\u00a0 After about the sixth time the song played my mind had mastered my legs and feet.\u00a0 Now about that body sway.<\/p>\n

We met at her house on an average of two to three afternoons a week for our hourly dance lessons during that late summer.\u00a0 I never knew I could get so sick of any one song in my whole life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to keep playing this same song until you\u2019re good enough to do the steps without thinking about them.\u00a0 Then when you\u2019re good enough we\u2019ll play another song.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked longingly at the stack of records and yearned to hear another song\u2026any song.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, again!\u201d She commanded.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u00a0A couple of weeks later and I felt I was fairly proficient in performing a generic jitter-bug.\u00a0 To my grateful surprise Judy finally relented and took the poor overworked Elvis record off the turntable.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou like the Diamonds?\u201d\u00a0 She asked, as she ruffled through the jacketed 45s.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pulled one of the disks out, put it on the turntable and gently lowered the needle.<\/p>\n

It was one of songs that had rocketed the Diamonds to the top of the hit parade a couple of years earlier: \u201cLittle Darlin\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The beat was still in four-four time, but the rhythm was just a tad slower.<\/p>\n

We glided around the shiny floor in smooth coordination and my confidence soared.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK,\u201d she said suddenly, \u201cwe\u2019re now going to do a cross-over.\u00a0 Ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

On the four beat, and as we came together, instead of continuing with the sequence, she raised her right hand\u2014taking my left hand with it\u2014and spun under my outstretched arm.\u00a0 The spin took her through the next three beats and she ended up facing me, ready for a new four count.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow! You\u2019re a natural!\u201d She said, a little out of breath.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s do another!\u201d<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t sure what had just happened.<\/p>\n

And, so it went.\u00a0 For the rest of the hour she showed me how to do a reverse cross-over, a double cross-over, and a cool rock-back step.<\/p>\n

Near the end of our lesson Judy\u2019s mother walked through the door carrying a couple of grocery bags.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou kids still at it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi mom!\u00a0 Yeah, Frank\u2019s really getting it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0 \u201cNow that we\u2019re dancing to another song I feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled and walked through the living room and into the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you kids take a break and go somewhere to get a coke, or something?\u00a0 Judy, have you taken Frank out in your new car?\u201d\u00a0 This, coming from the kitchen as she was transferring stuff from the bags to the refrigerator.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally mom?\u201d<\/p>\n

She stepped in to the living room drying her hands on a dishcloth.\u00a0 \u201cSure, why not?\u00a0 Be back in time for dinner though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, she looked at me.\u00a0 \u201cFrank, would you like to have dinner with us tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know what to say, but I finally mumbled, \u201cSure, that would be great.\u00a0 Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

I wondered what they were having for evening chow back at the base.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Judy\u2019s Chrysler was painted a beautiful light powder blue with a white top, and the interior was wrapped in sumptuous dark blue leather, trimmed in an almost overabundance of chrome.\u00a0 The split front seats were separated by a wide leather arm rest, and the back bench seat could probably easily accommodate the entire Pittsburg Steelers\u2019 front offensive line.<\/p>\n

As Judy backed the car out of the garage I noted the enormous tail fins cradling a chrome accented continental kit and marveled at the length and breadth of the behemoth.\u00a0 The 413 CID Golden Lion V8 engine growled menacing as Judy gingerly coaxed the monster out to the end of the driveway.<\/p>\n

Judy would wasn\u2019t a small or petite girl, but as she sat in the front seat, both hands gripping the oversized crystal blue steering wheel, blowing stray strands of wavy bright red hair out of her blue eyes, she seemed almost pixyish.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d she yelled through the panoramic passenger side window, \u201cjump in and let\u2019s go grab a couple of cokes and cruise the strip.\u201d<\/p>\n

As we slid by the neatly kept homes in her neighborhood I snuggled up close to the door and hung my right arm and elbow out of the window.\u00a0 Leg room so spacious that I had no trouble casually crossing my right leg over my left, and when I glanced over it seemed that Judy was sitting at least five feet away from me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow,\u201d I marveled, \u201cthis is such a big car.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it is.\u201d She said, smiling as she glanced up at the rear view mirror.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did your parents get you such a big car?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s what I wanted.\u00a0 They actually wanted to get me a little Ford Thunderbird but I don\u2019t care for sports cars.\u00a0 I prefer to have a lot of room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you got the room, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

We went to the local drive-in restaurant and ordered Cokes.\u00a0 I felt especially chivalrous because for once I had a couple of five dollar bills in my wallet and was able to pay for the Cokes (cherry for Judy) and fries.<\/p>\n

Although she was certainly physically attractive, extremely intelligent, had a crazy sense of humor, and was of course, a great dancer, I found that I just couldn\u2019t bring myself to think of her as girlfriend material.\u00a0 She had an infectious laugh that curled her freckled nose and sometimes sent her into short hiccuping spasms, but I found that I just loved being around her in a strictly platonic sense.<\/p>\n

Sometimes after my dance lessons and before I\u2019d climb into Michael\u2019s old car for the short drive back to the base, we\u2019d sit on her porch and just talk.\u00a0 In those few weeks I learned more about her than I\u2019d ever learned about any one human being.\u00a0 She was extremely candid about her upbringing and her hopes for the future; and it surprised me when she went into detail about her parents\u2019 relationship.<\/p>\n

One particular afternoon while sitting on the front steps I noticed a rather gangly Daddy Long Legs spider making its way up the side of my pants leg.\u00a0 I gently grabbed it by its spindly legs and quickly brought it up to show Judy.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook!\u201d I said as I dangled the spider mere inches from her face.\u00a0 She turned quickly and focused on the spider, who was trying its best to push its way out of my grip with its remaining free legs.\u00a0 Judy\u2019s eyes almost popped wide open and she let out a ghastly scream that I\u2019m sure carried at least a couple of blocks.<\/p>\n

In a split second she\u2019d leaped up from the steps and retreated onto the porch\u2014all the while wailing that ear splitting squeal and fists knuckled up to the sides of her face.\u00a0 Thinking her reaction was fake and a little over dramatic, I stood up holding the spider at arm\u2019s length and pushed it a few inches away from her retreating face.<\/p>\n

She suddenly ceased screaming, and while backed up against the front door, both hands flew down and she started clutching her chest through her blouse.\u00a0 Her scream dissolved into a semi-gurgling sound and her usually pale complexion took on a purplish hue.<\/p>\n

\u201cJUDY!!\u00a0 JUDY!!\u201d\u00a0 Her mother screamed from inside the house.\u00a0 \u201cBABY, I\u2019M COMING!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly realizing that my waving the spider in front of Judy\u2019s face had not elicited the intended result, I quickly threw the equally terrified arachnid out over the porch and into the flower bed.<\/p>\n

In a flash the screen door flew open and Judy\u2019s mother grabbed her as she was slowing sliding down the wall and onto the porch\u2014hands still clutching her chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cJUDY, BABY WHAT IS IT?\u201d Her mother implored, gently pulling Judy\u2019s hands off her chest.\u00a0 \u201cCan you breathe, baby?\u00a0 Does it hurt?\u201d\u00a0 She asked as Judy completed her slow slide and sat down heavily on the porch.\u00a0 Her complexion was now a definite shade between pale blue with a purple tint.<\/p>\n

\u201cSPIDER!\u201d\u00a0 Judy gurgled out, as a thin line of spittle crept out of the side of her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpider?\u00a0 What spider?\u201d Her mother said rapidly looking around.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrank\u2026had\u2026a spider\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Judy said between raggedly choking breaths.<\/p>\n

\u201cHE HAD WHAT??\u201d\u00a0 Judy\u2019s mom turned and threw me a most vicious stare.\u00a0 \u201cYou had a spider?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026yes ma\u2019am.\u00a0 It was just a Daddy Long Legs\u2026you know, harmless.\u201d\u00a0 I sputtered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou asshole!\u201d\u00a0 Mom spit out.<\/p>\n

She helped Judy to her feet, and with one arm tightly wrapped around her back, ushered her through the door.\u00a0 I meekly followed a few steps behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d I said quietly as Judy sat down on the sofa, a bit of color slowly chasing the blue tint away. \u201cIt was just a joke.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her mother turned and froze me with her stare.\u00a0 \u201cJoke?\u00a0 You little jerk, you could\u2019ve killed her!\u00a0 She has a congenital heart condition and can\u2019t take shocks like that to her system!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell mister, now you do!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mumbling some more words of apology, and ascertaining from her mom that Judy was going to be OK, I slinked out of the house and headed back to the base.<\/p>\n

After that episode our relationship changed just a little bit.\u00a0 I noticed that Judy was not as easy going as before, and actually showed a little apprehension whenever we were together.<\/p>\n

Our dance lessons tapered off, Judy begging off every once in a while by saying she didn\u2019t feel good.\u00a0 It was not a real consequence to me because I felt that I\u2019d gone as far as I could in the fast dance department.<\/p>\n

One afternoon a few weeks later I was in the barracks trying to decide whether or not to write to Amparo to break the news that I just couldn\u2019t see us getting married.\u00a0 Feelings of dread washed over me that helped me decide that this was not going to be the day that I would write that letter.\u00a0 I walked out of my room and headed up to the Rec Room.<\/p>\n

Seeing that the public phone was not being used I thought that maybe I would just call Judy to help distract me for a while.\u00a0 She sounded happy to hear from me and pretty soon asked if I wanted to come over to practice dancing, but I declined, saying that I really didn\u2019t feel like it.<\/p>\n

She hesitated a bit but then said it was probably for the best.<\/p>\n

Then, the bombshell.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, my folks put our house up for sale today.\u201d<\/p>\n

I remember thinking that maybe I misheard what she\u2019d said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you just say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy folks are selling our house.\u00a0 The realtor came today and put a sign up in our front yard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you selling your house?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou buying another house?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yeah.\u00a0 But not here.\u00a0 We\u2019re moving to San Jose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though I hadn\u2019t really developed any deep feelings for Judy I still felt a sudden pang of sorrow in my chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cSan Jose?\u00a0 You mean, like in California?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, my dad got offered a management position with the company.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, what about his gas stations here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe company is buying them out and putting them under some kind of lease management.\u00a0 I don\u2019t really understand the deal, and my dad said I didn\u2019t really have to know any details.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d I said, still a bit shaken, \u201cyou\u2019ll still be here a while until your house sells, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really.\u00a0 We\u2019re leaving in a couple of weeks.\u00a0 The company owns a couple of executive apartments in San Jose, and we\u2019ll stay in one of them until we can buy a new house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re just gonna leave your house here with the \u2018for sale\u2019 sign in the yard?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, kind of.\u00a0 The company is buying the house from us\u2026well, I guess they already did, so they\u2019re the ones selling it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow!\u201d\u00a0 That was all I could manage to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you gonna miss me when I\u2019m gone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course I wanted to say yes, but the question sounded more like a plea than an interrogatory.\u00a0 I decided to take more of an impersonal air.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell of course!\u00a0 Who am I going to find to keep teaching me how to dance?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026you don\u2019t need any more lessons.\u00a0 I just thought\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She paused, then didn\u2019t say anything else.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hey,\u201d I said quickly, \u201cyou\u2019re gonna love California!\u00a0 Think of the beaches, the warm sunny weather, and the big city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSan Jose\u2019s not on the coast, it\u2019s close to the mountains.\u00a0 It\u2019s cold there, and it\u2019s not a big city.\u201d\u00a0 Now she sounded downright melancholy.<\/p>\n

I really didn\u2019t know what else to say so I quickly made up a lie, telling her I had to get ready to go to work, but promising her that I\u2019d call her again the next day.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

A few days later while I was working a swing shift, 4 p.m. until 12 a.m., and was on the radar position, Sergeant Nietzsche came up behind me.\u00a0 \u201cHey, someone wants you on the telephone.\u00a0 Says it\u2019s important.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get someone to relieve you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know there was an outside line at the facility on top of the mountain as no one had ever talked about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cA phone call for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u00a0 Some female.\u201d\u00a0 Judy\u2019s face popped into my mind and I suddenly felt apprehensive.<\/p>\n

I got relieved off my position and headed out of the control room when I realized I had no idea where the phone was.\u00a0 I looked around for the sergeant and found him just outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me, sir.\u00a0 Where\u2019s the phone?\u201d\u00a0 He looked a little annoyed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know where the phone is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pointing impatiently, he gestured toward the hallway leading to the front exit.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t believe you don\u2019t know where the fucking phone is.\u00a0 OK, head that way until you see a door on the right that says \u2018Switching Room\u2019.\u00a0 Knock on the door and you\u2019ll be let in.\u00a0 Think you can do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir.\u201d\u00a0 I took off in the direction he pointed.\u00a0 As I walked I started thinking of alternatives. Could something have happened to my mom or dad\u2014or maybe my brother?\u00a0 Could it be Amparo had gotten desperate and somehow found the phone number to the radar station?\u00a0 That thought made my bowels jump.<\/p>\n

I turned a corner and looked up the long hallway with the exit door at the end.\u00a0 About three quarters of the way down I saw a wooden sign sticking out from the wall over a door: \u00a0\u201cSwitching Room & Communications\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Knocking tentatively a couple of times I waited for a response.\u00a0 The doorknob turned and the door opened.\u00a0 Michael\u2019s cheery face peeked around the door.\u00a0 He was wearing a telephone operator\u2019s headset.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey brother!\u00a0 Get your ass in here and take this call I got on hold for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone other.\u00a0 Come on in, amigo you\u2019re letting all my cool ambiance leak out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d\u00a0 I asked, as I stepped into the small dimly lit room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m working, fool!\u00a0 Here!\u201d He pointed to a black desk phone on a small round table. \u201cI\u2019ll route the call there.\u00a0 Let it ring once and you\u2019re on.\u201d<\/p>\n

He walked back to a switchboard, plugged his headset back in to a panel, and flipped a red toggle switch.\u00a0 The desk phone let out a weak tinny ring.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re on!\u201d\u00a0 Michael said, flashing his usual toothy grin.<\/p>\n

I picked up the receiver.\u00a0 \u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi.\u00a0 Uh, Frank?\u201d<\/p>\n

I had expected Judy to be on the other end; but, instead\u2026the voice was soft, almost whisper-like\u2014petite.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d\u00a0 I paused for what seemed to be an eternity, thoughts running through my head like wildfire.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi.\u00a0 Can you talk?\u00a0 It\u2019s Sharon.\u201d<\/p>\n

To be continued\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"