A Growing Airline!
Four more years have passed and my business had grown beyond my expectation.
I purchased two twin turbo propjets and three Learjet’s. Two Learjet’s
were six years old but had recently been refurbished and looked new for which
I had bought at a good price. I now have five full-time pilots and
three part-time. Charlie was my full-time mechanic and I had two others
that worked for me part-time from their other jobs. I had run an ad
in the paper for two flight attendants and had interviewed several for the
position. I didn’t care whether they had any intelligence. I
wanted them to be beautiful. Sue and I had discussed her sisters but
I knew the type of people that we flew and they would sometimes get out of
hand. I didn’t want to expose her sisters to that type of atmosphere.
I hired two girls Julie and Rona. They were both nineteen and gorgeous.
For some reason I didn’t feel like a predator around them.
Richard had been with me the longest, he was my chief pilot and assumed other
responsibilities. Julie and Rona’s duties were assigned by Richard,
who knew all our clients and which ones to keep under control. I explained
to Julie and Rona what to expect on some flights and to always be prepared
to defend themselves. They knew exactly what I meant.
Often the pilots would come by the house to discuss matters. Sue or
I would invite them to stay for dinner, as they would always accept.
We all seemed to be happy working with one another and I was glad because
it was hard to find pilots that I could trust. All of them had served
in Vietnam, which gave all of us something in common, and we always had something
to talk about, our tours in Vietnam. We began inviting them over on
Sundays along with their families as we always grilled out. Julie and
Rona often came along with their boyfriends.
Sue loved this time in our lives with our friends and family’s. Mostly
because my office was at the house and we had so much time together.
I must admit I loved it too. More often, we began going out with friends,
shopping and even to a few parties. Sue was always the center of attention
with everyone because of her charm. Most men seemed to be speechless
around her. Her beauty kept them in awe, as she did me. As I
had become accustomed, my closest friends would tell me how beautiful she
is. I could see it in their face when they looked at her. I loved
seeing other men drool in her presence, which they did often.
I began getting offers for my company. It had been hard establishing
a reputation for prompt service. I had often leased aircraft to meet
the demand and maintain that reputation. It seemed no one was willing
to start small in this business, they all wanted to jump in after all the
work had been done. I declined the offers at this time because I had
plans to venture into other cities where the demand was even greater.
I could envision thirty aircraft within the next five years. I had
not spoken to Sue of my plans but I felt she would be willing as long as
it didn’t take me away from her. Although the offers were in the seven
figures, I knew that in two years it could be eight. Either way I wanted
to continue building something from nothing. Some of my clients had
recommended my company to others across the country and I have been receiving
calls for months.
Dallas, Atlanta, Denver and Miami were my best prospects at this time.
It would take me four to six months to set up those operations and purchase
aircraft to handle all of the business. That would take me away from
Sue a great deal of the time unless I could persuade her to come with me.
I knew how she felt leaving the kids and it would take a miracle to convince
her of that.
I was also approached about going public but I wouldn’t hear of that.
I wanted my company to be family owned and didn’t want to answer to anyone
but the customer. My accountant disagreed saying there was more profit
in going public but I had the final word on the subject.
Everything was moving forward so fast I couldn’t handle everything myself.
I hired Joni, Sue’s sister who had just completed college a few months ago.
She had a degree in business and Sue convinced me to hire her. As I
had always said, Joni would be as beautiful as Sue, and “she was”.
Maybe too beautiful to be taken serious but I made her vice president of
operations. That was a title to give credibility to act upon my directions.
We would be together constantly for months as we went around sitting up operations
and until she could handle it on her own. We would first meet with
prospective clients and get them to sign contracts agreeing to fly with us
beginning within two months, giving us time to purchase the aircraft.
Her duties would be to oversee and schedule all flights according to the
customers needs. Which she would find out soon enough that they could
change from one day to the next. She seemed aggressive and intelligent
enough to present our company to prospective clients and I could see right
away that her looks were intimidating in itself.
The following week we flew to Dallas. During the first four days she
had sold our company to seven of the eight clients, I had given her that
week. The one that didn’t sign, owned his own jet but wanted to keep
his options open with us in case he saw the benefits in the future.
I had met him once before and I knew he bought his plane for the prestige
of owning one. I couldn’t blame him. He was single and loved
the women.
I was to look at several Lear-jets before we returned home but I wanted to
celebrate our new clients by taking Joni to dinner. I would also present
her with a seven thousand dollar bonus check for the contracts that she had
signed. I told her to be ready at six thirty and to dress elegant.
I had given her my credit card to buy something appropriate to wear for dinner.
I had made reservations to one of the nicest restaurants in Dallas upon a
recommendation from Jack Wilson, one of my friends that lived in Dallas.
Joni’s room joined mine on the same floor. I walked out of my door and knocked on hers.
“Just a minute!” I heard her say. Her voice muffled by the door.
It was worth waiting two more minutes just to look at her. When she
opened the door, her beauty took me by surprise.
“You are gorgeous!” I said, complimenting her but trying to be a brother-in-law
to her at the same time. I had no intentions in trying to seduce her.
I wanted the night to be enjoyable for her and still keep it on a professional
level.
“Thank you! As usual you look good tonight too,” she said with a smile.
“Are you ready? This is your night. I’m going to take you to
dinner and what ever you want is yours. You have made me a lot of money
this week. I don’t know why I didn’t hire you sooner. I would
probably own American Airlines by now,” I said, joking.
“Lets go!” She replied laughing. We took a limousine to the restaurant.
“This is my first time in a limousine,” she stated.
“At the pace you’re going it won’t be your last either. Besides, one
of these millionaires you have met or will meet will probably ask you to
marry him before long.”
“It is exciting meeting all of them but I know where my roots are.
I’m not cut out to spend my life traveling the world. Besides, I’m
committed to you and this company for a long time.”
“Well thank you. I was going to save this for after dinner but now
seems more appropriate,” I said, reaching into my jacket and handing her
the envelope containing the check.
“What is this?” She asked, being surprised.
“That is your bonus for the work you have done this week.”
I said, as she opened it.
“Wow, are you sure this is mine? Thank you!” She said leaning
over and kissing me. We both had a surprised look on our face when
she did that.
“When you realize how much money you made me this week, that will seem like
pocket change. Then You’ll come to me and ask where is the rest of
it,” I said, laughing.
“I won’t do that,” she said with a serious look on her face.
“I know you won’t. I was just teasing.”
We sat at a very nice table at the window overlooking Dallas. The black
dress she had bought was so revealing I had a hard time not staring.
We ate dinner and talked of business in Miami for next week. We had
talked for two hours and noticed it being dark outside with all of the lights
in the city.
“Jay, Susan said that you were the best dancer in the world. Are you
going to ask me to dance?” She commented, looking at me with her elbows
on the table and her fingers locked together under her chin.
“Did she tell you that I only slow dance?”
“No, but she said you were the most romantic slow dancer.”
“I’m sure she was in love with me when she said that! Otherwise she would have laughed in my face,” I said, smiling.
“Can I tell you something personal?”
“If it doesn’t embarrass me.”
“I remember back three or four years ago, maybe five. I overheard Genie
talking on the phone to one of her friends. She never knew I heard
her conversation. Nevertheless, she told her friend that you were the
most wonderful person she knew and that she was in love with you but couldn’t
show it because of Susan.”
“I’m sure she’s over that by now!” I said, interjecting.
“I don’t think so. She asks me often if I want to drive down to see
Susan. Of course, I was in school and couldn’t go whenever she wanted
to. But I don’t think she wanted to see Susan.”
“You know I’m embarrassed by you telling me this. Are you trying to
embarrass me on purpose?” I said, seeing what was in her heart but
letting her speak without stopping her.
“I’m not trying to embarrass you, I’m trying to tell you something.”
“Do you want to dance?” I said, interrupting.
“Yes I do!” She answered as I got up holding her chair for her to stand.
I took her hand as we walked onto the dance floor along with fifteen or twenty
other couples. I noticed all the songs played were for slow romantic
dancing. If I didn’t disappoint her, this could be a long night on
the dance floor.
We danced three straight without saying a word to each other. We stood
almost eye-to-eye with her high heals on which would put her about two or
three inches shorter that me without them. Her blond hair was up with
curls hanging down that made her look elegant. She wore a long black
gown that fit her slender figure perfectly and touched the floor. Her
shoulders were bare and the light cent of her perfume filled the air.
She was every bit as beautiful as Sue was, as I predicted she would be when
she was sixteen. She had her own beautiful looks though. I knew
she would take many men’s breath away as Sue.
I had mixed feelings now. I was trying to show her a wonderful time
without taking advantage of the situation. She began putting her lips
against my neck breathing on me, causing bumps to cover my skin. After
the song, I suggested we get a drink. Maybe I could collect myself
and get a hold on the situation. We sat at the table with our drinks
looking at each other and out the window staring at all of the lights.
I knew by her not having anything to say she was trying to get up the nerve
to seduce me. I continued interrupting her thoughts with talk of business
and even tried being funny to get her to laugh but she would fall back into
the trance-like state. A while later I asked her if she wanted to go
anywhere else before the night was over but she was content being here.
Then I said, we should call it a night and she agreed to that.
Arriving at our rooms, I said, good night as I walked her to her door.
“Good night,” she said as I walked to mine putting my card in the door.
“Jay!” She said as I turned to look at her. “Would you come in
with me?” I stood looking at her momentarily.
“Do you know what will happen if I do?” I said, knowing she did.
“I want you to come in my room,” she said with a scared look on her face not knowing what my answer might be.
I have had that look on my own face more than once. I could see the
butterflies were turning inside of her and knowing her throat was dry from
breathing through her mouth trying to get enough oxygen to breathe.
I walked over to her.
“You know I love Sue and could never leave her for anything or anyone.
Can you sit at the dinner table with us and hold back your feelings.
Can you masquerade as a sweet, loving and innocent sister around her if I
come into your room tonight? Because if I do, that is exactly what
You will have to do when we get home.
“I’m a big girl now. I think I have proved I can handle myself this
week,” she stated confirming she understood what I had said. I leaned
over and kissed her pushing the door open at the same time. We stood
kissing in the hall a moment as I waited for her to make the next move, giving
her one last opportunity to change her mind. She had made her mind
up. Taking my hand, she led us into her room and stopping next to the
bed. Turning around she looked into my eyes as though she wondered
if I was going to make the next move.
I sensed this putting my arms around her. I began kissing her about the face and neck and caressing her bare shoulders.
“Jay, I have never done it before,” she whispered. She was telling
me that she was a virgin. That sent my blood pressure up and my adrenaline
flowing. We continued kissing as I reached around and unzipped her.
Pulling back, I looked at her as I began removing her dress, sliding it down
her body slowly as I followed it down with my eyes. On my knees, I
looked up at her breasts again, thinking they were perfect. She looked
straight forward as I began kissing her belly and licking her. She
flinched each time I kissed her skin. She had not worn a bra but was
wearing panties. I put my fingers inside the top of them and slid them
down and continued licking and kissing her skin as she stepped out of them.
I stood up quickly removing my clothes as she watched. I returned to
my knees kissing up and down her thighs touching her skin with the tip of
my tongue causing her to spread her legs allowing me to put my tongue inside
of her. She began moaning as she put her hands on the back of my head,
pulling my face into her. My head arched back as I tried to push my
tongue all the way in. She began quivering and moaning louder as I
licked all inside of her.
After pushing her back on the bed, I continued licking up and down the insides
of her thighs. I pulled her legs apart holding them behind the knees.
I buried my face in her and felt her body quivering again. Reaching
my hands up to her breast I felt of them and moved my mouth slowly up her
body until I had my mouth on her nipple sucking on them, moving from one
to the other. Then tugging on her to roll over I began kissing over
her back and moving down with the tip of my tongue over her cheeks and down
her legs. Moving to her feet and toes sucking on the tips of them and
again moving upward slightly biting her cheeks as she moved one knee up opening
her legs.
I put my palm between her legs as she slightly raised her butt. Putting
my finger inside of her, I continued kissing her lower back and lightly biting
her cheeks. She flinched when I tried to put more than two fingers
inside of her. I could feel she was wet and tight so I took my prick
and slid it in her at the same time pulling her hips up with my hands.
Moving slowly in and out of her caused me nearly to come but I stopped myself.
Pulling my prick, out I asked her to get on top of me as she did willingly.
With her knees on either side of me, she raised herself up enough for me
to put myself back in her. We both looked down at me moving in and
out of her as she moved her hips around. Her breast were so perfect
I lunged my mouth up arching my back taking turns sucking on each of them
until she leaned forward pushing them into my face. We did this for
a while until I rolled us over and I got on top. She opened her legs
and I plunged myself back into her as I watched myself until she began quivering
and reached her hands around my neck pulling me to her. The thought
of her having an orgasm caused me to explode inside of her in a way that
caused my body to shake. Our bodies were locked and quivering together.
I had never felt it of that magnitude before. I wondered as I rolled
off her what it may have been that caused that great of a sensation throughout
my body. It had never done that before. I said, nothing lying
there trying to catch my breath and relaxing my body mussels.
“I loved it. Will it be that way every time?” She asked.
“No! Sometimes the whole thing last about two minutes or less,” I replied, as we lay silent.
“When I told you that I over heard Genie talking to her friend, that wasn’t all I heard her say.”
“What else did you hear?”
“That she had wild sex with you on the staircase.”
“And you never said anything to anyone?” I asked.
“No! It has been my fantasy to make love to you all this time.”
“Why?”
“Everyone has always made such a fuss over you and it made me curious.”
“Was it worth it? Waiting I mean. You said you were a virgin,” I asked being curious and wanting to hear her say it.
“Yes, you’re everything I had imagined.”
“Well thank you. That is a great compliment from a very beautiful woman.”
“Thank you! That was a great compliment coming from you.”
I rolled over and put my arm and leg across her. We were still lying
nude and uncovered. I propped my head up with my arm looking over her
body. You are so beautiful, but I think you know that.”
“Did you know this was going to happen? She asked.
“How do you mean that?”
“Sue, Beth and Jennifer, they all say you know things about people.
Beth said she believes you can read minds. Can you?”
“Sometimes I know what is in peoples hearts.”
“How do you know?”
“I sense things in here,” I said, taking her hand, placing it on her breast at her heart.
“Did you know this was going to happen?” She asked, again.
“I realized the possibility at dinner tonight.”
“How?”
“When I saw the expression on your face. It told me that you were thinking of a way to seduce me.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Yes.”
“Can you read minds?”
“No I can’t read minds!”
“What can you tell about me? Can you see in my heart?” She asked, with a soft sexy voice.
“You don’t want to know what I think about you,” I replied acting serious.
“Are you teasing me?”
“Yes, I’m just teasing,” I said, kissing her ear.
She responded by trying to tickle me in the groin. I grabbed her arm
preventing her as we laughed and played. I rolled on top of her holding
her arms beside her head, as I looked her over. “Damn you have beautiful
tits,” I said, moving my mouth toward them as if I were going to bite them.
She began squirming and shrieking, trying to break loose. I teased
her slowly moving toward them putting my mouth on one and sucking it and
moving the tip of my tongue around and over both of them.
“You’re not getting out of it that easily. Tell me!” She pleaded.
I laughed teasing her even more. “Okay, no more sex until you tell
me,” she said jokingly.
I knew she was just teasing me in return but it hit me wrong. I felt
a touch of anger by her comment. Nothing serious but I thought a little
dramatic acting would get my point across. The smile was gone from
my face and the fun stopped. I really felt the need to make a point
on the subject of sex between us. I didn’t like being told no.
I turned her loose, rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed picking my
pants up as though I were going to put them on.
“What’s the matter, did I say something wrong?” She asked, as I looked
back at her. Her expression was of concern and fear as I had hoped.
“You can tell me to go to hell, but don’t throw me a bone,” I said, maintaining a serious look.
“I don’t understand,” she said sliding toward me putting her hand on my shoulder looking in my eyes.
“I think you do,” I said, as she turned her head with her eyes fixed in space behind me.
Thinking for a second, she looked back into my eyes. “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,” she begged.
“I’m not one of your college boyfriends with my tongue hanging out wagging
my tail. I gave you every opportunity to consider what you were doing
but you asked me to your room. I want to be here but that’s one game
I won’t play,” I explained with the sternest look I could put on my face.
“I’m sorry, please don’t go. You’re right, I won’t do it again,” she
said sitting up on her knees putting her wrist around my neck and bowing
her head slightly while looking at me with a sexy look. “Please stay,
I’m yours anytime you want me.”
I stared at her for a moment as though I were contemplating what I should
do but in reality, I wasn’t going anywhere. I put my finger under her
chin raising it leaned over and kissed her signaling I had accepted her apology.
With our lips together, we laid back on the bed. I was ready to make
love again but she was persistent.
“Tell me now,” she insisted.
“Sue is a beautiful woman but she doesn’t let her beauty get in the way of
being a beautiful person. Everyone she meets becomes her friend because
she’s not untouchable. What I mean by that is she doesn’t snub her
nose at anyone regardless of their looks, background or how much money they
have. She loves people and life, and has the most wonderful heart of
anyone I have known.
On the other hand, Genie has beauty and class but lacks in the heart department.
She loves to use her beauty to get what she wants without regard for whomever
it hurts. She feels that she’s a little better than most people.
She teases men and breaks their hearts without a second thought,” I paused
for a moment to let her think. “Do you believe my descriptions are
accurate?” I asked.
“You are exactly right but what about me?”
“You are somewhere between them. You would like to be like Genie and
have the men follow you around drooling and being one step above everyone.
However, you see that not everyone can stand to be around her. On the
other hand, you can see how much everyone loves to be around Sue for who
she is. Sue has more outward and inward beauty than Genie and anyone
for that matter and you know that. I’m not saying you should choose
to be exactly like either one. Nevertheless, I’m saying that You will
be happier if you don’t put yourself above others. Don't be untouchable.
Look at the good in people but be aware of those who have the appearance
of good but are not. Does any of that make sense?”
“Yes but how can you tell if someone is faking friendship?”
“You can feel it. If something doesn’t feel right, it should send up
a red flag. Don’t take anything lightly. Examine it in your heart
and determine its significance. Then react within your mind to it.”
We lay in silence as she thought of what I had just explained. The
light was dim but I could see her perfectly. She had a natural beauty
that required no makeup. Her natural hair was so blond it almost looked
bleached but I knew better. Her smooth silky skin browned from the
sun and eyes so blue they matched the sky. I pulled the spread over
us as I felt a slight quiver in her body from the air and she thanked me.
As I lay looking for comparisons to Sue, I could find none other than her
soft voice. That was because she was lying here with me in these surroundings.
Normally during the day, her voice was confident, concise and candid as we
discussed business. Other than that, there were no similarities with
Sue. However, in many ways she was as beautiful.
We made love again before I returned to my room. I felt it necessary
to keep our relationship somewhat in perspective. I was well capable
of working with her under any conditions but she’s young and I felt she needed
time to think. It took me awhile to fall asleep thinking of her.
The next morning after looking at two aircraft and making an offer on one,
we flew home. I didn’t ride in the cockpit with Rob as I normally would.
I think he had suspicions of Joni and me but he would keep them to himself
unless I brought it up. Rob and I sometimes talked and joked about
many things. He was a good friend of Lieutenant Samuel Davis, one of
my chopper pilots in Vietnam. They were both from Chicago.
Joni and I sat opposite one another on the flight back as we discussed flying
to Miami the following week. I suggested she could handle it alone
but she insisted I be with her for support in the event she needed answers
quickly. I would only be a phone call away but I wanted her to feel
secure before she went alone.
We arrived home mid afternoon Friday. Sue and the kids weren’t home
when we arrived at the house. Joni went upstairs to her room to shower
as I made a pot of coffee. I had called Sue from Dallas and said we
would be home early and that we would go out for dinner. I sat at the
dining room table doing paperwork and drinking coffee as Joni came in.
She sat across from me wearing a robe and her hair was still wet as she brushed
it.
“What are you working on?” She asked.
“I’m working on what You will be working on soon, scheduling among other things.”
“Do you want to show me how it’s done so I can start on it?”
“Sure, if you want to,” she sat next to me as I explained.
It didn’t take long for her to learn. An hour later Sue came in with
Jay and Lin. I got up and walked into the den greeting her and the
kids.
“How was your trip?” She asked.
“Very profitable, that sister of yours has made us over a hundred and forty
grand over the next year. She’s a great salesperson.”
“I told you she could do the job.”
“Yes but I wasn’t sure until she signed seven clients this week. I
took her to dinner last night to celebrate. I gave her a bonus to give
her incentive when we go to Miami next week.”
“Do you have to go? Don’t you think she can handle it by herself?”
“I do, but she wants me to be there this trip for moral support. I
think after next week she will be able to handle it alone.”
“I hope so, I missed you this week.”
“I missed you too. Where have you been?”
“I was at the dentist.”
“How was it?” I asked putting my tongue in her mouth licking her teeth.
“You’re so crazy!” She said as we laughed. “Where is Joni?”
“She’s at the table working on the scheduling. I’m going to let her take over that job when we get back next week.
I sat in the den reading the paper and playing with the kids until Sue mentioned
we should get ready to go out for dinner. Our plans were that Joni
would watch the children while we went out but Sue asked Joni to go along
with us. She would ask one of my sisters to baby-sit. I had no
problem with that so Sue arranged for us to take the kids to moms house,
getting their clothes together in case we were late, they were to spend the
night.
We dropped the kids off and drove to Chastens. The main parking lot
was full so I parked in the additional parking across the street. We
arrived early enough to get a good table. We ordered and ate dinner.
The place was crowded before we had finished eating. We liked this
place because it had everything. We could eat a nice dinner, listen
to good music and dance all in one place. It was a little early for
dancing so we sat and talked for a while.
“I love this place. Do you come here often?” Joni asked.
“Not often but we like it too,” Sue replied. “Soon they will turn the
lights down and everyone will get up and begin dancing,” sue continued.
It was so busy I couldn’t get the attention of any waiters so I told Sue
I was going to the bar and get a drink asking them what they wanted.
They both wanted Margarita’s so I went to the bar. On the way, I was
surprised as Brad stopped me.
“Hey brother, what are you doing here? Where is Sue?”
“Over there with her sister,” I pointed to our table.
“I’m over there with Wes and them. Come over and say hi,” he said pointing
to his table. I glanced over and saw Wes, Cynthia and to my surprise
Christi and the person she was with, Lindsay, the girl Brad had met that
night at the bar when I was with Lonnie.
“I don’t know, it might not be wise considering who is there.”
“Come on chicken-shit! Nobody cares about that anymore.”
“If you only knew brother!”
“Don’t tell me you’re seeing her.”
“Not lately but I did awhile back.”
“Well she and Rick are pretty serious and she has probably gotten over you.
Come over and say hi to your old buddy Wes anyway.”
“I suppose I should, but I’m going to play it by ear,” I walked over to their table and said hi.
Brad had told them that he saw me so they were looking at me when I reached
their table. In that few seconds, I had prepared myself for any reactions.
Everyone said hi at the same time. I asked Wes how everything was going
and he answered fine. I stood talking for a minute and said I needed
to get our drinks.
“You all come over and sit with us.” Wes said not sure how I would answer.
“I don’t want to impose on your dinner.”
“Come on join us!” Brad said. I looked at Christi to see her reaction.
She smiled and said. “Come on join us.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. Everyone said yes.
We will be over in a minute. I went back to our table and sat next to Sue.
“Wes, Brad and their group have invited us to their table. Christi
and her boyfriend are there. Do you feel comfortable enough to go and
join them?”
“Sure, it won’t bother me,” she answered.
“Joni, where going to sit with old friends, do you mind?” I asked.
“It’s fine with me, let’s go.”
I was glad they agreed. I don’t know why, maybe to see everyone’s reaction
to the situation. I thought it might be fun to watch even if nothing
happened. We went to their table and waited as they pulled another
table adjoining theirs. Sue sat next to Brad and I to her at the end
with Joni to my right next to Rick, Christi’s friend. Wes and Cynthia
were at the opposite end. Everyone introduced his or her selves to
Joni, Rick and Lindsay. Everyone else had met before. Joni leaned
over to say something to me.
“Have I missed something here?” She asked, speaking softly as not to be heard.
“It’s a long story, I’ll tell you later,” I replied.
Everyone was talking and enjoying themselves. I was surprised but also glad.
Now I didn’t have to spoil the night by making excuses to leave early.
The lights had dimmed and there were plenty of people dancing as the music
got loud.
Under no circumstances was I going to ask Christi to dance. I wasn’t
going to be the spoiler tonight. I was determined to have a good time.
Christi even began a conversation with Sue.
“Sue, I hope all is forgiven and we can be friends.” Christi said, to my surprise.
“There isn’t anything to forgive and sure we can,” Sue replied. That
didn’t surprise me. Sue was always making new friends no matter who
they were. Before long, they were talking about my company.
“Aren’t you bored with this conversation?” I joked to Joni.
“Come on, let’s dance.”
“Oh hush Jay, we are just talking,” sue said hearing what I said, to Joni
and smiling. I smiled at Sue and Christi as I took Joni’s hand.
We went to dance leaving them to get to know one another. For some
reason I didn’t mind.
Joni and I were dancing and she asked me again about it. We weren’t
slow dancing so I told her to wait until there was a slow song. We
danced two more before they played one but I told Joni I was going to dance
the first one with Sue. I went over and took Sue by the hand pulling
her up in the middle of a conversation she was still having with Christi.
As we danced, I held her tight.
“You two seem to be getting along pretty good,” I remarked.
“Yes, she’s a very sweet person.”
“Yeah until she dumps her boyfriends!” I said, smiling.
“Stop that. You didn’t do so well by her either.”
“I’m joking. I should go over and hug her for dumping me. I have
you now and there’s no comparison,” I said, kissing her.
“I love you a million times more than I ever did her.”
“Sometimes you can be so sweet and mean in the same breath,” she said.
“I’m just having a little fun with the situation. I’m not trying to
be mean, so lighten up, okay?” I said, hugging her tightly. She
looked at me and smiled while shaking her head.
After that song, we sat down and ordered drinks. I’m sure Rick was
aware of what happened in the past. He seemed like a nice person.
I had nothing against him. He was a Dentist and had lived here for
three years coming from Nashville. He had told me he was in the Army
reserve stationed at fort Knox as a Dentist and on the weekends, he was on
active duty. We began talking about it and the army around the table.
“Rick, did you know Jay got The Medal of Honor?” Wes said. I
quickly looked at Wes to stop him but it was too late. I knew he had
already had several drinks and I knew I couldn’t shut him up.
“Wes, don’t start that. No one cares,” I said.
“Yes we do, tell us. Some have never heard you talk about it.” Brad said. I looked at him shaking my head.
“I can’t understand why anyone would want to hear about that unless you all
just want to hear about death,” I said, smiling. “I suppose if I had
been killed you would want me to tell you about that,” I said, laughing and
being facetious.
“You are so gross!” Joni said. “Tell us how you got the Silver Star.”
“I helped a couple of pilots get out of a crashed chopper.”
“That’s not explaining anything,” she replied.
“Joni, that explains I don’t want to talk about it now.”
“Will you tell me later?” She asked. I looked at Sue frowning.
She shrugged her shoulders. I looked again at Joni.
“Yes, maybe,” I said.
“What about me? I want to hear about it. You don’t mind do you Sue?” Christi asked.
“I don’t mind. I would like to hear the whole story myself someday. He has never told me anything,” Sue replied.
“You have heard me tell the kids several times.”
“Yes, the same version you told us a minute ago,” she said as I began laughing aloud.
“That’s not true!” I said, as I continued laughing.
“It is! Why can’t you just tell us the whole story?” Sue stated.
“Tell us how you got The Medal of Honor!” Wes shouted. Everyone
began harassing me to tell the story but I continued laughing, trying to
ignore them.
“Okay, do you want the long or short version?” I asked.
“The long version!” everyone yelled.
“We were flying over Cambodia which was a top secret operation. Suddenly
we lost our hydraulics and forced to land in this clearing in the middle
of nowhere.”
“Do you mind if we hear this?” the man sitting next to me asks tapping on my shoulder. I laughed.
“Wes, do you see what you started? Sure, pull up a chair,” I said, as everyone from his table gathered around.
Sue took my hand and squeezed letting me know she approved. “After
sitting down we saw a tree line about seventy five yards off. That
is where the jungle started. Immediately we began taking automatic
gunfire. My crewchief returned fire with his M-60 but he was exposed
to the gunfire. The grass stood about four foot outside but because
of how high our chopper was we were about three foot above that. I
yelled for everyone to get down the hole on the floor. My crewchief
was hit in the shoulder at that time. My gunner helped him down the
hole but I needed to get both M-60’s for our protection. I stood up
to get them and was hit in the neck by an AK-47 round. I began cussing
them because I was pissed. I dismounted both guns and got them down
the hole and we moved away from the chopper. My door gunner went back
to the chopper to fire and draw their fire from us but was shot in the leg.
I grabbed an M-16, crawled to the tree line, and saw several of them in the
open and some behind a tree. I waited for the one behind the tree to
reload. When he did, I jumped up and fired killing the ones exposed.
The others behind the tree ran back a few yards and took cover behind trees.
I knew they couldn’t fire without me seeing them so I waited them out until
they began running for better cover and killed all but two. One went
in the opposite direction and one went toward the chopper.
Because you want to hear blood, after I killed him, I put another burst of
rounds in him to make sure he was dead. Then I walked back to the other
three and put a short burst into them to make sure they were dead.
For that I received The Medal of Honor.” No one said anything for a
moment.
“I couldn’t have done that. I would have been too chicken. You
deserve the medal. You saved the others lives. I’m proud to hear
that.” The man next to me said.
“Thank you,” I said, as they moved their chairs back. I looked at Sue
and she had tears in her eyes. I glance around the table and Christi
was crying.
“What’s the matter? You wanted to hear it,” I asked. Sue leaned over and whispered in my ear.
“I never heard you tell it before,” she said.
Brad stood up holding his drink. “To my brother Jay who wears The Congressional
Medal of Honor,” he said as everyone toasted and began clapping. Some
from other tables heard him and clapped too. I felt proud and embarrassed
at the same time because we all had a lot to drink.
“Let everyone see your scar!” Joni said, prodding me with her finger.
“Stop that Joni! No one wants to see a scar!” I said, grabbing her finger as I continued laughing.
“Sure they do. Don’t you all want to see it?” Joni said, as everyone tried coaxing me.
“I’ve already seen it!” Brad stated
“I haven’t.” Wes also stated
“I’ve seen it too.” Christi agreed.
“Me too.” Joni said. I continued laughing hoping Sue didn’t hear
Christi say that. No one thought anything of it but me. I looked
at Sue a minute later and her expression had begun changing.
“I’m going to the restroom,” Sue said. Oh, Shit! I thought.
I watched her as she walked away and noticed she had her hands to her face
as though she were crying. I looked back at everyone and each were
still laughing and talking not paying any attention to her. I knew
in my heart that something was wrong.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said, getting up to follow her. Joni jumped up and grabbed my arm sensing something wrong.
“What’s wrong Jay!”? She asked. I stopped and looked at her.
I knew she could see the fear in my face but I said, nothing.
“Please Jay, what is it?” She asked, again with a shocked look.