Chapter 3
As part of the early training requirements in defence, we would be sent interstate for various training. On this occasion, a group of soldiers, including myself, were sent for three weeks of intensive training, and a week's leave would follow.
At the end of the training, the commanding officer told us that the local people would like to take us back to their place for dinner and a night with their families. It was a sign of gratitude and admiration for our service. We could go down to the front gate and meet a family. It was my first time in that part of the world, and it would be great to get away from defence life and meals.
I dressed in trousers, a T-shirt and runners, the only clean civilian clothes I had. The family I met was friendly. The mom was in her forties and a good-looking lady. Her husband, I guessed, was older and a quiet sort of guy. She drove us back to their house about 10 minutes from the base. I was sitting in the back, enjoying the new scenery and answering numerous typical questions about where I was from, how long I had been in defence, and whether I was married.
Their house was average, and I could tell they were not wealthy and quickly concluded they were just ordinary hard-working people who would share a meal with a stranger. Entering the house, they introduced me to the family. They had two daughters. I would have guessed at 18 and 20 and a younger brother. The brother quickly asked if I had seen action and killed anyone. At that point in my career, I had not been deployed and seen any action, so he quickly lost interest in me.
We sat around a small kitchen, eating dinner with the youngest daughter on my left. The girls had been quiet, with Mom talking as I learned about their life. As we ate, the youngest daughter had her thigh resting on mine. As the table was small and crowded, I didn't take any notice at first. Then, as we finished dinner and sat and talked, she placed her hand on my thigh and gave me a gentle squeeze. She told me she didn't live at home, but since her parents had invited a young guy for dinner, she and her sister also came along.
The parents suggested I stay the night, and the idea of a quiet night and a comfortable bed was an offer too good to refuse. When I learned the youngest daughter would be staying as well. I was excited to sleep there the night and explore the opportunities.