I'd recommend reading Chapter One and Two to get to know these folks before proceeding on; not a requirement, just a suggestion.
This Chapter contains some reality, but mostly fiction; as always the incriminating parts disguised, as they should be.
I would particularly like to thank
Honeywildcat
for her editorial prowess, without which this story would certainly contain way too many grammatical 'poopies!'
As usual, I welcome
constructive criticism
, understanding that improvement can only result from objective readers. Whether you hate this missive for some reason, or enjoy it, any feedback would be welcome.
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The remaining weeks turned into months, and although the letters from Beth continued to arrive with anticipated regularity, I missed touching her, hearing her laughter, making love to her. I found myself thinking about her more often, wondering if she were dating again, or falling in love with someone else. On those days when I was feeling a bit down, I often found myself experiencing the unfamiliar pangs of jealousy, imagining someone else enjoying the same wonderful delights that I'd shared with her. Something was happening to me, I thought, and I wasn't quite sure what.
The completion of my enlistment now enabled me to financially finish my degree through the G.I. Bill. I'd already completed nearly two and a half years towards a bachelor's degree, by taking advantage of the BuMed tuition aid program. Things apparently had come together, and I could hardly wait to let Beth know.
For the first time since her return to the mainland, I called her up by phone. I'd had her number ever since she'd sent it to me in her first letter. Resisting the urge to use it right away, I didn't want to appear too eager, I'd forgotten all about it. Apparently it was her roommate who answered the phone, because I was suddenly swamped with a barrage of questions about who I was, why did I want to talk to Beth, how long had I known her, etc. Phone calls to the mainland, U.S. from Hawaii were pretty expensive, and I began to lose patience.
Suddenly, as I was just about to hang up the phone in frustration, I heard a squawk at the other end, followed by a couple of thumps! Then, a more familiar voice came on, "Jim! Is that you?" Beth shouted into the mouthpiece. "Hello, hello!"
After I settled her down with my voice, I began to explain to her my options at the end of my enlistment. I could either reenlist, or take advantage of the G.I Bill and return to college in San Diego. It took some time for the shrieking to die down, but in the end, the consensus was that I'd join her in San Diego within the next two months. Before I hung up I heard her say something that brought a lump to my throat, but seem to sum up what I was feeling as well. "I think I'm falling in love with you, Jim."
As you might imagine, the last couple of months before my discharge and return to the mainland were the longest two months of my life. During that time however, I managed to finish the enrollment procedures with SDSU, and to give away or sell most of the household effects that I had remaining that were still worth something, but not worth moving. Soon, I was at Honolulu International Airport, with a one-way ticket to San Diego.
The flight was uneventful, but very long, and eventually we landed in San Diego. Imagine my surprise and my delight at seeing both Beth and a very pregnant Barb at the airport to greet me! Rushing up to the arrival gate, Beth threw herself at me, strangling me in her hugs, kissing me all over my face! I returned her enthusiasm in kind whenever I could, but she was rested and I was tired from the long flight. They both dragged me and my baggage off to their station wagon, and on to Beth's apartment.
When we arrived, there was no evidence of her roommate, and when I asked her about that she said, "You gave me the perfect excuse to kick her ass out of here!"