For Don, who has always been my #1 fan. Thanks for the idea, the historical background, and the willingness to let your mostly fictionalized past be posted here online. Thanks, hunny! :oD
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I met him in a bar off 6th St. Things were different then. It was the middle of the Korean War, 1951, and in our little town of Bridgeport there was enough patriot spirit left over from World War II that every available and able-bodied male was either a veteran or a serviceman. Some of the women were in service too, as WACs. You know, the Women's Army Corps. Like Jeannie who worked at her husband's garage- he came back from service in France, found out she ran the place better than he did, and with her WAC training she fixed cars better, too! That was a hoot-n'-holler, the fight that came out of that. She was nice to him and "kept him on"- in his own business! Anyway, I digress. You'll have to forgive an old woman for rambling down memory lane, sweetheart. Gramma Cora had happier times then. I just want you to know where you really come from- I tried to tell your mama once and she wouldn't stand for it. Oh, no, she wouldn't! I suppose it was to be expected, since she'd grown up thinkin' your Grandpapa Rich was her real daddy. And he did take a shine to her- absolutely adored your mama, loved her like his own. Never knew she wasn't, in fact. I'm going to tell you about your real grandpapa now, honey, so listen up.
It was in September of 1951, and I was having a little time to myself at a bar after work- it was my 28th birthday. I worked as a secretary for a stuck-up, pompous idiot. And I got paid pretty well for it. Anyway, I remember him coming up to the bar, dressed up in his Air Force uniform. Now, seeing as how he was a serviceman like my husband and looked really lonely- I offered to buy him a drink. After all, I was lonely too. We got to talking a little after the initial "Thank you's" and "nice to meet you's". He was really a pretty nice guy. I think you would have liked him. He was smart, funny, and very handsome. Those silly movie stars in that movie "Pearl Harbor" wouldn't have had anything on him if they'd been standing side by side. That's the best thing about the genuine article. It's always better. Anyway, I found out he had no place to stay, and since Richard was away dropping bombs on little Asian heads I invited Dan (that was the mystery soldier's name) to stay in the unused study.
All he had in the world was a duffel and $50, and that had to last until he got home to Ohio for his month-long leave. I wasn't going to take money from this poor man! No, sir, that would have been unpatriotic of me! But I had noticed the way he was looking at me. Your granny used to be pretty sexy, back in the day. Skinny little waist, great butt, size C breasts, and let's just say they didn't call me "Legs" at work for nothing. I told Dan he could pay me by helping out around the house. That evening he hauled trash for me, dried dishes, and helped me clean out my refrigerator- he sure ate a lot for a skinny boy! I found out he was 22, that's 6 whole years younger than me. And he was eyeing me all the while, too. Eventually, I said there was one thing I needed his help with more than anything else.