This is my first attempt at a story, so please be gentle with me. I tried to build a picture of the forlorn young soldier at odds with his self-esteem and virginity, and the events leading up to his eventual, if somewhat unconventional 'coming of age' conquest. All characters are over 18.
Chapter 1 - Sit Down, Virgin Soldier
Everyone knew me, Ralph Turner, at my high school although I was never part of the "in crowd". I did not have any illusions as to my desirability to the opposite sex and knew that I was overweight and my thick glasses and acne were not going to help me get a date any time before I finished my education and went out into the world.
I suppose my small amount of popularity came from a natural upbeat character and sense of humour, a trait that I hoped one day might help get me laid; I had read somewhere that girls liked guys that could make them laugh. I was just worried what they would be laughing at.
At least my chosen career as a soldier might help me to lose my cherry, I hoped so. I also read that girls liked men in uniform, which was probably penned by the same wit who thought that jokes would help. I was further encouraged by my school mates who casually remarked:
"You won't get through basic training, you fat bastard" and "You'll be back with your Mum in six weeks 'cos you can't hack it!"
So eventually I finished my exams and whilst everyone else's thoughts turned to enjoying their summer break, I boarded a train and departed for Aldershot, the 'Home of the British Army'. Anyone who joined up in the early eighties like me knew Aldershot to be a grey, dreary, military town with barely a female to be seen. Back then the girl soldiers were hidden away in Guilford, 20 miles away, and were mostly "butch and bent". All the local girls hated 'squaddies' and had been told by their mothers' never to fraternise with us, so the likelihood of popping my cherry was still in doubt.
A faint glimmer of hope on the horizon was 'Leave' after Basic Training when we would all get to go home with a pocket full of cash and spend a week with our loved ones.
"I will be fighting them off", I thought as I stepped onto the platform back in Essex. I had made it through the worst bit and was now officially a soldier. This turned out to be harder than I imagined. When you leave a town like mine to follow your chosen path, coming home is a shock when you discover that all your mates had left too.
I have always been tongue-tied around girls and having no wingman to laugh at my jokes was going to make chatting up a girl difficult, even in Essex!
Nursing a pint in my local, on my own, I contemplating going back to barracks without a story of sexual conquest to tell, my self-pity was suddenly interrupted by a female voice.
"All right? What's your name then? I ain't seen you in 'ere before."
I turned on my barstool and looked into the eyes of a cute brunette with a pretty face. A glance downwards told me she was fairly slim, although I could only guess at her figure as she was wearing one of those fashionable white plastic coats with matching knee length boots. I raised both my eyes and my eyebrows.
"I'm Ralph and I haven't been in here for a while."
"What, you in the Army then, cos' you've got really short hair"
I nodded, as my mouth was already going dry, and took a swig of my beer.
Her smile brightened and she asked "You must know my boyfriend, Dave; he's in the Army too"
"Really, do you know what Regiment he is in or where he is posted?"
"Nah! But you must know him, everyone does."
I have a right one here, I thought to myself, and tried to explain that there were thousands of soldiers in the Army, and the chances of knowing 'Dave' were slim at best. The conversation petered out and the mystery girl in white drifted off to talk with someone else. Not exactly my smoothest attempt at seduction, but at least it had raised my spirits a little. After all, she had come over and spoken to me. I left the pub shortly after and went in search of that wingman.
Later that evening I found myself outside Leo's place. We had been in the local Venture Scout Unit together and he was a cool, half Italian guy, two years older than me. I remembered that he liked a beer now and again so I thought it worth a try. I knocked on the door.
Leo came from a big family, and like most Italian families I knew they all lived in the same house together so I wasn't surprised that someone else opened the door. It was a woman, but what a woman! She was wearing a knee length floral summer dress and her skin looked like porcelain. Red painted lips were complimented by a mane of red curly hair and bright green eyes that had a slight twinkle in them. I guessed that she was in her early twenties.
Her lips parted in a smile and she asked; "Can I help you?"
"I'm Ralph and I am a friend of Leo's. Is he in?"
"No he is still at work, but should be back later, do you want to come in and wait?"
I was shown through to the living room and took a seat in the armchair. Julia, that was her name, she told me, was very chatty and seemed pleased to have a little company. She sat on the sofa opposite me and while we talked I discovered that she was Leo's fiancée. Everyone else was still out at work in London and she had been left on her own all afternoon.
Suddenly Julia got up, smoothing her hand down her dress as she rose.
"Where are my manners? Would you like something to drink, tea or coffee?"
