*So to kind of set the tone, this particular piece is based in truth, from personal experience, with some fiction thrown in. Names have naturally been changed. Not necessarily to protect anyone but to avoid any embarrassment on anyone's part. Including mine. And for the record, not all the chapters have sex in them. Just a heads up.*
*
PFC Joseph Farkas had done everything right. Passed every PT test, was in the top 6% of his MOS, and had never been in trouble. Yet here he was watching a brown-nosing, smart ass, trouble maker, Johansson, a guy who had came in the same day as himself, getting promoted to Specialist. Joe was convinced at this exact moment that there wasn't any justice in the Army.
Once the formation was over Joe looked at PFC Miles, a.k.a. "mole-man", so nick-named for his perpetual squint, and commented:
"Fuck-up, move up."
"Don't sweat it Joe. Our time will be coming soon enough."
"Yeah but c'mon mole man, Johansson? Of all the pieces of shit to get it. Him?"
"I agree, but having your nose up the lieutenants ass always over rides what might come spewing out of your mouth."
"Guess I'll be a private for a few years then. Not getting mine like that."
"Makes two of us Joe."
The rest of the walk to the parking lot was in silence. At least it was Friday. He had the weekend to look forward to. So tonight would be a few beers with the wife, put the girls to bed, then hopefully some good relaxing sex. It was usually vanilla at best lately but still satisfying. After two kids Joe was just happy to still be getting any.
Then Saturday would probably be a game or two of hearts, spades, or pinochle with Ruby and Leon Freeman. Ladies choice this week. Not that it would matter. Joe and Leon usually managed to win regardless. Pam, Joes wife, would sit at the table and piss, bitch, moan, and complain about the score while Joe, Leon, and Ruby would get toasted and enjoy playing cards.
After a quick stop at the class six store for a bottle of Jack for himself, gin for Leon and Ruby, and a case of Busch for him and Pam, it was off to the apartment.
"Jesus Christ! I'm 24 and already act like a boring old fuck. I'm turning into my dad way too young." Talking to no one in particular. He was after all the only person in the car.
Joe had met Pam through a mutual friend. At the outset they got along real well. After a few months the sex started. No protection needed, she was, according to her, on the pill. Four months later she announced she was pregnant. Then came the obligatory wedding. It wasn't a match made in heaven and at times he felt as though he'd been had. Joe never said anything to Pam about that or any other feelings he had.
After seeing the interaction between his mother and father and their subsequent divorce, then his mothers relationships with Arnold, Harold, Allen, and finally a marriage to and divorce from Don, he never truly believed in love and happiness. High school was his escape and he excelled. At home he helped raise four siblings. For Joe being an adult just basically meant smile, act happy, and make kids.
Elizabeth and Sarah, their daughters were very possibly the closest thing to love that Joe had ever felt. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for those two. In fact they were the reason he enlisted. The steady paycheck, plus the benefits, especially medical. Some things were worth more than money and in his opinion security was one of those things.
Now after five years of marriage, one of which was also spent doing all the right things Uncle Sam asked of him, he was the old man he swore he'd never become. Just before getting out of the car he chuckled to himself. The more things change, the more they stay the same. He took a deep breath and opened the door to the apartment.
Lost in his thoughts Joe never noticed the car in the parking lot with the Tennessee license plate. FUCK, how did I forget about Kenny coming to visit? He thought to himself. Pams older brother and a tea-totaler to boot. Oh well, my house, my booze. Joe and Kenny had never seen eye to eye. Joe was raised, more or less Catholic, Kenny was southern Baptist. The hell fire and brimstone 24/7 type.
"Kenny, how are ya?"
"Better than you apparently. Judging by what and how much you're bringing in."
"As I remember the last conversation we had you are who you are and I am who I am. And neither of us are changing because of the other. Or did you expect that to be different today? Besides, it's not all mine, just the Jack and beer."
"And I suppose the gin is for the black couple y'all play cards with. Typical."
"Kenny, I swear to..."
"Hey babe! Your home just in time!" It was Pam. And she was the one who was just in time. He hadn't been home thirty seconds and Joe was already sick of Kenny being there.
"I hope you don't mind but Kenny is taking me and the girls out for dinner. You coming?"
"No, I'm good. I'll just fix something here." Then looking directly at Kenny. "Or maybe I'll invite my black friends over and we'll just drink our dinner."
"Whatever Joe. We'll be back in a few hours. Love you."
"Love you too." With a peck on the cheek, and a hug from the girls they were gone.
Twenty four years old at five thirty on a Friday and there he stood in his kitchen, still in uniform, listening to the silence. The hell of it was he wasn't even mad and he kind of relished the quiet. Old man...
After a quick shower he threw on a pair of shorts and t-shirt, called Leons number and then ordered a pizza. Which gave the beer time to cool down. Now to relax have a few cold ones with dinner and friends.
Leon and Ruby showed up at 1830 just as he was opening the pizza box. But they weren't alone. Rubys younger sister was with them. She was just as dark complected as Ruby, a gorgeous coffee color, but slimmer. At 5'5" tall she might have been a buck twenty five, soaking wet. And ten pounds of that was boobs! Ruby gave the introductions.
"Hey Joe. This is my younger sister Lenore. Lenore, this is Joe. And where's Pam?"
"Her and the girls are having dinner with her holier than thou brother."
