Overseas Encounter
By C.M. Fowler
This is a true story. The names and specific location have been changed to protect the identities of the other parties involved.
For a short time while I was stationed in England, I had rented a flat off-base. This was mostly for privacy to do what I wanted and have friends overnight if I chose to do so. One of my buddies in my unit had confided in me that he was Bi, which he must have noticed in me as well, which explains why he came out to me. This was long before it was "legal" to be LGBT in the military, which was what made it such a big deal, and another reason that I wanted a flat off base rather than the "dorms" on base.
The flat was really a converted attic over a garage with the shower, toilet and kitchenette on the ground floor and the main living area in the converted attic. There was a picture window on the north side wall and a smaller, regular window on the south side wall. Just the perfect size for a single person.
My buddy was Joe and he was a big burley dude, very hairy, which is not my normal type, just over six feet tall and dwarfed me, at five foot six and a hundred thirty pounds. I was an almost feminine build (for a guy) compared to him, but he was a friend and we respected, liked and trusted each other.
One day, after duty hours, we had been hanging out and talking over our evening meal in the base mess hall, I had mentioned that I had just gotten a small studio off base and he should come over sometime for dinner or whatever. He smiled at that and said, "I like the 'whatever' idea, but yeah, dinner could be great".
I said, "There's a pub just about a mile from my place, so we could go there for drinks after dinner, if you want to."
"Yeah, we could do that. We'll see how it goes."
"Great. So Friday evening about seven?"
"Sure, but how about we just go out for drinks, so eat first and I'll pick you up."
"Sounds like a plan. Seven, at my place." I gave him the address and directions.
We finished dinner and went back to our own places.
Friday night came and I went home, had supper, and got showered and ready for the night. I know what we had discussed for our plans, but it had come to my mind that I was horned up and knew what I wanted.
I dried myself off after my shower, brushed my hair and dug out what I wanted to wear. It was a sweatshirt that had belonged to my Uncle, that he had gotten in Vietnam and it fit me more like a mini dress than a sweatshirt. I thought of how perfect it would be, so I threw it on, lit a few candles in the main area of the flat, turned on the BBC for some music and waited for seven.
Right on schedule, Joe showed up and knocked on the door. I walked downstairs wearing the sweatshirt and nothing else, smiling as I greeted him at the door.
