Al was setting with his son, Karl, drinking a beer and talking about old times.
Karl was talking about his Mom and asked Al how he had wound up being married to Irene.
Al was just drunk enough that he was willing to talk about it.
When I got home from Nam, I went to Uncle Max with your grand folks. Irene was home from college for spring break. She and I got bored with the 'old folks talk' so we decided to go for a walk.
It was one of those Fall nights where the moon was as big as a house. You know what I'm talking about, don't you?
Any way.
It must have been around ten or so and as we walked, she asked, "How well are you adjusting to civilian life."
"Fairly well for the most part." I don't know why but I felt I could speak openly with her, so continued, "I can sometimes hear a noise at night, I will wake up screaming, knowing the Cong were about to hit us again.
"My Mom will come in to sooth the scares away. She knows how to hold me and rock the ghosts out of my dreams. She will sing a soft song calming me."
Irene said, "What does she sing to you?"
"I have no idea. She will just sing and I calm down." I told her
"Wish I could be there to do the soothing. I think I would do a better job." She responded.
"And just what would you do to make it all better?" I asked her.
"If we were alone for the night, I would be happy to show you."
I thought she was joking but a couple days later, she called and asked if I was free for the week end.
When I told her I was, she simply said "OK" and hung up.
I didn't think about it until I got home from work Friday evening. She was setting in her car in my driveway.
I got to her car as she was getting out, "So, what do you want to do this evening?"
"I feel like Steak and salad tonight. We can go to the Chuck Wagon and figure what we will do after.
"Does that sound okay to you?" was her answer.
I said, "Perfect. Let's go in so I can clean up a bit, first."
We went in and I headed for the shower telling her, "Make yourself at home while I grab a quick shower."
Irene followed me in saying, "I hope you don't mind but I think I could use a shower myself." And began shucking clothes.
Man, talk about one sexy lady, I was hard enough to drive 20 penny spikes by the time she was down to bra and panties.
I had her stop and slowly remove them. I couldn't believe perfect her breasts were or how much hair she had. I stopped and stared. I whistled saying, "WOW."
She asked me, "Do you want me to shave it?"
I told her, "No. I like it. It makes me feel like I am with a woman, not a kid. You know?"
"Oh, thank God." She said. "I don't like shaving. Every time I do, I get a rash from hell. I used to trim it so it wouldn't show around my bikini. Got razer bumps and ingrown hairs."
When we got in the shower she reached for the wash cloth but I stop her saying, "No, that is my job." And commenced to soap her up and, using my hands, washed her from her chin to her feet and did so with a lingering massage.
I spent a lot of time washing her female hair. I wanted to make sure it was nice and clean since I was planning to spend a considerable amount of time with my nose in that area and the only thing I wanted to smell the first time was her.
"I wanted to see what she felt like. How her portals responded to my touch.
After rinsing the soap from her running my hands over her skin softly, I shampooed her hair and massaged her scalp, paying special attention to her temples and ears.
By the time I had finished, she would have done most anything I would ask. I did a 'hurry up' shower and handed her out of the shower to dry her and get her ready to go to supper.
We got there in time to have a delicious steak dinner. I couldn't believe my luck, I had a beautiful date to compliment the great steak I had.
We were just about to leave when a group of thugs walked in and began causing trouble.
They were bullying the waitresses and other staff. They were using some pretty nasty language and the Maître D' was really getting a going over. One even shoved him against the wall.
Irene and I had reached the desk and were about to pay as they started in on the girl. I said, "Excuse me gentlemen, I would like to pay and leave."
The apparent leader of the bunch said, "I don't think I asked you, now did I old man?"
I told him, "I really don't care what you ask. I am ready to leave so if you would move, I'll pay the young lady and leave."
He stepped back so, as he brought out a pistol, I hit him in the throat with a stabbing finger thrust that destroyed his larynx. It happened so fast the rest of the seven never had a chance to protect the ass.
As he hit the floor, I grabbed the first on the left and stepped to the side bringing him to the front of the guys on the right while I kicked the other three in the groin and stomach in rapid succession. I mean, it was simple and quick.
They hadn't figured on anyone attacking them without saying something first like you see happens in the movies.
I didn't realize that this simple act was going to change my life, it just so happened, for the better.
I had the Maître D' call 911 to get medical attention for the thugs I had dispatched. The paramedics and sheriff got there about the same time.
The sheriff asked for our statements. I told them what had happened and we were released.
After I had paid, we left, going to my house. I told Irene to go on in and get ready for the most intense loving she had ever had. I needed another shower to get rid of the filth the thugs had left behind.
When I got in the shower, the shakes started. I lost control. I started to scream and kneeling in the shower shaking. I was having a flash back to the fights and death I had been involved in while I was in-country. Irene got me to bed. I don't know how, but she did. Later she told me I had cried like a baby looking for his Mommy.
Irene stroked my hair and held me close. I was in the middle of an emotional meltdown that, had I been alone, would have put me down for a few days at least. She rocked me and soothed the scared away.
I didn't remember any of this at the time. It was during the sessions with the shrink that it finally came to the front. Man, I was a mess.
(It took me a year of intense therapy and a large payment by Uncle Sam to be able to say that. I couldn't control my feelings. I was crying like a baby.
Nam had fucked with my head so bad that I wasn't really the guy I was when I went there. It didn't help much that I had a permanent guest lodged in my thigh courtesy of Charlie and an AK47.)
I woke a little later with her holding me close and my head on her breast. I kissed it and drifted back to sleep.
When I woke the next morning, I was alone. I just knew that she wouldn't have anything to do with such a fucked-up war casualty.
I got up feeling like the biggest ass that has ever lived. I headed for the kitchen to grab a bottle of rum to get thoroughly drunk.