Remember Laughter

by Ginny Sterling

  Surely not?

  Chapter 7

  December 2017

  Princess,

  Why am I not surprised you like Cleopatra? It’s the weird headpieces, isn’t it? Women love golden, elaborate jewelry, don’t they? I knew it! Princess = crown. At least I hope you do like shiny things…

  (Purely blatant hint right there… just FYI)

  I attached a few photos of Afghanistan when I was out last week. It wasn’t anything too impressive because of the area I was in. A few colorful mosques and other buildings. They are tightening down where we are able to travel to due to safety reasons and even though I’m a big, brawny, sexy beast (you are thinking about me again, aren’t you?) of a man – I have no desire to be a victim or a statistic.

  Let’s just leave it at that.

  I’ve never been to Quebec. I’ve been to Mexico a few times and well, Afghanistan. LOL. Big surprise there! I don’t remember much about Mexico, other than the older buildings and cobblestone streets. I went when I was younger and the big thing at the time was to get completely hammered with booze. I’m not proud of the fact and wish I hadn’t ended up puking up my guts in a sewer somewhere.

  Got any plans this weekend?

  I think I will sit in this oven called the desert, walk in the sand, chafe in places that I refuse to spell out in order to preserve my dignity (in more ways than one), and just be overly miserable from the heat.

  Weeee… fun.

  Jason

  P.S. Are you in the Quebec photo? Are you one of the tourists in the pic?

  Jason,

  I’ll admit that your email made me laugh aloud. I can practically hear your voice in my head as I am reading. I really enjoy exchanging emails with you, but you didn’t have to send me something else in the mail!

  (Okay-I’m lying! I’m actually giddy at the idea of a surprise coming in the mail and can’t wait to see whatever it is! Thank you pre-emptively!)

  I’m sorry to hear things are getting rough there – be careful and stay safe! No, I wasn’t thinking of my pen pal as a ‘brawny beast’ – are you in the photos you sent me? (insert eyeroll here) If you want a photo of me, just ask for one and let’s make this whole thing just plain-creepy-weird between two brand-new friends.

  I’ve never been to Mexico, but Chichen-Itza is on my list of places to go! I want to see the temples, but my fear of hairy spiders keeps me at bay. I’m not going to lie - I’ve got a case of severe arachnophobia! I cry from fear just walking through the reptile/spider house and can’t bear to look in the tanks at the pet store. It turns my stomach!

  No plans this weekend.

  I might stay in and just watch the Star Wars movie marathon with my dog, Spud, on the couch. People can exist off microwave popcorn, can’t they? Might as well watch my namesake and dream of some debonair swashbuckling smuggler sweeping me off my feet.

  HA!

  ~ Leia

  Smiling at the computer, Leia closed her laptop and picked up her purse. It had become quite the habit lately to head out for a bit when bored and search for a few goodies to mail out. It kept her from sitting at the house, staring at the four walls, and got her (and Spud!) out for a while.

  Being in a smaller town allowed her to take the dog into some of the local stores without too much of a fuss. Spud usually was on his best behavior, only getting testy when too many children surrounded him.

  Today, she was leaving her buddy at home. Feeling upbeat, Leia turned on the television for Spud, sending the dog scurrying into the living room in a flurry of excitement. Laughing, she watched as he circled his spot on the couch before flopping down to watch the television.

  “You be a good boy and watch your soaps while mama gets our friend a few goodies. Okay?” she teased, grinning.

  “Woof!” the dog barked, as if to answer her without pulling his gaze from the tv. Closing the door behind her, she locked it, shaking her head. Turning to walk to the car, she saw the mail truck was leaving the apartment complex.

  Thankfully, the complex was fairly small and her corner unit bordered a greenspace that made for enjoyable afternoons of walking Spud-when she could pull him from the television! Heading down to the box, she opened her compartment and saw she’d received another key in her box indicating yet another package had come for her.

  Grinning, she opened the larger mailbox and saw the worn, beat up box inside. Using the side of her key, she managed to mangle the tape sealing the container shut to a point she could strong arm it, ripping the box open. A small bright red bag was inside and pulled closed by a golden drawstring cord. Sliding a finger inside the bag, she opened the pouch and caught her breath.

  Inside was a stunning pair of earrings.

  Holding them up, she saw the intricate halfmoon shapes, dotted with pieces of color glass, casting a prism of color across her palm. The silver around the glass pieces was covered in scrollwork, making it almost appear to be a filigree lace background. They were larger than any earrings she normally wore but felt extremely light.

  Holding them up, she realized that they were handcrafted by someone who’d obviously put a lot of work into making them. It was a tremendous gift and made her feel so very feminine. Sliding one of the earrings on, she gave her head a little shake and felt the large earring move slightly against her neck. Even though it was more flamboyant than anything she’d ever donned before, she utterly loved them!

  Holding up her phone, Leia angled her head to the side. Giving the camera a side glance, she quickly took a selfie. She wanted to share that she’d received the gift from him and give thanks right away since there was such a delay with the mail. The box showed that it had been mailed over a week ago.

  If nothing else, having a pen pal via snail-mail taught you the value of patience, she thought to herself, glad she’d finally given Jason her email address. Quickly punching in the words on her cellphone, she attached the photo to the email, hitting send.

  Putting on the other earring, she put her old pair into the drawstring bag and tossed it into her purse. Smiling broadly, she had to fight to keep from skipping all the way back to her car, ecstatic and touched by how thoughtful her pen pal seemed to be.

  “I think I’ll get him something really nice this time around.”

  Jason – OH MY GOSH! The earrings are incredible and my absolute favorite! Thank you so very much! I don’t know what to say other than I appreciate the gift! I attached a photo for you.

  ~Leia

  Jason stared at the computer screen before him, dumbstruck.

  He’d opened the email and grinned at how upbeat she sounded in the email. He had surprised her and was glad to have sent the spontaneous gift to her. Her emails had seemed to come with a regularity that made him feel special and he was grateful to have a friendship developing with someone who seemed to be halfway decent – just lonely, like himself.

  He couldn’t help but be concerned that there was something wrong with her, by the way that John had pushed for him to be nice and reply back if he got an email, but from everything he could tell, Leia seemed to be just another normal person out there.

  Which made him wonder if she was abhorrently ugly or deformed, making him feel so shallow and low. He’d been the butt of several pranks, as well as the instigator of some pretty childish antics, so it was natural to be a little leery at the situation. Swallowing hard, he blinked several times and allowed himself to feel a surge of hope as he studied her profile.

  Leia was stunning.

  There was an angular set to her jaw that swept into her hairline, that made him instantly think that she could probably be just as stubborn as him. Sculpted lips were slightly upturned and a dusky rose shade against her lightly tanned skin. Wide hazel eyes, full of dark greens and browns, gave an almost exotic look to her appearance, that seemed to compliment the tribal earrings he’d picked up in town at a vendor’s table at the bazaar.

  She was beautiful in a way he’d never expected or anticipated; having prepared himself for his won
derful pen pal to be some much older woman or even one of the guys playing a prank. That was part of the reason he’d sent the scarf and the earrings. He wanted to send girlish things in order to push for a photo.

  Jason hesitated.

  Maybe this was a photo from a magazine? She looks like she could be a model, he thought and then shook his head in disbelief. Nope. Those were the earrings he’d mailed out to Leia. This was real.

  She was real.

  Clicking print on the photo, he saw the printer nearby begin to slowly print out a greyscale rendition of her photo that he planned to hide away near his bunk. He wanted to study the photo and stare at it for hours. Opening another window on the screen, Jason began to type as quickly as possible, knowing time was wasting away. He would just have to hurry through his thoughts and correct it in a rush, praying he didn’t make a mistake.

  Princess,

  Star Wars movie marathon? Popcorn? Debonair Swashbuckling smuggler? Are you perchance thinking of me again? (I’m kidding – I don’t smuggle things – the rest is utterly true!)

  I’m glad you like the earrings and WOW.

  Seriously.

  Just wow.

  Can things get awkward now - because I nearly swallowed my tongue looking at your photo. Average?! Hardly that. You are exquisite like a Grecian statue and should always have a little smirk on your face. What’s your phone number again?

  Jason

  FYI – fighting off spiders and protecting princesses is my specialty. See? I’m a great friend that isn’t just a handsome face. I attached a photo for you now, too, since you asked me for one in that subtle, evasive, mysterious way that you have.

  Leia heard the ding on her phone, indicating that she’d received an email from Jason. She’d set up the alert in a moment of weakness and halfway into a pint of Coffee,Coffee,Buzz,Buzz ice-cream by Ben and Jerry’s. She had been watching a romantic movie and instead of feeling that pang at losing Chandler, for the first time she felt something else.

  She felt grateful to have had that time with her husband, but also felt hopeful for her future. Things were going to be okay for her at some point and she felt better knowing that she had acquaintances - a special friend she could call her own. She was so relieved that she’d actually been brave enough to write Jason, as Christmas time had to be one of the tougher times of the year to be alone.

  This year didn’t seem to be quite as brutal, she thought idly.

  Clicking on the attachment, she saw a man sitting in a chair with a white t-shirt on with dog tags around his neck. A camouflage hat cast a shadow over his face as he held up a hand to obviously protect his eyes from the sun. He was nice looking, but it was that smile that had her enthralled. How did someone just glow with happiness in a photograph? She couldn’t bring herself to look away from that goofy grin splayed all over his face. It made her just want to smile in return.

  Hitting reply, she smirked as she typed, knowing he would probably have some outlandish response to match that illuminating smile.

  Jason,

  I don’t remember asking for a photo – but it’s a nice one.

  Leia

  Clicking send, it wasn’t but a few moments later when her phone dinged again. Jason must be at the computer that very moment! Feeling lighter than air, she laughed aloud as she read his response.

  Princess,

  Nice? NICE?

  I’m downright sexy and rockin’ this tan!

  Jason

  BTW – hi! Are you wearing the earrings?

  Jason,

  Hi, yourself! – and yes.

  I will send you a little something appropriate since you apparently see things through rose colored glasses.

  ~Leia

  Clicking on another tab on her computer, Leia searched for pink sunglasses and found the most outlandish pair she could find. If that was him in the photo, he could use a pair of shades and the thought of getting a little mental dig at him was just fun stuff. Finding a pair of hot pink aviator sunglasses, she found herself grinning and giggling outrageously as she placed the order, shipping them directly to him.

  She found herself sitting there at the computer for a while longer, hoping and wishing to hear another notification that he’d replied to her email. She noticed in a few of his emails that he was quite articulate and smart, even if he misspelled a word here or there. Jason was witty and charming; all the things that made her feel lighter than air. He brought out a playful side to her that she didn’t realize she had lurking deep down inside.

  Glancing at his photo again, she smiled. She could certainly picture him sitting in a picnic chair with a cooler full of beer at his feet . She was willing to bet money that he fit a few stereotypes running through her head at just the first glance of him. Not that it was a bad thing; but it made him predictable and took some of the fun out of it. The endless flirtation and banter made her days seem not quite so gloomy, as she looked forward to their emails.

  Opening up his last email, she read his words again, grinning at his description of how he was ‘rockin’ his tan’. Oh yes, he was, she thought silently. Hitting reply, she wanted to carry on the fun with him.

  Jason,

  It’s a nice photo-but how do I know that’s actually you? What if that is one of the other soldiers?

  ~Leia

  Jason opened up the package he received in the mail and grinned. His little Princess was quite a mischief maker with a playful side to her. Inside the packaging was a pair of reflective, gaudy, bright pink sunglasses, a loaf of fruitcake, and a wadded-up mass of… hair? Pulling the bag out, he let out a bark of laughter as he saw that she’d also included a Princess Leia wig with two massive buns that would sit on either side of his head.

  “Whatcha got there, Hody?”

  “My girl sent me a few gag gifts for Christmas.”

  “Those are actually pretty nice sunglasses. They aren’t cheap, either. Do you think that maybe they sent the wrong color to you? Maybe you should send them back.”

  “Nope. They are the right color; I guarantee it.”

  “Pink?”

  “Actually, I think my friend said they are rose-colored.”

  “So, what’s with the wig then?”

  “Private joke,” Jason shrugged, still grinning. “Can you take a photo for me?”

  “Parker has a camera on his phone.”

  “Parker! PARKER!” Jason yelled across the berthing. “Get your phone and come over here.”

  “What are you two knuckleheads up to?”

  “Dang Watson! What crawled up your…” Jason began and then sighed heavily. “Get over here with us guys and live a little. Loosen up and have some fun for a few minutes. Think of this as a team building or bonding exercise.”

  “I don’t have time for this.”

  “The sand isn’t going anywhere,” Jason quipped, putting the wig on his head and adjusting it by grasping the two massive swirled buns on either side of his head. Watson’s eyebrows shot up and there was the slightest hint of a smile on the stodgy man’s face.

  Sliding on the aviators with panache, Watson actually began to laugh as Parker set his phone on the footlocker nearby, setting a timer. The four men crowded together in the photo, all striking different poses. They took several photographs, the last one being Jason’s most favorite one of them all.

  All four were laughing hysterically at themselves, slapping each other on their backs and high-fiving each other. It was a candid moment of friendship that gave a glimpse of who they really were behind the strict military demeanor that they usually kept firmly in place… everyone but Jason, that is. This was probably one of the best holidays he’d had out here since arriving several years ago.

  “Can you email me those, Parker?” Jason asked, wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes.

  “No!” Watson said, sobering immediately.

  “No one is going to see them; besides, it’s funny.”

  “Just delete them.”

  “Don’t do it, Par
ker. Watson, I swear no one else will see that you cracked a smile, brother. I promise you!”

  Watson walked off, muttering an epithet under his breath. Jason grinned broadly and nodded at Parker’s confused glance.

  “Do I delete them?”

  “Nope. Send them to my email.”

  “Hey Hody, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Parker began, walking out the door towards the building that housed the computer that they got to use. Jason yanked the wig off his head, but kept the pink aviator sunglasses on his face. They were fairly pricey sunglasses and he recognized the brand. His pen pal had sent him a really nice present after receiving the earrings.

  The internet signal was strongest inside and once you got outside, it practically dropped off. Parker was standing there waiting for the photos to upload. Jason planned on sending them to Leia along with another hint that he wanted her number again. He couldn’t help the way he found himself studying the greyscale print out of her photo.

  “Watson, Smith, and I are flying into Alaska to meet up with Post, Griffin, and a few of the other guys this summer. Do you have any leave available to take? You could fly out with us.”

  “When did you decide to do that?”

  “Don’t you check your emails?”

  “Yeah, but I’ve been a little busy,” Jason said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking away, embarrassed. He’d been skimming over the emails quickly in a massive hurry, wanting to only focus on Leia’s emails during his short time period on the computer. Embarrassed, he grinned sheepishly at the other man. He’d almost missed a chance at a reunion with his friends! Next time he would just print the emails and take them back to his bunk.