by Jack Ambraw
Decker thought for a moment, puzzled. “I don’t know, what’s going to happen?”
“Bob’s finally taking some time off for a weeklong trip to Hong Kong. I’m soo-o looking forward to it. I’m counting the days like a little kid waiting for summer break. He’s always on that damn ship or running off to Manila. It’s like he’s married to the navy instead of to me.”
Decker sat quietly during the twenty minute drive to Binictican housing as Piper spilled her feelings about the military, married life, and a dozen other things that irritated her at the moment. Tucked away on the northwest corner of the naval station, the housing provided seclusion and quiet for its inhabitants. An elementary school and high school formed the centerpiece of the community. The Doerr’s house was a three bedroom ranch with a carport. Nothing fancy, but adequate, roomy actually, with a spacious, manicured lawn. The boxes she wanted moved to the garage took four trips, and they were cumbersome, and much heavier than Decker had hoped.
Piper stood in the living room when Decker walked in from the garage. “See, I told you it would only take a few minutes.”
“It was no problem. I was glad to help,” said Decker, panting and wiping sweat from his forehead.
“How about lunch now?” asked Piper.
“Raincheck?” Decker said, stretching his back. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m not that hungry yet. I just woke up an hour ago, and it always takes me a while to get my appetite.”
“You sure? I feel bad that I can’t give you anything for your trouble.” She peered over Decker’s shoulder to the kitchen. “Andrea? Why don’t you go down to the Millers. I think the house looks fine now.” The maid politely thanked her and walked through the back door without saying another word.
Piper turned to Decker. “Andrea is friends with the Miller’s maid. They like to get together when they can, and I don’t mind. She’s a nice girl and a hard worker, but her English isn’t great, so there’s not much conversation between us. I hate having someone here every hour, every day; but I also hate doing housework. So, I’ve learned to live with it. Andrea’s been with us a year now. It only costs us thirty dollars a month, and I tell Bob it’s another perk of living in a place like this. Do you know how bored I get? God, there are days when I could just scream. Not to mention the heat of this place.”
Decker didn’t know how to respond. The thought of having a young maid around all day didn’t seem like a problem to him. He changed the subject. “How long have you been married?”
“Seven years,” said Piper. “Bob was stationed in Nevada. I was living with my sister in Reno at the time and met him there. We got married a year later.”
“He’s a nice boss,” Decker said.
Piper smiled. “He’s a nice man. Hey, let me get us some drinks. What do you want? Beer? Iced tea? We probably have something stronger, too.”
“Tea if you have it made.”
“I made it yesterday,” Piper said as she walked to the kitchen.
Decker stood in the quiet of the living room peering out the window, wondering what he was doing there. What if Commander Doerr comes home? How am I going to explain this? Panic suddenly hit him.
“Sugar?” Piper yelled.
Decker jumped. “No, I like it plain.”
“Me, too,” Piper said, entering the living room with two glasses of tea. “Don’t worry, silly. Bob won’t be home for several more hours. He called from the ship an hour ago.”
“How did you know what I was thinking?” asked Decker.
“Just a lucky guess. And, by the way you were fidgeting.” Piper handed him the glass. “Here’s to the Harvey.” They clinked glasses.
Decker relaxed. “Where was this taken?” he asked, pointing to a picture on the wall.
“Nevada,” Piper said. “Fallon Naval Air Station. It was a couple weeks after we first met. Bob showed me around base, and I wanted a picture next to a plane.”
“I don’t know much about aircraft,” said Decker. “But that’s a sweet lookin’ Tomcat. I’m talking about the F-15,” he quickly added.
Piper laughed. “I get it from my dad. He was a pilot. Still is, but not in the military. It’s one of his hobbies. That’s where I got my name.”
“I like the name Piper,” Decker said. “It’s unique and much better than Beechcraft.”
“I thought you didn’t know much about planes?”
“I know a little,” Decker said. “Were you living in Nevada?”
Piper shook her head. “No, my sister and I were spending the summer at our parents’ vacation home at Lake Tahoe. We’d go to Reno all the time. I met Bob at the Sands.” She touched his arm. “That seems like a lifetime ago, but it’s only been eight years.”
“I was a freshman in high school eight years ago.”
“You’re making me feel old.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know,” Piper sighed. “I turned thirty-one two weeks ago. I spent most of my 20s being a navy wife. But, hey, age is only a number, right?”
Decker nodded. “My mom says that fifty is the new forty. I told her I’d take her word for it. I haven’t told her this, but she’s always been old to me.”
“I hear it’s the opposite with parents,” Piper said. “I’m sure you’re still a little boy to her.”
Decker, a faraway look on his face, stared at the picture of the happy couple posing next to the aircraft.
“A peso for your thoughts,” Piper said.
Decker smiled. “At least that makes them worth more than a penny.” They both laughed and turned to face each other.
“Thank you for your help today,” she said.
Decker set his glass on the coffee table and extended his hands until they rested gently on her waist. “I was happy to help.” He drew her a few inches closer.
She looked up at him and started to say something. A glance downward. Awkward hesitation. “Don’t,” she whispered, slowly removing his hands. “You’d better go.”
Decker closed his eyes. Thoughts of Vega, and then of Commander Doerr walking through the door vanquished any natural instinct he had to argue. “Alright,” he exhaled.
“Finish your tea and I’ll take you to the gate.”
“Thanks, I’m done.”
Piper pulled into a parking lot behind a row of taxis. She put the car in park and pushed up her sunglasses. “Thanks again for the help. I get depressed living out there at times. You were good company.”
“So were you,” Decker said. “Sorry for the … you know.”
She smiled and put the car in gear. “Hey, don’t worry about it.”
“Goodbye,” was all Decker could think of to say as he climbed out of the car. Piper waved. Decker started to raise his hand, but she was already speeding away.
He walked across the Shit River Bridge, numb to the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of Olongapo. He decided to stop at Cal Jam to have lunch and get his mind off Commander Doerr’s wife. As he sat in the club, his mind drifted to Kippen and the black market. He pulled out his Book of Dates, added his run-in with Piper, and inserted the note he had found in the car. A waitress took his order, pancit noodles, lumpia, and a beer. He waved at Pong behind the bar and settled into his chair, contemplating what his next move should be.
CHAPTER NINE
0720, Saturday, January 4
The three sailors had few opportunities to tak about Kippen the following week. Decker had duty Friday, so Hack spent the night with Lee, having dinner at the Sampaguita Club and going to a movie at the base theater. Despite only a few hours sleep, he awakened early Saturday morning and lay in bed listening to Lee’s rhythmic breathing as she slept. He thought about the previous week and the two things that he had done that he hoped he’d never have to do again. On Monday, he had helped Commander Doerr inventory Kippen’s personal affects befo
re shipping them to his parents in some small town in Indiana. Everything the man owned—clothes, souvenirs from port visits, letters from home, socks, boots, and books—was sent packing to his relatives.
On Wednesday, he had attended a memorial service for Kippen at the base chapel. Captain Girard said a few nice words, and Commander Doerr spoke eloquently of Kippen’s life, a story gleaned from Kippen’s personal effects; details of a man that few sailors had known well. The last speaker, the Harvey’s chaplain, droned on for way too long and came dangerously close to putting the crew to sleep. Midway through the monologue, Hack heard a sailor in front of him whisper to a friend, “Kippen’s the lucky one. He doesn’t have to sit through this.” Hack frowned at the comment, but twenty minutes later, with no end to the oration in sight, he was in complete agreement with his shipmate.
By Thursday life began to get back to normal in the supply department. The commander mentioned the ship had received orders for a new guy, Petty Officer Swischer, who would transfer from a ship in San Diego next month. Navy life goes on.
Hack squinted at the clock on Lee’s dresser. 0720. He gazed at Lee’s nude body sleeping next to him, the sheets covering only her lower legs. On her left side facing away from him, her well-proportioned hips and butt were tempting. Hack put his hand on her thigh and thought about waking her but knew he didn’t have time. Decker would be off the ship by 0800 and they had promised to meet for coffee, a decision Hack now sorely regretted. He pulled the sheets up to Lee’s shoulders, quietly rolled out of bed, grabbed his clothes, and peeked out the bedroom door. Angie was nowhere to be seen so he scampered naked the few feet to the bathroom, holding his clothes in front of him just in case. A quick shower and he was out the door, in a trike, and on his way to Magsaysay.
Hack arrived at Cal Jam and looked at the clock behind the bar. 0750. Pleased with himself that he was a few minutes early, he walked around to the back entrance. He found the place dark and a little creepy this time of day. Pong Dango greeted him as soon as he opened the door.
“Good morning, Mr. Hack,” Pong said. “Your friend is already here.”
“He is?” Hack said, surprised at the news.
“Not he,” Pong said, pointing to a table near the window facing the street. “She.”
Hack spotted a woman at a table near a window. She sat facing the street with her hand wrapped around a large coffee mug. The smoke and beer and music from the previous night had faded. A few people milled around, bar girls mostly, and an old man was in the far corner sweeping the floor, removing any sign that hundreds of people were packed into the place just a few hours ago. A big man for a Filipino, Hack watched Pong shoo the girls away from the bar and then walk over and talk with the old man cleaning the floor. Hack stepped past them and sat down across from Vega.
“I didn’t expect to see you here. Mind if I join you?”
“Of course not.” Vega patted the chair next to her. “Sit here. Elliott said he was going to be here so I thought I’d stop by and see him. Sorry if I’m barging in.”
“No, not at all,” said Hack, noticing for the first time how young she looked to be a police officer. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised to see you.”
Vega surveyed the empty bar. “Where is he, anyway?”
Hack shrugged. “It’s still early. He won’t be here for another half hour at least. It’ll give us a chance to talk.”
Vega scooted her chair closer to the table. “Okay, want do you want to talk about?”
“Let me ask you something about Decker.”
“I’m afraid of what you’re going to ask.”
“No, it’s nothing like that,” said Hack. “What’s the deal with Rusty?”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when Decker introduced me to Rusty a few days ago? He told Decker that ‘Emil can see everything.’ I asked Decker about it at work, but he changed the subject. It made me curious.”
Vega leaned back. “Ah, that. You’re right. He doesn’t like to discuss it for some reason.”
“Are we talking about the same Decker? I didn’t think there was anything he didn’t like to talk about?”
“I’ll tell you,” Vega said, turning serious, “But you’ve got to keep it to yourself.”
“I won’t tell a soul,” said Hack.
“Okay, here’s a brief version. They met when we were going out. Rusty would give Elliott a ride to and from work when he’d stay overnight with me.”
“He’s told me that much.”
“I hope not in too much detail!”
Hack laughed. “Not about spending the night, but about Rusty giving him trike rides all the time.”
Vega grinned. “Good. Anyway, Rusty had an accident with his trike about eight months ago. Ran into the back of a jeepney stopped in front of him. He had Emil riding with him and the kid hit his right eye on a piece of metal in the sidecar. Punctured it pretty badly. Rusty took him to the hospital, but he couldn’t afford medical treatment. They were going to just sew it up and the kid was going to have to live with only one eye the rest of his life.”
Hack grimaced. “Damn, that’s awful.”
“I’m sure it was and I felt sorry for the little guy. Elliott felt the same way and offered to pay for Emil to have surgery in Manila. It was a lot of money, but still a lot cheaper than it would’ve cost in the States. Even an enlisted guy could afford it if he wanted to, and Elliott wanted to.”
“Why doesn’t he talk about?” asked Hack. “That sounds like the kind of thing Decker would brag about.”
“You’ve got to hear the rest of the story. The kid ended up needing two more surgeries. Elliott had to take out a loan, and he never told Rusty he was forced to do that. I pitched in a little money, but I don’t make much. Elliott ended up paying ninety-five percent of the cost of the surgery, and he still owes the bank quite a bit. It’s why he’s no longer renting an apartment in town, and it’s probably why he changes the subject whenever it’s mentioned.”
“I still don’t see what the big deal is,” said Hack. “I’d tell people if I did something nice like that.”
“Well, number one he doesn’t want Rusty to feel bad, but there’s more to it than that. Has he told you about his cousin?”
“Rusty’s cousin?”
“No, Elliott’s cousin. I think he was two years younger. He was killed one day when they were kids out riding their bikes. He must’ve been around Emil’s age. They were riding along a busy street and, of course, Elliot’s showing off, riding with no hands and pulling wheelies and stuff like that. Then his cousin swerved into traffic by accident and got hit by a car. Elliott saw it happen.”
“Damn,” Hack mumbled.
“He doesn’t talk about it often, but sometimes when we’d be alone in the middle of the night, I’d wake up and see him staring at the ceiling. Sometimes he’d want to talk about it.”
“He probably thought of his cousin when Emil had the accident,” said Hack.
Vega nodded. “Probably so. Elliott thinks he should’ve been able to prevent the accident. I told him it wasn’t his fault, but he’s still carrying around a lot of guilt. I think Emil gave him a chance to do something to help and, you may not see it behind his bravado, but that’s why Elliott’s always trying to fix any wrongs. He’s still reliving the bike ride.”
“Damn,” Hack said again.
Vega reached across the table and put her hand on Hack’s arm. “Please don’t tell him I told you, okay?”
Hack smiled. “I won’t.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. You can trust me.”
Vega squeezed his arm. “I know I can. That’s what I like about you.”
Hack blushed. “Why aren’t you and Decker still going out? I know he likes you. He talks about you a lot when we’re at sea.”
“I like h
im, too,” Vega said. “We’ve become close friends, and I like hanging out with him, but, I don’t know, I think I’m ready for a more serious relationship. Maybe someday I can see Elliott like that, but not now. He’s a sweetheart, but he’s got too much of a wandering eye.”
Hack laughed. “It’s hard not to be like that around here.”
“He just needs to find the right kind of girl. I’ve been trying to think of someone I could set him up with, but I haven’t found the perfect girl for him yet.” She let her hand drift down Hack’s arm until she took hold of his hand.
Goosebumps made the hair on his arms and the back of his neck stand at attention.
“Your girlfriend’s lucky.” She squeezed his hand and he found himself squeezing back.
At the back of the bar, Decker appeared carrying a plastic bag. Pong poured him a cup of coffee, and Decker waved to a gaggle of girls while he waited.
Vega let go of Hack’s hand and abruptly stood up. “I need to find the ladies’ room. Be right back.”
Hack nodded wordlessly and watched Vega walk across the empty nightclub and disappear through a set of double doors.
Decker sauntered up, threw the bag under the table and plopped down across from Hack. “What’s going on? You look like you just lost your best friend.
CHAPTER TEN
0800, Saturday, January 4
“I think I’m still half asleep,” Hack said. “Vega’s here. Had to go to the head.”
“I was hoping that wasn’t your lipstick on the coffee cup,” Decker said. “Were you talking about me.”
“There are more interesting things in Olongapo than you to talk about.” Hack looked his watch, wanting to change the subject. “How’d you get here so early?”
“Trick of the trade, shipmate,” Decker said. “At precisely 0730 I told the officer-of-the-deck I had to take some trash off the ship. Which was not a lie. I did have to take some out. But as soon as I got to the dumpster, I made a bee-line to the machine shop next to it.”