"What hoses?" His head darted from side to side. "Where are they?"
"I dunno. One of your guys came to the shop earlier today and picked them up."
"Then why didn't he sign it when he picked them up?"
"I dunno. My shop sup just sent me down to get you to sign this." I offered him the paperwork. He looked at it, but didn't take it.
"You don't know much, do ya, Chambers? I ain't signin' shit."
Not the reaction I expected. A slight wave of panic hit me. Watkins would bust my ass if I didn't get the paperwork signed off. Then it hit me. Who was I to argue with a high and mighty Chief? I shrugged. "Okay, Chief," I said, and headed toward the exit.
"Hey, where you goin'?" Peterson called out.
I turned to face him. "You said you're not gonna sign, right? Fine. You're a Chief. I'm a Fireman. What do I know?" I held my arms apart and looked at him with my tongue slightly dangling out of my opened mouth like a nutcase, giving him my 'I'm a dumbshit' look. "I'll tell my shop sup you wouldn't sign." I shrugged. "You know more than me, Chief, but I didn't think subs could get underway until all paperwork had been signed saying all work had been completed satisfactorily. I must've been wrong." I turned to walk away.
"Come here, Chambers," Chief snapped.
As I turned around, I dropped my pen behind me. He pulled his own pen out of his top pocket and I handed him the paperwork to sign.
"You think you're pretty smart, don't ya?" Chief asked sarcastically.
"It's all a bluff, Chief," I mumbled.
He cupped his hand behind his ear. "What was that?" He leaned in, squinting his eyes.
"I said it was a fluff, Chief."
He stepped a little closer, invading my personal space.
"You think I'm a queer, don't ya?" His moustache quivered as he cracked a small smile.
How the hell was that?
-Here, Chief, sign this package.
-No.
-OK.
-You think I'm a queer, don't you?
-Yes, Chief, I've often heard that homosexuals have a fear of paperwork.
I mean, how was that even semi-logical? However he arrived at that conclusion, I wasn't about to bend over and pick up my pen now. Maybe the recycled air demented his brain.
"I don't know where you came up with that, Chief, but I never thought any such thing."
"Course you did. You surface pukes are all the same."
I examined his face, but he still showed no sign of where this may be leading. I looked at his ring finger - no wedding band. Oh shit. I seriously did hope he was just messing around. I felt my Adam's apple move as I swallowed.
I forced a chuckle. "Naw, I bet you got all kinds of women, Chief. A girl in every port, right?"
He snickered. "Sure, it's just that we never hit port." His stare unnerved me. He stepped in closer until I could nearly taste the coffee on his breath. I tried to move away, but soon found my back pressed against a barricade of pipes which stymied my retreat.
"I can see it in your eyes, Chambers. You think one hundred and twenty men climb aboard this sub and go to sea. Three months later, sixty couples come back." He paused, still looking in my eyes. "That's not true. Only half the submarine force is queer. The other half just get sucked into it." He held a serious look for several moments, then burst out laughing. "Ha, I got you there. You thought I was a certified flaming queen."
He still laughed as he scribbled his signature on the package. He slammed it shut and handed me back the paperwork. As I made a hurried exit, I heard him already recounting the story to one of his shipmates: "Hey, Jonsey," Peterson bellowed, "I just told some boot camp the submarine fairy tale…"
Tails of the fairies more like.
Returning to the shop under a mild state of disbelief, I went into the office to give the signed package to Petty Officer Watkins. Holly sat in one of the chairs in the office with Watkins. She stood up and nodded as I entered.
"Ah, Fireman Chambers," she said, "I was just telling Petty Officer Watkins that Lieutenant Johnson needs you for some extra details he needs done around his office. You're assigned to me for the rest of the day." I looked at the clock showing ten minutes past three.
Watkins nodded. "Try not to piss him off, Chambers." He smiled.
Holly led the way out of the shop and we walked side by side. I wanted to hold her hand but that wasn't allowed while we were in uniform.
"Did your dad get off okay?" I asked.
"Yes, that's why I'm here. We're going to your room, baby, and you're gonna jam me so hard, I wanna feel the earth move." She looked at her watch. "But we only got an hour before I have to be back in my office."
"What about the extra detail?"
"I'm the extra detail, lover. I missed having you inside me so much I can't stand it another minute.” She looked at me and smiled as we walked. "I told Lieutenant Johnson I had some paperwork to deliver and other business to take care of, and you're the other business."
As soon as we walked through the door, Holly grabbed me and kissed me passionately. She ripped all the buttons of my shirt as she opened it. I stood back and grabbed the top of her shirt, ready to yank it open.
"No," she said in a panic, "I have to go back to work later." She undid her shirt in record time and removed the bra herself. We both dropped our pants and underwear and moved in to embrace. She pulled me to the bed as we kissed. She laid down and looked into my eyes. "Baby, you got one hour to give me a week's worth."
I got up, walked over to my chest of drawers and pulled out a clean t-shirt. I placed the shirt next to her head.
"Eat that when you're ready to blast off."
She closed her eyes and smiled.
#
After an exhausting hour with Holly, I showered, changed, went to the Navy Exchange and bought a pillow for Otto. I owed him big time for the Shakespeare tutorials, and now that I had some free time, I decided to pay him a visit. Getting off the bus, I walked down to the Pinnacle building. He'd be over the moon with the pillow. Excitement filled me as I got to the entrance.
"Otto?" I called out. Empty. Damn cops must have moved him on. I walked down the street, looking in all the doorways. No Otto. He could've been anywhere. He could even be in a bar, sucking down Jack Daniel's with someone else trying to help him out.
A feeling of dejection fell over me. One of my rare attempts to do the right thing met with failure. A heartfelt thanks was all I wanted to give Otto. I vowed to try again later in the week, but given his circumstances, anything could have happened.
A growling stomach and a whiff of fried chicken enticed me into Chickens Pickens, a fast food joint at the end of the block from Otto's hangout. I went in and stood back from the counter and looked over the red and yellow menu board.
"Tyler?"
The guy at the register grinned at me like an idiot. He looked vaguely familiar. I studied his clean shaven face.
"Otto?"
"Yeah. What's happenin', dude?" He wore one of the biggest smiles I had ever seen."
"Otto! What are you doing here?" He must have noticed the unintentional surprise in my voice.
"I'm workin', dude." He gave a little fist pump, then his looked turned serious. "What happened to you? I barely recognized you with those black eyes and busted up face. You get hit by a car or somethin'?"
"Naw, long story. Well, more than one actually." I looked around the restaurant. It was empty. "So you're working here, are you?"
He looked up. "It was like a voice spoke to me after I met that Father Knight guy." He lowered his head, shaking it. "Man, I looked at that fifty bucks and thought me and Jack were in for a good night. But something told me to get a haircut and a shave instead. Don't ask me why. Then I thought I'd get something to eat instead of having a drink. I came in here and saw a help wanted sign. I applied and got the job." He stood there beaming.
"Otto, that's great! I'm really pleased for you. Here, I got you this to say thanks for helping with the Shakespeare." I handed
him the pillow.
He took it. "Dude, that is so cool. I'm staying at the manager's house until I save enough to get my own place. But this is my new pillow. This all happened because of you and that preacher man."
"Not much to do with me, but I'll be sure to tell Reverend Knight."
"You make sure you do, brother. And I owe you one, Tyler." He offered up his hand and we high-fived.
"Naw, I'd say we're about even."
I ordered some chicken and sat down at a table. Otto kept coming over to sweep around my table as I ate. We chatted when he didn't have a customer to serve. He really did look like a different person. Mr. Knight turned Otto's life around by giving him that fifty bucks. He told me he was happy and hoped to get on the ladder to becoming the assistant manager. I wished him every success in making it.
We gave each other an emotional hug when I left. As I walked to the bus stop, a certain feeling of satisfaction enveloped me knowing that I played a small part in Otto's happiness. And I would tell Reverend Knight. I was sure he'd be delighted.
#
I had a buzz the next day still thinking about Otto and his new found purpose in life. I met up with Debbie at lunchtime and we sat together in the mess hall to eat lunch. We both had shoe leather disguised as roast beef. Throw in some oranges and mint sauce and Holly could have cooked it. We joked about how bad it was.
"So, did you and Holly manage to con her dad into believing that she's not gay, nympho or a raving lunatic?"
"Pure as the driven snow she is in his eyes." I cut off a piece of beef and popped it in my mouth.
"And he didn't mind her 'boyfriend' looking like a boxer who lost every fight he'd ever been in?"
"No." I looked at her indignantly. "He really liked me. He was impressed with my helping out at the homeless shelter, teaching hobos not to cuss, and not having pre-marital sex with his daughter."
She laughed loudly. "Tyler, you're the biggest bullshit artist going. What's next? You going on tour with him?" She smiled. "So, where does that leave you and Holly? You humpin' or dumpin'?"
I shoved a spoonful of rice in my mouth so I wouldn't have to answer.
She leaned in. "I told you, your time's running out. I think it's about time—"
"This all looks very cozy," Holly interrupted, stepping to the end of our table. "Mind if I join you?" She sat down before we had a chance to answer. Debbie and I looked at each other. Holly placed her napkin on her lap then sawed into her roast beef. She took a bite. "Mmm…delicious," she cooed. "But you know what it could do with?"
"Oranges and mint?" I offered.
"Don't be ridiculous. Coconut and some dates." She looked at me. "I'll make it for you some time, lover. You'll taste the difference."
"I'm sure I will." Nervousness jumped in my stomach, not knowing what Debbie might do or say next. I tensed up.
Debbie lowered her head to conceal her smirk. After feverishly wiping her mouth, she spoke. "How's your dad, Holly?"
"Totally awesome. He rocked the Blaisdell Center and really likes Tyler." She playfully rested the side of her head on my shoulder for a moment then jerked back upright. "So, Debbie, any new girlfriends?"
Debbie's foot brushed up against mine. "Actually, I've been playing it straight, if you must know. I've been seeing this guy. He's really cute. Six foot, thin but muscular, brown hair and the eyes so blue you could swim in 'em." She leaned back and rubbed her finger over her lower abdomen, just above the right side of her crotch. "And he's got the cutest little— OW!"
Debbie caught the full force of my boot in her shin. She leaned down and rubbed her leg.
"Are you, like, okay?"
"Yeah." She narrowed her eyes and looked at me. "But sometimes he's a real asshole. He can be a self-centered, selfish dickhead. I'm still working on that part."
"I'd like to meet him sometime," Holly said.
"Yeah, that'd be great. Maybe we could go on a double date or something." Debbie sounded excited and threw me a crooked smile. I didn't know if she was trying to drop me in it, or if she saw an opportunity to have another woman to woman encounter with Holly, with me acting as the side dish. "Whattya think, Tyler?"
They both looked at me. I dropped my head and pushed my mashed potatoes around with my fork. "Umm…I don't know. Doesn't sound like I'd get on with him."
"Sure you would," Debbie offered encouragement. "You two are so alike, except for the asshole part, of course. He even kinda looks like you. Come on, it'll be fun."
Holly stroked my leg under the table. "I think it would be a good idea, lover. Debbie and I buried the pitchfork and I'd like to see her happy with her new guy." She leaned in, cupped her hand to my ear and whispered. "I want to see her with a guy so I know she's still not lusting after me."
Debbie drummed her fingers on the table. "Care to share your little secret?"
"Oh, she just said maybe we could go go-karting," I offered. "I still don't think it's a good idea. You know, relationships should be just two people. Double dating's not a good idea." I sent Debbie a look and hoped she'd be able to interpret my 'Leave it alone' look.
She waved her finger between me and Holly. "Well, you and her went out with Mark and Lori."
"Yeah, and look how that ended. See? A disaster. Case confirmed. I think we should keep our relationships to ourselves." I glared at Debbie and talked through clenched teeth. "And not involve other people in our relationships."
Debbie turned her attention to Holly. "Okay, forget him. What do you think, Holly? Shall you and I get together with our boyfriend-zzz?"
"Like, sure." She grabbed the back of my head and moved it side to side. "Don't worry about him. I'll talk him round. Why don't we meet at Dolphin's, Friday night, six-thirty? You bring your boyfriend and I'll bring mine. It'll be fun."
Debbie looked at me and smiled big. "I can't wait to see the look on his face when I tell him."
Chapter 23Mark and I met up in the room after work. I sat on my bed while he got ready to go out with Lori. He always wore button down shirts and slacks when he went out with her, never just jeans and a t-shirt.
"Where you guys going?"
He stood in front of the mirror combing his sandy-blond hair. "I'm taking her to the movies. She wants to see Terms of Endearment."
I wrinkled my nose. "Bit girlie, isn't it?"
"Hey, if she's happy, I'm happy. Sometimes you just have to do these things. It's a small price to pay to see her smile. She's really cool. I like her a lot."
"I'm pleased for ya, buddy. You seem to handle Lori pretty good. Can I ask you for some advice?"
He walked over, pulled up a chair and sat down facing me. "Well, I don't have a lot of experience on how to handle a love triangle, but go ahead, shoot."
"I got a bit of a problem."
"Just one? Is it mental or physical?"
I flipped him the bird. "Shut up. Anyway, Debbie set me up. Me and Holly are supposed to go on a date with Debbie and her boyfriend. Well, that ain’t gonna happen, is it?"
He laughed. "Yeah, like one of those movies where you keep going back and forth between their different booths. At least this way, you'd all be in the same booth and you'd just have to move to opposite sides."
He got up and went to his drawer, splashed on some aftershave then came back over to sit down. "So Debbie finally threw down the gauntlet, did she? Well, can't say I'm surprised. Women like to be the only one, ya know?" He made his hand into gun replica and pointed it at me. "Showdown at the Pussy Coral. Bang." He blew imaginary smoke from his fingertip.
"There's got to be a way around this. Holly would be crushed if I dumped her. Besides, I really like her. But Debbie could rat me out if I dump her."
"Umm…sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you did this to yourself. Debbie was just a passenger hoping that you'd finally choose her. It sounds to me like you're pretty hung up on Holly. But I can tell you, I happen to know that Debbie has really fallen for you. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. Sounds like it's gonna
get ugly."
I pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Well, you don't know much about giving advice, do you? That's when I give you one of my problems and you tell me how to fix it."
Mark stood up, straight-faced and narrowed-eyed. "Look, Tyler, I'm a Fireman, not some guru sitting on top of a mountain answering 'What is the meaning of life' questions. I've given you advice time and time again. You've ignored it every time and just did whatever your dick wanted to do. So don't go trying to lay a guilt trip on me. If you had taken my advice earlier, you wouldn't be in this mess. I told you to hook up with Debbie, but you wanted the hot-looking ditz because she was an easy fuck and you didn't have to work your brain muscles. Deal with it."
I stood up and walked over to him until we were nose-to-nose. "That ditz you're talking about is my girlfriend. The last guy to talk shit about her got his jaw busted."
Mark cocked his fist. "Back off, Jack. I'll drop you like a bad habit." His eyes filled with anger. I took a step back and he dropped his fist. "You know what, Tyler? I wouldn't really care, but I consider Debbie a friend. A good friend. And I know how much you've been hurting her. So on second thought, you hang with Miss shit-for-brains and leave Debbie out of it. I'll talk to her and convince her she's better off without you. There. That's my advice." He turned around and walked out, slamming the door as he left.
I felt bad. I'd have to sort this out my own way. I went over to Debbie's dorm and knocked. She answered in a Molly Hatchet t-shirt, tight orange shorts and bobby socks. She did look hot. I pulled out a bottle of rum from behind my back.
"Yo ho ho, and all that," I said.
She smiled and opened the door to let me in. She gestured toward the table and chairs. "Straight, or with coke?" she asked.
"Coke, if you got any."
She went to her fridge, pulled out a couple of cans of Coke and grabbed two glasses off the top. She sat down and I poured us a drink.
"Cheers," I said and we touched glasses. I took a drink. "Okay, you got us into this, how you gonna get us outta of it?"
"Excuse me, Mr. Chambers." She took a gulp. "You got yourself into this, how are you going to get yourself out of it?"
Trouble Triangle (Tyler's Trouble Trilogy) Page 21