Steve came home for a thirty days leave towards the end of January of 1966. Helen still was living in the same apartment on Mimosa Road.
It was a whole year that they had not seen each other; however Steve got a very cold welcome from his wife, as if she was saying, "Why are you here? Why are you disrupting my peace?"
He complained why she had not changed the apartment. She had promised him that she would get a bigger and nicer place by the time he would be back for his R and R! He had arranged that she would receive his salary from Air force every month. So now she did not even have to get o the black, little bag with its unending money. After all these years, she still did not know how much money was in the bag. She was a frugal spender! Since she could not deposit the whole money and make some interest on it, she was very careful in her spending habit!
"You have money to get a better place for us! when I come back next year, or perhaps retire one day, I want us to have a family, to buy a home! But at least for now you can move to a better and bigger place! What is the money spending on?"
This was the first day of Steve's thirty days leave. He said this after a nice dinner that she had bought it from a restaurant, a few glasses of wine, and much pleasurable intimacy! She never turned down their love making!
They were lying down. Their sweat and body odor were mixed together! Neither one wanted to go the bathroom and wash out. She was about to fall asleep when Steve said the things about the money, home, family, and bigger and nicer place for now. Sleep escaped her right away. She sat on bed, exposing her naked body.
"What did you say? I don't need your damn money! Why would I want to pay more money for apartment while you're not even here? you talk about family, as if it is only your decision! Why do you want to bring children to this world? Everywhere is full of darkness!"
Steve also sat on the bed. He was the commander of his unit, a pilot, a Captain in Air force with twelve airplanes and pilots under his command. They all liked him and obeyed him. But at home, he was no match to this woman, his wife!
He did not stay the entire thirty days off he had; and left after only twelve days. The day he left, they were supposed to go to his parents', so he can see his parents. But he called them while Helen standing next to the window:
"I apologize! Something has come out. I must leave today!"
They never believed him, yet they went to the airport to see their son off. Helen was not there!
To Be Continued
No comments:
Post a Comment