Blue Bloods of Bois D’Arc (9 page)

Rod looked at Jack as he put down the phone. “How could this happen?”

Everyone’s eyes suddenly turned toward the TV as an emotional news anchor prepared to make an announcement. His voice cracked as he said, “We have just learned that the President of the United States is dead.” He wiped at the tears streaming down his face. Regaining control, he continued, “The President was pronounced dead at 12:30 p.m. We have no further information at this time.” Somber music came up after the announcement.

Rod turned off the TV. No one seemed to know what to say. When the nurse came in with his mom’s food tray and medicine, it broke the silence, and the family’s concern was back on their mother. Jack left to see if he could find Harry and get an update on what happened.

The next two days were calmer with the TV off and the family gathered around their mother’s bed. She had better control of her emotions and could make herself understood if she talked slowly. The family made small talk as Rod tried to get his mother to eat her lunch. It had been a short visit for Rod, and it was nearly over.

“You did better with your supper tonight, Momma, just keep it up,” Rod said cheerfully as he put her half-eaten food tray on the bedside table. He turned back to her and said soberly, “I have to leave tomorrow. I’m afraid this visit is going to have to be Thanksgiving and Christmas for this year. I’ll only get a few days leave at the end of my training, then I’ll be sent to my next assignment.” With a big smile and open arms, Rod bent over to hug his mother one last time. She wrapped her left arm around him tightly for several minutes before letting him go. He wiped her tears with a tissue, kissed her on the cheek, and left the room before she could see his tears.

Chapter 21

Vandenberg AFB

Back in his barracks, Rod gave Guy all the details of his trip to Texas.

“Wow, first your mom has a stroke, then the President is assassinated and brought to the same hospital. Hope that didn’t mess up your visit with your mom.”

“Nah, we had a great visit. My friend Jack has been amazing the way he has taken over the care of my mom and my family.”

“How did you get to be such good friends?”

“I caddied for him every summer at the country club, and after my dad died he sort of adopted me. He never married or had a son, so I was the next best thing. He had my future all mapped out for me to get a football scholarship to Texas A&M. After my injury, he never blinked when I turned down an academic scholarship. He wants me to come to work for him when I get out of the Air Force. His company is a growing government contractor for aircraft inspection and repair operations to patch up aircraft and return them back to action in Vietnam. He plans to expand into modifying and equipping intelligence-gathering aircraft as soon as he is better established as a high-tech contractor. He’s an old Army Air Force veteran. The first thing he taught me was, ‘Never call it an airplane.’ That’s why I really need to buckle down and learn everything I can and get some practical experience, even if it means going to Vietnam.”

Rod and Guy were granted their first leave after their wing graduated from tech school just before Christmas. When they returned to Vandenberg from their leave, their next duty station orders would be waiting for them.

Junior had sent Rod tickets for the Rose Bowl game for his Southern Cal Trojans against the Wisconsin Badgers. It was a big game. The fact that it matched the traditional winners of Pac 8 and Big 10 teams that were ranked number one and two in the nation just added to the excitement. It was the first time the Rose Bowl had hosted a game to decide who the national champion would be.

“Man, that last week was a killer with all those tests. I’m so brain dead it’s going to take me my whole leave just to wind down,” Rod said as he and Guy packed their small flight bags for Pasadena. “I can’t wait to see my old high school teammate. He was my go-to guy when we needed a first down or touchdown. He’s made quite a name for himself as a receiver at Southern Cal. There’s even talk he may make All-American. Man, I can’t believe it. This time last year we were playing for the Texas High School State Championship.”

“I’m anxious to meet your friend, but I’m really psyched to see the halftime band show. They always cut them out on TV. Band was my thing in high school. The Rose Bowl is the granddaddy of them all, they say, including the halftime show. It will be great to see their huge band perform in person.”

“We’d better hustle. I told Zac we’d meet him in about ten minutes in front of the barracks. If we miss him, we’re stuck here.”

“I’m ready,” Guy said. “Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter 22

Pasadena

Rod and Guy checked into a hotel several blocks from the Rose Bowl stadium and immediately changed into civilian clothes. Next they checked with the desk clerk about restaurants. He suggested several good ones nearby. The first one they came to filled the bill.

“The Pasadena Steak House looks pretty good. I haven’t had a good steak since I left Texas. What do you say?”

“Sounds good to me. We eat steak in North Carolina, too.”

The two airmen, both small-town boys, devoured their steaks along with baked potatoes, green beans, and hot buttered rolls that melted in their mouths. They washed it all down with several glasses of iced tea. Much better than the mess-hall food at the base, they agreed.

“I’m glad the stadium is several blocks away so we can walk off that lunch,” Rod said.

“No kidding. I feel like I’m going to pop.”

They needn’t have worried. While their seats were on the fifty-yard line, they were at least thirty rows up. Climbing those steps was just the exercise they needed to work off some of their lunch and enjoy the game.

“Whew, that’s a workout,” Rod said as they took their seats. Looking at the players already on the field warming up, Rod spied Junior.

“There he is,” Rod said with a smile. “That’s him, number eighty-four. He had to ride to the stadium on the team bus, but he’ll meet up with us after the game. Junior said there were lots of pretty girls on campus and promised us a good time at the big party he’s giving after the game, win or lose.”

Southern Cal scored first on a trick play good for a fifty-seven-yard touchdown. Junior caught two touchdown passes as the Trojans rolled up a 42-14 score. But Wisconsin came charging back in the fourth quarter and made a game of it before running out of time at 42-37. Southern Cal was awarded the national champion trophy in an elaborate post-game ceremony.

Rod and Guy waited outside the entrance to the Trojan’s locker room. Even Rod was surprised at how big the players were at street level after watching them as tiny figures from thirty rows up.

“Hey man, good to see you,” Junior said as he and Rod did their traditional handshake.

“You’ve put on a few pounds since high school,” Rod said.

“Yeah, man, they feed us good and work our butts off in the weight room. It pays off though. We didn’t lose a single game. Wisconsin scared the shit out of us today, but we did it. We’re number one.” Junior waved his index finger in the air and yelled, “We’re number one, man, how about that?”

Several teammates passed by and picked up on Junior’s chant. They had an impromptu pep rally, dancing around and waving the number one sign over their heads.

“Sorry about that, man,” he said to Rod. “Just now sinking in that we’re the national champions.”

“Congratulations. You deserve it. Hey, I want you to meet Guy, we’re in school together up at Vandenberg.”

“Glad to meet you, Guy.” Junior extended his hand and gave Guy a crushing handshake. “Y’all ready to party? You wouldn’t believe all the good-looking chicks around here. From day one when they were recruiting me, the prompters who help us with our grades and stuff always have party chicks for the players after home games. We have a suite of rooms a couple blocks from here at the Hilton waiting for us. All the booze and girls you want, man. You won’t believe it. Where are you staying?”

“We’re a little farther away in the lower-rent district,” Rod said.

“Not tonight, my friends, we’ll be partying all night. Come on, the party should be gettin’ good about now.”

“Thanks, but I think I’ll take a rain check,” Guy said. “Nice meeting you, though. You really played a great game.” He turned to leave.

“Thanks. But you sure you don’t want to go with us?”

“I don’t think so, but thanks anyway,” Guy replied over his shoulder, headed toward their motel several blocks away.

“What’s with him, he don’t like girls or something?”

“Nah, he has a serious girlfriend back home.”

“His loss, man, more girls for us, right? Come on, we’re wasting time.”

Chapter 23

Party time

The hotel lobby was full of celebrating Southern Cal fans. Coaches were conspicuously absent. Rod and Junior rode the crowded elevator up to the tenth floor. As soon as the door opened, the crowd noise assaulted their ears. Partygoers with arms draped around each other staggered out of the rooms into the hallway, whooping it up.

Junior pulled Rod close and yelled into his ear, “I got somebody I want you to meet. She’ll make Cass look like somebody’s little sister. This way, my man.” Junior pushed Rod through the crowd toward the end of the hall. “This is my suite and only my closest friends are allowed in.”

Rod tried to hide his surprise when they entered the crowded room. Topless girls tossed their breasts around and sloshed their drinks, gyrating to ear-shattering strains of
The Twist
blaring from a boom box. The dancing never slowed down when Elvis took over the sound waves.

Junior disappeared for a few minutes. He returned with two plastic cups full of a clear liquid and handed one to Rod. “You need a drink, man. We’re way behind.”

“You
know
I’m not much of a drinker. What’s this?”

“Don’t know. Just drink it and grab you a chick. It’s good home brew. You’ll love it. I’m still looking for a special chick for you.” Then he disappeared into the crowd.

After a few swallows, Rod started to mingle, feeling mellower by the minute. An olive-skinned girl with long, silky, black hair wearing nothing but bikini panties came up to him and took a swallow of his drink. “Hey, man, where’d you get this shit? It’s better than the shit I’m drinking.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the makeshift bar in the kitchen, where the counter looked like a liquor store display. She found a fresh cup for herself, took his cup and began pouring a shot of every bottle on the counter into each cup. Behind the liquor bottles was a large clear jar with a kosher dill pickle label still on it. It was half-full of a colorless liquid like Rod’s first drink.

“What’s that stuff?” he asked, pointing to the large jar.

“Beats me? I heard somebody call it panther piss. That what you been drinkin’? Must be some good shit. Last couple I saw drinking it are in the bedroom now fucking their brains out.” She grabbed the jar and topped off their cups. “Okay, let’s drink to that. If I chug-a-lug mine down first, you have to go down on me. If you finish first, I have to go down on you. Bottoms up.” She turned her cup up and drank the concoction down as fast as she could.

Rod quickly gulped down the horrible-tasting mix. He didn’t want to lose the bet to a girl who had probably screwed half the guys at the party. Half way through, he felt the hotdogs and beers from the ballgame coming up.

“You don’t look too good, man,” she said as Rod threw up all over himself, the floor, and sink. “Jesus, looks like you lost the last two days’ meals. Not much of a drinker, huh? Here, let me help you.” The girl pulled his arm around her shoulder and led him to the bathroom. “Gotta get you outta those clothes. Jeeze, man, you really stink.”

“What was in that drink?” His voice started to slur. “I’m really dizzy. I need to lie down.”

“Just as soon as we get these nasty clothes off you,” she said, pulling his vomit-soaked shirt, pants, and shoes off. “Now, let’s get you to bed, handsome. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.”

The room was spinning as Rod and his unknown friend waded through the crowd toward the bedroom.

“Hey, Jamikah, I been looking for you. Where you taking my man with no clothes on?” Junior asked with a knowing smile. “Be good to him, he’s my best friend. I’ll clear the room out for you.”

Junior opened the door to the master-suite bedroom to find a foursome working out on the king-size bed. “Okay, time’s up, you assholes have to go so my man here can get some action.” He helped Jamikah get Rod onto the rumpled bed. “Hey, man, you be cool now, you hear. Don’t let me down.”

“Yeah, just stop the room from spinning.”

“Not to worry, just lay back and enjoy.” And then Junior was gone.

“Jamikah. That your name?” Rod mumbled.

“Don’t worry ’bout my name, you won’t remember it tomorrow. Just shut up and let me work this big boy up a little bit so we can get down to business.”

Rod felt her massaging him and shimmying her wet vagina down on his hard-on that felt like it was going to explode. Jamikah slowly began humping him, faster and faster, moaning louder the faster as she humped. The room swirled in circles as Rod tried to focus on the ceiling until his lights went out.

The heavy throbbing at the top of his head woke Rod up. He could hardly move. Painfully, he cut his eyes to see Jamikah passed out naked beside him. He tried to stand up. Holding on to a chair to steady himself, Rod shuffled slowly to the large window to close the drapes, shutting out the sun so he didn’t have to squint. Without the blinding sun, he looked back at Jamikah. Her long slender body was stretched out on her back.
Her breasts looked bigger last night
, he thought.

“Rod, my man, how did Jamikah treat you last night?” Junior inquired as he walked into the room.

“Not so loud, man. My head is killing me.”

“Okay, okay, but tell me, how was it?’

“From the way my dick looks and feels, she must have had a great time. Too bad I don’t remember a thing. Just don’t tell her that.”

“Aww, man, she is one of the hottest chicks around and doesn’t let just anybody sample the goods. And you don’t even remember? I been trying to connect with that hot little momma all year and she won’t give me a taste no matter how hard I try. She jumped on you like a bitch in heat, and you don’t remember anything? I’m disappointed in you, man.”

“The thing I do remember is throwing my guts up all over myself and the kitchen. I don’t have anything to wear.”

“No problem, I got some clothes in the car. I’ll go get ’em. And man, if I was you and had the green light she gave you, I would bone that sister one more time just for the memories.” Junior laughed on his way out.

Not embarrassed by his nakedness, Rod sad down on the bed. Jamikah roused a little and stretched her arms and legs before opening her eyes. Rod sat there watching her. “How do you feel?” he asked softly and brushed the hair away from her eyes.

“You still here?”

“Where else would I be with no clothes?”

Jamikah laughed. “I ought to call you Superman. I never knew anybody could last as long as you and be ready for seconds and thirds.”

“I always try to please a lady,” Rod said without revealing he didn’t remember anything.

“First time anybody ever called me a lady,” Jamikah said in a serious tone.

“Maybe you just haven’t met the right guy.”

“Will you cut the gentleman bullshit and give me one more ride before Junior gets back?”

She pulled him down on top of her. “Looks like your dick needs some loving to make it feel better.” With a quick motion, Jamikah flipped them over, got between his legs, and went down on him until he was fully erect. Quickly, she switched to a sixty-nine position. As her head worked up and down on him, he massaged her hot button.

When Junior returned. Rod was drying off from a shower. “Here, try these on, we’re about the same size, except the pants might be a little long.”

“P.U.! When’s the last time you washed these?” Rod held his nose in jest.

“Hey, man, be glad I left them in the car after a frat party last week.”

“They’ll do ’til I can get back to the hotel.” Struggling with his balance, Rod pulled them on carefully. “Can you give me a ride to the hotel?”

“Sure, man.” He turned to Jamikah, who came into the room wrapped in a towel. “Don’t go ’way, I’ll be right back and we can party some more.”

“In your dreams,” Jamikah called after them as they headed out the door.

There were bodies still strewn all over the suite in various stages of undress. The place reeked of sweat and vomit.

“Sorry about the mess. Whatever that was in the drink you gave me was some kind of wicked. What was it?”

“I honestly don’t know, man. I just know somebody always brings it to every party and it works wonders on the girls. Guess it worked pretty good for you, too.”

The hotel lobby was quiet now and housekeeping was busy cleaning up the mess the celebrating fans left behind. Junior waved at the concierge to have his car brought around. Shortly a black Mustang pulled into the driveway.

“Is this yours?” Rod asked in shock.

“Nah, it belongs to a dealer. He just lets me drive it.”

Rod ran his hands along the front fender of the Mustang before getting in. “This is really cool. Ahh . . . I love the smell of a new car.” He checked out the instrument panel as they pulled away.

“They treat all the players good. Some better than others. Life’s good here as long as we keep winning. Hey, what about you? Heard from Cass since you been in California? And tell me what happened after prom night.”

“No, I haven’t heard from her, probably never will. Prom night’s a long story. The short version is I didn’t want to be manipulated by the Worthingtons and their money, and I needed to make some money to help my mom out. I had no job skills, so the Air Force seemed like the best answer. She didn’t take that very well and said she hoped I came home from Vietnam in a body bag.”

“Man, that’s some bad shit.”

“Yeah, but I’m really doing pretty well, graduated at the top of my class in basic training. That’s why I’m out here going to tech school learning a lot of high-tech stuff I can use when I get out.”

“Sounds like a bummer to me. I hate going to class. Tutors do most of our homework. All we have to do is show up in class the minimum number of days required to pass.”

“Don’t you want to get your degree?”

“I won’t need a degree in pro ball. I can always come back and finish it later.”

“Yeah, right. What if you get hurt and can’t play anymore like me? What then?”

“Hey, man, you worry too much. Scouts are telling me I’ll be a first-round pick. I’m gonna be rich while you’re working your ass off for chump change if you don’t get your scrawny ass shot off in Vietnam,” Junior said with a chuckle.

“I don’t know, not getting your degree sounds like a big risk to me. Anyway, it’s not definite that I’ll go to Vietnam. I may be sent some place to learn a foreign language . . . maybe Russian. That’s where I scored the highest on my tests.”

“Russian! You gonna be some kinda spy or somethin’? Man, you crazy!” Junior said as he pulled his Mustang up to the motel entrance.

“By the way,” Rod said. “I been meaning to ask you who the girl was you wanted me to meet that was so fabulous.”

Junior smiled. “She found you first. It was Jamikah. Was I right?”

Rod shook his head. “Yeah, man, you were more than right.” He reached over to shake hands with his friend, but gave him an emotional goodbye hug instead. “I probably won’t be in the area next season, so you’ll have to win without me. But, I had a great time last night. You really know how to throw a party. Jamikah is something else. Good luck with that. Oh, by the way, did I tell you what a great game you played? Take care, man.”

“Don’t get all mushy on me, man. Consider last night with Jamikah as my goin’ away present. Just watch your back if you go to Vietnam. They all look alike.” Junior grinned at their inside joke.

Rod shook his head, got out of the car, and waved goodbye just as he had from the bus months earlier. He hustled up to their room, inserted his key, and swung the door open all in one motion. Guy was watching TV.

“Sorry about leaving you after the game, you missed one hell of a party.”

“I’m glad you and your friend had a great time. It wouldn’t have been fun for me. I called my girlfriend and talked for almost two hours. We’re getting married when I get my next assignment. I just hope it’s somewhere east of the Mississippi. She doesn’t want to get too far away from family.”

“That’s great, man. I’m happy for you. I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment yet.” Rod quickly changed the subject. “Hey, what do you say we go on back to the base early? Not much to do here without a car. Give me a few minutes and I can be ready to check out.”

“Fine by me.” Guy looked away from the TV with a confused expression on his face. “Where did you get those clothes? That’s not what you wore to the game.”

“It’s a long story,” Rod said as he plied on layers of deodorant and after-shave, put his uniform on, and threw Junior’s smelly clothes in the trash. “Come on, let’s get back to the base.”

New orders

Rod and Guy arrived back at Vandenberg, anxious to find out where they would be stationed next—together, they hoped. The next morning, they skipped breakfast and went straight to the squadron commander’s office. Rod knocked and was told to enter. Both saluted, identified themselves, and stood at attention.

“At ease, airmen.”

“Sir, Airman Lanning and I came back from leave early to pick up our new assignment orders, sir.”

“Orders have been cut and you can pick them up at 0800
tomorrow
like everybody else, airman. Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir, thank you, sir.” The two airmen did an about-face and returned to their barracks.

“Well, we are technically still on leave. Want to go into town and catch a movie? That new James Bond flick
From Russia with Love
is in town. Maybe he can teach us a few tricks,” Rod joked.