by Patrick Ford
Life in a Catholic boarding school had mostly shielded him from girls, and his teachers went on and on about the sins of the flesh. Jack was a Doubting Thomas. Years spent with nuns and brothers had not convinced him about his faith. He could not understand that, if religion was such a desirable thing, why these same nuns and brothers had to beat children with such obvious enthusiasm in order to make them believe. For him, it had had the opposite effect. Moreover, as for sex, their constant reminders that it was an ugly bodily function designed by God solely for the purpose of procreation—and not to be enjoyed—well, he had proof positive that was wrong!
Jack had become a cynic and would remain so for the rest of his days. Later in life, as he added politicians, lawyers, clergymen, generals, and used car salesmen to his list, he would joke that he was a ‘fully paid up, card-carrying member of the Skeptics and Cynics Association of Australia. However, for the moment, he was a novice in the ways of women and these three young beauties appeared to be out of his class, despite their friendly greetings.
Bernadette said to them, “Where is Susan? I thought she was coming with you?”
One replied. “She was late getting home and wasn’t ready when we called around to pick her up. Her Mum is going to drop her off shortly…wait, that sounds like them now.” Bernadette went out to greet them.
* * * *
Susan had been looking forward to this evening. Bernadette had teased her about meeting her cousin. “My God, he’s handsome,” she had said. “You’ll love him.” She was doubtful about that, but was glad to have the opportunity to meet a nice boy. Her mother had been very protective of her since they had left America, and had not been encouraging when the subject turned to boys. She had supervised Susan as she dressed to make sure she was not wearing what she called revealing clothes. However, Susan had pinned her pretty, dark hair into an attractive chignon, revealing her elegant neck. In any man’s language, she looked stunning.
“What time should I call back for her?” asked Marci.
“Don’t worry about that, Mrs. Baker,” replied Bernadette. “Someone will bring her home.” Marci looked a little doubtful. “Not too late now, Susan,” she said to her daughter. “Don’t wait up, Mom,” Susan replied. The girls went inside. Susan immediately became the centre of attention. She was something of a curiosity in this company and not just for her looks, but also for her soft American accent and the unusual manner in which she had arrived in their city.
Bernadette drew her over to Jack for the introduction. “Hello, Susan,” he said, taking her proffered hand. Her skin was soft and warm. He felt a jolt of energy, like a small electric charge. She released his hand, and it seemed to him that she had held on for a little longer than was necessary. She murmured a greeting. That was when he looked her fully in the face.
My God, he thought, she is so, so beautiful! His gaze took in her soft latte skin, her full lips and generous mouth, and finally, her liquid eyes—dark brown, shining with some inner glow he could not define. I could drown in those eyes, he thought. I could just fall in and never come out. He became aware that he was staring. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, “I didn’t mean to stare, but you have the most beautiful eyes.” She smiled broadly, a gorgeous smile. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she softly said.
He felt something give way inside him. He was tongue-tied and blushing. Bernadette sensed his discomfort and led Susan on to the next guest. Bernadette cast a look back over her shoulder and delivered a self-satisfied grin. “See,” she said, “I told you there would be some interesting people here!”
During dinner, and for the rest of the evening, Jack tried not to keep looking at Susan. Fortunately, Susan sat away from him, on the same side of the table or he could not have avoided staring at her. After dinner, he managed a short conversation, asking her about America and her voyage to Australia. She had a lovely soft voice, nothing like the hard nasal intonations he had associated with Americans.
She thought Jack’s accent was cute. “But,” she said, “you all speak so fast I have difficulty understanding you.”
Jack made a mental note—slow down, you bloody fool.
As the party began to break up, the other girls called to Susan to join them—they were leaving. She looked at him. “I have to go. It was lovely to meet you.”
Oh, God, he thought, please don’t go; stay here forever. Bernadette interrupted with a conspiratorial glance at him. “It’s all right. Jack can drive her home. He’s going out to Robb. It’s on his way.” He glanced nervously at Susan. “Is that all right with you?” She smiled and he felt his heart skip a beat. It seemed she was smiling only for him. “Sure,” she said, “let’s go.”
The Bakers lived on the north side of the city. As they followed the steep street, Susan said, “Have you been up to the lookout yet?”
“No, I only arrived today.”
“That’s my house there, the blue one,” she said, “Go on further and make a left hand turn. That is the way to the lookout. You get a really good view of the city, especially at night with all the lights.”
They came out upon a broad paved parking area. Jack drove to the edge where they looked down on the city, awash with bright lights. He switched off and they sat in silence for a while. He was acutely aware of her presence, the scent of her perfume—subtle but with a hint of musk—and the warmth of her body. She moved a little closer on the bench seat and began to point out the different sections of the city. Jack could not have identified any of these landmarks afterwards. His whole being was concentrated on her nearness. When she reached out to touch his arm to get his attention, it was as though he had brushed against a live wire. “I think we should go,” he said, “Your mother will be looking for you.” Did she look a bit disappointed?
When they rolled to a stop alongside her house, a light was burning over the front door and there was a faint glow from the rear of the house. “Mom’s waiting up,” she said. “She worries so.”
God, thought Jack, if you were mine I wouldn’t let you out of my bloody sight!
There was an awkward pause, then, “Good night Jack, it’s been a swell evening.” She leaned over and kissed him full on the lips. Her mouth open, her tongue seeking his. The taste and scent of her overcame him. It only lasted a moment before she slipped from the car and disappeared into the house.
He had been about to ask if he could see her again, to say anything to keep her there, but he was so overcome by the taste, the scent, and the feel of her he could not.
Meanwhile, in a small office in a large five-sided building in Washington, D.C., orders were being drafted to assign a substantial number of US combat aircraft to duty in a small country in Indochina, where two aircraft carriers were about to arrive off the coast. A short story about this appeared in the Australian newspapers. No one took any particular notice. After all, what possible concern was this to Australia?
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia—1964
“Who was that; who drove you home?” Susan’s mother was sitting in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee. The house was still. Somewhere three people were sleeping. “Oh, that was Jack, Bernadette’s cousin. He’s just arrived and is starting agriculture this year.”
“Susan,” said Marci, “I don’t think it’s proper for you to be alone in a car with a boy you’ve only just met. You don’t know what he is like.”
“Mom, he was the perfect gentleman.” More’s the pity, she thought. “Anyway, I’m almost eighteen years old. You do not have to worry about me. I am going to bed. Good night.” Susan just wanted to be alone to enjoy the delicious sensations running like wildfire through her body. In her room, she lay in bed and re-lived the evening, his handsome face, and her bold kiss. He would not have kissed me, she thought. He was so nervous. Oh my! He really is something! She began to feel a tingle in her stomach and felt her nipples begin to harden, but she resisted the feeling. Not now, she thought. Keep it for him. She drifted off to sleep. In the night, her body gave little quiver
s of pleasure and she moaned softly as her dream took hold. In the morning, she had a smile on her face.
At breakfast, Susan tried to act as if nothing extraordinary had happened. She fended off questions from her siblings about the boy who had driven her home. Sarah had a knowing look on her face, and James Junior teased her. “Ha, ha, Suzie’s got a boyfriend,” he chirped.
Finally, Marci shushed them from the table. Later in the bedroom, she said to Jimmy, “I hope she doesn’t get serious with him. We’ll not be here long, and it will only be worse for her when we go.”
Jimmy said, ‘Darling, Susan’s a woman now. You can’t hold back the tide. Let her be herself; she will find her own destiny. Meanwhile, if she is keen on this young guy, we should have him around for supper one night, so we can do a proper inspection of him.” Marci was not completely satisfied. She remembered her sister Sophie and the young Marine who’d died on Guadalcanal. She remembered the baby he had left in Sophie’s belly, the illegitimate Karl, and the shame and sorrow it had bought upon her entire family. She did not want her pretty daughter to suffer the same fate.
* * * *
Jack drove back to college in a daze. Amy had been wonderful in a sexual sense, but he had felt nothing like this about her. She had been a good friend, a wonderful instructor in the gentle art of lovemaking, but she was no more than an outlet for long pent up emotions, for a bit of fun. This girl was very different.
He went to bed and lay there running the events of the evening through his head. She was so stunningly beautiful and so sweet and gentle, a softly spoken and exotic creature to this inexperienced young man. God, he thought, I must see her again. I don’t even know her phone number. I will have to see Bernadette tomorrow and get all the details I can. How can I see her again? I can hardly stroll up to her front door without an invitation! He closed his eyes and drank in her remembered scent. He could still feel her soft lips, the sweet taste of her. He drifted off to sleep grappling with a feeling he had never experienced.
In the morning, he showered, dressed and went to the refectory for breakfast. It was a new experience for Jack. At school, breakfast had been a bowl of lumpy porridge, half-toasted bread with greasy margarine and jam with an unidentifiable flavour. Here in the vaulted refectory of Robb College, he was amazed at the choices. There were cereals, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, rolls, toast and real butter, and many other tasty items. He helped himself and joined a group of students at a table. Like him, they had the bewildered look of freshmen. After introducing himself, he found a couple of agriculture students.
“We all have to go to an introductory lecture at the faculty building,” Bob O’Connor said. That is the big one across the road from the chemistry department; do you know it?”
Jack didn’t know it, but he offered Bob a lift if he could show him where to go. The other agriculture student, Mike Barrat, asked if he could get a lift too. “Ok,” said Jack, that’s all I can take though, I’ve only got a ute.”
Mike and Bob were keen on getting into the sports scene and couldn’t wait until April when the rugby season started. Both had been top players at school. Jack wasn’t much good at sports. He liked rugby and he was a handy cricketer, but the only real sporting skill he had was in shooting. For the rest of the morning it was a blur of instructions. They went to introductory lectures, were given book and stationery lists, and were dispatched to obtain those items. Just before lunch, Jack managed to slip off to phone Bernadette. There was no one at home.
There was an introductory tour of the library, to show them how to find and borrow books, and how to use the various study aids available to them. After that, it was off to the Student Union building, to register and receive student IDs. Jack registered his Ute, receiving a green sticker that permitted parking in certain areas allocated to students. They then entered the main Student Union hall. This was a large room with a cafeteria and many tables. Usually a social centre for students, today it was crowded with stalls displaying the wares of various clubs and societies. They did a quick circuit and Bob and Mike decided they wanted lunch. Jack decided to return to college for his lunch, and try to find Bernadette. The telephone kept stubbornly ringing out. There was still no one at home.
Desperately, Jack looked up the Bakers’ number and began to dial but he changed his mind at the last moment. He returned to the Student Union and checked out some more displays. Outside the hall, attracting little interest was an army Land Rover. Jack could see camouflage netting stretched out from its side. Under the netting was a sturdy fold-up table with information leaflets and a couple of bored looking soldiers alongside what appeared to be a machine gun. He wandered across to the Land Rover. “G’day mate,” said one of the men, “Are you interested in becoming a little soldier boy? I’m CSM Neil Raymond.” The speaker was an older man with greying hair. He wore a woven crown on his sleeve, below the Regimental colour flash. Jack had absorbed a lot of military history so he knew this man was a Warrant Officer, Second Class, or WO2. He wore ribbons for the Korean War and for Long Service and Good Conduct.
"G’day,” said Jack. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re from the University Regiment, looking for recruits.”
“Is that so?” replied Jack. “What does a University Regiment do?”
“Well, we are a part of the CMF. That is the Citizens Military Forces. We are like a reserve for the regular army. This regiment does infantry training, but our main purpose is to train officers for the reserves. It is a lot of fun if you like that kind of thing and you get paid as well.”
“How old do you have to be?” asked Jack.
“Eighteen mate. However, if you are under twenty-one you have to get your parents’ permission. Still interested?”
“Not at the moment,” said Jack, “Can I take some information with me?”
“Here you go, son.” The CSM handed him a sheaf of paper. As Jack walked away, he saw a cardboard sign alongside the machine gun. It said GPMG M60 General Purpose Machine Gun and Standard Infantry Section Weapon -7.62mm. The germ of an idea that had formed in Jack’s brain gave a little squirm. He walked back to the Union building, deciding to have a cup of tea. He had just sat down at a table, when there was a flurry of activity behind him. Perfumed arms wound round his neck, and a torrent of golden hair cascaded across his face as his cousin kissed his forehead.
“What’s that for?” he said, startled by her appearance from nowhere. “I’m trying to make all my friends jealous,” she said. “You’re the most handsome man here and they don’t know you’re my cousin. Now get me a cup of coffee! Oh, by the way I have bought a friend. Make it two coffees.”
Jack stood and, looking around, was stupefied to see Susan standing there. She wore her shining hair in a ponytail that made her look younger—almost a little girl look. However, everything else was the same, especially those gorgeous eyes. She smiled, and the smile came from her whole being. “Hello,” she said shyly. Today she wore a plaid skirt, green roll neck skivvy, and pale green tights. The skirt was short and showed off her lovely legs to perfection. Stage fright overwhelmed Jack. He mumbled a greeting, and scurried off for the coffee.
“Well,” said Bernadette, when he returned, “did you enjoy your evening?”
“I was a little overwhelmed by the grand company,” said Jack. “I’m not used to such fine fare, and the glass of wine I had was my first ever. Remember, I’m just a little bush kid.”
“Thanks again for taking me home, Jack.” Susan had a mischievous glint in those fabulous eyes. “It was a pleasure meeting a little bush kid.”
They all laughed, and Jack felt his stage fright ease. They spent a half hour talking about Ballinrobe and what he intended to do with his life. “I wanted to become an army officer,” he said, “But Dad will need me at home soon. He’s not well right now, with his bad heart. So I will study here during term and work at home during the breaks.”
“So what’s happening in O-week today?” said Bernadette.
&nbs
p; “I think there’s some kind of dance in the hall tonight, with a welcome barbecue.”
“Oh good, you can take Susan with you. She’s a fresher too, you know.” Jack could not believe this. He looked at Susan again. She smiled sweetly.
“Do you mind?” he said. “Going with me, I mean.”
“Well, I was going with Carey Grant, but it seems I’ve been stood up. I guess a little bush kid will have to do.” She was laughing with her eyes. “Pick me up at seven.” The girls took their leave, Bernadette trying to smooch him again. He sat there like a stunned plover. Dear God, he thought, do not let me make a mess of this.
Meanwhile, in a large oval office in a large white building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, a serious meeting was taking place. A big man from Texas called Johnson, who was the President of the United States of America, was meeting with his National Security Advisers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Concerned by the activities now taking place in a small country in Indochina, they were making plans to intervene in those activities, if found to be necessary.
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia—1964
“Mom, Susan’s been in that bathroom for hours,” wailed James Junior. “I need to get washed up for supper.”
“Shush, Jimbo, Susan’s going on a date. It’s very important she looks good,” said Sarah, who wished her mother would let her go on dates with young men who had their own cars. “She won’t be long. It is almost seven. Jack’s almost here.”
Susan had taken a long time choosing her outfit for the evening. With a thrill, she put on her best lace underwear and sheer black stockings. She wore a dark blue dress with a halter neck that showed off her lovely shoulders. She wore her hair loosely tied with a matching velvet ribbon. Around her neck was a gold chain adorned with a dark blue cameo pendant. She emerged from the bathroom and presented herself for inspection.
