General Fiction posted July 13, 2020 |
A soldier seeks manhood.
One Good Turn
by howard11
"Give me twenty." Sergeant Swain held out his hand to PFC Reilly. Reilly pulled his wallet and began to count out his German Marks. "16, 17, 18". He put the wallet away and reached into his pocket for enough change to make the 20. As he offered the money, an approaching voice commanded, "Hold it!"
Interrupting the two soldiers was SFC James Goldsmith. "Sgt. Swain, give the private back his money and come with me to the motor pool office. Reilly, continue working."
In the office, Swain stood across the desk where Goldsmith had taken a seat. "Sgt. Swain, you do know an NCO is prohibited from accepting gifts or gratuities from subordinates. Especially, those subordinates in his chain of command." Goldsmith could see the young NCO was quite nervous. "Relax. What was going on out there."
"I was actually helping PFC Reilly. Reilly was in need of some basic German for his birthday celebration, so I told him I would teach him some words and phrases for a small cost."
Goldsmith's interest grew, "What was he to get for his 20 Marks?"
Swain tensed up again. "Sergeant first class, we agreed on a Mark per word, figuring 20 words would do the job for his birthday."
"Sgt. Swain, where are you from in the states?"
"Louisiana. The Sportsman's Paradise."
"Is that where you learned the German language?"
"Oh no. I knew nothing about Germany before being assigned here two years ago. I paid attention in the Germany introduction class. Since then, I have spent a lot of time on the economy using the language." Swain's answer came with pride.
Hiding his amusement, Goldsmith tried to remain serious, "Sergeant, no more money deals with subordinates. Go back to work and send Reilly to me."
PFC Reilly knocked and Goldsmith told him to enter. "Have a seat, Reilly." The private sat down in a metal chair.
"Reilly, do you know who I am?"
"Yes, sergeant. You work in the headquarters building where all the officers are."
"That's right. I am a friend of your boss, Staff Sergeant Wilson. Before he went home on emergency leave, he asked me to check-in on you. And Reilly, you should take that concern as praise for your efforts in the motor pool."
"I like SSG Wilson. He is a good boss."
"Yes he is. And I don't think he would let you buy German words from Sgt. Swain with your hard earned pay. Have you learned any German since your arrival here?"
"A few words but it's hard for me. I really do need more words for my birthday." Frustration was apparent in both his voice and facial expression.
"Sgt. Wilson told me you were going to be 21 this year. That's the big one. How soon, and what are your plans?"
"Friday. Mike, my buddy from commo, is going to take me to a special house in downtown Stuttgart. He is going to get me to the door, but then I go it alone and come out a man."
"Would that be the famous 'Haus Drei Farbe'?"
"I don't understand."
"Reilly, the 'House of Three Colors' is the brothel of choice for area soldiers."
"Brothel, sergeant?"
"House of prostitution. Whorehouse to be blunt." Goldsmith decided to change directions, "Your first name is Joe, right?"
"Officially Joseph, but no one calls me that at home unless they're mad at me. Just Joe"
"Well, Joe where is home?"
"Dad owns a farm in Lincoln County, Washington. The farm is between Wilbur and Odessa. The farm next door belongs to Uncle Jerry, my Dad's brother." Off on a tangent, Reilly added, "Farming is very hard work."
"So is becoming a man, Joe. Who told you manhood could be had just by giving money to an accommodating woman?"
"My cousin Paul. He told me that he and a friend went to Spokane, visited a 'special house', had some fun, and became men."
"Are you sure you don't want to wait for statewide leave so you can follow in the traditional footsteps of other eastern Washington young men?"
"Sgt. Goldsmith, I'm going to be 21 here in Germany and will gladly follow in the footsteps of American soldiers."
"Very patriotic, Joe. How many hours a day did you work in the fields for your Dad?"
"Fifteen or 16. Depended on the crop. We were big on wheat."
"What about on school days?"
"A couple of hours before the starting bell rang, maybe four more after school. It was my main job to keep our equipment running. That's why I chose to be an army mechanic."
"And a good one, I hear." Goldsmith continued, "Joe, what did you do to earn your Army Achievement Medal last spring?"
"Sgt. Swain and I were on the autobahn pulling a dead truck back from the field exercise near Augsburg. We came across a smoking car stalled in the right lane. Two women were standing by the car waving their arms. Sgt. Swain pulled over and I grabbed our fire extinguisher, jumped out, and ran to the car. While he attempted to calm the ladies down, I lifted the hood and shot foam all over the engine."
"Quick thinking."
"We put out warning triangles and slowed traffic until the Polizei arrived. One of the women gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and whispered in my ear. I didn't understand what she whispered."
"PFC Reilly. I think you are more a man than you realize. And it is not my job to dictate how you celebrate your 21st birthday. As far as your destination, it has a clean reputation with the local authorities and our MPs."
"Thank you."
"A few pointers. If you have some, wear pants that are not blue jeans. A shirt with a collar would be nice. Don't take more than 50 Marks. Not one pfennig more. They will take your payment up front, near the door."
"How will I speak to them? How will they know who I am and what I want.?"
"Soldier, they will know when you enter, who you are and what you desire. They know you are more 'little rascal' than you are John Wayne. And most of the residents there speak English. Go with the flow and if someone seems really displeased with your actions, say you're sorry...es tut mir leid. Any questions?"
"Es tut mir leid. Okay. Sergeant Goldsmith, if they speak English, was Sgt. Swain playing me for a sucker by taking my 20 marks?"
"Another lesson on the way to manhood. His lesson is my responsibility. Now, get back to that sick jeep and good luck at your party."
Two weeks later Goldsmith pulled PFC Reilly aside after the morning run. "Private, how did your birthday celebration go?"
"An amazing night that I will never forget. When I got inside the door, a pretty woman, who smelled great, sat me down and asked what I wanted...in English like you said. She looked terrific and a little bit familiar. I couldn't take my eyes off her breasts which kept trying to escape from her dress top."
"Did she ask for your money?"
"I pulled it from my pocket and offered it to her after explaining what I wanted. She told me to put it away because it wasn't needed. I looked at her and said my best 'danke'."
"Private did she give a reason for the surprise gift?"
"No, but I figured it out on my own. She was one of the women with the smoking car last year." Reilly was proud of himself.
"Now that was a longshot coincidence that worked out for you." Goldsmith was glad the young soldier survived the experience.
"But you haven't heard the best part yet, sergeant. She handed me off to the other girl from the car fire. The one who gave me the kiss on the cheek after we helped them. Anja, that's her name, took me to her room. She didn't kiss me again or talk into my ear this time. We were too busy."
"I bet you were. Hit the shower and don't be late to work."
This Sentence Starts The Story contest entry
"Give me twenty." Sergeant Swain held out his hand to PFC Reilly. Reilly pulled his wallet and began to count out his German Marks. "16, 17, 18". He put the wallet away and reached into his pocket for enough change to make the 20. As he offered the money, an approaching voice commanded, "Hold it!"
Interrupting the two soldiers was SFC James Goldsmith. "Sgt. Swain, give the private back his money and come with me to the motor pool office. Reilly, continue working."
In the office, Swain stood across the desk where Goldsmith had taken a seat. "Sgt. Swain, you do know an NCO is prohibited from accepting gifts or gratuities from subordinates. Especially, those subordinates in his chain of command." Goldsmith could see the young NCO was quite nervous. "Relax. What was going on out there."
"I was actually helping PFC Reilly. Reilly was in need of some basic German for his birthday celebration, so I told him I would teach him some words and phrases for a small cost."
Goldsmith's interest grew, "What was he to get for his 20 Marks?"
Swain tensed up again. "Sergeant first class, we agreed on a Mark per word, figuring 20 words would do the job for his birthday."
"Sgt. Swain, where are you from in the states?"
"Louisiana. The Sportsman's Paradise."
"Is that where you learned the German language?"
"Oh no. I knew nothing about Germany before being assigned here two years ago. I paid attention in the Germany introduction class. Since then, I have spent a lot of time on the economy using the language." Swain's answer came with pride.
Hiding his amusement, Goldsmith tried to remain serious, "Sergeant, no more money deals with subordinates. Go back to work and send Reilly to me."
PFC Reilly knocked and Goldsmith told him to enter. "Have a seat, Reilly." The private sat down in a metal chair.
"Reilly, do you know who I am?"
"Yes, sergeant. You work in the headquarters building where all the officers are."
"That's right. I am a friend of your boss, Staff Sergeant Wilson. Before he went home on emergency leave, he asked me to check-in on you. And Reilly, you should take that concern as praise for your efforts in the motor pool."
"I like SSG Wilson. He is a good boss."
"Yes he is. And I don't think he would let you buy German words from Sgt. Swain with your hard earned pay. Have you learned any German since your arrival here?"
"A few words but it's hard for me. I really do need more words for my birthday." Frustration was apparent in both his voice and facial expression.
"Sgt. Wilson told me you were going to be 21 this year. That's the big one. How soon, and what are your plans?"
"Friday. Mike, my buddy from commo, is going to take me to a special house in downtown Stuttgart. He is going to get me to the door, but then I go it alone and come out a man."
"Would that be the famous 'Haus Drei Farbe'?"
"I don't understand."
"Reilly, the 'House of Three Colors' is the brothel of choice for area soldiers."
"Brothel, sergeant?"
"House of prostitution. Whorehouse to be blunt." Goldsmith decided to change directions, "Your first name is Joe, right?"
"Officially Joseph, but no one calls me that at home unless they're mad at me. Just Joe"
"Well, Joe where is home?"
"Dad owns a farm in Lincoln County, Washington. The farm is between Wilbur and Odessa. The farm next door belongs to Uncle Jerry, my Dad's brother." Off on a tangent, Reilly added, "Farming is very hard work."
"So is becoming a man, Joe. Who told you manhood could be had just by giving money to an accommodating woman?"
"My cousin Paul. He told me that he and a friend went to Spokane, visited a 'special house', had some fun, and became men."
"Are you sure you don't want to wait for statewide leave so you can follow in the traditional footsteps of other eastern Washington young men?"
"Sgt. Goldsmith, I'm going to be 21 here in Germany and will gladly follow in the footsteps of American soldiers."
"Very patriotic, Joe. How many hours a day did you work in the fields for your Dad?"
"Fifteen or 16. Depended on the crop. We were big on wheat."
"What about on school days?"
"A couple of hours before the starting bell rang, maybe four more after school. It was my main job to keep our equipment running. That's why I chose to be an army mechanic."
"And a good one, I hear." Goldsmith continued, "Joe, what did you do to earn your Army Achievement Medal last spring?"
"Sgt. Swain and I were on the autobahn pulling a dead truck back from the field exercise near Augsburg. We came across a smoking car stalled in the right lane. Two women were standing by the car waving their arms. Sgt. Swain pulled over and I grabbed our fire extinguisher, jumped out, and ran to the car. While he attempted to calm the ladies down, I lifted the hood and shot foam all over the engine."
"Quick thinking."
"We put out warning triangles and slowed traffic until the Polizei arrived. One of the women gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and whispered in my ear. I didn't understand what she whispered."
"PFC Reilly. I think you are more a man than you realize. And it is not my job to dictate how you celebrate your 21st birthday. As far as your destination, it has a clean reputation with the local authorities and our MPs."
"Thank you."
"A few pointers. If you have some, wear pants that are not blue jeans. A shirt with a collar would be nice. Don't take more than 50 Marks. Not one pfennig more. They will take your payment up front, near the door."
"How will I speak to them? How will they know who I am and what I want.?"
"Soldier, they will know when you enter, who you are and what you desire. They know you are more 'little rascal' than you are John Wayne. And most of the residents there speak English. Go with the flow and if someone seems really displeased with your actions, say you're sorry...es tut mir leid. Any questions?"
"Es tut mir leid. Okay. Sergeant Goldsmith, if they speak English, was Sgt. Swain playing me for a sucker by taking my 20 marks?"
"Another lesson on the way to manhood. His lesson is my responsibility. Now, get back to that sick jeep and good luck at your party."
Two weeks later Goldsmith pulled PFC Reilly aside after the morning run. "Private, how did your birthday celebration go?"
"An amazing night that I will never forget. When I got inside the door, a pretty woman, who smelled great, sat me down and asked what I wanted...in English like you said. She looked terrific and a little bit familiar. I couldn't take my eyes off her breasts which kept trying to escape from her dress top."
"Did she ask for your money?"
"I pulled it from my pocket and offered it to her after explaining what I wanted. She told me to put it away because it wasn't needed. I looked at her and said my best 'danke'."
"Private did she give a reason for the surprise gift?"
"No, but I figured it out on my own. She was one of the women with the smoking car last year." Reilly was proud of himself.
"Now that was a longshot coincidence that worked out for you." Goldsmith was glad the young soldier survived the experience.
"But you haven't heard the best part yet, sergeant. She handed me off to the other girl from the car fire. The one who gave me the kiss on the cheek after we helped them. Anja, that's her name, took me to her room. She didn't kiss me again or talk into my ear this time. We were too busy."
"I bet you were. Hit the shower and don't be late to work."
Interrupting the two soldiers was SFC James Goldsmith. "Sgt. Swain, give the private back his money and come with me to the motor pool office. Reilly, continue working."
In the office, Swain stood across the desk where Goldsmith had taken a seat. "Sgt. Swain, you do know an NCO is prohibited from accepting gifts or gratuities from subordinates. Especially, those subordinates in his chain of command." Goldsmith could see the young NCO was quite nervous. "Relax. What was going on out there."
"I was actually helping PFC Reilly. Reilly was in need of some basic German for his birthday celebration, so I told him I would teach him some words and phrases for a small cost."
Goldsmith's interest grew, "What was he to get for his 20 Marks?"
Swain tensed up again. "Sergeant first class, we agreed on a Mark per word, figuring 20 words would do the job for his birthday."
"Sgt. Swain, where are you from in the states?"
"Louisiana. The Sportsman's Paradise."
"Is that where you learned the German language?"
"Oh no. I knew nothing about Germany before being assigned here two years ago. I paid attention in the Germany introduction class. Since then, I have spent a lot of time on the economy using the language." Swain's answer came with pride.
Hiding his amusement, Goldsmith tried to remain serious, "Sergeant, no more money deals with subordinates. Go back to work and send Reilly to me."
PFC Reilly knocked and Goldsmith told him to enter. "Have a seat, Reilly." The private sat down in a metal chair.
"Reilly, do you know who I am?"
"Yes, sergeant. You work in the headquarters building where all the officers are."
"That's right. I am a friend of your boss, Staff Sergeant Wilson. Before he went home on emergency leave, he asked me to check-in on you. And Reilly, you should take that concern as praise for your efforts in the motor pool."
"I like SSG Wilson. He is a good boss."
"Yes he is. And I don't think he would let you buy German words from Sgt. Swain with your hard earned pay. Have you learned any German since your arrival here?"
"A few words but it's hard for me. I really do need more words for my birthday." Frustration was apparent in both his voice and facial expression.
"Sgt. Wilson told me you were going to be 21 this year. That's the big one. How soon, and what are your plans?"
"Friday. Mike, my buddy from commo, is going to take me to a special house in downtown Stuttgart. He is going to get me to the door, but then I go it alone and come out a man."
"Would that be the famous 'Haus Drei Farbe'?"
"I don't understand."
"Reilly, the 'House of Three Colors' is the brothel of choice for area soldiers."
"Brothel, sergeant?"
"House of prostitution. Whorehouse to be blunt." Goldsmith decided to change directions, "Your first name is Joe, right?"
"Officially Joseph, but no one calls me that at home unless they're mad at me. Just Joe"
"Well, Joe where is home?"
"Dad owns a farm in Lincoln County, Washington. The farm is between Wilbur and Odessa. The farm next door belongs to Uncle Jerry, my Dad's brother." Off on a tangent, Reilly added, "Farming is very hard work."
"So is becoming a man, Joe. Who told you manhood could be had just by giving money to an accommodating woman?"
"My cousin Paul. He told me that he and a friend went to Spokane, visited a 'special house', had some fun, and became men."
"Are you sure you don't want to wait for statewide leave so you can follow in the traditional footsteps of other eastern Washington young men?"
"Sgt. Goldsmith, I'm going to be 21 here in Germany and will gladly follow in the footsteps of American soldiers."
"Very patriotic, Joe. How many hours a day did you work in the fields for your Dad?"
"Fifteen or 16. Depended on the crop. We were big on wheat."
"What about on school days?"
"A couple of hours before the starting bell rang, maybe four more after school. It was my main job to keep our equipment running. That's why I chose to be an army mechanic."
"And a good one, I hear." Goldsmith continued, "Joe, what did you do to earn your Army Achievement Medal last spring?"
"Sgt. Swain and I were on the autobahn pulling a dead truck back from the field exercise near Augsburg. We came across a smoking car stalled in the right lane. Two women were standing by the car waving their arms. Sgt. Swain pulled over and I grabbed our fire extinguisher, jumped out, and ran to the car. While he attempted to calm the ladies down, I lifted the hood and shot foam all over the engine."
"Quick thinking."
"We put out warning triangles and slowed traffic until the Polizei arrived. One of the women gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and whispered in my ear. I didn't understand what she whispered."
"PFC Reilly. I think you are more a man than you realize. And it is not my job to dictate how you celebrate your 21st birthday. As far as your destination, it has a clean reputation with the local authorities and our MPs."
"Thank you."
"A few pointers. If you have some, wear pants that are not blue jeans. A shirt with a collar would be nice. Don't take more than 50 Marks. Not one pfennig more. They will take your payment up front, near the door."
"How will I speak to them? How will they know who I am and what I want.?"
"Soldier, they will know when you enter, who you are and what you desire. They know you are more 'little rascal' than you are John Wayne. And most of the residents there speak English. Go with the flow and if someone seems really displeased with your actions, say you're sorry...es tut mir leid. Any questions?"
"Es tut mir leid. Okay. Sergeant Goldsmith, if they speak English, was Sgt. Swain playing me for a sucker by taking my 20 marks?"
"Another lesson on the way to manhood. His lesson is my responsibility. Now, get back to that sick jeep and good luck at your party."
Two weeks later Goldsmith pulled PFC Reilly aside after the morning run. "Private, how did your birthday celebration go?"
"An amazing night that I will never forget. When I got inside the door, a pretty woman, who smelled great, sat me down and asked what I wanted...in English like you said. She looked terrific and a little bit familiar. I couldn't take my eyes off her breasts which kept trying to escape from her dress top."
"Did she ask for your money?"
"I pulled it from my pocket and offered it to her after explaining what I wanted. She told me to put it away because it wasn't needed. I looked at her and said my best 'danke'."
"Private did she give a reason for the surprise gift?"
"No, but I figured it out on my own. She was one of the women with the smoking car last year." Reilly was proud of himself.
"Now that was a longshot coincidence that worked out for you." Goldsmith was glad the young soldier survived the experience.
"But you haven't heard the best part yet, sergeant. She handed me off to the other girl from the car fire. The one who gave me the kiss on the cheek after we helped them. Anja, that's her name, took me to her room. She didn't kiss me again or talk into my ear this time. We were too busy."
"I bet you were. Hit the shower and don't be late to work."
The story predates the European Union and HUMMV replacement of jeeps.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2024. howard11 All rights reserved.
howard11 has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.