Chapter 21
Male Bonding
“Morning, ma’am.” Jack saluted Jill, and she returned the salute with a flirtatious smile. She couldn’t help it. Today was the day she’d been waiting forever for, or at least it seemed like forever. Today she would have Jack all to herself. No Army, no regulations, no worry about what others thought—just her and Jack. Jack and I will have to maintain a military appearance while we are in uniform, and while we are around other soldiers. I think Jack will enjoy the museum, but I am looking forward to our time at the beach. We will be able to get out of our military clothes, relax, and have a cozy time with each other.
“How did you sleep, Jack?”
“It took me a long time to get to sleep. But once I dozed off, I slept well.”
“Me, too, except I woke with a headache. I think I might be getting a sinus infection.”
“Sorry to hear that. Do you need any aspirin?”
“No, I just took one.”
“What is on the schedule for today’s male bonding?” Jack asked.
“I thought we would hit the museum on the base this morning, then go to the beach after that.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jack said.
Like any good leader, Jill had planned even the smallest detail. And, because she liked Jack so much, she put forth an extra effort to impress him, and hopefully please him.
After finishing breakfast they walked back to their rooms.
Jill asked Jack, “Did you bring a swimsuit?”
“Yes, ma’am. Just like you ordered.” Jack smiled as he responded with an official sounding tone. “I also brought the knit shirt and trousers like you ordered, ma’am.”
Jill realized that Jack was kidding, and she returned the smile. I wish we could hold hands while we walk to our rooms. But if anyone ever found out that Jack and I liked each other, we would never be able to work together again.
“Let’s throw our stuff in the Hummer and drive to the museum. After that we can head straight for the beach,” Jill said.
It was a small museum by most standards. It consisted of one medium-size military hanger with a few airplanes and a helicopter inside. But outside the hanger, there were a lot of airplanes on the tarmac that they could climb into and explore.
“Let’s look inside the hanger first,” Jack said.
Jill was glad to hear Jack take the initiative. Inside Jack immediately noticed the bright yellow and blue Stearman hanging from the far corner of the museum. “There’s a Stearman. Does your dad’s look like that?” Jack asked.
“Wow, it looks just like his. I haven’t flown in Dad’s Stearman for several years. I still remember how much fun it was. He flies it from a grass field. I love the way the plane shakes as it goes over the bumpy grass, and then it becomes silky smooth when the wheels leave the ground.” Jill looked up at Jack. I wish I could put my arm around your waist. I can’t wait to get to the beach.
Jill noticed a group of soldiers setting up chairs and asked one of the museum workers what was going on.
“We are going to have a retirement party for one of the generals on this base. You are welcome to sit in the audience and have cake and ice cream afterwards, or you can continue looking at the displays. The party won’t last long.”
“Thank you. We will just look around,” Jill said.
“Are either of you pilots?” the museum worker asked.
“Jack is,” Jill responded.
“In that case, you might want to try the simulator. Your pilot friend can show you how to fly it, and I can show him where the reset button is.”
“That sounds like fun. Are you up to it, Jill?”
“Okay, but only if you help me.”
The museum employee led them to the simulator. It was made from the front of a large commercial airplane. The front ten feet of the cockpit had been cut off and mounted on the floor of the museum. It included the airplane’s exterior, front windows, instrument panel with gauges, both seats, and a computer keyboard. The computer that simulated the flying was connected to a large TV screen that was mounted just outside the front window.
“Press this button to reset the flight,” the employee said, “and here is the volume control. If you have any questions just ask.”
“Thank you,” Jack replied.
Jack motioned for Jill to sit in the left seat, and he sat in the right seat. Jack used the keyboard to flip through menus on the software.
“Let’s set the simulator for a Stearman. That way you will be familiar with the way it flies.” Jack found the Stearman option in the software menu. “You should have a functioning throttle now, Jill. Give it a push and then steer with your toe pedals.”
Jill pushed the throttle slightly forward. The sound of the engine was a bit loud. Jack turned the volume down so it did not disturb the retirement party that was getting ready to start. Jill tried to keep the Stearman on the runway as she taxied into the takeoff position, but she was over controlling and zigzagging back and forth from one side of the runway to the other. She glanced toward Jack. He was grinning.
“Jack, I don’t think this is a good idea. I never taxied Dad’s Stearman. I only flew after he got it up in the air. I don’t know anything about taking off or landing.”
“But that’s why simulators are so wonderful. If anything really bad happens, I press the reset button and we start over. I promise, you will not get hurt.”
Jill was more concerned about being embarrassed, but Jack seemed insistent, so she continued to taxi the Stearman in hopes that she would get used to it. She wanted to impress Jack, so she focused with all her might.
“There you go. I see a big improvement already.” Jack’s voice was reassuring. “Now that you are at the end of the runway, turn the plane around, and give it full throttle. You will only have to pull back slightly on the joystick, and the plane will take off with little effort.”
Jill did what Jack suggested, and sure enough in a few seconds she saw the runway drop away from the airplane as she focused her attention on the computer screen.
“Jack, this is so coooool. I have never done this before!”
Jack let her gain some altitude in the simulator. Then Jill began making turns to the left and right. Some turns were gradual, but others were steep.
“Your father taught you well. You seem to be a natural for flying,”
“I never landed Dad’s plane. Can I try landing this plane?”
“Sure. Just point the nose at the end of the runway, and reduce the throttle to about one third.”
When the airplane touched down on the simulator’s runway, the wheels screeched like a real airplane. Then it bounced several times. Jill pulled the throttle back all the way and the plane came to a stop.
“Oh, that was so cool, Jack!”
“You are a natural. I think you should start taking lessons in a real plane.”
Jill reached over, put her arm around Jack’s shoulder, and gave him a one-armed hug. “Thanks, Jack,” she whispered. Her lips were almost touching his cheek. Then she realized that she was physically touching a subordinate. She quickly removed her arm. They both became quiet as their demeanors changed. Jill whispered, “I should be more careful . . . I’m sorry.”
Jack smiled a thin smile.
“Let’s check out that helicopter.” Jack changed the subject with a cheerful voice.
They climbed out of the simulator and walked over to a strange helicopter that Jill had never seen before. The placard in front of the helicopter said it was an HH-43 Huskie.
Jill asked, “Why does it have two big rotor blades instead of one big one and one small one?”
Jack began explaining the differences that made this helicopter unique. Jill was looking into his brown eyes, trying to concentrate on technical concepts, but wanting to go to the beach where she could be alone with him.
After explaining the helicopter to Jill, Jack said that he wanted to go outside and see the big airplanes. Outside, Jack headed straight f
or the C-130. Jill followed him up a stairway to the side entrance of the airplane. After entering the plane, he walked toward the back.
“It’s kind of weird, isn’t it?” Jack said.
“Almost creepy,” Jill said as she looked at the ramp in the rear of the C-130. “I’ll never forget taking that last step on the edge of the ramp before jumping out at thirty-three thousand feet.”
“It seems like a long time ago,” Jack said.
Jill looked up at Jack. Again, she wanted to put her arms around him and hug him. She felt drawn to him. The time they spent in the Colombia jungle had firmed her feelings in an unexpected way. Now she wanted to be physically close to him. But Jill knew that this was a public place, and they were in uniform. If someone walked inside the airplane and found them in an embrace or holding hands, they might never work together again.
“Jill, if it’s okay with you, I think I have had enough airplanes for today. Let’s go to the beach.”
“Sounds good, Jack. Let’s go.” Jill breathed a deep sigh. I’m definitely ready.
Jack and Jill walked to the Hummer. Jack got in the driver’s seat, started the engine, and looked at Jill. “Which way?”
Jill gave directions as they exited the air base and headed for the beach.
Jill had dozed off during the thirty-minute drive to Fort Miles State Park in Lewis, Delaware. She woke when Jack pulled the Hummer into the park entrance. He paid the fee, and then pulled away from the gate. Jill rubbed her temples, and blew her nose several times.
“How is your sinus infection?” Jack asked.
“It’s not bad, just a bit annoying. If it’s okay with you, I thought we could go to the observation tower first.”
“Sure, Jill. You’re in charge of this mission.” Jack smiled.
They pulled into the parking lot for the observation tower and got out. Jill felt like a tour guide as she delivered a little speech she had practiced beforehand. “The tower is ninety feet tall and made from concrete. Inside there is a spiral staircase that leads to the observation platform on the top. Originally it was used during World War II to look for enemy ships and submarines that might try to enter the Delaware Bay, thus providing protection to Philadelphia and the oil refineries along the coast of the bay.”
Jill was finally free from the presence of other military personnel, so she began to relax a little bit, but technically, they were still in their uniforms and had to be discrete.
Their freedom buoyed their spirits, and they began a child-like race up the stairs. Jill was ahead of Jack. As they got higher, Jill slowed and Jack slowed as well. Then Jill slowed even more. She began walking, and then started to wobble left and right.
“Jill, are you all right?”
“I’m a little dizzy. Going around in circles on these stairs shouldn’t bother me, but I suppose the sinus infection has gotten into my inner ear. Let me pause a minute. I’m sure I will be okay.”
Jill leaned her back against the cool concrete wall of the tower, and closed her eyes. She focused on relaxing and deep breathing.
“Okay, Jack, let’s go the rest of the way.”
As Jill began walking up the stairs Jack reached out and clasped his hand around hers. He held it gently, but firmly enough so she could steady herself.
Jill was glad to have a reason to hold Jack’s hand. They continued slowly to the top of the tower, and when they emerged at the top she was still dizzy. Looking out over the railing, she became dizzier. Jill used her free hand to grab Jack’s arm to steady herself. She felt his firm muscles under his fatigues and drew close to him. Jack put his arms around her. Jill was glad to have Jack steady her, but she was especially glad to feel his warmth and closeness.
The fresh breeze helped settle Jill’s dizzy spell. She looked around at the view. The sky was clear with only a few puffy white clouds near the northern horizon. She could see the ocean and bay, and where they met. It was marked by white swirling foam. In the mouth of the bay were five large piles of rocks. Each must have been the size of a football field. They were spaced evenly across the bay.
“Jack, what do you suppose those piles of rocks are for?”
“I think they are used to break up the ice in the winter so the ships can still navigate the bay.”
“Oh right, that makes sense.”
“How are the dizzy spells?”
“I feel better up here in the breeze.” Jill snuggled into Jack’s arms and reached her arms around his waist. She felt solid muscles, wondering how many sit-ups he did every day. Looking to her right, Jill saw “The Great Dune,” which rose almost as high as the observation tower. Further to the right was the city of Lewis, and the Lewis-Cape May ferry.
While Jack and Jill were in their embrace, Jill heard another couple walking up the spiral staircase. Their feet on the metal stairs loudly announced the approaching couple. Jill glanced to see if they were civilians or military personnel. As their shoulders rose out of the tower stairwell, she could see they were an elderly couple, both wearing tank tops and jeans. Jill relaxed and snuggled back into Jack’s embrace. The other couple glanced at Jack and Jill, walked to the far side of the observation platform, and then began taking in the beautiful view. Jill was watching the couple and was able to hear some of their conversations. Like Jack and Jill, the other couple took in every detail they could see. Jill noticed the lady glance at them. Then Jill heard the lady make a comment to her partner about the “lovebirds.” I wonder if Jack heard that comment, and I wonder what he thinks about us being referred to as a lovebird.
“Jill, do you feel up to going back down the stairs?”
“I am ready. I think that rushing up the spiral staircase was aggravating my sinus problem. When we go back down we should probably go slower.”
Jack carefully held Jill’s hand and steadied her as she navigated the circular pathway. I hope Jack doesn’t think I am silly for getting dizzy. I don’t want him to think that I am a weak woman, or even worse, a weak commander.
Upon arriving at the bottom of the winding stairs, they exited the observation tower and climbed into the Hummer.
“Jack, would you like to go to the great dune across the street where we can look at the artillery guns, or would you like to go straight to the beach?”
“Actually, I would love to get out of these military fatigues. Let’s go to the beach.”
Jack drove the Hummer to the beach parking lot. Jill said, “They have a changing station by the sand dunes. Let’s take our bathing suits there and change. We can also take our clothes for tonight’s dinner. That way we can change into our dressy cloths when we leave to go to get your steak dinner.”
As they exited the Hummer, each grabbed their own duffel bag that carried the clothes they would need for the rest of the day. Walking a hundred yards to the changing station, Jill said, “After we change, let’s meet here.” She reached out and squeezed his calloused hand, not wanting to let go.