Tuesday, September 27, 2016

THE GIRL

Well, I reckoned it was summer of sixty seven when R. B., Bobby Paul and I left
Tupelo after we was graduated from high school and drove west on a road trip. We had a
full tank in my ’52 Ford custom coupe and headed down the highway with some of Bobby
Paul’s college money.
“It ain’t enough,” Bobby Paul whined, “to get to Californey anyway, why’s we
goin‘?”
“Adventure ” I said, “and don’t forget the women we gonna run into.”
“Bosh Charlie,” Y’all taking me for a fool you is, I swear, and R. B. agrees with
me.”
He ain’t got no cause to agree, Bobby Paul. After cotton crop we both gonna give
the money back. You got no cause to not trust your best friends.”
“Sorry Charlie, I’d always trust you. You see that road sign saying Money, Miss?
Stop off at a station, I needa take a leak.”
Charlie’s Ford pulled in a Texaco in Money, he stretched his legs while R. B. and
Bobby Paul was busy. He noticed a girl sitting in the dust, an attractive girl with long
black hair, a face streaked with tears and he walked over,
“Need some help miss or a shoulder?”
“Go away, can’t you see I-sa crying hard?”
“I didn’t mean nothing‘, sorry to bother you.”
He turned to walk away but the girl stopped him.”
“Don‘t you see, I ain’t used to no kindness?”

“I’m sorry,” Charlie said, “you need to get out of the dust, there’s a bench under
the old elm. Would you like to talk there?”

He offered his hand, pulled her up from the dirt and gravel and walked her over
and sat down with her,

“You are kind but there’s nothin’ you can do to help me.”

“I‘m Charlie and I got a good ear.”
“My papa named me “Girl, can you believe?”
“That’s mean all right. Why you cryin?
“Cause I lost Billie Joe.”
“You broke up, a pretty girl like you?”
“No, he jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge and drowned.
“Gosh, I’m sorry for you.”
“Mama said. The preacher saw me and Billy Joe throw somethin’ off the
Tallahatchie bridge one moonlit night. Then brother up and married and moved to Tupelo
and opened a store.”
“What about your Papa, what’d he say.?
“Not a word, he didn’t care, caught a virus and died this spring.“ Mama don’t care
about anything no more and we don’t get along anyway.
“Should I call you girl?”
“Might as well.”
“Well Girl, we heard about Billy Joe MacAllister jumping off the Tallahatchie
bridge last year, and if you pardon me, I do care about you, for I know nothin’ good
comes from Choctaw Ridge.
“You care? Why, no one else does.”
“Well it ain’t Christian not to care, so I do.”
“R. B. and Bobby Paul walked up,
“We need to get goin’ Charlie.“
“Take my car guys, have a good time, I’m busy this summer, I’m taking this Girl
back to Tupelo.”
“Why you doin’ it, Charlie?”
“Well Bobby Paul, maybe something’ good gonna come from Choctaw Ridge. It’d
be about time wouldn’t it Girl?”


:



Saturday, September 17, 2016

INTO THE PAST



 

 

My interview with a nut-case wasn’t unusual during my work week. Being chief operating officer of the largest patent attorney‘s office in Washington, left me little choice but to interview most of the nut-case propositions. In front of my desk, sat a small helicopter like device with two seats in it. On the outside were whirling radius objects that sped so fast around the small machine, sounds of what might be gun fire, exploded in my office as the whirling objects broke the sound barrier.



“Enough already, you should hear this with my hearing aids on,” I said.

The cute blonde operator dressed in a tight silk tee shirt and hot pants opened the porthole,

“What about it Mr. Charlton, want to see yourself again when you were twenty.?”



“I don’t take dares without being serious, Judy. Move your tight “you know” over, I’m coming aboard.”



“Are you sure your heart can handle a trip through time?”

“With what your flashing at me, lass, if I can handle that, I’m up to the ride.”

“Now don’t take this as being forward, Mr. Charlton, but the seat is so small, I’ll need to sit on your lap to close the cockpit. Any issues with that?”

“Not on my part if you’re used to elevator rides.”

“Sounds interesting, I’m closing the hatch. Oops, sorry about brushing your cheek.”



“It seems to me, you could manage to keep those puppies in order.”

“I’m trying, you can only do so much with a pair of 38’s.What time period?’

“Late fall, 1955, University of Miami campus.’

“Here we go, hold on tight.”

“I would but you have my arms pinned to my side.”

“Oops again , I need to adjust the seat handle, it’s under your right leg. Just a

minute.”

:”Take all the time you need Judy, I’m not in any hurry.”

“Thank you for being polite. I think I finally reached the handle.”

“Judy,”

“What?’

“That’s not the handle your looking for.“

“Oh it isn’t, too bad.”

“Judy, start this damn thing.”

“My but you’re anxious, Mr. Charlton. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world unless

you pleaded with me.”

“Okay, Judy, I’m in your hands, but you can forget about the hurt issue.”

“Got it sir, cleared for take off.”

“So am I.”

Smoke and noise filled the room, the plaster on the walls cracked from the heat and then the machine disappeared. Three weeks later with not a sign of the time machine, Miss Bristle Butt, Charlton’s executive secretary filed a missing persons report. Then a telegram surfaced from 1955, with faded writing,

As Miss Bristle opened it, a smile erupted across her craggy brow,

“Miss Bristle, having a wonderful time, be back in the spring. Get that worthless son of mine and put him to work again. Tell him his bonus will be a six week trip with Judy, I’m not selfish about sharing things, especially with junior. Oh yes, and order six refills on my prescription.”














NATASHA IVANOFF



THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS



PART SEVEN



 

 

As Doug’s crippled F16 limped across the sky toward Denver’s airport, he

continued to lose altitude. Worse than that, Natasha lost consciousness from her wounds

despite all her efforts to stop the bleeding.,

Bill, can you hear me?’

“Of course Doug.”

“Natasha’s fainted, it doesn’t look good. I’m going to increase speed to 600,

drop to eight thousand and make one shot to the runway.”

“Are you sure you want to do that?”

“It’s the only way she’ll make it, she needs immediate care before she bleeds to

death.. There’re assembling a small hospital in the terminal to save time.”

“Go for it,” yelled Vince, “that’s great idea and good luck”

Denver airport replied, “We have a lock, at ten miles, I’ll notify, drop back to

three hundred. At five miles, drop to landing speed. You’re cleared to come in dead stick

if necessary. Ambulances and doctors already at the field.”

The F16 roared toward the airport at a thundering speed, Doug’s handling of the

plane was masterful, even so he used all but three hundred feet of concrete before he

managed to stop with a side skid that almost flipped the aircraft.. At the last moment the

nose wheel collapsed, sparks flew everywhere but no fire started.

Opening the hatch, medical personnel treated Natasha with transfusion and

oxygen. However her heart suddenly stopped. Two doctors used a heart defibrillator and

shocked her to a feeble beat. Vince had climbed a front end loader on the opposite side of

the doctors and talked in her ear quietly, After twenty minutes, her vitals were strong

enough to transport to the nearest hospital.

A doctor by the name of Don Adams rode in the ambulance with Vince and two

nurses,

“Clinically, I thought she wouldn’t make it when you were whispering to her.

What did you tell her?“

I told her I loved her, would cherish her and could out run her and swim faster

than she could. I’d figured she make it just to prove me wrong.”

“Well obviously you stirred her up.”

“I know I did, I‘ll have hell to pay when she wakes up.”

“I seriously doubt that. She’s a real beauty and her will power, well you’ve seen a

sample.”

“Seriously doctor, how long will it take her to recuperate?”

“Less than two weeks. The wounds aren’t that bad, she almost died from lack of

blood, not the injury. I‘m tempted to asked you something.?

“Let it rip doctor.”

“Have you and your girlfriend personally started WW III? You’re all over the

news.”

“It certainly seems like it the last two days, however you will be sworn to secrecy

by the military.”

 

“I realize that. We’re using the service entrance to the hospital to shake the

reporters. I just want to say, God Speed and good luck to you while we’re in a private

talk.”

“And I thank you for your medical skill, I’m sure I speak for, for …………..”

“Natasha’s the name son, in case you forgot. They briefed us before your plane

arrived. That was quite a landing, I am a retired colonel in the air force.”

“How about paying some attention to the patient.”

‘Thank God you’re awake Nat.”

“Oh, I‘ve been listening for a minute or two. Is Doug okay? I blacked out before

we landed.”

“If not for Doug, you wouldn’t have made it Nat, he‘s fine and on the way here by

car..”

“I had the strangest dream Vince, you wouldn’t believe how unusual.”



“I’d like to hear about it. but right now we’re pulling up to the hospital and I’m

sure you’ll be very busy. I won’t leave your side love, until we can talk“

“She‘s out again Vince,” Dr. Adams said. “I’ll make sure you can stay by her

side. We don’t want to lose her now.” . :





.



















INTO THE PAST
 
 

 

My interview with a nut-case wasn’t unusual during my work week. Being chief operating officer of the largest patent attorney‘s office in Washington, left me little choice but to interview most of the nut-case propositions. In front of my desk, sat a small helicopter like device with two seats in it. On the outside were whirling radius objects that sped so fast around the small machine, sounds of what might be gun fire, exploded in my office as the whirling objects broke the sound barrier.



“Enough already, you should hear this with my hearing aids on,” I said.

The cute blonde operator dressed in a tight silk tee shirt and hot pants opened the porthole,

“What about it Mr. Charlton, want to see yourself again when you were twenty.?”



“I don’t take dares without being serious, Judy. Move your tight “you know” over, I’m coming aboard.”



“Are you sure your heart can handle a trip through time?”

“With what your flashing at me, lass, if I can handle that, I’m up to the ride.”

“Now don’t take this as being forward, Mr. Charlton, but the seat is so small, I’ll need to sit on your lap to close the cockpit. Any issues with that?”

“Not on my part if you’re used to elevator rides.”

“Sounds interesting, I’m closing the hatch. Oops, sorry about brushing your cheek.”



“It seems to me, you could manage to keep those puppies in order.”

“I’m trying, you can only do so much with a pair of 38’s.What time period?’

“Late fall, 1955, University of Miami campus.’

“Here we go, hold on tight.”

“I would but you have my arms pinned to my side.”

“Oops again , I need to adjust the seat handle, it’s under your right leg. Just a

minute.”

:”Take all the time you need Judy, I’m not in any hurry.”

“Thank you for being polite. I think I finally reached the handle.”

“Judy,”

“What?’

“That’s not the handle your looking for.“

“Oh it isn’t, too bad.”

“Judy, start this damn thing.”

“My but you’re anxious, Mr. Charlton. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world unless

you pleaded with me.”

“Okay, Judy, I’m in your hands, but you can forget about the hurt issue.”

“Got it sir, cleared for take off.”

“So am I.”

Smoke and noise filled the room, the plaster on the walls cracked from the heat and then the machine disappeared. Three weeks later with not a sign of the time machine, Miss Bristle Butt, Charlton’s executive secretary filed a missing persons report. Then a telegram surfaced from 1955, with faded writing,

As Miss Bristle opened it, a smile erupted across her craggy brow,

“Miss Bristle, having a wonderful time, be back in the spring. Get that worthless son of mine and put him to work again. Tell him his bonus will be a six week trip with Judy, I’m not selfish about sharing things, especially with junior. Oh yes, and order six refills on my prescription.”














Tuesday, September 6, 2016

NATASHA IVANOFF



THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS



PART SIX



 

 

Vince could see the missile trail approach his plane. It seemed to be gaining on the F16 Fighting Falcon. So much for outrunning it. ‘Now what?’ he thought



“Hold on your teeth,” Bill announced as he flew straight up, bellied over and descended at an enormous speed. The missile followed like a well trained puppy, Bill deployed an anti-plane heat seeker and destroyed it.

“One down, one to go,” Vince said.

“You think, you’re wrong, two more show on the screen, that’s six.”

“Bill, Bill can you hear me?”

“Yeah Doug, you okay?”

“Kind of . Question? Natasha wants to use the cannon.”

“For God’s sake, let her. Any kills yet?’

“One and you?”

“Same, that leaves four more. Got to go.”

Vince saw two vapor trails winding through the azure sky, zig zaging trying to keep up with the F16,

“Let me at the cannon Bill.”

“Okay, I’ll maneuver for a pass. You’ll have about three seconds. Ready?”

Vince came close to bye-bye land from the G force but held on. “There’s no way I’ll hit anything at this speed,’ he thought but after the pass and one missile exploded, he did a thumbs up to Bill.

“Bill?’

“Yeah Doug, what’s up?”

“Natasha nailed a second one, but it exploded close to the plane and we’re hit with shrapnel in the fore cabin. She’s been injured but waving okay to me. She is one hell of a woman.”

“You better nail the third one Doug and get down under thirty thousand.”

“Got it chief.”

“Vince, we have to end this, we’re going head to head. Aim true buddy.”

With a flat one eighty, Bill’s radar gun site settled in on the last missile and he fired again. The F16, literally catapulted though the fireball and kicked ass toward Doug’s plane. Launching his last heat seeker, Bill yelled at Doug,

“Full power Doug, we don’t want the heat seeker to get confused.”

The last explosion was sweet victory. Bill chased after Doug and they flew side by side. Natasha weakly waved at Vince.

“Doug, head to Denver International. I’ll clear you through and follow.”

“Another problem Bill, I’m having trouble keeping this crate airborne. We’ve got rips everywhere and they‘re getting worse by the minute“

“Okay, okay, Doug. I‘ll fly under and give you some more lift. Drop speed to three fifty, radar shows less than one hundred and fifty miles to landing. Will the air boost help?”

“Yes, but it‘s so dangerous flying on top of each other, do we have other options?“

‘Afraid not Doug, just keep her steady and don’t change power. If you start to dip, I’ll compensate.”

The control tower at Denver gathered around the screen, including the airport manager, eyes fixated on a most unusual sight.

“How close are they flying?” Warren Upright asked.

“Near as I can tell chief, less than six feet apart They‘re traveling slow, about three

hundred or so.”

“What happens when they approach, Frank?”

.”The F16 underneath will shoot out from under at about 100 feet above ground. It’s a hair-raising maneuver. Especially for a heavy attack plane like the 16.“ .

.



:

Sunday, September 4, 2016

NATASHA IVANOFF



THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS



PART FIVE



 

By the time the police arrived with ambulances and military and they finished

their probe, it was four o’clock in the morning. As Vince pulled away in the first Range

Rover, the other two followed closely. A hazy sun had just appeared when they pulled

into McConnell AFB. Met by a bird colonel, Vince and Natasha were given the base

commander’s house to stay in.

“Do you want a cup of coffee, Nat?”

She started to tear up, :“My Father always called me Nat. I loved it. My Mother

hated the nickname because it rhymed with Rat. He passed several years ago from

cancer and I miss him so. Is it fate you called me?”

“Let’s just skip the coffee, we both need a shower.”

“As you say in America, I know how to economize.”

“And how is that?”

“Two people, one shower, saves water.”

“I‘ve always been a champion of economy.”

“I bet you have, you little devil. Okay as long as you wash my back,” Natasha said.

“Consider it done.”

Both had bathrobes on and stared at the tiny show, tree feet by three feet.

“We need to be contortionists, Nat said.”

“Watch me.” Vince entered first and spread himself tight to the tile wall. Natasha

followed spoon type and was barely able to reach the controls. Immense giggling and

laughter erupted as they bathed each other.

“How many times have you done this?”

“Never,” Vince answered.

“Oh come on you expect me to believe this? What about a first kiss?”

It was nine in the morning when they settled in bed and Vince just held her tight

and stroked her damp hair till she fell asleep. The jangle of the phone awoke both and

Vince answered the phone.

“Breakfast is coming in fifteen minutes, we better throw some clothes on.”

Natasha threw the sheets off her sculptured frame and crooked her finger toward

Vince,

“Breakfast can wait outside, I have a better idea.”

An hour later Vince opened the front door and slid the tray in. It seemed like a
week since they had eaten and they devoured everything in sight. A polite note
from the base commander suggested dinner at six and they were to be transferred to
Edwards AFB in California. Edwards had dispatched two F16B Fighting Falcons to
McConnell. They were two seat fighter jets, fully armed and had Mack 2 speed capacity at
50,000 feet.
“Boy, they must think you’re platinum. I certainly do.” Vince quipped.
Natasha gave him a special look and he quit teasing.
“We don’t have any clothes to wear to dinner“.
“ We never got our luggage. It was in the Rover they destroyed,” Vince said, “I’ll
call the base and ask.”.
 
He had an intense look as he listened, then broke in a wide grin,
“Guess what Nat?”
“Tell me what I’m going to wear to dinner?”
“There’s a service vehicle pulling up in the driveway. Some of the wives have sent
clothes over for you to try. The PX is also staying open if you need them.”
“That’s really sweet of the ladies to help, I’m sure I’ll find something.”
The base commander drove them to the runway after dinner where their planes
were parked. Vince took one look at the fighters and knew the Air Force was taking every
caution possible. Vince climbed in one fighter, Natasha the other, she felt at home in the
trainer seat up front. Vince on the other hand was apprehensive. .

As the planes catapulted off the runway and did vertical climbs to 50,000 feet,

Vince almost lost his dinner. They flew in formation style, close enough to wave to each

other. An uneventful flight was interrupted as Natasha’s pilot broke silence and talked to

the other plane,

“Do you see them on your screen?”

“Yes, looks like four missiles were launched ten seconds ago. Bill are you

suggesting we outrun them?”

“Yes, stay in touch. Deploy your anti ship missiles immediately. Burn it Joe.”

Vince felt the G’s push him to the back of his seat. Noise split the cabin like a run-

a-way freight train and he came close to blacking out as the plane soared to 53,000 feet at

Mach 2.2. He felt a desperate need for Natasha.







.




NATASHA IVANOFF



THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS



PART FIVE



 

By the time the police arrived with ambulances and military and they finished

their probe, it was four o’clock in the morning. As Vince pulled away in the first Range

Rover, the other two followed closely. A hazy sun had just appeared when they pulled

into McConnell AFB. Met by a bird colonel, Vince and Natasha were given the base

commander’s house to stay in.

“Do you want a cup of coffee, Nat?”

She started to tear up, :“My Father always called me Nat. I loved it. My Mother

hated the nickname because it rhymed with Rat. He passed several years ago from

cancer and I miss him so. Is it fate you called me?”

“Let’s just skip the coffee, we both need a shower.”

“As you say in America, I know how to economize.”

“And how is that?”

“Two people, one shower, saves water.”

“I‘ve always been a champion of economy.”

“I bet you have, you little devil. Okay as long as you wash my back,” Natasha said.

“Consider it done.”

Both had bathrobes on and stared at the tiny show, tree feet by three feet.

“We need to be contortionists, Nat said.”

“Watch me.” Vince entered first and spread himself tight to the tile wall. Natasha

followed spoon type and was barely able to reach the controls. Immense giggling and

laughter erupted as they bathed each other.

“How many times have you done this?”

“Never,” Vince answered.

“Oh come on you expect me to believe this? What about a first kiss?”

It was nine in the morning when they settled in bed and Vince just held her tight

and stroked her damp hair till she fell asleep. The jangle of the phone awoke both and

Vince answered the phone.

“Breakfast is coming in fifteen minutes, we better throw some clothes on.”

Natasha threw the sheets off her sculptured frame and crooked her finger toward

Vince,

“Breakfast can wait outside, I have a better idea.”

An hour later Vince opened the front door and slid the tray in. It seemed like a
week since they had eaten and they devoured everything in sight. A polite note
from the base commander suggested dinner at six and they were to be transferred to
Edwards AFB in California. Edwards had dispatched two F16B Fighting Falcons to
McConnell. They were two seat fighter jets, fully armed and had Mack 2 speed capacity at
50,000 feet.
“Boy, they must think you’re platinum. I certainly do.” Vince quipped.
Natasha gave him a special look and he quit teasing.
“We don’t have any clothes to wear to dinner“.
“ We never got our luggage. It was in the Rover they destroyed,” Vince said, “I’ll
call the base and ask.”.
 
He had an intense look as he listened, then broke in a wide grin,
“Guess what Nat?”
“Tell me what I’m going to wear to dinner?”
“There’s a service vehicle pulling up in the driveway. Some of the wives have sent
clothes over for you to try. The PX is also staying open if you need them.”
“That’s really sweet of the ladies to help, I’m sure I’ll find something.”
The base commander drove them to the runway after dinner where their planes
were parked. Vince took one look at the fighters and knew the Air Force was taking every
caution possible. Vince climbed in one fighter, Natasha the other, she felt at home in the
trainer seat up front. Vince on the other hand was apprehensive. .

As the planes catapulted off the runway and did vertical climbs to 50,000 feet,

Vince almost lost his dinner. They flew in formation style, close enough to wave to each

other. An uneventful flight was interrupted as Natasha’s pilot broke silence and talked to

the other plane,

“Do you see them on your screen?”

“Yes, looks like four missiles were launched ten seconds ago. Bill are you

suggesting we outrun them?”

“Yes, stay in touch. Deploy your anti ship missiles immediately. Burn it Joe.”

Vince felt the G’s push him to the back of his seat. Noise split the cabin like a run-

a-way freight train and he came close to blacking out as the plane soared to 53,000 feet at

Mach 2.2. He felt a desperate need for Natasha.







.


 



















 
He had an intense look as he listened, then broke in a wide grin,
“Guess what Nat?”
“Tell me what I’m going to wear to dinner?”
“There’s a service vehicle pulling up in the driveway. Some of the wives have sent
clothes over for you to try. The PX is also staying open if you need them.”
“That’s really sweet of the ladies to help, I’m sure I’ll find something.”
The base commander drove them to the runway after dinner where their planes
were parked. Vince took one look at the fighters and knew the Air Force was taking every
caution possible. Vince climbed in one fighter, Natasha the other, she felt at home in the
trainer seat up front. Vince on the other hand was apprehensive. .

As the planes catapulted off the runway and did vertical climbs to 50,000 feet,

Vince almost lost his dinner. They flew in formation style, close enough to wave to each

other. An uneventful flight was interrupted as Natasha’s pilot broke silence and talked to

the other plane,

“Do you see them on your screen?”

“Yes, looks like four missiles were launched ten seconds ago. Bill are you

suggesting we outrun them?”

“Yes, stay in touch. Deploy your anti ship missiles immediately. Burn it Joe.”

Vince felt the G’s push him to the back of his seat. Noise split the cabin like a run-

a-way freight train and he came close to blacking out as the plane soared to 53,000 feet at

Mach 2.2. He felt a desperate need for Natasha.







.