The Story Begins Page 14

  Dave approached him. “Dude, where in Germany did the Captain say that you’ll be reporting to?” he asked.

  “Et tu, huh?” Jaden said while looking around at the number of lieutenants still carrying on about it, and trying to extrapolate how many more questions he could expect.

  “Yep, me too. I’m just as curious.”

  “Somewhere called Mannheim,” he answered.

  “Mannheim? Never heard of the place. I wonder how far that is from where I’ll be.”

  “Where are you going to be?” Jaden asked Dave; however, he asked for a reason other than curiosity.

  “Baumholder,” Dave shared.

  Jaden didn’t know the proximity between both locales but decided that they’d need to agree upon but one rule. “Dude, I’ve no clue concerning what kind of distance we’re talking here but if it’s close enough that we can hang out on weekends, let’s get one thing straight now, okay?”

  “What’s that?”

  “No discourses about God, okay! I spent my college days engrossed in such discussions, as unwilling as I was, I somehow always found myself in them. And then when I got here, I still couldn’t get away from it. Once we’re over there, we’re not going to talk about the same stuff. There’s a lot more to life than God.” That last sentence sounded somewhat strange, even to Jaden. “My last statement probably sounded blasphemous but seriously, no further talk about that, okay?”

  “All right, dude, keine problem,” Dave consented.

  “King who… who’s that?”

  “Germany was my first choice of assignment so I figured I’d start learning in anticipation of getting posted there. It wasn’t guaranteed, nothing ever is in the army, or life for that matter, but it worked out; so no time lost on my effort. But to answer your question, what I said was “no problem.””

  “So what else do you know about Germany?” Jaden asked.

  “Schnitzel!” Dave said.

  “And what exactly is that?”

  “Not entirely sure but it is some kind of food,” he explained. “Other than that I don’t know anything else about the place… well, I’ve also heard that German women, perhaps European women in general I should say, are very beautiful. Who knows, maybe that’s where you’ll find the girl that’s going to change your life,” Dave said cleverly.

  The intent of Dave’s words hadn’t eluded Jaden. “Ah buddy o’mine!” sighed Jaden, “you just can’t let it go, can you?”

  “What are you talking about?” Dave asked, feigning ignorance.

  “Wordplay has never worked on me, my good man,” Jaden said, smirking. “The last part of what you said obviously implies that you see something as being wrong with my life. The only thing that you could possibly mean, which you, in fact, do mean, is my less-than-pious rhetoric when it comes to God. What other change could you possibly be referring to? It can’t possibly be my attitude towards people, or unwillingness to turn the other cheek. Don’t think I didn’t see you smile, albeit probably guiltily, the day my right hand was stamped on Johnson’s face.”

  Dave confessed. “You’re right. That is what I was getting at. Though, I do also think that you could be a bit nicer to people rather than treat them as tools of convenience. You know, I’m afraid to ask just how esteemed I really am in your eyes.”

  “Enough,” Jaden answered, rather dubiously. “Back to women – I can’t say that I really care about the women; not in a bad way, it’s just that I have no intention of meeting anyone. I’m not misogynistic, chauvinistic or any other “istic” adjective unfairly targeting women. I just can’t be bothered. This should come as no surprise to you though,” Jaden said.

  “You know, as open minded as you can be, at times you can also be really very provincial,” Dave remarked.

  “Hey dude, no need to call me a villager. I don’t come from the provinces… just kidding; I know what you mean. Anyway, nah, I just never ever cared to get married, and I’m certainly not one to be with a girl only to leave her when my tour comes to an end. That’s just wrong. So why would I meet someone only to put her through such pain? I despise people because of just such darkness of heart so there’s no way that I’d do that to anyone. Additionally, my attitude about that might also have something to do with the divorce rate in this country.” He thought for a second then said, “Nah! The cost-benefit ratio is heavily skewed, and not in favor of the latter. As far as beauty is concerned, that is purely subjective. There is no objective standard upon which to base defining criteria. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder. If I came across ten-eyed aliens with worms for skin and found that beautiful, that would be my perception. Speak of provincial!”

  Reluctantly they picked up all their gear, saddled up and started back for their quarters. Still exhausted from the day’s events, the couple of hundred paces they had to walk seemed to be more like miles. As they walked away, Jaden’s mention of Johnson earlier reminded Dave of another matter.

  “I just remembered something else I’ve heard about Germany,” Dave said.

  “What’s that?”

  “They say that it’s a racist country. I mean, not everyone is racist, I’m sure, but the sentiment is prevalent enough, I hear. Just how widespread it is, I don’t know.”

  “I have to assume you’re making an association between my hand, Johnson’s face and racist German people.”

  “Yes. Please, whatever you do, do not get out there and give America a bad name,” Dave entreated.

  “Give America a bad reputation? Are you kidding me? Can you even fathom the number of people that have beaten me to that, including the government itself? Why do you think most of the world hates, despises, or dislikes the United States, fella? Even once staunch allies don’t side with us as often as they once did. I don’t think there’s anything that I could do to outclass an attitude already perceived by many as American arrogance towards the rest of the world. Trust me, sonny, you have nothing to worry about in that department from me. If anything, I’ll be an extension and continuation of America’s poor attitude towards the rest of the globe. Who knows, I may even receive the Medal of Honor someday if I misbehave badly enough overseas,” Jaden joked. “It’s not just Germany, dude. People are screwed up all over the world, regardless of whether you’re black, white, young, old, male, female, atheist, devout, private, general, or any other superficial classification of people one may think of. We all have our ways of dealing with folks and situations. Mine, perhaps, may be one of the more extreme methods.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

  Jaden decided to change the subject. “So, when is your report date?”

  “November 23rd,” answered Dave. “When’s yours?”

  Jaden wasn’t sure what date he had jotted down when the announcement was made and did not feel like digging through his pockets to get the piece of paper. “I think September 8th, or is it the 9th; somewhere thereabouts. I’ll go pick up my orders in the morning. They should be ready by then.”

  “That’s less than a couple of weeks from now,” Dave observed.

  “Yeah, a few days after graduation,” he acknowledged. “I don’t have much to do before leaving so really don’t need that much time in between. I’ve just got to go pick up my car from the dealership in Boston, drive back down here to the port and have it shipped off. I don’t have any household goods that need packing, like some of the other guys. One of the beauties of being single is that I get to travel light. Always bare minimum.”

  LATER that evening Jaden thought it wise if he did a bit of online research and learn something of his assignment. He discovered that though there wasn’t the average infantryman’s idea of an infantry unit in Mannheim, there was one there. His assignment was quite real; no mistake had been made. The unit’s description was that of a small company of 73 soldiers divided into two platoons, with a Higher Headquarters, which was actually a logistics battalion as opposed to an infantry one. Part of the unit’s mission was to execute 30-day exe
rcises bi-annually in different countries within the European theater of operation; and was designed to be deployment-ready to anywhere in the world within 72 hours. And, unlike many military posts in which the military facilities were often removed from the city, all the installations in Mannheim were actually within the city limits.

  Jaden also studied a bit about the city of Mannheim and appreciated its history and that which it had to offer. Such an assignment was far more than he’d dared hoped for; he considered himself so very lucky. And even though the infantry had been the farthest thing from his mind when he had set about listing his choices, the fact that he now found himself outward bound for what sounded like an amazing city, as opposed to being relegated to some obscure location far removed from civilization, did balance things out favorably.

  Maybe the cab driver was right, after all. There just might be a method behind the seeming madness, he thought.

  III

  13

  The Water Tower

  “The time draws nigh,” a resonant voice said to Lydia, who found herself alone atop a mountain summit, mystified as to why she was there.

  “Hello?” she called out.

  “He comes.”

  “Who comes? And who and where are you?” she asked, unsure as to where the voice was coming from.

  “The child from a distant land,” it said.

  “Who are you?” she asked again.

  “Mine is to watch over you, and though it answers not your question, such is my answer.”

  “Are you a guardian angel?”

  “After a fashion, though I am not as you imagine angels to be,” the voice explained.

  “Why can’t I see you?”

  “It is my wish that you do not.”

  “Why not?”

  “In time.”

  “When?”

  “In time,” it repeated.

  “Where are you from?”

  “Not from your world, dear child.”

  “Then where?”

  “Existence abounds with life. You’ve traveled the universe, have you not?” it asked. “And also know that there isn’t but one universe, do you not?”

  “Yes.”

  “I shall only say that I am from beyond your realm.”

  “Shia, is that you?” she asked excitedly. She couldn’t imagine who else it might be, yet she did feel that there was a difference.

  “What makes you think that I am he, the companion of thy childhood?”

  “Because he is magical and can speak without being seen, just as you are doing.”

  “He comes,” it repeated.

  LYDIA woke up in extraordinarily high spirits. When last she had felt so chipper, she had seen Shia.

  She hopped out of bed, readied herself then skipped downstairs in a mood most delightful. Her parents were already at the breakfast table, her father engrossed in the morning paper while her mother poured her a cup of orange juice. Skipping around the kitchen, she kissed them then helped herself to the scrambled eggs and bacon that was being kept warm atop the stove.

  “You’re quite the chipper one this morning, sweetie. Must be the new apartment you’re soon to move into.”

  “Not sure, but whatever it is, I feel like I’m on top of the word!”

  “Good for you, sweetheart. Do you have any of that cheerfulness to go around? I have some co-workers who could really use some,” her mom joked.

  “I feel like I have enough for the world over, several times,” she said as she took her seat.

  That was an unusual dream, she thought as she sipped her juice. It reminded her of Shia and how much she missed him. She often wondered where he was and why it was that he no longer came to her. She had never forgotten his words, “Makes me wonder if the next time we see each other after today will be years from now.” Might he have been trying to tell her what was to be, or had matters simply unfolded as they had? It had now neared just about four years since they were last together.

  After a long enough time had passed and Shia had not returned, she had had a most difficult time coping, and was often so sad and depressed that she had hardly said much to anyone, including her parents and Cassandra. However, neither her parents nor Cassandra had ever noticed for cast over their eyes was a veil; if ever they had noticed her somberness surely would they have asked why, and most assuredly they would have found Lydia’s explanation fantastically implausible. Gradually her solemn moods had subsided and she had felt better. Today, though, she felt as though she had never known a day of sadness in her life. She was exuberant as if one who felt alive for the very first time. Contagious was her exuberance for Cassandra, awaiting her best friend outside the apartment door, was all smiles even before Lydia had stepped out.

  At school the professors in almost every class, believing that Lydia had not been paying attention to her lessons for she was all smiles such as one preoccupied with daydreams, sought to get her attention by directing questions at her only to find that she, indeed, was very much focused on all the topics of discussion.

  After classes Lydia and Cassandra stopped by the grocery store on their way home to pick up some groceries.

  “Are you helping Dad cook tonight?” Cassandra asked.

  “No, it’s Mom tonight.”

  “I might come over for dinner. I wish my parents cooked as well as yours do… especially, my mom. Would you believe that she still says that she’s taking a stance against the stereotypical roles men have placed on women? Yeah, right! It’s more like poor Mom just can’t cook,” Cassandra said, giggling.

  Lydia smiled. “We grew up together, sweetie, remember? I know your mom all too well. If you do come over, will you be spending the night?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe… maybe not… really not sure,” Cassandra said.

  “Oh that reminds me! You forgot your key in my room,” said Lydia.

  “I did?”

  “Yep! Last night when you left, you forgot it on my dresser.”

  “Good thing you noticed it. I hate when I’m locked out of your apartment and no one is home to let me in, or when I come down a little too late and have to go back upstairs to call you to open up so as not to wake up your mom and dad.”

  “I wish we could have built a staircase between our rooms. Kind of like a maisonette. We have keys to each other’s apartment, clothes and tooth brushes in each other’s apartment. We even have beds in each other’s apartment, so why not a staircase?” Lydia said.

  “Now that would have been really nice,” Cassandra said as she imagined what it might have been like.

  “But it’s just as well. We did manage just fine all these years. Wow! Can you believe that in a few weeks I’ll be moving into my own apartment? I wish I had found one that I liked before we actually started college; the move would have been over and done with by now… but all’s well that ends well, I suppose, so I guess I shouldn’t complain.”

  Cassandra didn’t like it when Lydia broached the topic. She feared that because Lydia had decided to find herself an apartment that perhaps at some point they might begin to grow apart. “I don’t want you to move!” she protested.

  “Cassandra, it won’t be any different than it is now. You’ll have a key to the place and probably spend as much time there as we do in each other’s apartment now. Besides, your mom and dad are talking about buying a house in Laudenbach so you’ll be moving anyway. Don’t worry about it. Nothing will ever change.”

  “I know. It’s just that the thought of not being in the same building after we’ve always been our entire lives scares me.”

  Having picked up everything they needed, they headed to the cashier.

  “Things will be no different, sweetie,” Lydia reassured her.

  “Okay.”

  THAT EVENING: After dinner Cassandra returned upstairs to her family’s apartment, wishing she had done her home assignments earlier rather than foolishly procrastinating. She had a lot to do so she wouldn’t be sleeping over, nor would they sit at the window as
they had done almost every night since their childhood.

  Lydia lay in bed looking out the window to the starry heavens, marveling at the immensity of the universe. Had she not witnessed the boundlessness of existence, she couldn’t be certain that she would not have found it inconceivable that our universe was but just one of a number as countless as infinity, with each of the ones she’d visited possessing life forms repeated not elsewhere. Turning her gaze to the full moon for an instant, she thought she saw Shia’s face looking down upon her. “Just my imagination,” she said. Before long she had fallen asleep.

  *

  Jaden still didn’t much care for when people unknown to him started conversations with him, especially when he had no choice but be forced by circumstances to endure their company. To that end he had begged the universe not to sit him next to a chatterbox on his flight to Germany. The universe, however, evidently showed no regard for his wishes. Not only had he found himself seated next to an individual who, perhaps, just might have been the most garrulous person on the planet, she also somewhat lacked in manners; to a very great extent actually.

  Jaden could neither enjoy the featured films nor take a nap in peace as the young woman that sat beside him, Mindy, though sweet, obviously wasn’t raised in a home with parents that instilled mannerisms and consideration for others in their children, at least not in her. Often she tapped him on the shoulder seeking to get his attention though he had his earphones on, trying to concentrate on the movie; or she’d nudge him to wake up when he dosed off, telling him that he was missing the best bits of the movie even when it was abundantly clear that he wished to nap instead. Was it at all conceivable that the human mind was truly capable of being so utterly oblivious? He failed to comprehend just exactly how Mindy could not have gotten a clue that he’d prefer sleeping when he had taken off his headphones, fluffed up his pillow then said to her, “I’m going to sleep now.” Precisely how she could have mistaken those words for anything other than that which they mean left him nonplused.