Red Snow. Sean Ryan Stuart

Vaccination Certificate, and I’ll take care of you,” the sergeant said.

      “Window seat?” asked the young sergeant.

      “Yes please, and what movie are you showing?” Loretta asked with a grin on her face.

      “No ma’am, you got the wrong airline; you should take a good book and a pack of cards. Some of those poker games are a real kick, and you won’t have too many other comforts on this flight. One more thing, ma’am, we have box lunches available. Which one would you like? A, B, C or D?” stated the young buck sergeant.

      “Wow, what a choice, salami, ham, baloney or chicken. I think I’ll take the chicken under glass, with caviar, roasted potatoes and a Caesar salad. Do you have any Beaujolais wine, 1966?” Loretta shot back with a smirk.

      “One greasy fried chicken, apple, milk and Snickers candy bar coming up,” SGT Fuller countered with a smile.

      “What time do I have to be here?” Loretta asked.

      “Exactly ninety minutes prior to departure, and don’t be late. We wouldn’t want you to miss your excursion on our first-class airline. You can check in your luggage now, or bring them back later,” SGT Fuller quipped.

      “I think I’ll check them in now,” Loretta said, with a sigh of relief, keeping only her small carry on bag, with the necessary female accouterments.

      Jeremy stood there watching the whole scene with a strange and quiet demeanor. He had a sense of déjà vu and felt hopeless and lonely. He watched in silence as Loretta handed her luggage to the young sergeant.

      “Here you go, ma’am, your receipt and I’ll see you promptly at 20:00 hours, okay?” The sergeant asked with a grin on his boyish face.

      “You got it, I’ll be here with bells on my toes,” Loretta answered.

      “What do you want to do now, boss?” Jeremy asked.

      “Let’s go somewhere nearby and spend some time together, please!” Loretta blurted out, her voice quaking with emotion.

      They silently left the flight operations building and got into the car.

      Jeremy drove out the main gate and headed for the freeway.

      “Where are you going?” Loretta asked.

      “I am going to take you to the Super 8 Motel across the freeway and we are going to spend some wonderful moments together,” Jeremy answered.

      Jeremy pulled up to the motel guest parking area and told Loretta to wait in the car until he checked in.

      “Hi, can I help you?” the elderly man asked.

      “Yes, you can, I would like a room,” Jeremy answered.

      “How many days will you be staying, and are you alone?”

      “One night only, and I am with my, uh, uh, wife,” Jeremy answered, unconvincingly.

      The old man glanced up and said, “Going to Vietnam, are we now? Don’t worry, I understand, you young fellows come in here and pretend you’re married. Don’t think you are the only one who ever went to war, son.” The old man glanced at Jeremy and winked. “Room 202, upstairs and to the back, nice and quiet, if you know what I mean.”

      Jeremy stood there, not knowing what to say or do. He sheepishly reached across the counter and took the key.

      “Thank you very much.” Jeremy took the key and shoved it down into his pocket and rushed out of the office. Loretta sat in the car patiently waiting for him to return.

      “It’s about time, mon cheri, this little girl is tired of sitting all alone in this-here car, my love,” Loretta quipped, her eyes gleaming with childlike glee.

      “Hey, you should have been the one to get the room, the old man knew we weren’t married and he thinks I am going to Nam,” Jeremy answered with mock indignation.

      “Let’s cut all of the bull and get down to some serious loving,” Jeremy said.

      The room was no better or worse than many other rooms he had seen. The decor was still showing signs of late-fifties styling mixed in with late-sixties ghastly color combinations. The king-size bed stood facing the bathroom and was covered with a hot-pink bedspread. Although the decor was not to his liking, the room was immaculately clean.

      Loretta walked in and slowly glanced around the room. Her thoughts were swirling around in her head so fast that she almost passed out. She had to catch herself on the door in order to avoid hitting the carpet, face first.

      “Come here, mon cheri, I need you. Please, hold me and love me. Your love will have to last me a whole year,” Loretta whimpered to Jeremy.

      Large tears slowly ran down her cheeks, staining her shirt. Jeremy walked over and put his arm around her. He gently squeezed her shoulders and softly kissed her lips. His lips felt her moist and somewhat salty lips part and accept his demanding tongue. Their passion grew in intensity and demand. Both of their bodies seemed to require intense passion. All of the tenderness was gone; passion and desire overcame their needs. At times their lovemaking was so fierce that the whole room shook like a 6.7 California earthquake.

      Their passion finally abated after two hours of intensive lovemaking, leaving both of them exhausted and drowsy. Loretta put her head on his shoulder and dozed off. Jeremy called the front counter and left word for a wake-up call at 18:30 hours. Jeremy laid in bed thinking about his future and what life would be like without Loretta. Her soft purring sounds made him realize how much he had come to love and need her. She had been his inspiration and moral support throughout his long ordeal, and now she was leaving and he was unable to help her. Without realizing that he had done so, Jeremy had fallen asleep and was awakened by the ringing phone.

      “Hello, okay, yeah, thanks, I appreciate it very much,” Jeremy said, not fully knowing where he was, or what was going on.

      Loretta didn’t even budge, the sleep of ‘the living dead’, thought Jeremy. She lay there in a fetal position, her whole body gently shaking, her feet and hands nervously twitching, as if some demon was chasing her and she was desperately trying to get away. It reminded him of a little puppy he once had, Sarge was his name, a wonderful and cuddly chocolate Labrador who had a habit of twitching nervously while sleeping in front of the fireplace. Jeremy decided it was time for her to get up and get ready. He softly began caressing her forehead and gently called out her name.

      “Loretta, wake up, darling, it’s time.”

      Loretta suddenly jumped up, and screamed a piercing and mournful sound. It had an almost animal-like quality to it. Her eyes were focused on some distant and painful object. She began to sob, the sobs slowly increasing in intensity until her entire body was shaking violently. It took all of Jeremy’s strength to hold her down. Jeremy sensed her distress and continued caressing her forehead, shoulders and whispered to her.

      “It’s okay, darling, everything will be all right, I love you.”

      His soothing manner and gentle words seem to calm her. Just as suddenly as they had started, her sobs subsided and she began to regain her composure.

      “I’m okay, sweetie, I just had a bad dream, a horrible dream. I, I,” she stuttered, her eyes welling up with tears again. Loretta was unable to finish the sentence.

      “Don’t worry, babe, I’m here and I love you very much,” Jeremy answered.

      His tenderness and compassion really moved her and she wanted to thank him for his sensitivity, but was unable to do so. She was surprised by his gentleness and affection. Loretta was discovering a new and gentle side of Jeremy.

      “Are you ready, Jeremy? I’ll be ready to go in fifteen minutes,” Loretta announced.

      “Hey, what’s the rush? It’s only 18:30, and you don’t have to be there until eight o’clock! Slow down, you’ll get plenty of time to see Vietnam, believe me,” Jeremy said with a half-assed