When Simone joined the Marine Corps she did it for one reason – she needed to get the hell out of her house.  Enlisting wasn’t her preferred choice of escape, but she didn’t have a lot of options.  She thought about going to college, but her grades weren’t the best.  She wasn’t going to qualify for a scholarship and she couldn’t afford to pay.

When she joined she never expected to find herself on a plane headed for the Persian Gulf.  Sitting quietly in the dark cabin of the 747, she wondered how many of them would be going home at the end of their deployment.  They were well trained for combat, but the only images of war most of them knew were the ones they’d seen on a screen.  She had never seen a dead body and prayed to God she wouldn’t see one on this deployment.  She said a special prayer for her boyfriend Wes and the rest of the Marines in her unit.  She didn’t get along with or even like some of them, but in a lot of ways they were family.

*****

Although Simone wasn’t happy about getting deployment she wasn’t surprised.  She had suspicions something was going down since the summer before her unit received the official word.  She knew it had to be something big.  Strange things had been going on for months.  She first became suspicious in August.  Her best friend Mack told her that his friends in the engineering section were deploying by ship in a couple of days. Simone worked in the administration office, so she knew some Marines were deploying, but she didn’t know the details. 

“The guys said their section chief is being real tight lipped, all they know is they’re going somewhere in the Middle East.”  Mack spoke excitedly, in a way that made Simone think of a schoolgirl relaying juicy gossip.

“Ain’t that some crazy shit?” Mack continued shaking his head.  “They don’t even know when they’re coming back.”

He paused for a moment.  “You know I halfway wish I could go with them.  That way I could get that damn Carla off my back.”

This of course was the real reason for Mack’s visit.  Even though he wanted to share the info about the mystery deployments, Simone knew the real reason Mack came to see her was to fill her in on his latest woman related drama. 

With George Jefferson Maxwell a.k.a. Mack there was always woman trouble.  Mack, short for his self appointed title of Mack Daddy, was quite the charmer.  He loved the ladies, and the ladies loved him.  He was as slick as he was handsome, but his charm didn’t work on Simone.   Her ex-roommate Jamie had already briefed her about the girlfriend back home, the one at Cherry Point, and the groupies on base.  While Mack’s woman trouble was fascinating Simone was more interested in the secret deployment.      

The deployment itself was suspicious, but there were other subtle indicators that something major was going down – like the late night meetings at Regimental Headquarters.   All the top brass were there. Their commanding officer, a stoic little guy, was looking very worried these days.  It seemed the number of wrinkles on his forehead was increasing by the day.  Normally the CO went home about five or six o’clock in the evening, but sometimes when Simone left her room for a late night snack at eleven or twelve o’clock, she could see the lights still burning in the conference room. She’d check the parking lot and see that the CO’s car was still in the same spot. 

Then there was the early November field trip to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  All personnel were required to go – officers and enlisted alike.  In the three years that Simone had been with Headquarters Battery – HqBtry for short – that was a first. Usually only Marines with jobs that required them to work outdoors went.  The detachment would take one person from the admin office to work with the guys from the chow hall.  This was usually the low man on the totem pole – someone just checking in or just arriving from school.

 For this trip everyone’s All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment, A.L.I.C.E., pack had to be field ready.  The pack had to contain a poncho, poncho liner, field jacket liner, rain suit, two pairs of socks, shaving gear, and extra camouflage uniforms or cammies.   They were also instructed to pack their entrenching tool, sleeping bags, ground mats, and shelter halves.

Another weird aspect of this particular field exercise was the use of black out lights – where the headlights of all the vehicles were painted black – normally used only for covert ops.  Her unit also conducted their field exercises in full gear.  The ensemble was completed with an M-16A2 rifle with bayonet, K-bar knife, and a M17 gas mask and case strapped firmly to the left thigh. All together the uniform and equipment weighed 60 - 80 pounds.  It was like carrying another person on your back.  Less than a month after her unit returned from the field they were told they were headed to the desert.

She wished her Wes was in her unit, then at least they could have deployed together. Wes was the first person Simone called after she received word that her unit was deploying.  She needed to hear his voice.   When he got to the phone he sounded barely conscious.  It occurred to her Wes had probably just gotten off guard duty.  She felt badly for interrupting his much needed rest, but glad to hear his voice all the same.

“Hey baby, you sound whupped.  Should I call you back?”

“Hey beautiful lady, I’m always awake for you.  You plan on stopping by?” 

Simone felt herself getting warm. They had been dating almost a year, but she still blushed whenever Wes called her beautiful.  It wasn’t that she was unaccustomed to getting compliments.  As a woman in a predominantly male environment Simone got hit on a lot – even the Sea Hag would get cat calls if she was among the small population of women stationed on base. 

Most of the flattery came from Marines trying to get laid – but Wes was different.  Unlike most of the other guys in her unit he meant the things he said.   If anyone saw him they’d swear he had it going on with the ladies.  He looked confident enough when he was with his boys, but around women his shyness was more evident.

Wes was oblivious to just how fine he was.  It was visible in his nervous smile, the way he tugged at his bottom lip with his teeth when he was uncomfortable.  Even if Wes didn’t realize how gorgeous he was the women sure did.  There was no shortage of women vying for his attention.  Yet he chose Simone. Hearing Wes on the phone reminded her of how beautiful she felt when she was with him.  It made her insides flutter.

Lost in thought, she jumped slightly when he repeated, “Will I get to see you tonight?  I’m looking forward to putting my arms around you.”

“At ease Marine, I’m still at work,” she chuckled.

“My bad, lady.  What’s new?”

“Did you hear the news?  Are you guys deploying, too?”

“Yeah, we just got the news.  We’re going.  I had a feeling I was gonna get screwed.  They’ve even called some Marines back from retirement and shit.  You know USMC stands for U Signed the Motherfucking Contract.  What about you, you going?”

“I’d almost bet on it.  You know the Corps, if you ain’t pregnant, cripple, or dead you’re going.”

“Damn, why would they send admin?”

“Well, according to Staff Sgt. Black our job description says admin is responsible for tracking the casualty count.”

“You bullshittin’ me?”

“No baby, somehow my recruiter neglected to share that little bit of info.  Listen I can’t talk, I gotta get back to work.”

“Alright then.  Are we hooking up later?”

 “Sure.  You think you could hook a sister up with some grub?”

“Like what?”

“Some Popeye’s chicken, don’t forget the fries.”

“You and that damn chicken.  Your ass is gonna start sprouting feathers,” Wes responded with a chuckle.

“Swing by my room about six, OK? Thanks a lot, baby.” 

Simone went back to the office to complete what was sure to be a long day.  After several grueling hours in admin she was more than grateful to find Wes waiting by her door dressed in a short sleeve polo shirt and a pair of khaki pants.  He looked like a walking Banana Republic ad.  In one hand was a box of chicken, in the other hand was a scraggly brown bear holding a small black box.  As soon as she let him into the room he embraced her and planted a kiss on her face.

“Happy anniversary, baby girl,” said Wes beaming.

Simone looked at the small black box and then back at Wes.  “Okay, I know you’ve been pulling the late shift, but isn’t our anniversary next week?”

“It is,” replied Wes taking her arm and twirling her around, “but I couldn’t wait.  Besides in my book our anniversary was technically thirteen months ago when you finally agreed to let me take you out.”

“We went to the chow hall,” Simone answered chuckling.

“True, you were a cheap date, but the first time I saw you I knew you were the one for me.”

Simone blushed.  She winced slightly as she remembered how the first time he showed up at her door she slammed it in his face. At first sight all she saw was another jarhead trying to push up.  As she stared at his handsome face she was glad he wasn’t as big a fool as she was.  She kissed him softly on the lips.

“Who’s your friend?  He’s kinda cute.”

“This guy?” he replied pointing to the bear.

“Nah, I meant the chicken,” Simone answered with a smirk.

“Oh…you are a funny lady,” Wes said walking toward her with a mischievous look on his face.  He reached over scooping her around the waist and sitting her on his lap.

“Okay, so who’s your boy?”

“This is J-bear.”

“When did you start sleeping with stuffed animals?”

“That’s it,” Wes said holding her down and tickling her.  She giggled hysterically.

“Okay, okay,” she said laughing.

“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, this is J-bear and he’s yours.”

Simone took a closer look at J-Bear.  He face looked so serious, standing in his cammies and spit shined boots. 

“Are you gonna open the box, or are you gonna leave me hanging?”

Simone lifted the black box out of J-Bears hands.

“What is it?” she asked eyeing Wes suspiciously.  He made a funny face.

“Open it and see.”  Simone playfully stuck her tongue out at him.  She slowly opened the box and let out a squeal.  In the box was a pair of diamond earrings.

“Oh my God,” Simone shrieked.  She was so excited when she reached over to hug him she almost knocked him down.  She showered his face with kisses.

“Damn, I love you.”

“I love you too. I take it you like them.  How was your day baby?”

“No wait, I want to give you your gift.”  She walked over to the wall closet.  When she returned she was holding a gray box.

“What have you got there gorgeous?”

“Why don’t you open it and find out.” Simone said holding out the box.

He reached for the box and Simone moved it out of his range. Wes grabbed her and tickled her some more.

“Okay, okay you win.  Here.”

He took the box and sat down, signaling for her to sit beside him.  He slowly opened the box.  Simone anxiously stared over his shoulder.  She had bought him a brown leather Timex watch.

“It’s not as great as your gift, but you can set it for three different time zones, and it has a stopwatch, and timer.  It’s waterproof and you know Timex, ‘It takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.’  Good thing I bought it in brown. It’ll go nicely with your lovely new desert cammies.  I hope you like it.”  Simone rambled on nervously.

Wes put his fingers on her lips.  “Shhh, I love it.  I love you.  It’s perfect, just like you.” Simone felt herself tearing up.

“Turn it over.”

Wes turned it over, reading the inscription on the back: 

To Wes

The best thing that ever happened to me.  I love you.

Simone

He pulled her into an embrace kissing her all over her face.  Then he kissed her firmly on the lips.

“I love you so much.  I’d take a door in the face any day, to get to you.”

“Wesley Taylor, you are the best thing that ever happened to me,” Simone responded with tears in her eyes.

“Now, now, no tears, tell me about your day.” Wes said reaching for a piece of chicken.

Simone sighed and shook her head.  “Baby, you don’t even wanna know.  Sergeant Foster has lost his damn mind.  He decided we should start doing physical training after work.  As if having PT before work isn’t enough.  Besides Staff Sgt. Black says we might have to start working longer hours.  Shit, like anyone would have the fucking energy after long ass day at admin.”

“So, do you guys have to do PT after work too?”

“Hell no, Staff Sergeant Black squashed that idea,” Simone answered nibbling on a drumstick.  “He told Foster that our priority was getting the Marine’s record books ready for deployment.  He said, however, Foster was more than welcome to do PT after work.  He even released him from work a half hour early so he could.”

Wes chuckled and said, “Serves his ass right.”  He put the chicken down and slid his arm around Simone’s waist.

“Enough about that knucklehead and his delusions of grandeur, what do you say we finish our grub and head to Dairy Queen for dessert?”

“That sounds great, but how about we skip Dairy Queen?  I have the feeling you won’t be needing dessert,” she said as she moved their gifts to the floor.

By the time reveille sounded the next morning Wes had already left.  Simone rolled over embracing Wes’ pillow.  She could smell faint traces of his cologne where his head had rested.   She smiled, as she got dressed, remembering all the places on her body that tingled at Wes’ touch.