A Day In The Life

I have just been appointed to a new rank. I figured it's about time-my wife just left me. The chaplain made it easy because of his Christian faith...I've got a secret.



The guy that's been assigned to me is something else. He is a bit of a know-it-all at times but that’s okay. He’s got the same name as my wife’s sister. I smack myself on the head...when will I learn to call Charis my ex wife.



Footsteps approach me from behind. I can tell by the walk that it's university boy.



"So, Joachim, still upset about me." He hands me a cigarette...which I accept all too eagerly. Hell, if it were vodka I would have taken it quick too.

As I put the cheap tobacco to my lips he lights it for me with a match and crushes it out on the floor before dusting off his white shirt.



"You're a pig. You know that Lieutenant."



"Remind me again, Sergeant. I wasn't the one that slept around on my wife."



Damn these "Euro" features. I rub my chin and check myself in the reflection of a still life oil painting. It was done by our new savior. I like the picture...but the guy scares me...I hope being tan and buck toothed won't get me in trouble. I have a secret.



I catch Sheila raising a blonde eyebrow at me. He's got blue eyes...never noticed that before. Mine are green...but then...never mind. Hans-the paper pusher-could almost be my twin. At least I know who my mother is.



Very soon the fox, himself will meet us. I cannot hold my excitement. I met the fox only once...Sheila met him six times when he graduated. He told me hundreds of times...they both did.



Our polished heels clack alone the marble floors. Who would have thought a hostile take over and a new revolution would have made this place ours.



Several other officers pass by. One salutes me. I nod at him and try to flatten out the wrinkles of my brown short-sleeved top. I feel strange in this uniform more often now. We have so many executions going on in these parts now. Even the smoke rising out of the cigarette makes me uncomfortable...actually, the kid giving it to me for no reason does too.



I lift it out of my lips and blow out a black flume. "It's not my brand." I cough and try to smile.



He just chuckles and admires his features in another picture. "So, Sergeant, you're from the city backcross the sea."



Why would he ask such a thing? Come on Tate shrug it off. "What does it matter to you, kid?"



"They put you in charge of the large fish. I just figured that you had a thing for water is all. Man, you're so sensitive...besides, you're darker than me by a couple shades. That's typical of older men here, now."



So, I'm thirty-five and from a former republic. "Shoot me. I can't help where my mother birthed me. You should have seen my brothers before the snakes at them."



He just looks at me for a second and reaches for something. For an uncomfortable amount of time, I feel he's reaching for his side arm. He's going to shoot me. It was just a joke-where does he think I'm from-the United States or Africa-I'm not-I'm just naturally tan.



He grabs a cigarette and cracks a huge smile at me. All I can do is straighten the wide bill of my hat.



We both end up laughing and the sound reverberates off the walls. I move to face him and stare over my right shoulder down the hall. Someone must be loved. There is a flower basket sitting in front of the closed blinds. So many colors. My wife and I had the same ones at our wedding.



"Hey, Sergeant what are you looking at-we need to be in this room."



"Sorry, my wife and I had those same flowers at the wedding."



He opens the door but thinks better of it and accidentally slams it.



I snap to attention. One of these days, I'm going to be found out.



It's been ten seconds and he is still staring at the door handle. I watch him straighten-he's got a thing for drama just like all the schoolboys. "You-what kind of man are you. Don't you know the new dignitary assigned me AND you to the little love nest down the street? You're not even blonde-but there's something the guy likes about you! You're a snake to me but that's related to what we do here. You drop your pants just like all the other guys-that's all that matters when it comes down to sex!"



The kid just smiles while puffing on the thing like a tugboat and slaps a spot beneath my shoulder. "You'll find better woman-the last one I caught you with was quite a looker. Next time don't try to get a good fuck in until you're home. Most desks break when you try to-"

The door opens and one of my direct superiors stares out at us. "Is something wrong? You two need to be in here!” The guy turns and leaves the door open.



"Y'know, Tate-I gotta give you credit that last bitch had her legs so far behind her head I'd have thought that you'd have just thrust so hard she'd roll back like a child's ball. I got to give you credit." he whispered and elbowed me hard.



And the kid wonders why I can't stand him.



As we step inside-I notice that the solid wooden table is crushed. Two of the legs look like they’ve been blown up. The whole room looks like a bomb exploded...but the door...I look back-it's not the original door.



"So this is where it happened." Sheila removes his hat and holds it to his chest.



"The guy was an American wasn't he. They're so careless." I turn to my superior and remember that I forgot to salute.



"They're checking out the body now. All that matters is my friend is alive and the hospital is looking him over."



"That's great." The boy chimes in and puts his hat back on.



"Sergeant Joachim Tate-you are still in charge of submarine command. We're going to launch an attack on the United States but for now-you're going to just do a reconnaissance run. Find out what they are made of. Lieutenant Fritz Sheila will be coming along-I'm assigning him to you."



My jaw drops...I'm feeling dizzy. Why me?



"Thank you, sir!" My companion is looking like he's too happy about all this...I wonder...does he know about me? How much does he know about me?



We salute and leave the room and the building. After catching a cab, everything is silent. During the drive, more and more people are being taken from their homes.