Day of Infamy
Oh... Hot damn! Another gay furry story?
Yup... How'd you guess?
As long as you're into this sort of thing, by all means, read on! I've put more than a few hours into crafting this one.
As usual... If you're not AT LEAST 18, don't read this... You might be corrupted with terrible notions of sweet romance and lasting love. Oh...and it might totally make you queer.
Enjoy!
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The sunlight peeked through the wooden slats of the plantation shades. It always found it's way into Eugene's eye, but on this particular morning, it was not unwelcome. The coming of the dawn meant it was time to get ready for a day at sea.
Eugene woke with a start and almost fell out of bed in his excitement. He rushed over to the large windows of the cottage and peered out through the shades. Seeing the sky grow lighter and brighter by the moment was always such a wonder and he relished every chance he got to see it. His schedule working as a clerk in the only real store in the area usually got him up and counting inventory and telegraphing orders for stock from the pre-dawn hours until midmorning.
Today was different. He usually had to work on both Saturday and Sunday, but the owner of the general store had decided to close the store for the weekend while he traveled to New Orleans to attend his eldest brother's funeral. Eugene had driven the buggy to the train station for Mr. Hallenbock and his family the evening before. He could see the old goat's house from his windows and it looked empty and forlorn without Mr Hallenbock's children playing in the yard.
Eugene placed a kettle on the stove while he made some ham slices and fried eggs. All throughout the process of cooking and eating, he kept one eye fixed on his clock. Two more hours until his appointment. He had two additional mugs of tea while he waited for the clock to sweep away the time.
At half past eight, he headed off to the shower. As usual, he used almost no hot water. Having moved down south with his family ten years earlier, he still appreciated that rush of cold water like the baths he had taken back in Maine. After squeezing the water from his fur, he wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back to his room to dress.
He slid open one of the windows in his room and extended a paw into the morning air. It was hardly chilly by Maine standards, but there was building warmth out there. Eugene selected a pair of dark blue dungarees and a white t-shirt. After a few moments considering his options, he chose a red shirt with a wide collar to cover his undershirt.
Eugene returned to the living room and snapped on the radio while he laced up his shoes. He heard, but didn't listen to, the news broadcast. The economic news hadn't been good for years and the situation in Europe was alarming, but distant.
"Thank goodness for that," Eugene thought to himself. He was partly thinking about the problems in Europe being so far away, but mostly the comment was connected to the pleasant weather forecast he had just heard. The lemming extended his paw and switched off the radio. It took a few moments for the dials to fade to black and Eugene gathered the items to bring on his little excursion.
He took one last look around and headed out the door. On most days, he left the front door unlocked, but he wasn't sure how long he'd be gone, so he slid the disused key in and gave it a quick turn before removing it and slipping it into his right front pocket.
Eugene started down the dirt road toward the waterfront. The air was still cool, but the sun was very bright and it's warmth held great promise for the afternoon. As he passed by houses on the way he saw that some families were just now putting up Christmas decorations. Eugene's family had always had the tradition of putting the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. This just seemed oddly late to be doing it, but then, there was no snow on the ground here and it didn't feel like Christmas was two weeks away.
As he made his way past the store where he normally worked, the gravel gave way to smooth asphalt. Cars began to pass by him every few minutes as people made their way into town or out on a Sunday drive. After seeing him trudging along the side of the road, Mr. Hempstead had picked him up on his way down to the lunch counter by the bay where the elderly rabbit sat all day playing checkers after attending services at the Methodist church downtown.
After thanking Mr. Hempstead, Eugene paused a moment to enjoy the warm breeze from the bay before making his way the remaining four blocks into the "old money" section of town. The streets here were lined with palm trees and high walls. The cars here were driven by the servants, except some of the roadsters of the rich kids.
While he was presentably dressed, Eugene couldn't help but feel self-conscious here. The eyes locked on him as the one who didn't belong. Even the young postman armadillo seemed surprised to see another who had actually worked a day in his life.
Eugene ran his left paw along the cream colored wall to his left. The surface was warmed by the light, but he could almost feel the cool stone under the paint. He came to a gap in the wall guarded by a heavy wrought iron gate. The gate made a deep ring as Eugene tapped his pawpads along the bars, one by one.
His hesitation was understandable. He hovered an outstretched paw over the small brass button that served to alert the residents that there was someone at the gate. Finally, he touched the mounting for the button. The polished brass was cool to the touch and the delicate floral pattern broke up the otherwise smooth surface.
What was it about meeting Charles here instead of at the bar downtown? Here he was exposed, but no one knew. No one would suspect, no matter how much they stared. Charles must have brought friends by from time to time from different parts of town. It still made him hesitate.
"You've been waiting for this day for three weeks. All you have to do is press the button and we're good to go," he thought. "It's not that scary and if you don't hurry you'll be late. But you don't want to rush and expose yourself. C'mon. Make up your mind. Are you gonna do it or not, Eugene?"
"Eugene."
The voice came from behind him. Eugene froze. No one here would know him. Someone had found him out. He'd lose his job and be run out of town for sure. Well, no matter, he could always run off to Alaska.
"Eugene? Army Air Corps to Eugene. Come in, Eugene."
"What? Oh, Charles," Eugene's mind snapped away from his worries and back to the present. "That was you calling? I didn't recognize the voice." The donkey was easily a foot taller than Eugene and his red polo shirt and black slacks really accented the grey of his fur. His thick mane was slicked back with some aromatic oil that Eugene couldn't quite place and that he knew he could never afford.
"I was beginning to think that you weren't coming. Well... Come on. We're gonna cut through the house to get down by the bay." Charles unlocked the gate and held it open for Eugene. The red brick walkway on which he found himself was surrounded by a lawn of such perfection it must have kept the economy rolling with all the workers who must have been needed to maintain it.
The house was another story. The peach walls, red roof tiles, and arched windows were typical of the Spanish mission style. The third floor had a widow's walk with only a few canvas umbrellas visible from their angle. Eugene immediately knew the view must be amazing from up there.
Charles led the way without a word. At the fork in the path, they went right toward the side entrance. Eugene supposed it made sense for them to avoid coming in through the parlor and running into Charles' potentially inquisitive family. "So...Where did you two boys meet?" Even imagining the question sparked anxiety.
The side entrance was less ornate, but no less imposing. The heavy wooden door was massive even when compared to Charles, but it still swung on a single hinge. Charles had to use a key to unlock the door. The brass fittings and lock were tarnished, but still bright. Obviously, this was an entrance for the servants and not for guests.
The area inside appeared to be mostly storage. There were several rows of shelves covered with all manner of canned goods and household supplies. The wall across from the door had several racks of fresh vegetables and a heavy steel door that looked like the entrance to a giant walk-in icebox. Light streamed into the room through a pass-thru wall into a large kitchen with three gas stoves and various counters for food preparation. There was even a wood burning oven in the far corner by the windows.
Charles led Eugene through the kitchen into a small sitting area with several large french doors out to a patio and sunken garden. There was a table outside and to Eugene's horror, Charles' entire family seemed to be sitting around eathing brunch.
"Ah. Charles is this the friend that you mentioned to us the other night?"
"Yes, father," Charles spoke directly to the head of the family. Charles' father was quite handsome in his own right, assuming one can look past the slightly sagging skin and hair that had become silver and looked odd against the grey of the rest of his fur. "Everyone! I'd like to introduce you to my friend Eugene."
There were many smiles and various family members stated their names and gave Eugene a little greeting. Eugene smiled and tried to remember the various names, but they slipped away as soon as he finished hearing them. He was offered a seat to join them, but Charles rescued him the same way he had the night they met - he excused them as having to get on their way. It had worked on the rough lads in the bar and it worked just as well on parents, apparently.
At the back of the sunken garden was a staircase that led up to a patio and the pool. The pool was huge, bigger even than Eugene's house and yard combined with the neighbor's garden thrown in for good measure. But a quick glance toward the bay sold him on what he had come to see. The sailboat was a least 40 feet long and everything Charles had promised the night he had offered to take him on this little trip.
The sails weren't up, but it was still an impressive sight. The polished wood and the dark green paint of the hull seemed to soak up the light. Eugene needed a little help climbing on board, the closest he'd ever been to a boat was seeing them at a distance on the bay from the park. The waves were fairly gentle, but it still took a little luck and a little skill to keep his footpaws from sliding out from under him.
Eugene wandered a little on the deck while Charles brought aboard some provisions and saw to the needs of the ship. The smooth metal railing on the boat was piping hot from the sun, and Eugene kept his smooth pawpads in contact with the metal for only a few seconds at a time. He thought it was rather cruel that the only way to steady himself on the swaying deck was a railing that was very nearly too hot to touch.
"Eugene! Head down below deck and unpack the supplies I left on the table while I get us underway!"
Eugene nodded and made his way to the open hatch and down the steep ladder to a combination living area and kitchen. The wooden table was polished with a raised edge that Eugene guessed must keep things from sliding off if the waves got rough.
Arrayed on the table were four large cloth bags. Eugene peeked inside each before starting to unload the supplies. There were a variety of snacks and miscellaneous supplies from canned tuna to toilet paper. He found homes in the various cabinets for each item in turn. He even located the icebox that was concealed in the bench seating at the table against the hull and in went the fresh fruits and veggies.
He had just finished putting everything away when the quiet lapping of the bay waves against the boat was eclipsed by the diesel engine turning over. He heard Charles call him up to the deck. The boat began to move forward just as Eugene got to the stairs, and for a moment, he almost lost his footing. The stairs were a little challenging, but Eugene made it back up into the bright morning sun.
Eugene hung on to the railing and watched the bay pass by rapidly as the boat motored out to the center of the bay. The traffic out on the bay was fairly light and the breeze was blowing gently out to sea. Once they reached a point far enough from land, Charles pointed the bow toward the open mouth of the bay and Eugene helped him to crank the sails up and get them set.
"And away we go!" Charles called out at the wind caught the sails and the boat began to pick up speed. It took almost forty-five minutes before they plunged out into the Gulf of Mexico. Out on the gulf, the salt air was fresher and the problems back on land seemed so distant. Especially after another hour passed and the land was no longer even in sight.
Together they pulled in the sails and stowed them away. The sun was now high in the sky. The waves were almost non-existent and they just allowed the ship to drift. Charles spun the wheel to hold them in a fairly tight circle and locked it there with a leather strap.
"Ready for some fishing?"
"Sure. I saw the supplies. If we don't catch something I fear we won't have much but a few pawfuls of snacks."
"You just sit here and I'll get the fishing gear," and with that, Charles popped below decks. Eugene admired the sea extending out in all directions in the bright sun of the late morning. The light fluffy clouds that scattered the sky were the only other thing in sight and they drifted slowly overhead toward the east. The surface breeze remained blowing out to sea and and as he watched, Eugene could tell that even without the sails, the wind was sweeping the boat in large circles.
"Beautiful out here isn't it?" Charles must have come back up on deck but Eugene's attention had wandered to the heavens, where a trio of seagulls had begun to circle the boat on the thermals.
"Huh? Oh, Charles. Yes, it is beautiful out here. And so very peaceful," Eugene paused and took in the scene of the donkey with his arms loaded with every imaginable fishing gadget one could imagine. "Did you pack for a fishing trip or an invasion of Fortress Europe?"
"As a boy scout, I was taught to always be prepared." Charles laid out various rods and reels. There were spools of fishing line and nets, not to mention an assortment of bait and fly lures that was more impressive and varied than their own food selection. "Besides, if we don't catch anything, there's always plenty of bait we can eat to stave off our cannibalistic tenancies."
"Um... I don't think I could ever eat you." Eugene felt his ears flush with the blush.
"Well... my friend. If you don't eat me, I'll just have to eat you," and Charles poked his index finger hard into Eugene's side just behind his ribcage, making the lemming simultaneously jump and giggle uncontrollably. "Now that we've sorted out the food situation, would you like some zinc oxide for your nose and ears?"
"Please." Charles grabbed the little tube and squeezed a dab onto Eugene's nose and then lightly rubbed the paste until every spot of exposed skin was covered. He then did each of Eugene's ears. The zinc oxide was cold on his skin, but it was the invigorating kind of cold that made you feel alive. Then again, maybe it was just the company. Charles rubbed a little of the thick goop on his own nose before capping the tube.
The afternoon passed in pleasant conversation as they each dangled a lure in the water and chatted. With paws hanging over the side of the boat and no one else to interfere, they had the chance to talk about all the things that never came up in the bar downtown.
Charles talked more about himself and his family than Eugene had ever seen him do before, but then maybe a seedy bar where men went to find lust more than love with other men wasn't the best place to bring up how wealthy mom and dad are, unless you wanted to open yourself for kidnapping and ransom.
Eugene talked a little about his family and living back in Maine. Charles had seen snow, but he marveled at the stories of living with the irritation of it day after day for months. There were comparisons of the brothers and sisters. There was the shared harassment from mom that it was time to settle down and raise a family.
"All right. I am fished out for today," Charles spoke up as the sun fell to the surface of the water to the west. "And we barely caught one little fish between us."
"Light fare for dinner, then?" They shared a laugh while they packed up the gear for the day. "Maybe we will have better luck tomorrow."
Once they traveled below deck, Eugene began to put away the fishing gear in a small cupboard that appeared to have been especially built to hold the rods and tackle boxes. Charles spent the time cleaning and preparing to cook the fish. The fillets were small, but he gave them a light coating of flour and pan fried them with a little butter while he popped some popcorn in a second pan on the second burner of the tiny galley stove. When they turned golden brown, he grabbed two small rolls and made two small sandwiches and a large shared bowl of salted popcorn.
While they ate, the light from the sun faded to a deep black. With the port holes blackened, Charles lit a small oil lamp for them to use to finish up their dinner. The soft light highlighted the features of Charles' face. The flared nostrils, smooth forehead, and slicked back headfur looked amazing in the low light and the reflections flashing from his eyes were hypnotic.
Was he staring back? The soft flickering light made is hard to tell, but it was easy to stare. The light barely lit up the table and the rest of the room was lost in darkness. Without them speaking, the only sound was the gentle waves lapping at the hull.
Once the food was gone, they picked up their ambling conversation about each other's lives while the dishes were washed with water from the fresh water tank. Eugene watched as best he could in the pale light and it at least appeared that the pampered rich guy could take care of himself, at least as far as the dishes were concerned.
"Do you want to listen to the radio for a little while?" Charles asked.
"Not yet. Out on the sea, far from the shore, the view of the stars must be amazing. I want to lie out and watch for a while first."
The made their way out onto the deck. A blanket was spread and the boys lay down to watch the stars whirling overhead. There were even a few shooting stars. The Milky Way wasn't as clear and bright as up in the mountains back in Maine, but when a warm paw found his, it seemed more special to Eugene.
"Ok. I'm ready to listen to the radio."
"Good. I was afraid you wouldn't be ready in time to catch some music before they shut down for the night and we have to try to get shortwave stations from out west." Charles was fast, running below and getting the radio.
The tubes took some time to heat up running on batteries. The first sounds were crackles and static, far away but a rising tide. In the dim light, Charles fiddled with the dials. A radio drama would be nice or maybe some jazz, but after working through a few stations, both furs found only scattered news reports on the dial.
They settled in to listen to one of the broadcasts. Both of them lay on their stomachs, facing the radio, whose dimly lit dial was the only light besides the stars. The attack had come suddenly and only a few hours ago. No one knew very much. Some said the Pacific Fleet was wiped out. Some speculated that the Japanese would invade California in the next few hours.
For two years, they had listened to the reports of war in far-off countries, and now it had come to them. The world left a bitter taste in their mouths. Charles had argued at the social club downtown that the model of German militarism might be the means to end the depression just four years ago. Eugene had said just last week that America's place was not to be involved in the wars of other nations when they had so many problems within their borders. They looked at each other, and though there wasn't enough light to read the other's face, they knew the world would be different.
An innocent sailing trip seemed so out of place when they found it was no longer possible to hide from the flames that were engulfing the world. "I think we should head home at first light, Eugene. I think we should be home with our friends and neighbors, not to mention that the draft will probably be stepped up."
"I think you're right. Though I'm not sure I can get to sleep now." Eugene was trembling slightly. The comment on the draft brought home the realization that he could die in some country he had never heard of in the next few years. He knew Japan was strong. He knew Germany was strong. But America hadn't seemed strong to him in a long time.
"I know what you mean, Eugene." Charles cleared his throat. "I admit that I always wanted to make love to you on this trip, but I never expected that to really happen. I don't mean to be all aggressive, but once the military comes for two fit young lads like us, we're going to have to hide our passions. And we might never see each other again."
"Charles... I like you a lot. You're a really swell guy. And I certainly don't want to sleep alone tonight.." But was he really prepared for a one-night fling? "Maybe we could just curl up for a bit and see where it leads, ok?"
"Sounds like a plan to me, Eugene." The radio was quickly packed and the blankets were hauled below. The small oil lamp was re-lit and the bedclothes were hauled to the open suite at the stern. The bed was more spacious than the bunks built into the walls on either side of the corridor, but it couldn't have been any bigger than full size.
Charles produced pillows from a cupboard and with the blankets, he made up a little nest where they could curl up. The portholes were opened and a good breeze kept it well-ventilated. The bed was made and the cool breeze was a fine excuse to cuddle up for the night, but Eugene felt unsure.
He hadn't done this very often, after all, there weren't many people who were interested. Even with a city nearby, Eugene always felt almost alone because there weren't many furs like him. Charles peeled off his red polo shirt and exposed his lovely chest. There was a mat of darker gray fur that highlighted the two red-brown nipples that framed it.
He looked away. It really wasn't polite to stare. Eugene noticed that he was beginning to sweat. The room was filling with the donkey's musky scent. He knew that Charles' nose wasn't as sensitive as his own. He wondered if Charles knew what the scent was doing to him. Eugene's groin was definitely responding to the smell and the situation.
A quick change seemed best to Eugene. Shirt and pants were pulled off and he hopped into bed and covered up as soon as he could. He closed his eyes tightly to avoid staring. It wasn't long before the bed compressed a little under the weight of someone large. It could only be Charles, but it was still somewhat startling to suddenly be in bed with someone he wasn't even sure he knew all that well.
"Ok to turn the lights out now, Eugene?"
"Sure. My eyes have been closed since I climbed into bed."
There was a shift on Charles' side of the bed. Eugene heard the exhalation to extinguish the lamp. The slight sulfur scent of the smoke hung in the air for a few moments before the cross breeze blew it away toward the land.
"Uh. I know this is kinda awkward...but would you mind just holding me for a little while?"
"Sure, Eugene. I don't mind."
The large arms encircled the lemming. It was warm and inviting. Still his mind remained focused on the terrible things he knew the war would bring. A tear popped from it's wellspring and ran down his cheek. It was such a wonderful day and such a lovely night. He just couldn't let some crazy warmongers half a world away negate that.
Eugene felt the paws making small circles, rubbing his chest through the thin cotton of his undershirt. He wiggled a little and managed to turn and face Charles. The bulge in the donkey's boxers was hard to miss. Eugene stretched up and gave Charles a quick peck on the cheek while his right paw found a donkey hip and rubbed gently over the boxers that hid what little remained of modesty between the two.
A muzzle found it's way to his and sweet little lemming lips parted for a throbbing donkey tongue. It was thicker and stronger than anything the lemming had ever had in his mouth, unless you counted that hot armadillo's love muscle six months earlier. The lemming sucked hungrily on the tongue, growing bolder and more willing to go ever farther.
Beneath his boxers, the lemming was filling out. His sensitivity was rising and just the most subtle shifting in the fabric would cause him to moan in pleasure. His chest rose smoothly and evenly as each breath was taken. Chest fur touched through the cloth a few times before Eugene peeled the shirt off. While he didn't notice, Charles must have done the same, as their chests' touched when the lemming lay back again.
A paw found the chest fur on the donkey and rubbed it absentmindedly as kisses and gentle strokes of the lemming's lower back took him far from the concerns of the day. Another of the lemming's paws found it way to the waistband of the donkey's boxers. Pawpads darted just underneath in a playful, unspoken suggestion to remove them.
Instead, Eugene felt a paw find a way to his stomach. A pawpad worked in slow circles around his navel. After a few moments, he realized they were not circles, but ovals, and each one edging ever closer to his lemminghood. His pulse had become audible, pounding in his ears and seeming to echo everywhere. His skin flushed and it's moist heat filled the space between the pair.
The donkey's paw finally came to rest at the tip of the lemming's cock. It rubbed gently on the cut tip and it felt the throb that accompanied each wave of pleasure that passed over Eugene's perception. His eyes were less than half open now, but it didn't matter. Touch had overwhelmed every other sensation. Even the salt air of the gulf breeze was drowned away.
"Charles... Pl-pl-please stop."
"Something wrong?"
"Nope. I'm just...a little...too close...to the edge." Eugene panted. The donkey withdrew his paw and the throbbing pressure in Eugene's groin began to ebb. The cool sea breeze and the saltiness of the air returned to Eugene's nostrils and mouth. "I...um...I think I might like to have you make love to me now, Charles."
"I think I might be able to arrange that. After all, I am well-connected." Charles voice swelled with polite, refined arrogance.
"And also well-endowed by the feel of this monster." Eugene gave the hard length in his right paw a firm squeeze. He hadn't noticed Charles removing his boxers and he certainly would have denied putting his paw there, but he was in no hurry to let go at this juncture.
Charles arose and pried the small paw off. There was some rustling in the dark and Eugene could just barely make out what was going on. Ahh...the awkward interruption of getting the equipment ready. Eugene was lifted slightly and a coarse towel was slid under him. It wasn't cool like the cotton sheets, but would keep them from making too much of a mess.
Eugene let his eyes close the rest of the way. He wouldn't need to see anything more tonight. In only a few moments, touch would shove his vision aside anyway. His ears perked at the pop of the tub of petroleum jelly and the slick wet plop of it being steadily applied.
He parted his legs and raised his hindpaws into the air. Charles immediately found the right spot and applied some cool jelly to Eugene's firm hole. One pawpad snaked it's way inside and wiggled about to coat the gap between the rings of muscle. It almost tickled and Eugene needed conscious effort not to giggle and tense up.
And now came the hard part. The pawpad was slowly slid from the cavity and the bed shifted a little as Charles lined up. The head felt sticky and had warmed in contrast to the initial chill of the jelly. A gentle push came first. It wasn't painful, but the sensation was far from pleasant. The overwhelming sensation was to get it out by any means necessary, but within a few moments, the steady pressure pushed that sensation far from Eugene's mind.
The pain was tolerable, but intense. He breathed deeply and slowly and drew his bottom lip between his teeth for something to keep away the need to really vocalize the discomfort. Then the sudden relaxation and a few inches sunk deeply inside him.
Charles sighed deeply and tried to push even further. "Give me a couple seconds, Charles. I'm not used to this size." There was a slight whimper from Charles, but he waited. Such a kind and considerate donkey. "Ok... I think I'm ready."
Charles began a slow and deliberate motion, in and out, but also working in slow circles by swiveling his hips. There was pain, but it was dull now and distant as the waves of pleasure began to come again. The rest of the world seemed to fade into the distance. Fuzzy hips finally met each other and the thrusts became more urgent.
There was a pressure on the underside of Eugene's legs. He arched them as far back as he could manage. The tongue that snaked along the bottom of he up-stretched footpaws was warm, but dry from the hot panting breath that ran over its surface and cooled his toes as the meager saliva evaporated. The lemming's tail was pinned under the donkey's left thigh but the pinch was hardly a whisper compared to the other sensations.
The rush of sensation was enough to leave one slightly dazed, but in one marvelous moment, Eugene became aware of so many things at one time. He heard and felt the rush of blood in his ears. He smelled again the salt air and felt the breeze that carried it. There was some blushing under his fur on his face and chest. He felt the two large pawfuls of smooth, wiry fur from Charles' back and realized he was probably squeezing them a little too tightly. He felt the donkey's right paw gripping his left leg tightly and the other paw wrapped around Eugene's own throbbing erection.
And the moment of clarity was lost to an explosion. It filled the world. The tightness and pressure in Eugene's groin was liberated and his seed erupted into the air. Some fell on his belly and soaked into the soft fur and some landed on the towel. Eugene gripped Charles tightly within him and the donkey howled into the night air as he released a flood of his own seed.
Only the first few pulses made it into Eugene because there was so much donkey seed involved. Charles popped free roughly and continued to cum onto the lemming's abdomen. It settled in sticky blobs and mingled with a little of the lemming's own sperm. It was too much for Eugene and he slipped away for a time.
When Eugene awoke it was starting to grow lighter outside. The sun would be up soon. Charles was gently snoring away with his head on the lemming's belly. The sperm had caked in his fur, but he wasn't ready to clean off yet. The warm glow was still washing over him and he wasn't entirely certain he could stand even if he wanted to.
This had definitely been a fun trip on the ocean. He would have to do it again sometime.
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The elderly lemming walked with a limp and his birchwood walking stick was the only companion he had brought for this trip. The gravel pathway was framed with green grass and poppies and American flags were the only other splashes of color amongst the thousands of white headstones that surrounded him.
It was a warm day and he had waited a long time to come here to say goodbye. He had not seen Charles in sixty-seven years, but that sailing trip on the Gulf of Mexico was bright and vivid in his memory. He had seen many fine days on the sea since then, but that first trip had set the stage for so many things that had filled his life afterwards.
The white uniform he wore was of an obsolete cut. There were only a few medals pinned to his chest, but many more remained at home in a leather frame next to pictures of his grandson. As he left the rough pathway and stepped into the cool grass, Eugene checked the note again.
"Eighteenth row...Seven...Eight...Nine"
Here he was. He had come half-way around the world to see this sight and for the first time since he had received a letter from Charles' sister when he was on leave in Hawaii he had no choice but to cry.
It was a simple cross of marble and read "Capt Charles Lee Renner US Army Florida June 6th 1945." Eugene bent his good knee slightly and lay a small bunch of poppies at the base of the stone. His mouth was dry as the desert, but he had to say his long overdue goodbye.
"Charles, it's Eugene." The tears were streaming down his cheeks now. "I had to do a bit of research with your sister and her daughter Angela to find you here. I'm not sure why, but I felt like I had to come and say goodbye."
"We had only that one night together, but I never forgot it. I knew then that our life would be so hard if we tried to be a couple, but I'm pleased that our generations kids and grandkids have helped many of the young guys like us come out and not be ashamed.
"I wish now that I had the words to tell you everything, but they escape me. You knew I went to Navy and ended up in the South Pacific. Your sister wrote to me in July of 1945 when she heard that you hadn't survived the Normandy landing. When the war was over, I settled down with a sweet girl named Lydia and we had four little lemmings. Robert, my youngest, is like us. I just went to his wedding in Hawaii to gorgeous young fellow named Izawa.
"How the times have changed, my old friend. Can you believe my son married a Jap? And another man at that. I wish you could've been here to see it."
"Well... I'm getting old, so I'll be needing to go and sit down for a bit. You rest now. I don't suspect it'll be that much longer before I join you." He turned and walked a few paces. "Oh... One more thing. I didn't say it that night and I didn't say it the morning after. I have to say it now. I love you, Charles, with all my heart. I hope to see you again soon."
A sudden breeze rustled the hedgerows and Eugene took it as a sign and acknowledgment that they would be reunited.
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Author's Notes:
I certainly hope they managed to find each other again!
I hope you've enjoyed my foray into historical fiction. If there's any key details you think I'm missing to give better historical context, let me know. I didn't get any help from anyone who was alive at the time, this is all from my imagination.
Do:
* Send me constructive criticism.
* Let me know if there's a story you'd like to see me write.
Don't:
* Ask me to write a series -- I'm working on a series of seperate stories sharing the universe from a novel I work on from time to time.
Thankies!
~Solus
P.S. -- For those that have inquired, yes, this otter does keep his own personal favorite rock.