Marine Corps Stories: His Reputation

The desert heat seemed to hug them. It enwrapped and held them that Friday afternoon and it lasted from the early morning sun to the dying twilight. For Corporal Foster Depp and PFCs Rondo Alexander and Saturn Livingston, the ability to be able to hit the road and go into the country of Yuma, Arizona proved to be welcoming. Depp showed off tanned white skin from being in this sunny climate for more months than the PFCs. He possessed high cheek bones. Alexander boasted coffee black skin, a trim fade, and a square jaw. Livingston, on the other hand, exhibited rather pale skin with flaxen hair, a somewhat long face, but blue eyes that could cut through sheet metal like lasers. Both of the PFCs had reached the age of nineteen. They had all passed inspection of their barracks. Depp had passed his vehicle inspection for the weekend. All of the necessities had been covered and the three Marines looked forward to some well-deserved R&R.

Depp barreled down the road within the speed limit. The time seemed to ooze through the crevices of the minds of all three of the car’s occupants.

Once they arrived at their destination, Depp pulled some gear from the back of the vehicle.

“You two,” Depp said, “Come here.”

Alexander and Livingston circled to the back, obeying the corporal’s command.

“Take these two bags into the house,” Depp said.

“Aye, Corporal,” the two PFCs said in unison.

“Call me Foster while we’re out here, okay?”

“Okay,” they both said.

The bags brimmed with hard liquor and beer.

Once the two PFCs reached the door to the ranch, a spirited young woman aged twenty-two named Keily answered the door. She displayed her flowing blonde hair and glowing brown eyes. Ample bosom and an hourglass figure made her even more comely. She had just retired as a four-year sergeant of Marines.

“Tabby, they’re here,” She called back into the house. A distant but clear “okay” served as a response.

“Come in! Come in! Come in!” she said to the PFCs.

She ran out and a slight scream slipped from her lips when she saw Depp. She jumped on top of him and wrapped her legs around his waist.

“Hello, Keily,” Depp said.

“What took you so long?”

“You know how it is in the Corps. Liberty was almost secured because two lance corporals left rounds in their rifles after the range. Gladly, they found the rounds and the two of them received minor punishments and the rest of us were let free,” Depp said.

“Alright, no sense in standing there to tell stories when we can go in here.”

Tabitha remained slightly less attractive than Keily. She displayed red hair and small breasts. She was twenty-three and stood at about 5’4” but she exhibited a certain sexuality. Her brown-green eyes looked like hazelnuts. She sauntered into the room like a ghost. The room actually served as an enclosed porch. A sad looking leather recliner sat just a few inches from the window. A couch that had seen many decades remained for the girls to sit. Two rocking chairs served as the PFCs seating arrangement. Depp rocked in the recliner.

“We’ve got all we need?” Keily asked Depp.

“Yes. Everything. I want to formally introduce everyone. This is Rondo and Saturn. Meet Keily and Tabitha.”

“Call me Tabby, Foster. You know better.”

“Okay, that’s Tabby,” Depp said.

“Hi.”

“Hey.”

“Now that all of the formalities are out of the way, let’s start off slow with some brew.”

Depp extracted two cases of beer from the larger bag.

Excitement shot into the eyes of the PFCs like lightning illuminating the sky. Depp passed them the bottles of the cold, gold fermented barley soup.

“After a few beers, the buzz circulated from the brains of the junior Marines to their feet. They showed no signs of total drunkenness...yet. Stories bandied about like a shuttlecock in a game of badminton.

“...So I go down the list of the officer ranks while standing on my head. I get to colonel and I try to make the wings of an eagle with my hands. And I fall over and spill my beer!” Alexander said with a laugh.

“That’s a sin around here,” Tabitha said. “Anyway....” her lips curled up into a wry grin. “Shots...shots...shots!”

With the buzz felt all around, the two young women brought a few bottles of tequila out to the porch.

“Rondo,” Keily said. “You’re first.”

Rondo never hesitated. He took hold of the liquid like it was some championship cup and downed the contents of the tiny glass. Four more followed. He didn’t yell or scream. In fact, he grew somewhat quiet. He started humming to himself. He hummed the first few notes of the Marine Corps Hymn. He had closed his eyes. When he opened them, Tabitha and Keily danced in front of all three of the male Marines. Not sleazy or too provocative, both women just frolicked about.

“C’mon. Let’s go into the house,” Keily said.

Moving somewhat slowly, Alexander and Livingston trailed into the domicile. Alexander blurted out something while he still kept the contents of his stomach.

“Will you have sex with me, Keily?”

Keily’s brow furrowed. “Why, no, hon’. You should find someone that you love and be sobered up before you get with someone while alcohol is on your brain.”

Alexander became sick. “Where’s your bathroom?”

“It’s up the hallway. First door on the left,” Tabitha said.

Alexander kneeled at the porcelain throne of mercy. He was able to rid himself of the burden of beer and tequila and whatever else he drank and ate. He then blacked out completely.

Three knocks on the door sounded. “You alright in there, Rondo?”

No answer. He knocked six times. Nothing. He then opened the door to see Alexander passed out on the floor.

“Jesus. Hey, Livingston!”

“Yes, Corp-, I mean yes, Foster,” Livingston replied.

“Get in here and help me get Rondo to the couch.”

“How’re we going to get this N–– in the other room?”

“We’re going to lift him up and move him, that’s how. And don’t say that trash. This is a Marine.”

The young Devil Dog abided. They carried Alexander into the living room.

In moments, Tabitha’s boyfriend had arrived. Alexander needed to be returned to the bathroom. Depp and Livingston placed him back on the tile floor. Mostly, he slept, but he could hear clear notes of passion coming from the couch on which he had just rested. He fell back to sleep and didn’t wake until morning.

That Saturday, word flew around the barracks. Depp remained silent during the drive from the ranch to the base. Livingston opened his mouth. Alexander didn’t need to say a word. His reputation grew legs and walked all about for him. He no longer had dizzy spells or bouts of nausea, just some bits of what happened the previous night and a strong desire to never do that again.