Gardy II

[Johnnywiffer]

Gardy II

When I got back to the dealership, Mr. Murray was in his office.

















I was driving a '58 Mercury trade-in, nice but, obviously, much more closed-in that the fliptop. When she saw me, she mashed the cigarette on a porch step and walked to the car. I opened the door and she got it, again fighting her dress.



























We ate there, with Gardy getting grease all over her hands and face. Miraculously, NONE on that sexy red dress. She really had a shiny face when we finished and I told her so. She hustled into the powder room and came back looking good as new.



Vell, I sure ain't gonna go to a drive-in in DIS dress. You know vhat's playin' at the one downtown?

'The Pink Panther'.















She LOVED the 'Pink Panther'. We pop-corned and Hershey bar'd it and she laughed like crazy but said Peter Sellers couldn't sell ANYTHING to her. As we drove home, another 1st--she moved over in the seat and put her head on my shoulder. Nothing sexual, just a nice friendly gesture.



















During our banter, Gardy began playing with the radio. I'd had it on XERF, listening to the music and the crazy things they sold. At the time, it was the strongest AM radio station in the world. And at night, you knew it! The station broadcast from Mexico tho the studio was in Del Rio. Paul Kallinger's deep voice would say,

Gardy switched to the local Del Rio station, KWMC playing what sounded like a Strauss waltz. Suddenly, she turned the radio up loud and began singing,"Wien, Wien, nur du allein......"And she sang the whole song in German!



Isn't it beautiful? 'Vienna, City of my Dreams'





I looked at her. As the dim light from the street lamp moved across her face, I could see 2 tears rolling down from her eyes. She grabbed a hanky from her purse and covered her face. Her shoulders shuddered. This was no fake. She was REALLY crying. Sobbing.







We were about a mile out of town by then, headed west on highway 90. I turned off on a dirt road, drove a ways then stopped the engine. We could still see the glow of town but it was as dark as a grave where we were. No moon. Even hard to see each other. But she was still sobbing gently.






*************************************************************

John

[Johnnywiffer]

OK, here comes the R-rated part--->
********************************************************

“What???”

“Nein. Ven Ernest vas about to leave Vienna, von of the guys dat vorked in headquarters faked all the papers und orders ve needed to SHOW ve vas married but ve vern't. Even da marriage license. Cost Ernest a t'ousand dollars. Oh, all da papers say ve are married, but if zomeone REALLY vanted to research it, to go to the church vere we ver supposed to married and talk to the priest, they'd find out ve are not. Zo he holds dat over mein head, too. He says if I cause a problem, he'll have me arrested as an alien. I know he doesn't love me. Vonce ve had a really big argument und he told me then that he chust vant's me as a 'trophy', zo all de udder guys vil tink he's a stud, mit a wife dat looks like me. But you know vat's funny? He only vants to make love ven he's drunk”

“Who else knows this.”

“No von, only you. Chon, I trust you. You are de only von who give me any attention or even listens to me. Oh, I know all da guys vatch my *ss ven I walk, but YOU are de only von I trust because you never tried nuttin' mit me. Oh, you look at me like all de rest, but you never TRIED nuttin. Vhy do you t'ink I stay on the phone all day? Do you REALLY t'ink I like getting leads for you? I do it so I can zee you. The times ve go to lunch are the best days of the veek. I dress chust for you. I try on dress after dress, thinking vich von will make you notice me more? My day is happy ven I see you and zo I vork very hard to get people you can zell. If you knew how hard I vork, mit dis accent of mine. Zome people chust laugh at me ven I talk to dem. But I keep on zo I can zee you.”

I frankly did NOT know what to say. This bombshell changed my idea of Gardy 180 degrees. When I 1st met her, I had a lech for her, sure, but now I genuinely felt sorry for her. But what could I do? If I tried to talk to anyone about her situation, she might wind up in jail—or worse. Of course, she might also get shipped back to Vienna, which is exactly where she wanted to be.

“What about Sula? She's your friend. You never talked to her about this?”

Indignantly, she said, “Zula's NOT mein friend. She's chust someone to pal around wit. I could die tomorrow und she vouldn't care. Und if I tried to talk to her about dis, I know it vould be all over da base in an hour. No, I don't trust her as far as I can schpitt!”

“And me? Do you REALLY think I don't care what happens to you? I've only known you a couple of weeks but you know you're important to me.”

“Am I really? Are you lying or do you really mean it?”

“Of course, you're important.” I tried to sound flip, “Who else but YOU would spend hours on the phone, getting me leads?”

“Iss dot all I mean to you?” She had stopped crying but was still sniffling.

“Hey, you know it isn't. You know there is no one else in my life like you—NO ONE! And you KNOW I think you're beautiful. And sure I watch you. I'm only human. But if this 'married situation' wasn't in the way, I'd be after you like a dog after a Frisbee.”

“Oh, zo I look like a Frisbee?” I could tell she was not crying any more, maybe even smiling.

“Yeah, a little bit-- but a beautiful one!” She laughed and came into my arms like she was born there.

Her lips tasted salty as they found mine and my hands found her softness. She was the most pliant woman I'd ever met. Pliant but firm, if that makes any sense. She molded herself to me. It was as if she were part of me and needed to be as close to me as clothes would allow. And soon there was nothing keeping us apart.

****************************************************

“I really DON'T vant to go home tonite.” Gardy was smoking one of her Turkish cigarettes.

“Oh? I should just leave you here on this dirt road? Wait, lemme see if I can find a few coyotes to sic on you.. They'll love the smell of those cigarettes.”

“No, zilly, I chust vant to be mit YOU tonite. All night. Can ve?”

“Well, since I live with my parents, I might have a hard time explaining a second lump in my bed. But there's a motel on the other side of town. They don't know me there. How about that?”

“Ja, dat's fine. Und ve can split the cost.”

“I think not. If I can't afford a motel, I can't afford YOU.”

“Vell, you can take it out of the next leads I get you. I vant to help pay. After all, I'm gonna have fun too.”

“I thot we already had fun.”

“Ja but that vas in the car. I vant it in a REAL bed. Mit lotz of pillows und blankets.”

“Hey, kid, hot as YOU are, I think a blanket is superfluous.”

“Vat's dat? Means you feel like Zuperman? Ve'll zee!”

The motel was of the mom and pop variety. Not terribly clean but not a Roach Motel, either. When we got to the room, she went into the bathroom. And came out wearing nothing. At last I saw the REAL Gardy. And, nude, she was more beautiful than I'd imagined. Why would anyone want to hide that body inside clothes? It was like my very own private X-rated movie.

But I did notice one thing. A cesarean scar across her stomach. I acted stupid. “What happened there? A war wound?”

“No, zilly, Mein daughter Rachel is ztill in Vienna. Ernest von't let me bring her here. I tink he doesn't vant to be reminded dat I vas married vonce.”

“And what happened to your 1st husband?”

“Nobody knows. Ve ver very young und I vas pregnant in Vienna when the Russians came und one day he just never came home. Ve tried to get information from the Red Cross but there were t'ousands of people dat the Russians sent to Russia. Dey just grabbed 'em off the street und zend 'em. Ve just never knew.”

“Man!! That's really terrible. Did you get a divorce or what?”

“Nein, after a few years, I just got a paper saying he vas dead and vent on mit mein life. I got a chob singing at the show and dat's vhere I met Ernest. He vas dere with a bunch of his buddies and ve chust began dating. Den, ven he was about to leave, ve got da papers dat said ve vere married. He told me he'd bring Rachel here but vonce ve got here, he never did. Dat's one more reason I vant to go home. I really miss my daughter. Und she misses me. She's wit my parents now.”

“What a sad story. I truly wish I could help.”

“Chohn, chust zend me back to Vienna. I'm miserable here in this God-forsaken Del Rio. I hate it. If I hadn't met you, I tink I vould have chust killed myzelf. YOU gave me somet'ing to do. Dat day you met me, I vas mailing a letter to Rachel. I send her von every veek. She is my life now, because Ernest really doesn't care about her. Or me.”

She was sitting there on the bed, like a little child, just pouring out this story of her life. Things I had never heard before. Except she was not a child. She was a truly beautiful adult, tho her tousled hair made her look even more child-like. She had pulled the covers around her nakedness but, even covered, was still the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. How anyone could see her as I saw her then and NOT love her—not do just about anything she might ask--I frankly didn't understand how it could be. At that instant, if I'd had the key to Ft. Knox, it would have been hers!. But she didn't want the key to Ft. Knox. That night, it seemed that all she wanted was ME!

*************************************************

The next morning, the wake-up call came way too early—6AM. But I thot that we'd need time to get going AND I had to get the Merc back before the dealership opened at 9. So we hustled around, not even taking showers. We had a hurried breakfast at a little coffee shop and I dropped Gardy at her home. She wanted to kiss me before she got out of the car but I convinced her that if anyone saw it, there would be many questions later.

Once she was gone, I relaxed and began to review the previous day in my mind. It had to have been just about the FULLEST day in my life. At least I could apprise Mr. Murray of Pietro's lack of a driver's license. That would relieve some of the stress I felt about losing the Lincoln deal. You had to show driver's license to buy license plates for any car in Texas.

But what was I gonna do about Gardy? Even if she WASN'T married, what COULD I do? Unless she was the best faker in the world, it seemed obvious to me that she really had strong feelings for me. After all, I don't care how skanky a girl is, she doesn't actually ask to spend the night with you unless there is SOME feeling there. (Or, as my friend Bob said, unless you pay her!) Did she want to somehow dump Ernest and marry me? Or just forget everything and go back to Vienna? I had never told her of the 2 kids I had, living with my ex wife in Indiana. That certainly might change her opinion.

All in all, yesterday had been a very interesting day. But, little did I know, today would be even more so!

John

[Sdude]

You should write romance novels...

[Johnnywiffer]

You should write romance novels...

Hey, if you knew how much I had to tone this one down from what ACTUALLY happened, you'd think I could write PORN novels.

John

[Johnnywiffer]

Sula II

There were 2 other salesmen. Joe, a guy who'd been there since Noah and sold 3-4 used cars a week. I think he was almost afraid to sell new cars. because whenever he had a likely new car prospect, Mr Brian closed the sale.

Then there was Jack. Jack was Mr. Murray's son-in-law. He was the college whippersnapper who'd dropped out in his 2nd year to marry Yvonne and come to work for Mr. Murray. He had all the bright ideas that never worked.

Fortunately for me, I usually outsold Jack every week, so I felt my job was secure. Because Jack seemed a little jealous of my relationship with Gardy. The first time she came into the dealership, we'd just come back from lunch and I was parking the car in the lot. She walked in with her usual flare(!) and he was at her like a bulldog at a leg. Gardy said his eyes lit up like Christmas tree ornaments. She snubbed him by telling him she was waiting for me. I think it almost made him cry.

Didn't matter, he was at her, again, next time she came in.

Well, there it was. He had the money and I had the car and if I didn't sell it this time, he'd just buy it from one of the other guys. So what could I do? I began to make out the papers again.

I never thot of that. Will that work?

The question was, What was Sula gonna do about it now? Frankly, unless the car exploded, there was nothing she COULD do. We had the money and Pietro had the car. And that was that.

Before anything else surprising could occur, I went to lunch. I thot about inviting Gardy but decided I didn't want to hear anything from her about the 'dumbkopf' and his Lincoln, so I took off. I needn't have worried. I heard about it after lunch. Two phone calls awaited me upon my return. I didn't even have to guess who they were.

John

[Johnnywiffer]

OK...Be prepared. I would rate this part as slightly PG-13.

By this point in the story, some people might be wondering if I ever REALLY sold cars, being involved as I was with the 2 women in my life. I can tell you, I'm leaving out the boring part of my day—actually selling cars. Because I DID sell some. In addition to used cars, the 1960 Ford was completely new from 1959--and one of my fave cars.



They were really easy to sell—and remember, that was also the 1st year for the Falcon—and its competition, the Corvair and the Valiant. So, in spite of what it seems, don't worry, I actually DID sell cars.

OK...back to the interesting part....“Vell, Mr Vipff, zo you zold da dumkopf da car? I tot you couldn't do it because of da driver's license?”

“Hey, at least he didn't try to kiss me, like his sister did. And he did have an International one. So there was nothing I could do. I even called Sula after he got here, just to let her know that he was gonna buy it. If SHE couldn't keep him from buying, how could I?” I fell back on my fave cop-out, “And besides, if he didn't buy it from me, he'd have bought it from someone else.”

“Ja, I guess you're right. Did you go to lunch with Sula?” What a change of tactics! I was happy I didn't have to lie!

“Nope. Why would I have done that? Besides, she probably hates me for selling him the Lincoln.” I didn't tell her I had to return a call from Sula, too.

“Vell, after she called me to tell me about the Lincoln, I called her back but she vasn't dere. I just thot you might have accidentally gone to lunch mit her.” I couldn't see it, but I imagined her eyes were turning a little green just then.

“Nope. Not accidentally OR on purpose. I went to lunch alone. I had people to call,so I didn't even invite you. Didja miss me?”

“Maybe. You sure you didn't go mit her and her brudder in dat fancy new Lincoln?”

“Gardy, please. I'd tell you if I did. But I didn't. Can we just drop it? How're the leads coming?”

“Vell, dat's really da reason I called.” (Sure—AND to bug me about Sula and her dumkopf brother!} “I got a pretty good lead for ya.....dey vant to buy a new car.” and gave me the lead info. “Vill you call me vhen you have zome time, later?”

“Sure. Lemme call these people and I'll let you know what happens. Bye.” Click.

“Hello Sula, it's John. You called me?”

“Yes.” Pause. “I need to talk with you. Can I meet you somewhere, not here?”

“Sure. When and where?”

“Can you come now? I'll walk to the courthouse. Can you meet me there?”

“Sure, 10 minutes. See ya.”

I picked her up in the '55 Chevy that Jack had tried to sell Gardy. When I had pulled out of the lot, I noticed that the Lincoln was not in her driveway, so Pietro was out somewhere. When she got in, she seemed flustered. We drove out of town to an almost abandoned sub-division. It had been full during the war but virtually no one lived there now.

“Why all the mystery? You want to buy a car too but don't want Pietro to know?”

“No. I must talk to you about my situation here. Gardy said she trusted you so I'm gonna trust you too. I want a divorce.” Wow! Another victim of “the end of the world”!

“So, just go to a lawyer. Or isn't there some legal officer on base that you can talk to?”

“Yes there is but if I go to one on base, they keep a record of it. I don't want anyone to know, especially the people on base. Word gets around faster than lightning out there. And I don't have money for a lawyer. They cost hundreds of dollars and I just don't have it. Larry handles the money and knows where every penny goes, so I can't even 'steal' some. What I am I going to do? I have never been so unhappy in my life.”

Her life? What about MY life. This was turning into a soap opera. I could call it “Sula and Gardy Meet the End of the World” Show.

“Does your husband know how you feel?” I could have just played questions from the script from last nite.

“Yes, we talked about it but he said I'd get over it once we get to a good base. He told me he'd requested duty back in Greece. But I don't believe him. I know he has a girl friend.”

“A girl friend?”

“Yes. The last 2 times he was on TDY, he came home a day later than every one else. He said it was special orders but I KNOW it's another woman. I just don’t know who. I even thot it might be Gardy, she's so beautiful. But it's not. I've been to her house when he was on the 'special orders' and he wasn't there. Do you understand how I feel?” I could hear her voice quiver and see her eyes beginning to glisten. This was truly turning into a repeat performance of last nite.

“Yes, I do understand. How long have you been married?”

“About 3 years. And it was wonderful at 1st. We were truly in love. He did everything for me, bought me everything—even things I knew we couldn't afford. Then about 6 months ago, everything change. Suddenly he was worried about money. It seemed we never had enough—only enough to pay the bills with nothing left over. He pays all the bills so I never see the bank balance. But he says everything has gone up, that's why we have no money. But I know he's spending it on her.”

When she said 'her', her eyes got bright and tears began rolling down her cheeks in torrents. Almost like a waterfall. I'd never seen quite that many tears at one time. They began to spot her blouse. I had no handkerchief nor Kleenex, so she had to wipe her eyes on the back of her hands. She rubbed them, which made more tears flow. I really felt sorry for her but what could I do?

“I'm sure my father knows a lawyer here in town that will talk to you for free, at least the 1st time. He can give you some advice and then if you REALLY decide you REALLY want a divorce, I'll help you.”

THERE! I'd said it again. “I'll help you!” Now I was bound to help TWO unhappy women. And the day was barely half over!

“Oh, would you? Thank you so much, John.” At this, she grabbed my face again and planted a salty one. Sula was a bigger girl than Gardy. Everywhere. She practically pulled the skin off my face. “You probably think there is something wrong with me, kissing you as I do. I can't help myself. It seems that you just want to help me. And I'm so alone here. Greek women are supposed to always support their man. And never tell anyone. Just suffer in silence. But I had to tell someone.”

“Does Gardy know?”

“Oh, I couldn't tell her about Jerry's girl friend. Anyway, I don't know who it is. She knows I'm unhappy but thinks it's just because I live in Del Rio. If I told her everything, it would be all over the base in a flash. There are no secrets on base.”

These 2 girls evidently were using the same drama coach. And it seemed that nobody trusted anybody on base. I was becoming the “Dear Abby” of Del Rio. Suddenly I had more personal secrets than the Pentagon. So who do I tell?

“Well, as I said, I'll help you. Does Pietro know anything?”

“Just like Gardy, he knows I'm unhappy but also thinks it is just Del Rio. You are the only one who knows about Jerry's girl friend. I just can't tell anyone else. It makes me feel like such a failure in my marriage. But I had to tell SOMEONE. And because Gardy trusts you and because you really tried to keep Pietro from buying that car, I felt I could tell you. Please don't tell anyone else—especially Gardy.”

“I won't, don't worry. But if I'm gonna help you, don't you think Pietro is gonna know that SOMETHING is up? Are you going to the lawyer's office alone?”

“NO! You must go with me. I don't know my way around town very well. I'll think of something to tell Pietro. When can we go?”

“Whoa! I'll have to ask my father first. I can call him when I get back to the office. Could you go today?”

“Yes, as soon as possible. I want this over.”

“OK, but have you thot of what you'll do if you divorce Jerry? You can't live in that house with him after you file. Do you have a place to live? Are you a citizen? Do you have any money of your own? You gotta think of those things, kid.”

“No, I....I haven't thot that far ahead. I just know I want a divorce.”

“And you don't even know for sure he HAS a girl friend. What if he really HAS Special Orders? What if he actually DID put in for Greece? You'll feel kinda dumb if you find that out and you've already spent the money to file. See?”

“Yes. I hadn't thot of that.”

“It isn't as easy as just DOING it. There are lots of other things to think of. Don't you think you should talk to Jerry at least one more time. Lay it all out and tell him you think he has a girl friend. Ask him to show you the bank account. What do you have to lose? And THEN if you still feel you want a divorce, we can go to a lawyer. As I said, I'll help you but don't just dive off the deep end. Think it thru. Do you REALLY want a divorce?

“Well, I....I guess you're right. I should talk to Jerry before I do it. But when I think of Jerry and that other girl...IT JUST DRIVES ME CRAZY!”

She started crying again. Really letting the waterworks flow. I touched her arm. “Sula...”

With that, she flung herself into my arms and really sobbed. I think it even made the car shake. This was a 'full-bodied' girl, as the saying goes.

“OK OK, everything will be OK. Just let it out.” I was thinking I wished I had a handkerchief but I didn't, so my shirt got wet too. The wet spots felt warm. I'd felt more tears in the past 12 hours than an undertaker.

Finally the sobbing slowed, then stopped. Sula was still in my arms but raised her head and said, “Will you help me one more way?”

“Sure kid, anything.” I was thinking she might need a buck or so. I only had about 20 with me but, what the heck, it was only money.

“I don't know how to tell you this. B-B-B-but I'll try. Jerry and I haven't had sex in months. That's one more reason I think he has a girl friend. Would you help me?”

“You mean help you find out if he has a girl friend?”

“No. Help me with.......” And she whispered a word very sofly. So softly, in fact, that I couldn't understand it.

“Huh? Help you with....?”

She said it again, only a little louder, “...sex?”

“Uh....you mean you want me to...uh...”

“Yes, I want you to...uh..” When she said it, it sounded funny and she smiled.

“...to....uh...” It sounded funny when I said it so I began to laugh. “Are you sure you want me to....uh...?”

“Yes, I do.” We were both laughing. She wiped the tears from her eyes and sat back from me.

“Hey, did Gardy put you up to this? This is this some sort of test, right?” Surely Gardy had talked with Sula about me. And surely Sula knew that Gardy had at least a biz relationship. Had Gardy told Sula to test me? These foreign women!!

“NO! And you must never tell Gardy that I talked to you about.....sex. That is between only us.”

She said 'sex' as if it was a word no one was supposed to say—or even think of. I could barely hear it each time she said it.

“And just when did you want to....uh...?” This was certainly an artificial kind of sexual encounter. We were discussing it before we....uh.....like, What were we gonna have for lunch. Or what shoes to buy. Very strange.

She looked down at the floor and whispered, “Can we do it now?”

I frankly couldn't think of ANY time in my life I'd EVER actually refused sex. But this was just TOOO weird. PLUS she was not a little girl, like Gardy. I thot there was probably not room on the seat for two gyrating bodies, even if we pushed the seat back all the way. And I told her so.

“We can do it sitting up. That's how Jerry and I did it the first time....in a jeep!” THIS girl was ready for ANYTHING. But I wasn't a contortionist. And the longer we talked, the more I wasn't interested. This was not sex as it was supposed to be, I thot. This was a farce. And as perverted as I may have been, I'd just spent the night with Gardy. I just... WASN'T interested. But how was I gonna get out of it without hurting her feelings or making her mad. “...A woman scorned....” and all that.

Maybe I could talk it to death. Believe me, I tried. “Is this really what you want? You know, after we do it, you can't un-do it. Talking about it is one thing but actually doing it is something else.”

“Are you saying you don't want to...uh....?”

“Oh, no”, I lied, “I want to do it. I'd love to do it. But it's daylight. What if someone comes by and sees us? What if you get pregnant? What if you get mad some day and tell Jerry? What if...what if...what if...?”

“Well, I...”

“And what if we decide we REALLY like each other? That it isn't just sex but love. Then what? See? Now it would be only sex but later...who knows? Do you REALLY want to get involved or only want.....my body?”

I had to smile at that one.

She had to smile, too. And then, as if on cue, she came into my arms and kissed me again. This time very gently. Very passionately. Verrrrry long! This was not a 'friend' kiss. This was the kiss of someone who truly wanted to...uh....

So we did.

Just kidding. We really didn’t.

John