Reunion

A soldier comes back home after a long absence.

It was Christmas Eve. The terminal was packed. There were mums, wives, husbands, toddlers running all over the place, bumping into irate passengers laden with bags and suitcases. The number of planes landing and taking off was staggering. A plane arriving or departing every 30 seconds.

Joan Steinbeck (no relation to the famous Steinbeck of the Pizza Hut) was facing the arrivals gate, anxiously gnawing at her nails, eyes riveted on the announcement board. She was waiting for her husband, Bob, who was due to arrive back from Vietnam, miraculously unscathed, after a two year absence.  

The PA system sounded its universal twin notes and a lady’s voice announced the landing of flight 354 coming from Ho Chi Minh; her husband’s plane. Joan’s heart skipped a beat. She started pacing the floor. After 35 minutes, people began flocking out of the gate, trundling their luggage. They were mostly Asians. And then she saw him. A handsome six-foot-tall young man with a crew cut and a Tom Cruise smile. She shouted:

“BOOOOB!"

Pandemonium broke out. Everybody started running like headless chicken, bags and rucksacks abandoned. It sounded like a bomb scare. Understandably, nerves  were frayed seeing that maniacs were blowing up places at the drop of a hat. Well, things settled after a while and Bob and his young wife hurried out of the airport. They got in her new BMW 123 XYZ and made it back home in record time. Obviously, they had some catching up to do. 

They screeched to halt in front of their semi-detached house in a spray of gravel and jumped out of the car. Bob whisked his wife up and carried her inside the house just like he did the day they got married. He made a beeline for the bedroom and kicked the door shut, which nearly broke my nose. I was left, fuming outside the bedroom door, unable to tell you what they did! Well, I expect you’re all grown-ups and can guess what deed took place behind that closed door.

Around 5 in the morning, my curiosity got the better of me, so I knocked on the door. I heard frantic rustling and Bob said: 

“S**T! YOUR HUSBAND!”

His wife, in a thick voice, mumbled: 

“Don’t be daft! He’s in Vietnam.”

Reviews

[barleygirl]

OK, I read this 3 times & I still don't get it. Maybe I need another cup of coffee. I see that your other reviewers had to re-read, but eventually they got it. Hmmm . . . feeling very inferior right now. Maybe this will COME to me later.

Anyhow, I liked the writing thru-out, very clever & imaginative & compelling, as always! *smile*

[Woody]

thanks a bunch for digging another oldie up B.
what I most like about this one is not the punchline. I wanted to surprise the reader with the fact that the narrator was actually tagging along, like a cameramen.
the end just shows that during the seperation they've both been playing around. startled by the knock, they each said something they must've said many times before.
ok today, it's mostly catching up on the reviews. of course, I'll swing by your page and see what you've been up to (((HUGS))). hell, it's catching.

[barleygirl]

Sorry for enticing more (((HUGS))) . . . you can always use the excuse that you're upping the balance against all the hate that's being inflicted everywhere. I did very much like the surprise that the narrator was at the bedroom door. I also thought that was the best part.

[Gaston Villanueva]

Great twist and I enjoyed the subtle details like Steinbeck, BMW 123, and the "BOOOB!" disorder haha
Thanks for featuring it so your newer readers can enjoy it too!

[Woody]

thank you very much for the read, Gaston. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the craziness of this piece.
read morethank you very much for the read, Gaston. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the craziness of this piece.
and you're welcome. I did feature it for the new readers basically.

[MsJewel]

I had to read this a few times to get it, but what a clever little twist. You have a stellar imagination my friend...so very clever!

:) Julie

[Woody]

thanks loads Julie. I almost feel sorry for being complicated and making the reader go through the story again. *sigh* but I enjoy doing that :)

[AprilRN1210]

I admit, this one took me a couple of reads to actually get it.. very clever switch.. and yes, once I got it, I giggled.. this one is a little tricky on the mind.. trying to keep me sharp I see.. nicely done Woody..I love how sometimes, especially when sleepy and not thinking, people let things slip they normally wouldn't.. :)

[Woody]

well I try my best to make the stories interesting. this one was to keep you on your toes :)
I know how dangerous it is to let things slip in your sleep. that's why I never go to bed without my muzzle. mind you, during the mating season only :)

[AprilRN1210]

there is a season for that?... jeez, I missed that memo.. and on my toes is where you had me with this one.. for sure.. but I love it when a writer can either make me think or make me feel.. nothing like it!... always such a pleasure to read you Woody:)

[Woody]

the pleasure is all mine, my lady :)
of course there's a mating season. how else do you think we make babies in Tunisia?

[AprilRN1210]

nope.. not walking into that one... no comment :)

[Woody]

fair enough. you're more comfortable talking your mind in verse, I know.

[AprilRN1210]

that I am sometimes yes.. can't fault me for that.. :P

[Samuel Dickens]

Ha! That bit about the door hitting your nose made me stop and go "What the....?" and then when I figured it out, I laughed. That's my Woody! (No pun intended)

[Woody]

hahahaha no pun intended!!! you said 'that's my..." before but it didn't register the first time.read morehahahaha no pun intended!!! you said 'that's my..." before but it didn't register the first time.
yes, Sam, I like to think that the little quirks I sprinkle in the stories are more interesting than the punchline. glad I made you laugh.

[Beccy]

Perhaps practice what most people preach. :)

[Woody]

mmm.. I guess. hard for some, though! mind you, I'm the faithful type, you know :)

[Beccy]

Loved the twist. You know what they say, when the cat is away the mice will play; looks like dishonours even.

Beccy.

[Woody]

thank you dear Beccy. that's an apt saying but, and I'm not condoning, what were they supposed to do for two long years? :)

[Goat]

Hahahaha! This made me laugh uncontrollably! This is very very funny. I loved the ending, sounds like both of them had some explaining to do!

[Woody]

thanks a lot Kid (sounds better than goat :) ) glad I made you laugh. yes, what have they been doing for 2 years??

[Marie]

I read this very carefully so I wouldn't miss anything, and I understood where you were going with it--"Boooob" and switch to first person.

Not sure about the Steinbeck Pizza thing though.

[Woody]

the switch to first person, I hoped, was to surprise the reader and make him realize I was actually there, following them from the start (which is silly, I know). as if I had a camera, unbeknownst to them. at the beginning I was just the narrator, as I should be.
I name a character Steinbeck and stop and say: by the way no relation to the famous (you'd expect me to say writer John Steinbeck) but I mention an ordinary person. could've been Steinbeck the carpenter or whatever.

[K.L. Starr]

An amusing story XD I must say though, the sudden shift from the third person to the first person. I had to read it twice to figure out what you were getting at.
Also, typing out BOOOOB made me think she was yelling "b**b" and not "Bob." Another re-read was needed there too.

[Woody]

the shift to the first person was of course intended. but I was aware that BOOOB looked like b**b but that couldn't be helped. obviously one hadd to hear it.
thank you very much for taking the time. and for the review.