Sarky had two habits I didn't like and so, as with women from the beginning of time, I decided to change them. One, he took me for granted and, two, he was always late. While he was home in Seattle for a ten day leave I dated several other fellows on the base. When he came back we started seeing each other almost every night. He never asked for a date but would just show up and we would do something. One day one of the young officers who had asked me out several times before confronted me in the PX, "Hey, Bobby, how about going to the Saturday night dance with me, or are you Mercer' s private party?"
That irked me; I'd always thought of myself as independent and his comment made me seem to be otherwise. "Of course I'm not his private property. I'd love to go out with you. Call me about 8:30 p.m." He was surprised, happily I hope, and said "Swell!"
Well, I thought, that will teach Lt. Mercer not to take me for granted; I'm not going to be available at his beck and call. If he wants a date with me he can ask. The next night Sarky and I went to a movie with Rod, a mutual engineering officer friend, and his date, Betty. After the film we gathered in the nurses' lounge and chatted.
Rod suggested that we go out for dinner before the Saturday dance. Sarky said it was fine with him and asked me what I thought of the suggestion. "Well," I told Sarky, "it would be OK with me if I were going to the dance with you but I'm not." Sarky's eyes widened and his mouth opened in surprise. "What do you mean you're not going to the dance!” “On, I'm going but not with you as I have other plans. If you want a date with me you should ask and not just assume I'm always waiting at your beck and call."
"What do you mean", yelled Sarky, "we go out every Saturday night, as well as every other night. Why do I have to ask you all of a sudden? “Well, you just take me for granted, never ask me for a date. I do have other offers, you know". "Well", he said, "I never thought to ask you because I assumed it was understood we were· going steady. But if you want a special invitation, here it is “Bobby, will you go to the dance with me Saturday night? In fact, let us agree to have a standing date every night for as long as we are stationed here."
My heart fluttered, just what I wanted to hear, so I said, "Fine with me, except for this Saturday night. I really am committed and can't get out of it." "Who is the jerk?", Sarky asked. "It's Bud Teague and I promised and it wouldn't be right to break a promise.” “Tell the little snake to forget it" smiled Sarky. "No", I said, "I promised and I'll go with him this one time. Perhaps you shouldn't go to the dance. I'm afraid you won't be nice to him and that would embarrass me.” “Well, I don't like it and if that's the only time you'll go out with someone else I guess I won't go to the dance," Sarky said.
So came Saturday night. Just as Bud opened the door to the club there was Sarky standing with several other unattached males. He sauntered up to Bud and said in a loud voice, "What are you doing with my girlfriend, you thief? “She's not your steady girlfriend; she told me so herself;" Bud responded. "She's my date tonight so please let us pass." Sarky muttered something inaudible but let us pass and we then walked to a table near the dance floor.
As the orchestra struck up its first number Sarky was at my side and asked, "May I have this dance, Bobby?" "No," said Bud, jumping up, "She's going to have the first dance with me”” “Let Bobby decide," said Sarky. "Bud is right Sarky; he brought me and I'll have the first dance with him," I responded. We danced that dance but Sarky hovered near and tried to cut in but Bud would not yield. At the start of the next dance there was him. I danced with him and asked him to please not embarrass me anymore. "No harm in asking you to dance," he said. "I'm not harassing him." What a night! Finally I implored Sarky to leave and he did.
As Bud walked me home he said "I think you really are Mercer's property and I won't ask you out again." I didn't say anything.
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