men and visualize it as two lovers. Two lovers who just want to hold each other in an embrace while rocking in time to romantic music, their bodies rubbing against each other the same as if it were a man and girl.”

“I know, but it’s still too difficult for me to swallow all this in one bite,” the soldier admitted. “Heck, I don’t even really know how to dance. Ask me to milk a cow, gather eggs, plow a field, fire a rifle, or take out an enemy—I’m your man. But dancing is not my M.O.S.”

“What the hell is a M.O.S., Joseph?” asked Richard.

“It means Military Occupational Specialty,” he said. “Every soldier’s primary job is to be an infantry man. Then on top of that he gets additional training in another field and that field is his M.O.S. Like I said, dancing is not one of my specialties.”

“I guess I’ll just have to teach you how to do it later this evening when we are back home. Just you and I, private like, with the lights down low. Soft sweet romantic music filling the air as I whirl you around the coffee table.”

“More likely, me stomping on your toes as the both of us stumble all over each other,” Joseph laughed, and as the mental picture began to fade, his face turned sad and in a serious tone he said, “I hate to spoil that picture of us, but if I’m to be back on base by noon tomorrow, I’m going to have to grab the early bus out at 0700 hours. That’s 7 a.m. your time. I will have to be up and out by 0600 hours.”

“I’ll set the alarm clock first thing when we get home. You wouldn’t reconsider deserting or going A.W.O.L., would you?” the sad faced and disappointed lover asked. “I could hide you under my bed during the daylight hours and then under the covers at night. I bet that old fart who gave you that nice tip would be only too glad to help.”

“Richard! Don’t be such an asshole,” he said slapping him on the backside. “He’s old enough to be my father. As far as deserting, we have already discussed that. The Army is my career, at least for now. I have to finish my specialty training, which I start after I get back tomorrow. During which time I will have weekend passes, and I hope to be able to spend them with you. Then when I’m finished I will have a long leave and then I will be sent overseas. So unless you throw me out, we will still have time for seeing each other. That is if you still want to go on with this.”

“Joseph, don’t even think of me throwing you out. That will never happen! What’s going to be your ‘M.O.S.,’ or am I not allowed to ask that?”

“The army thinks I have some talent for languages,” he said proudly. “I tested well in that field. So I’m going to be learning Arabic. Since there is a large Arabic speaking population in New Jersey, they have decided to train me there so that I can get some ‘on the spot’ experience as well. Just think about it Rich, I’m going to be able to make love to you