Patio Party

I am a senior in
High school and
Allowed by my father
To attend with him a patio
Party held by an Air Force
General’s wife for a dozen
Special forces NCOs and their
Lieutenant escort who 72 hours
Earlier had flown out of the Vietnamese Highlands to
San Antonio, Texas to eat snacks.
My father’s instructions to me
Were to keep silent and observe
But not to engage in conversation.
The veterans were wary of the
Mexican American waiters and
Snacks served, the
General’s wife shoved a tray up against one
Sergeant’s chest getting him to
Taste an hors d’oeuvre which he spits out into a potted plant.
The General’s wife crosses the
Patio like a fire boat at speed
Unhappy the NCO said her
Paty d’foie gras tasted like sh**.
The General taps the Lieutenant
Saying this is a career maker or
Breaker, what do you say?
The Lieutenant considers for a
Few seconds and answers the
General’s wife saying, “Well, fu**
Him. Don’t give him any.”
All laughed, I kept quiet and the
NCOs were left alone to check
Their perimeter and salvage
What they could to eat.
1964-65 was a strange period
Of TV scenes of combat
Juxtaposed by silly
Commercials for
Bucky Beaver
New Ipana
Toothpaste.
We were learning
Again what wars do
To morality and the public
Character of our nation.
But, we never lost our
Frontier sense of
Humor about
Necessity,
Don’t
Give
Him any!