"Oh, him. He went home to write his girl. She's quite a dish to hear him talk about her." Stefan uncrossed his legs.

"You ain't exactly Dracula." A faint smile displayed stained uneven teeth. "Thanks, friend." Stefan's eyes surveyed the body as if making an appraisal. "Whadda yah go by?"

"Name's Phillip, friends call me Phil."

“Have a cig, Phil?" A long arm extended towards Stefan. The soldier's hand was small, hairy, and anxious.

"You smoke my brand, thanks," Stefan waited for him to bend over and light his cigarette. His breath was stale.

"Where yah from?" The soldier settled back in his chair, legs spread apart to accentuate his well-developed thigh muscles.

"Oh, mostly from New York. Family's from Pennsylvania. Couldn't stand being cooped up so I moved to New York."

"Know how you feel. I gotta be on the go myself. That's why I joined upplenty of beer, sex, and no bullshit."

"Where you from?" Stefan tried blowing a smoke ring and the soldier waited to see its outcome before answering.

"Brooklyn. My pop's a tailor . . . wanted me to work in the sweat shop. We'd fight like crazy and one day I said screw it and joined up."

"Families can sure be a drag. I worked in a beauty shop, washing other people's hair. One day I said, Phil, what's the use washing women's hair when what you want is somewhere else. So here I am."

"Hey, my name's Rick." The thought had come as a complete surprise to him.

"I like the name Rick. Knew a real generous guy named Rick once."

The conversation seemed to have no other place to go so it lingered till an idea struck Rick.

"Hey, did you see 'Shane'?"

"Yeah, great movie. I just love Alan Ladd."

"Boy, I love Westerns. I bet it would be great fighting horses all day and screwing fillies all night."

"Not for me. I want to meet some rich guy and live in Europe and do absolutely nothin'.”

"Hey, howdga like a cool beer, my treat?"

"That's exactly what I'd like.

Stefan got up first and Rick followed admiring his conquest. As they walked towards the P.X. tavern. Rick was sure this kid would be no trouble at all.

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