~ Turkeys CAN fly ~
“Ace of spades boys, looks like its my lucky night.” Charles chuckled, sliding his had across the table and pulling his winnings over to his side of the table.
“Ah forget this man, I'm saving what money and smokes I got left getting out of here.” One of the men siting at the small table said, throwing down a used cigarette in the sand and stomping it out.
“Yea man, me too, see ya Charlie.” Another said, “Later Ben.”
“For the love Jesus Charlie, do you always have to win.” Ben said, aggravated at his older brother and throwing his hand of cards down on the table. The cool wind blew gently off the Red Sea, rolling across the sand dunes of Egypt westward toward the outer expanses of the western desert.
Taking a drag of a cigarette then blowing out he smiled and shrugged. “Can’t help it Ben, if there gonna be sore losers then they shouldn't’t play. Simple as that.” The young North Carolinian had learned from his old man how to be a skilled poker player, one of the many things he learned during his time in the service.
A large, bright moon hung over the scattered out camp along the shore of the Red Sea, ever watchful over the ancient land of Egypt, keeping guard the secrets it held, locked away under the dunes and sands of the country. Charlie never thought he would ever see anything else like it, expecting to spend his life North Carolina, maby seeing as far as Richmond, but probably no further.
Joining the military was, to him, the only way to get out of North Carolina, out of the rut he had lived in for so long, but it had come with a price, the price of upsetting his father and mother who had provided and fought for him, their entire lives.
The crackle of the small fire caught his attention as several other young men from his unit came over, siting down on a large slab of rock Charlie and Ben had pulled up from the shore to use as a sort-of couch. “Hey guy, hows it goin?” one of the boys said, smiling as he sat down with a small guitar.
“Not bad,” Ben replied, tossing a small stick he had started to whittle into the fire. “Thought if would be nice to listen to some music while we wait for order to move out, bought while passing through Alexandria, you won’t believe what these people will trade stuff for..”
“Yea, yea, we’ve all heard this story before, just play the blasted thing.” Another one of the boys said, elbowing him in the ribs with a chuckle. Slowly the sweet sound of music began to pour, ever so gently, out of the small guitar. “A little bit of home come to the front huh?” he said laughing.
“So I hear we got the Germans down south of us nervous, seems like those damn turkeys we been chasing all over this god forsaken country got to the Germans before we did.”
“I can’t wait to fight someone who will stay around long enough to fight, from what I hear the German’s in France have been putting up quite the show.” Ben replied to the other boy, nick-named Goose, for some odd reason.
“I dunno about that now Ben, I also hear it’s a bloodbath up there too.” Another boy, Chase, added to the conversation.
“Why ruin something good? Huh little bother? I prefer to be hiking down Nile or along the Red Sea than playing second string to those self absorbed fogies in France. I mean after all, down here its just us and the British, the French are too busy with their own problems to mess with us down here.”
“Jeez Charlie, no need to snap at the poor fellow. Hey, you know whats even better? Someone leaked out O’l Black Jacks next plan for us after Egypt, seems like were gonna be taking it too these turkeys in Arabia, gonna march up the coast into Mecca and up the coast all the way to Istanbul, things look like they may be heating up..you think you can stand the heat?” Goose said, half joking at Charlie and rest of the men.
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of gun fire off in the distance, ever so light, but none the less caught there attention. Off in the distance, to the north, a faint light could be, popping up every once in awhile to light up the dusty horizon.
“Must be the South Carolinian’s…”
“Or the British one.” Someone else interrupted, leaning over to the side to get a better view.
“Yea, looks like they finally met some more of those turks on our backside.” Goose said, turning back to the fire before getting up and stretching. “Well boys, I'm off to my tent, want to be fresh for whenever the General decides its time to move out. I would advise you guys to do the same, I sure as hell don’t want to have to be picking up all your slack.”
“Get out of here goose.” The group said at the same time before slowly dispersing and heading back to their tents.
“Charlie..” Ben said after awhile.
“Yea Ben.”
“I miss Ma and Pa…I feel kind of bad for just leaving them like that you know.” He said solemnly, kicking sand over the fire and stomping it out.
“Yea Ben, I know, me too.”