Morning Cup

12. Cup vs Gessepp , 1000.

"Morning, first class... Cuppernell that's it?"

I stand here all dressed up in my uniform, before the Colonel Gessepp himself, who officially summoned me at his office at 1000.
I knocked at the Colonel's house at 0955 on Angie's recommendation.

"Be late and you're dead. Be too early and it'll be worse."

The door immediately opened on a beautiful creature, Johanna, Angie's older sister.
They look very similar, but Jo's pale complexion and tired features. You could easily blame motherhood and sleepless nights for the dark circles under her eyes, but the bruises clumsily concealed with make-up didn't stay unnoticed by me.

She offered me a poor but genuine smile and gestured me to follow her inside.
The house is perfectly clean, you could eat straight off the floor. I thought even the dust was too afraid to stay here.

Jo touched lightly my arm, rose up on her toes to murmur near my ear:
"I'm so happy Angie found you. You're a good man, you're perfect for her."

"Thank you Jo. I'm the lucky guy, trust me." I spoke low, not willing to make a faux pas.

She squeezed my arm and tiptoed through the corridor to lead me at the Colonel's door.
Glancing at the clock, she paused. Two minutes left.

"This uniform suits you Hugh." She says, whipping a pollen from my sleeve.
Nobody has called me by my name for years.
"He'll appreciate this, you look perfect."

I chuckle a bit, the Colonel surely won't appreciate those words coming from his wife to me.

Suddenly a wail came from upstairs and Jo stiffened, torn between two options.
Run to her baby's room to calm her down and leave me unattended or wait here those two damn minutes to pass to introduce me on time and risk to wake the wrath of the dragon for disturbing his quiet.

She stood frozen for a second, unable to decide which option was the worst.
I pointed to the stairs with my chin and nodded.
"Gonna wait until it's 1000 and knock at the door all by myself. Go it's OK."

She sighed in relief and grabbed my hand.
"He's in a good mood today, thanks to the success of your mission. Don't waste our chance with baby cries." She whispered.
"Knock twice. 0959 sharp. He'll answer after 30 seconds. Greet him with Colonel and stay to attention until he tells you to rest. Everything will be alright. Good luck."
Then she disappeared without a sound and I was ready to face the Grim Reaper.
Not really. My hands were sweaty and my heart hammered in my chest like crazy.
I had to do this. For Angie. My sweetheart.

"Soldier! I asked you a question. "

Shit.
I'm petrified but I have to stay strong. I force my face to stay as straight as I can. Poker face.

"Yes Sir!" I practically shout
"First class Hugh Cuppernell, pilot of the U.S. Airforce. Number 447109. At your service my Colonel!"

"Well, easy... Cup? That's how you're called here right?"
I got a bad feeling about those smirk and lifted eyebrow.

"Yes Sir."
I'm still standing to attention, stiff as fuck.

"Rest soldier. We're not on the field. We're just having a conversation between civilized men."

I relax a bit but stay alert, just in case he'd jump on me to bite my throat for blood.

"So, I've heard you do have some expectations regarding my sister's wife Angelina McCarthy, don't you?"

Straight to the point. He hasn't let me lure him with my charm and my service records.

Go, it's now or never.