Parallel Me

Parallel Me Part 8

The UK combined forces tournament lasted four weeks and went very well for our Navy team. Five gold medals four silver and two bronze, and I had one of the gold's, and a big belt, which said, UK forces welterweight champion. I had also kept my unbeaten record, and again won all my bouts on points. All the medal winners; were invited to a big reception at Admiralty House, the week after the medal ceremony, and many bigwigs from government and forces would be there.

It was going to be on a Friday night, and the Navy wanted to show us off. We were ordered to be on our best behaviour, and be there, I would have preferred going home instead. There was a lot of brass and gold brad milling about, which I tried to steer clear of. I was at a table with drinks on, when I heard a charming voice coming from a very lovely lady.

"You've got enough gold braid on your arm, to be an Admiral petty officer, I don't think I've seen so much, on one man's arm before." The gold braid she was talking about was, two crossed anchors to say I was a Petty Officer. Two crossed rifles for being a marksman, and the anchor Tommy gun and winged badge of combined operations.

Not to mention the Navy Commandos badge, and a chevron for four years service plus my diver's helmet. The propeller to tell my trade was engineering branch, and of course the crossed clubs with tiny boxing gloves under them. To tell everyone I was a boxer and PT instructor, but she didn't know that because she said.

"I know this one and this, but what is this under the clubs?" Putting her finger on the two gloves, that could have been mistaken for bells.

"That is the golden gloves of the noble art of boxing darling, and this man is a champion of the art." A male voice said behind me, and I came to attention when I turned to see a commander standing there.

"At ease Petty Officer you'll have to forgive my wife, she's not a fan of the boxing fraternity." He said nodding towards the lady and raising his glass of amber liquid to his lips.

"No I think it's a barbaric pastime, and should be banned from the face of the earth." She said looking at me, with the passion of her conviction shining in her eyes. Then I totally shocked her, by agreeing with her.

"I'm inclined to agree with you on some points Ma'am, but there are two sides to all arguments, and there are two ways to fight a boxing match. Firstly you can beat your opponent to a pulp, and laying him out to win, or you can use skill and technique to win. The scoring target is the head and the entire upper torso. To score a point you only have touch the target, and it doesn't have to hurt."

"Technique and stamina are essential; you must be able to pursue your query with stealth and cunning until you achieve your goal of total surrender," I said smiling at her, which left a questioning expression on her face.

"There you see darling going a round in the boxing ring with him, could be as painless as powdering your nose." She looked at me with disbelief, and then she seemed to brighten up and said.

"You're the powder puff champion he's told me about, it seems I should be honoured to meet you Petty Officer." She said and the commander laughed.

"People don't normally call him by that nickname darling, not to his face anyway but I think you're going to get away with it." I felt a tap on my shoulder as he said that, and a heavily accented voice asked.

"I think this is our dance, Petty Officer?" That voice could only belong to one person, and Ava's eyes were smiling at me when I turned. I took her hand and kissed it, then held it over her head. Making her do a three-sixty, so I could look at her in her ornate robes. Her dark eyes shone over the vial, which hid half her face from infidel's eyes.

"What box did this delicious Turkish delight fall from? This delicate desert rose, which blooms so beautifully!" I asked the wind, as I made her do another three-sixty.