Two is not always better than one

In the summer of 1952, while stationed on the Naval Base in New Orleans with the temperature hovering in the 90’s I came down with a terrible cold. I checked in to Sickbay to have it checked out. They told me they thought it was pneumonia and checked me into the base hospital. I suspect they really didn’t think I had pneumonia but wanted someone to fill the empty beds. There were only 4 other guys in there and it turned out all I had was a cold which was I suspected in the first place. Nevertheless I had to stay over the weekend for observation. It was pretty boring laying around with nothing to do but read and listen to the radio. Since I worked in the base film shop where we fixed films and checked them out to ships in the area I had access to a projector, screen and the latest movies. I went and got them and that evening I sat up the screen at one end of the ward and started the movie.

I had been dating a girl name Rita from Gretna La., a small town about 5 miles west of the base. She was part Creole and part French and part hillbilly. Country music is really big in New Orleans. She found out I was in the hospital and decided to visit. She walked in as I was showing the movie and sat down in a chair next to my bed. We chatted for awhile when disaster struck. You see I had also been dating another girl who lived in New Orleans; actually I was dating two other girls. This girl though was a redhead named Ginger. I used to double date with Ginger and another guy from the base and his girlfriend. Ginger had not only fiery red hair but a temper to match. My buddy had the bright idea to bring Ginger and his friend to visit me. Their timing was devastating. All three walked into the ward and came to my bed where Rita was sitting on one side. I wasn’t quite sure what to do but I managed a weak introduction to everyone there. Ginger sat down and exchanged dagger stares with Rita. No one had very much to say and you could see the wide grins on the faces of all the guys in the ward. After a brief length of time Rita got up to leave and I muttered something like “See you!” I heard her faint reply as she opened the door and left. “Not if I see you first” I heard as the door slammed.

By now Ginger was laughing and inquired “Who was that?”, “Just a friend” I lied but it was obvious she too was jumping ship as they say in the navy. She and my buddy got up to leave and all I managed to say was “Thanks a lot Buddy” I never saw either girl again.