A good night for a drink [Erdmann]

[Cpl. Buck Pubb]

Country: France
Current Time: 10 PM
Weather Conditions:Nice, warm. Dark.

Buck was walking to a convoy truck, outside his barracks. He placed his M1 Garand on his shoulder and climbed up into the back, and took his seat on the benches. They were off to a night at the local Pub, for a good night of drinks and fun. Buck's gear M1 Garand, and other tin gear, such as his canteen and bayonet clanked against him making a noise as the trunk bumped up and down on the old, dusty road. When the truck pulled to a hard stop, Buck jerked over the side. If he hadn't grabbed the support bar, he would've fell down on the hard-board floor. He exited off into the bar. He looked around, only too see a dancer on stage, playing for the soldiers, and at the bar, a bunch of drunk soldiers, and one civilian. Buck walked over to the bar, and ordered a plain bottled soda. He popped the cap open, and gushed down atleast half in 3 minutes. He gushed the rest of it down, and ordered another. Tonight was like "Soldiers night" So, all drinks to the soldiers were free. Buck finished his current soda, and ordered one last soda.

Buck finished his last soda, atleast his last for now, and then looked up on stage. He heard a song that he some how remembered from some where. He didn't know where, but it ringed a bell. Buck started singing to the song. He was amazed, how he could sing the song, but yet didn't know what was the name of the song, or where he heard it from. "Wait!" Buck thought. Can it be? Yes! It must be! Buck finally remembered the song from when he listened to it from his home farm. He loved the song, and it was his favorite. He sang along to it. Buck went to a group of soldiers that also knew the song. He song along with them, and then the song finished. Not much happening other than that. Buck ordered a beer. He went to a card game. He threw down some cards, and was close to winning the card game, but the other guy won. Buck didn't mind though, since he didn't lose anything.

Next thing Buck knew, another convoy dropped off a group of soldiers. There were a few German soldiers, but nobody cared. Why would they? this was one of the only nights they would get the chance to NOT be fighting. Buck thought about talking up with one of the German's even. Maybe they would meet on the battlefield, maybe not. But, it would be good to meet one and learn about their culture, instead of just fighting them and learning nothing, except what kind of uniform and guns they use. Buck bought a beer, and drank some of it. A few of the germans were interested in the dancer, but Buck could see that some didn't care about her. Well, to be quite frank, Buck didn't really care either. She was trying to entertain the soldiers, people who have seen people shot in combat as hard as she could. For all those soldiers cared, She could barely dance and he would be happy to see it. The only "dancing" the soldiers saw were when their enemys or friends were lit on fire and running around trying to get the flames off. Buck finished his beer, and leaned against the wall. He walked over to the pool table, and started to play a lone game. "Eh, maybe a German would like to play a good game of pool" Buck mumbled to himself, but doubted it, since most Germans don't play pool.

[Ben Shirley]

OOC: As far as I know, there is no such thing as a pub where Germans and Americans weren't able to fight. Sorry for the confusion, I am using Ben Shirley.

IC:

The night was full of love and excitement as everyone soldier started to rush towards the night pub where the beers were always cold and the girls were as beautiful as ever. Every man tried their hand at contests of drinking beer as trying to a girlfriend except Ben. He was being cool and collected as he was usually a laid back person, sipping his beer without bothering anyone to a extent of getting punched and starting a brawl. The moon light shined down on to the valley that surrounded the small tavern pub like a mother protecting its baby.

Ben licked off the surrounding traces of beer from the outer rims of his lips by moving his tongue in a circular motion that he did quite often. He had his earrings hidden inside his coats pockets so that no thieve would get ideas of starting a fight that would be a Knife vs a black man with fists. He saw a man play some pool and then he soon joined them with the intent of having some fun for a change. He had new soldiers coming under his command at the moment but he had not even gotten notice until the last second. He did not know what they would be like so he was quite fazed for some amount of time.

But, there was something Ben did not know. Ben had the uncanny ability to make every ball go into the holes with swift strokes of the Pool pole. He had never played Pool in his life and he was usually horrible at card games. He was a athletic person who loved to serve and protect his country. He and his soldiers had a bond like no other, since most of his soldiers are of his kin. Game after game, Ben kept beating people and got some money from bets really quick. The heat was getting to him and so was the atmosphere. He went to a corner that was somewhat distant from the rest of the room and it was very comfortable. Ben sipped his beer, little by little so he could savior the delicious flavor that he thought could never exist.

[Cpl. Buck Pubb]

Buck noticed more men enter the pub. He saw one black man who was also a Corporal. He knew this because of the man's stripes on his uniform. Buck saw the man playing pool and even earning money from a few bets. For some reason Buck never really was into bets. Why should one waste money just for one game? But, that was their solution, not Buck's, so he stayed shut up like a lock-box. He decided to order yet another soda, and walked over to the black Corporal. He decided to start off by speaking of about the man's pool. Buck began to speak, "Hey. I'm Buck. I am also a Corporal." Buck really just said what he thought. "I saw you playing pool, and would just like to say, that you play good." Buck took a big sip of soda, and then. Took a look at the beer the man was drinking. Buck never really drank, only at parties and only had one or two. He finished the soda and threw the can away. Then he just leaned against the wall and thought about somethings.

[Ben Shirley]

It seemed lively, the tension in the room was very loose and the people at the pub were having quite some fun with all of the games and women that were there. From out of the corner of his eyes, Ben noticed a man was looking at him quite often. Ben noticed but he tried not to make it obvious and he just continued by himself, sipping his beer that was darn good. He wasn't much of a drinker, but he felt like that this night was a special one.

But, the man was very persistent and came to Ben for a little chat. Ben was used to many men not talking to him just for being black, but most of them didn't care for what color Ben was. As long he could pop lead into a German body, they didn't care if he was there grandma.

The man said his name was Buck. He also pointed out he was a Corporal which was the stupidest thing to say. It was not hard to look at the stripes of a soldier to know what rank they were, so it just made Ben feel smart, smarter than he was before. Ben thought for a minute to see what kind of response he could make for the officer that looked like he hadn't fought a single battle, and then he said, "I am Ben Shirley. I have been with the 49TH Infantry of the British and I also have been in two battles. Some difficulties made me lose both of them but I plan to regain some respect with the new Division, the 3ID."

Ben thought it was good to state some backdrop of him as well as give a little review of his battle history so the Corporal would know where he would be.

[Cpl. Buck Pubb]

"So, your name is Ben. Nice to meet you." He reached his hand out and, and shook the man's hand, then brought it back. Buck said about the two battles that Ben said about losing. "Ah, it happens. The only battle's I've been in were a skirmish in France, and, I was even in Pearl Harbor. It was one of the worst sights I've ever seen." Buck bought another soda,took a long sip of it, than sat it down. "So, would you like a round of pool?" Buck asked. He took out a pool stick along with the triangle holder, the balls, and the cue ball. He placed all the balls up into the triangle, and rolled it up and down into spot. Buck still had his M1 Garand on his back, and it clanked against him as he readied everything. He took the triangle off. "Would you like the first shot?" Buck offered, then spoke, "So, you are part of the Third Infantry Division. Well, I'm not in a division now. I do have a soldier under my command though." Buck then heard another song. He never heard the song, but he still like it. He had a way of doing that. Buck took another sip, and listened to the song again. Buck started wondering if the Private under his command would acctually show up. "So, do you have any men under your command, Ben?" Buck asked.

[Ben Shirley]

Ben shook the hand of the man and it felt kind of rough and somehow scaly which scared the crap out of Ben when he thought about it. He just tried to forget the idea and shrugged it off with a good long swallow of some delicious beer that had just come in yesterday. Ben was a man that didn't like much partying but was a man that liked simple and clam conversations with a slice of Pool once in a while. The night was still young and everyone was having a lovely night with their friends, fellow soldiers from their company, and hell, sometimes there is a Commander lurking in the pub who is ready to have a drink of his own.

Ben listened to a little summary of Buck's battle history and found it a big piece of bull crap. Ben didn't believe the man for a second since he had found one thing in similar to every person he had met in the 49TH Infantry and in the 3ID. Each man had a certain look in his eyes that meant to Ben, that they had escaped death more than once during their stay at the battlefield. Ben hid his disgust at the soldier, but knew in his mind that the mind wouldn't be trustful on the battlefield.

"Sure, Lets have a Pool match," responded Ben as Buck asked for a round of pool. He (Ben) got up and walked towards a rack where there were Pool sticks, and got ready to get a second win against the soldier.

"No problem. Lets have a good game," answered Ben as he took his regular stance that he had always took when he played pool. He looked straight down the Pool stick for maximum accuracy and he took slow but deep breaths to calm and steady his hand for maximum power. He waited a few seconds, trying to align the pool stick, then he pulled it back and thrusted it at the cue ball. The white ball went rolling across the green surface and hit the tip of the triangle, sending the number 5 Stripe ball into the hole in the left corner.

"Yeah I got some soldiers under my belt, A squad of soldiers. Commanding soldiers and giving them courage during battle is what earns respect, but not as much as victories do," chuckled Ben as he went to sit down, having another sip of his cold, delicious beer.

[Cpl. Buck Pubb]

Buck watched the man get ready for a pool match. Buck took a poolstick and lined it up with the cue ball. He brought it back, and pushed it forward, hitting the Cue ball to the 3 ball. It hit the fourth one, knocking it (Fourth) into the right middle hole. The third ball bounced off the side, just missing the left middle one. "Dang." Buck spoke under his breath. He took his soda, and took a good sip. "Tonight is a fun night. Definitaly not one to get mad over a game."Buck thought this in his mind. "It just may be the only fun night I end up getting." Buck thought this over. He reached into his olive green uniform, and grabbed a part of his white under-shirt. He pulled out his dog tags, with a drop of blood on them. "Hmm..." Buck spoke. Buck then took out a letter. He read it over, then thought a bit. He thought about his farm. He was more intrested in what he would do after the war. He would get his own Restraunt. That is what he wanted to do. Make a diner, serveing delicious foods, like sandwitches, steak, and other things. But then a dreadful thought appeared to him. The fact that he probley wouldn't make it through the war.

Buck then got out of his "dream" and walked over to the bar area. He ordered a small sandwitch, and started eating it. It was a turkey, one of Buck's favorite. He sipped some more soda, and thought some more. The turkey reminded him of the turkeys that he raised on his farm. He thought of the cows in the meadow. Then, he thought of the warzone. A bunch of explosions, gun fire, and men running around. The private that was under Buck's control trotted in. "Hey! Phil!" Buck spoke out. The Private rushed over. "Hello sir. Hello, Uhhh." The Private studdered a little. "Oh. I am sorry. This is Corporal Ben Shirley. Ben, this is the private under my command." Buck said this, introducing them. "Nice to meet you, sir." The private then snapped into a salute. "Sir, I have your Carbine." "Ah, thank you." Buck replied. He took the carbine, and handed over the M1 Garand, witch would be returned to the army. Buck put the strapped Carbine on his back. The Private ran off. "I wonder why he isn't staying..." Buck spoke. He took down the pool stick, and placed it away. "Well, Ben, It was nice meeting you, but I must go see what that private is doing. Maybe I'll see you around." Buck finished the soda and sandwitch, and threw them away, and then ran off.

[Ben Shirley]

Ben knew the Corporal was not very good at Pool, because it was probably because he had never been under fire and had his adrenaline pumping faster than his brain could handle. This would probably make any other human make choices and operate things on complete instinct. After Ben retreated from his little firefight for the African turf as well as a farmhouse. His position was inside a trench that was in front of the farmhouse by a little bit of feet.

He remembered the lost they had sustained from the aftermath. The soldier they all had known, Jacob Swizz and Mack. They were great soldiers and Ben didn't have time to even survive with them through their first firefight. But instead, they had to die because of Ben's recklessness and bad tactical thinking. Ben thought it was all his fault. Once he noticed it was his turn to win the game and knock a few balls into holes, he put his head back into the game.

He aligned the pool stick with his hands that were aligned with the middle part of the ball and then Ben waited. Yes, he waited. He waited a few minutes, trying to concentrate on the ball. He had his hand steady, it was now naturally steady from his training and hands on experience on the battlefield. He was about ready to shoot but then the soldier said something and Ben got spooked completely, his spine tingling with chills at the same time his hand veered to the left and missed the ball.

The man was talking to a Private and he introduced him. He seemed like an OK fellow, but Ben still had his doubts. Either way, Ben was eager to leave anyway. All the beer was going to his head and he had to go and rest his head on a soft pillow that was laid neatly on a neatly tidied up bed that was inside a tidy bunker that was perfect for man to sleep his troubles away.

"Hello Private. Keep yourself healthy now, Goodbye you two," responded Ben as he took off outside through the other exit, heading towards home: The 3ID.

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

HEEBIE GEEBIES!

Pubb - 5CP, couple of short posts

Shirley - 7CP

-JT