Incredible Blue

I was sitting alone at the bar early Saturday evening, finishing off a Sam Adams and writing down a few thoughts on a paper napkin. You know how it is. Not much was going on. I was thinking about calling it a day and going home to catch the Hawks on the tube. That’s usually good for a laugh. But, the jukebox was playing a Hank, Sr. song, and that’s always good for another beer. I ordered up another one and put the napkin in my pocket.

Then, she walked in.

She stood at the door for a moment, deciding whether to come in or go somewhere else. She was a knockout -- tall, dark hair and a red dress that could stop traffic. She surveyed the room and decided to come on in. It was just me and the bartender and a few other sadsacks over in one of the booths. I guess she was looking for quiet. She came over and sat down at the bar a few stools down from me. She ordered a double Johnny Walker Black on the rocks. The bartender smiled and nodded his head. “Yes, ma’am. Nice evenin’, isn’t it?” Other than a cursory nod, she didn’t respond. She wasn’t in the talking mood. A double Scotch on the rocks is a strong drink for 5:30 on a Saturday.

I tossed a $20 bill on the bar. “This one’s on me, barkeep.”

She looked over at me and smiled. “Thank you.” Her voice was soft, with just a touch of a southern drawl. Beautiful. “Thank you for the drink. But, I’m on my way home. I just needed a break. I’m really not in the mood for a lot of conversation.”

“I understand. I’m going home soon too.” Her beautiful eyes locked with mine for a brief second – you know, the kind that sometimes means more than words ever would.

I had to say something to her.

“If you don't mind, though, there is something I would like to tell you. I promise, it’ll only take a minute. I’ll be done by the time you’ve finished your drink. You won’t need to say anything at all, just listen.” Our eyes connected again. “Sixty seconds. It’s important to me. You'll understand why. Then I’ll be out of here myself.”

She smiled and nodded her head. “Okay. I suppose that will be okay. I’ve got a few minutes. By the way, my name is Sarah.” She offered her hand to me. It was soft, immaculately manicured.

“Hello, Sarah. My name is Briscoe. Austin Briscoe. I am pleased to have finally met you.”

“Finally? I’m the girl of your dreams, right?” She smiled. She wasn’t being sarcastic but her smile was more of a half-smile, like she’d heard every pick-up line in the book.

“No, but…well…you’ll understand.” I paused to collect my thoughts. She was giving me her undivided attention. I didn't really know where to start so I just started with the first words that came out of my mouth.

“Sarah...It was in late October of ’71. I was in Vietnam doing my duty for God and country, stationed at Qui Nhon province in the central highlands. Under different circumstances, I suppose it would have been a beautiful place.” I paused again. Remembering was not so easy for me. “It was near the beginning of the monsoon season and the air was getting cooler. It was my night to guard the south perimeter and I was in a tower on the edge of the compound hundreds of yards from anywhere else. It was going to be a long night, but they all were. Nothing much happens at night on the perimeter. The Viet Cong were too smart for that…”

My thoughts were coming faster.

“Sarah, it is hard to imagine a dark like there is in Vietnam at night. You can see every star in the heavens and nothing else. The silence is almost overwhelming. Every movement can be heard, a twig snapping, the slightest wind, everything. It's the silence that keeps you awake.” Sarah was listening more intently now. “The night was almost over and and I was scanning the eastern quadrant one last time when the sun broke over the horizon ....”

I took a deep breath. “I hardly ever talk about Vietnam. Most of my memories from there are not good ones. But on that day…as the first rays of the sun broke through the mist from Vung Chua mountain…the sky turned an incredible shade of blue. Sarah, I had nothing to compare it with; I’d never seen anything like it. I looked around me to see if there was anyone else, anyone at all close by that saw it too . . . but, there was no one. There was just me and one old Vietnamese farmer who had his eyes to the ground and his back to the sky.” I swallowed hard. The memories were coming non-stop. “Then…then, after a moment, it was gone. The sun rose a few degrees higher in the sky, and it was gone.”

I put my hand on hers.

“Sarah, that was a long ago but I still remember it like yesterday. Even to this day when I have reason to be awake at daybreak, I scan the eastern skies in hopes of seeing that same color of blue again. But I’ve not seen it since, not even once.” I looked at her beautiful face. “Until tonight when you sat down beside me and I looked into your eyes…and there it was. There it was. I finally know now that the incredible blue I saw in ’Nam that morning was real and not just a dream of a tired soldier from long ago. You probably won't understand, but that really means a lot to me.”

I took my hand from hers.

“Anyway, I just thought you would want to know, and I needed to tell you. Thanks for listening, Sarah. I’ll leave you alone now.”

I turned to leave but she put her hand on my shoulder. “Wait, Austin. I think I might have time for another drink…if you do. It’ll be on me.”