Who: Gordon Calder and Grayson Whitby What: Roommates meet...again When: June 12, 2014, early evening Where: Barracks on base Warnings: Just language. They cursed like...well, sailors.
It had been a long trip. Earlier, Calder had dropped his bag before went to retrieve his car out of storage. He felt a little rusty driving but then, he always did when he came off the ship. Man, he was glad to be back on dry land again. It was late afternoon when he returned back to his room on base. Turning the key in the lock, he was surprised to see a familiar face. “Whitby? What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, a grin spreading across his face. He had met Grayson a few years ago when they were assigned to the same boat. He hadn’t expected to see him here now.
Grayson had come back from lunch to see bags on the empty bed in his room. He knew he wouldn't be roommate-less forever, though it was kind of a sad end to an era. He just hoped it wasn't anyone lame. He was sitting on his bed relaxing before his seventh night shift in a row when the door opened. "Calder?" he said, "you're my roommate?"
"Yea, just got back today. Good to see you," Calder said. "When did you get here? I didn't see you before I left." He dropped himself on his bed shoving the duffle on the floor at the foot of his bed. He could unpack later.
"Back from where?" Grayson asked as he sat up to face his old friend. "I've been stationed here since like April…it's where I got stationed when I re-upped."
"I was in a boat off South Korea. Fun times," Calder said. He furrowed his brow. "You re-upped?"
"Four years. Didn't know what else to do. My parents are enjoying the retired life and I didn't want to interrupt them. Hopefully nothing big will happen in the next four years and I can just chill here." Grayson knew the chances of that were slim, but he could hope right?
It wasn't a bad plan as plans went. "Yea I know what you mean. I figure I will just stay in as long as they will let me. Better than looking for a job," he smirked. "Though I don't know that I would want to stay here exactly. Seems a bit small."
Grayson chuckled quietly. "It's not so bad. Biddeford is a bit bigger and it's only like a 20 minute drive or so." He understood why Calder thought there was nothing to do here. He used to think the same things. But he was glad to be home. Not that he let anyone know this was home.
"I will have to head over there then. Not that I know much about here." Calder conceded. "So what's new with you?" It had been a while since he had seen Grayson.
“Not too much really, man,” Grayson answered as he lounged back slightly. “Just getting used to being b--back on solid ground. You know what its like.”
“They got you to re-up on a ship didn’t they?” Calder chuckled. “They get you every time.” He reached down into the bag he had brought him with him and pulled out a coke before leaning back on his bed. “Yea, I know. I’ve got to get out; meet people.”
Grayson chuckled and nodded even though that wasn’t how it happened. They had sent him a packet about the benefits offered for reenlisting and he didn’t want to have to come back and go through finding a job and a place to live, especially if Lillian had left the area. He figured at least this way he could hide on base and volunteer to leave on the first ship out. “You should. There is a mall on the other side of town and some fun shops downtown..a bowling alley. A nice bar at the Bed and Breakfast up the road. The guys like going up there to pick up the waitresses that seem to be fond of the sailors..though I guess Slaydon wouldn’t like that too much.”
Calder gave a rueful little laugh. “I don’t give a fuck what Slaydon likes. Found her in bed with Thompson when I came home.” He took a swig of his coke. “I get credit for not shooting anyone. But I had to get out of Norfolk as you can imagine.”
“With your CO? That’s fucked up, dude.” Grayson said.“That explains how you ended up in Maine.” He flashed Calder a smile. “I never really liked her anyway. Good riddance.”
“Yea, doesn’t get much worse.” It was true. As things go, it was pretty sucky. “Better now then after I married her or something.” Calder eyed Grayson. “What about you? Got anyone warming that bed of yours?” He pulled a face. “God, am I going to be kicked out all the time?”
Grayson shook his head, “Naw. Nothing to worry about.” Things were going well with Lillian, or at least he thought they were, but there was never anything more than cuddles during movie nights, maybe a little hand holding. He didn’t really mind though, not that he would complain about anything more happening either.
“Is there anyone?” Calder asked. “Tell me what they say about small town girls is true. Lie if you have to.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” Grayson said, confused. Maybe it was that he grew up in a small town that he never heard -- or remembered -- any generalizations about small town girls. “I hang out with the owner of the B&B,” he answered.
“That they love new guys...men in uniform, especially,” Calder wiggled his eyebrows. “Do you? Into older women then? I never took you for a cougar chaser.” Yea, he was being a bit of a jerk but he was mostly kidding.
Grayson shrugged. He really didn’t know the answer there. “Well this base has been around her forever, they are probably used to it by now.” He leaned across the gap between the beds and nudged Calder’s shoulder. “She’s not a cougar, she is three months younger than me.”
“Is she?” Calder asked surprised. “Isn’t she young to own a B&B?” He took another swig. “What’s she like? Is she pretty? And have a sister or tired of you yet?” Now he was just being a jerk but he was sure Whitby knew he was kidding.
Grayson chuckled, he had never really thought about Lillian being young for a bed & breakfast owner, she just was. “Her Gran used to own the place...but she passed away a year ago. Left the business to Lillian.” He blushed a little when Calder asked him to describe her. “I don’t know. She is beautiful though...and no siblings.”
“That’s sad. I’m sorry to hear that,” Calder said of her Gran passing away. “No siblings? Damn. Hot friends?” He was teasing Whitby now. “So when do I get to meet the beautiful B&B owner?”
“Well I’ve been stuck working nights for the last two weeks. I haven’t had a night off since last Monday...but I have four off starting this Saturday. We could go over this weekend maybe if you aren’t working.”
“That sucks? Who the hell did you piss off?” Calder laughed. “I don’t have a shift until Monday so I’m free. Want to go on Saturday night?”
Grayson shrugged. “I’m just ready for this shit to be over. I’ve missed two movie nights with Lillian.” He frowned slightly thinking about the missed time with her; it was almost like they weren’t only 10 minutes away from each other again, nothing passed between them but his daily letters and a few texts here and there. “Sure, it will be nice to get off base for a bit. We can head out a little early and I can show you around a little bit.”
“I bet you are. It’s bullshit,” Calder agreed. He silently hoped he wasn’t about to pick up Whitby’s nights. That too would suck. “Yea, that sounds good. I need to find my way around. Thanks.” He was looking forward to it.
“It’s not too big of a town, you will catch on quick I’m sure.” Grayson chuckled a little as he glanced at the clock. “Fuck. It’s almost time for work. We can catch up more later, but I have some things I need to get done before reporting in.”
“It is getting late. I’m going to go grab some dinner,” Calder said getting off the bed. “Have a good shift.” He chucked Whitby on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you again, man,” he said.
“You too,” he said with a smile, “I was worried I would get stuck with some loser as a roommate when the last guy left a couple weeks ago.” He got off his bed and moved to the desk, sitting down and taking the next letter off of the top of the stack and opening it. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon when I wake up,” he said as the other sailor walked out of the room and then he set out reading another old letter.