Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel by Phyllis Zimbler Miller Page A

nice," Sharon says. "Did
you have a hard time finding it?"
    "It was the first one we saw."
    "You don't know how lucky you are," Sharon
says, then proceeds to describe the experiences she and Robert
had.
    "We really are lucky," Kim says when Sharon
finishes.
    They approach the entrance to Ft. Knox. Now
that Robert has put the student status tag on the Fiat’s bumper
they are waved right through.
    "What kind of game was that in your living
room?" Sharon asks.
    “It's a military strategy game,” Kim says.
“Jim likes to play these games, taking the part of both
armies."
    Does Jim approve of war, including the one in
Vietnam? Is he anxious to fight over there to test out his military
strategies? And is this part of the Southern military culture?
    Sharon doesn't know Kim well enough to ask
these questions – and she certainly doesn't want to put her foot in
her mouth again. She also refrains from asking Kim why she and Jim
have no phone and what Jim meant about the ice cream parlor. Right
now her relationship with Kim is too fragile.
    Sharon locates the PX, another one of the
wooden frame buildings. At the top of the entrance steps a young
black enlisted man in starched fatigues and shiny combat boots
walks out of the door, sees them, and holds the door open. Sharon
smiles at him as they pass.
    They enter the PX and Kim turns to Sharon.
"Did you see that? He was looking at us!"
    "He was what?"
    "Looking at us!" Kim hisses.
    "He was just holding the door for us, being
polite."
    Kim's eyes flash her anger.
    "Was the man black who shot the clerk?"
Sharon asks.
    "He was white. This has nothing to do with
that." Kim strides off.
    Sharon catches up with Kim in the towel
department. Yves Saint Laurent towels in black and brown stripes
and in blue and black stripes occupy a table. "These are terrific
prices," Sharon says to Kim by way of making up. "The person who
ordered these probably doesn't even know that Yves Saint Laurent is
a famous designer."
    Kim turns to her. "Have you ever been to the
South?"
    "No. Have you ever been to the North?"
    "No." Kim fingers a towel. "We think of this
as the North, Kentucky that is."
    The North! That can't be! This is the South!
Sharon opens her mouth to say something when she looks at Kim's
serious face. Some things are better left unsaid.
    Sharon picks up several towels with matching
hand towels and washcloths in both color patterns. It still bothers
Sharon that her mother didn’t buy her towels and bed linen for a
wedding trousseau. “You’ll be moving around so much in the army.
Wait until you’re settled.” Sharon still wonders whether this is
disguised punishment for marrying a man just before he enters the
army.
    "I hope Robert likes these," she says to Kim.
"We don't have many towels."
    As Sharon walks to the checkout counter she
tries to remember whether Kentucky was part of the Confederacy or
did it stay with the Union? If only she remembered her high school
American history course better. Because she would love to know
whether at this moment she stands in the South or the North.
    **
    Robert arrives home that evening holding an
envelope. "Believe it or not," he says, handing her the envelope,
"there's an orientation coffee to welcome the wives of the AOB
class. Typical army. After not even telling us you could come,
there's actually an official function for the wives."
    Sharon reads the paper inside. The typed
invitation requests the pleasure of the company of the wives of the
members of the AOB class at an orientation coffee in their honor
the next day at Quarters One, Fifth Avenue – the home of the
commanding general.
    "Will you go?" Robert asks, putting his arms
around her.
    Regardless of her feelings about the army,
Robert wants her to be a part of his new life. "It's Kim's turn to
have the car tomorrow, so I'll go if she does."
    "Then you'd better see if she'll go." He
kisses her and releases her.
    Since the Bentons don't have a phone, she has
to drive over there now or walk