Paul Gillebaard - USSR Hoax

David happily obliged.

“Your wife suggested that half the burgers should have cheese.”

David accepted the order. “She’s the boss.”

Tom swiped the cold bottle of beer across his forehead to cool off before taking another big swig. Joan and Anne entered the house, giving the men some privacy. Tom said softly, “I have to tell you something that happened a few days ago.”

David looked up. “What?”

Glancing toward the door, Tom confirmed the ladies weren’t coming back. “Someone told Anne about Connie.”

David cocked an eyebrow. “Who’s Connie?”

Tom was surprised his friend didn’t know who he was talking about. Frustration colored his voice. “The blonde I hung out with at the bar over the weekend.”

“Oh. Who told?”

“I’m not certain, but I think it was Chris.”

“What an asshole.” David turned his attention back to the grill. “Well, all you did was have a few drinks with her, right?”

“Actually I took her to my room.”

David looked up, eyes wide. “You did?”

“But nothing happened.”

Focusing back on the grill, David flipped a couple of patties. “Really? She was pretty hot.”

“She was amazing. When we walked into the room she laid on the bed, looking unbelievably sexy and inviting. I knew right then I was in trouble if she stayed.”

David shook his head. “So you just kicked her out?”

“I guess, but in a nice way. It was hard.”

David laughed. “I know what was hard.”

Tom grinned at his friend’s joke.

After flipping a few more burgers, David patted Tom on the back. “Well good for you, buddy. So what did you tell Anne?”

“I told her the truth.”

David tilted his head slightly and said with a raised eyebrow. “And she believed you?”

“It took some convincing, but I think so.”

“Did Anne seem to know what else went on that night?”

Tom knew his friend was probing to find out if Anne knew about the brunette David had been with. “She only talked about the blonde. I bet if she knew anything else, especially anything involving you, she would have mentioned it.”

“Good.”

Tom looked toward the door to make sure the ladies weren’t returning. “But you should know, Joan did reveal to Anne that she is worried you might be fooling around.”

David stopped grilling and looked up with a concerned look. “Really? What made her say that?”

“No idea. Apparently the two had lunch together earlier in the week and Joan brought it up. I think she just suspects it at this point.”

“Damn.”

While downing some of the cold brew, Tom saw David staring at the house in silence. With sincerity, Tom said, “You have a wonderful family, David. Wouldn’t you hate to lose all of this?”

Dropping his head, David said in a grim voice, “No doubt, but like you said, it’s not easy. Especially with my training ramping up after the successful flight of Apollo 10. I’m hardly ever home, and when I am, there are a million things that need to be done. Bottom line, the excitement just isn’t there with Joan.”

Tom was pleased his wife still excited him. He was about to respond when the sliding glass door opened and out popped Dusty. He was tall and skinny, with auburn hair and freckles. He waved his arms, calling out, “Let the party begin.”

Tom smiled as Dusty crossed the patio with a beer already in hand.

David welcomed the neighbor. “Glad you could make it, Dusty. Did you bring the family?”

“I did. They’re inside. We appreciate the invite.”

“My pleasure.” David tipped his beer toward Tom. “Of course you know Tom?”

Dusty extended his hand. “We’ve sat in a few meetings together.”

Tom exchanged a firm handshake. “It’s good to see you, Dusty.”

Dusty took a drink of his beer. “So I saw you two were having an intense conversation. Did I interrupt anything?”

David resumed barbequing. “We were talking about wives and dealing with all the temptations we astronauts run into.”

“Well, I’m a newbie compared to you two, but I can still relate. Being married and being with only one woman can be tough. I like to compare it to a little boy who gets to pick from a variety pack of cereals every breakfast. Then one morning his mom tells him to pick his favorite brand and eat that the rest of his life. After a few years of eating that same damn cereal, no matter how good it was in the beginning, any other brand starts looking more interesting.”

Lifting his bottle and doing an imaginary toast, David responded, “Amen to that.”

Dusty continued. “But the trick is, to make that cereal more appealing, doctoring it up in some way, such as with toppings or eating it in a different manner.”

Tom chuckled, and though his wife wouldn’t like being compared to some Post Toasties, seeing Anne in a blonde wig would definitely be interesting. “I like that.”

Soon David had finished cooking the burgers and placed them all in a tin foil pan. “I’m going to take these in to the wife. Either one of you need another beer?”

Both men nodded before working their way over to the picnic table as David entered the home.

Tom took a seat and asked, “So how do you like being a part of APP?” The Apollo Applications Program was to develop future projects for the Saturn V rocket after the moon missions were completed. NASA wanted to take advantage of the available hardware by finding new programs the equipment could be used for, allowing the agency to stay flexible and keep the American people interested in the space program. This was paramount if the government funds were to keep coming. A couple of the ideas floating around for manned projects, such as a space station in Earth orbit or a lunar base on the moon, were exciting stuff, but years away.

Dusty had a lace of sarcasm in his voice as he answered. “Well, it’s the future of the program, which gives me a good shot at possibly living on the moon someday.”

Tom smiled. Dusty seemed to understand that a big question mark hung over the program. However, the rookie could be walking on the moon in a couple of years if Tom selected him for his crew. “Would you prefer to be a part of Apollo?”

“Of course, I’d love to fly to the moon. I’m sure every astronaut at NASA wishes he could get that opportunity. But as you know, there are only so many seats available, and I still haven’t figured out what I have to do to get one. I’m hoping David can give me some insight on how he got into the rotation. Until I know the trick, I’ll continue to happily take whatever Dick throws my way and try to do the best I can, hoping to stand out in some way.” Dusty took the last sip of his beer and put the empty bottle down. “But what worries me the most is seeing a top veteran like you not getting a seat. If someone with your experience can’t snag one, how in the world am I ever going to get on a flight?”

Tom was starting to think Dusty might be a good fit. “It’s frustrating for all of us who are not in the rotation. Dick is tough to figure out. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things, just keep doing the best you can and hang in there. That’s what I’m doing.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

Tom heard crying and saw David’s five-year-old daughter, Ashley, coming around from the side of the house with tears streaking down her cheeks.

Tom hopped up and hustled over to the barefoot little girl, to see if she was hurt.

Ashley looked up with her big green eyes floating in tears. “Do you know where my daddy is?”

Tom knelt down on one knee and put a consoling arm around the adorable girl. “He’s inside, sweetie. What’s the matter?”

“Peter is hiding and won’t come out. I keep calling for him.”