Paul Gillebaard - USSR Hoax

Sure the flags were in a small tan box on the shelf on Anne’s side of the closet, Tom slid open the wooden door. He was overcome by the clutter. How does she know where anything is? The top shelf was jam packed with boxes. No way could he search the shelf just standing on the floor without knocking boxes over. He needed help. He reached over and grabbed the wooden chair in front of Anne’s makeup table.

Positioning the chair in the center of the open area, Tom stood on the seat, allowing him to see the items on the back of the shelf. While cautiously moving boxes around, he came across a round white box. He wiped his finger along the top, gathering a substantial amount of dust on his fingertip, confirming the box hadn’t been opened for some time. Curious what was inside, he lifted the lid slightly to take a peek. He smiled big when he recognized the blonde wig Anne had worn at Seville’s a few years back. He stared at it for a moment, reflecting on that wonderful evening that seemed like ages ago. That was the night Anne learned he would be flying to the moon. He’d had no idea that, from that point on, his schedule would prevent them from enjoying any more similar romantic evenings. As Tom sadly closed the box, he struggled to remember the last time they had even made love. As he set the box on top of another, he wondered if his excessive drive for a perfect mission was causing him and Anne to drift apart.

Tom continued with his search, moving boxes around until he spotted what he was looking for, the tan box way in the back. It was labeled EVA Flags, handwritten by him in blue ink. Tom had to stand on his tiptoes to reach the little bugger. As he leaned in, his arm was bumping other boxes. Come on, Tom, you can get it. He had no choice but to do a little jump to snag the sucker. He jumped and successfully nabbed it. Yes! As he fell back down on the chair, his arm accidently knocked some of the other boxes, causing one to fall. Pleased he had the flags, he looked down, curious to see what box had dropped. There on the floor was the round white box, knocked open, the blonde wig lying next to it. Dino instantly jumped up on all fours, his tail shooting straight up in the air as he growled.

“It’s okay, Dino. Calm down.” Tom set the box of flags on the end of the shelf. When he turned to climb off the chair, he was shocked to see Dino leap with a killer’s instinct toward the wig. “Dino, no!”

Tom quickly jumped off the chair trying to beat the dog, but he was too late. Dino clamped down hard on the prize, and immediately started shaking it. Tom bent down to grab the wig, but the dog darted away before Tom could get it. “Dino, no! Stop!” Tom was mortified when the defiant dog bolted out the door. Damn! Tom took off after the mutt.

Chasing Dino down the stairs and through the house, Tom was having no luck catching the little rascal. The beagle sprinted across the living room floor, knocking over many of Peter’s army men.

Peter cried out, “Stop it, Dino!”

Dino ignored the boy’s command, shooting straight out the open screen door.

Panicked, Tom rushed past Peter and called out, “Peter, help me catch Dino.”

Dino stood in the center of the yard, shaking the hell out of the wig, blonde hair flying all over the place. Tom looked over and saw a horrified look on Anne’s face.

“Stay, boy.” Tom lifted both hands as he slowly walked toward Dino.

Dusty got up. “Need some help?”

Keeping his eyes focused on Dino, Tom answered, “Yes, we need to get that away from him.”

Dusty started walking toward the dog, on the opposite side from Tom. Dino suddenly stopped all his shaking and peered directly into Tom’s eyes, the blonde wig hanging like a dead animal from his mouth. Dino seemed to be toying with Tom, ready to bolt at any moment. Tom hoped to grab the little scoundrel before he did. “Peter, close the sliding glass door.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

Dusty and Tom had the dog surrounded. Dino stayed focused on Tom as both men slowly moved in.

“Good dog, Dino,” Tom said, just inches from reaching Dino’s collar. Then the dog darted off playfully to the other side of the yard. Dusty, Peter and Tom spent the next five minutes chasing the ornery dog all over the backyard until Dusty finally caught him. Holding Dino steady, Tom was able to seize the thrashed and dirty wig from the dog’s slobbery mouth. He held the wig aloft in a minor celebration. Anne didn’t look happy.

Tom realized he’d messed up. Dejectedly, he took the ragged wig inside the house to get it away from his hyper dog. As Tom passed the patio table he overheard Anne tell Jean, “Oh that was something from our past.”

Tom was disappointed to hear those words. It was as if his wife was embarrassed by the wig and what it stood for. Tom continued into the house, set on tossing the wig in the trash.

Later that night, after saying their goodnights and turning out the lights, Tom rolled over on his back in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Anne’s words still resonated in his head. He turned to see the back of his wife’s head, her hair flowing over her pillow. Their lack of intimacy over the last few years concerned him, making him feel like a stranger in his own bed. They hadn’t really discussed the topic, which made it even more awkward. He leaned over and kissed her on the neck before whispering in her ear. “What did you mean by that comment about the wig?”

Anne grumbled out her response. “What?”

“You made it sound like it was something dirty.”

Anne slowly turned over. “What are you talking about?”

“Do you still love me?”

Anne rubbed her eyes, reached over and gently placed her hand on his face. “With all my heart.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you really do. I know my work has kept me away, but I don’t want to lose you over it.”

Anne moved closer so their legs touched. “You’re not going to lose me. But ever since you started training for Apollo 16, it’s as if you’re already on the moon. Peter and I never see you, which I’m okay with. I understand it comes with the territory.”

“It will all be over soon.”

“I know, and when it is, Peter and I will be waiting with open arms, ready to welcome you back into our lives.”

Tom kissed her. “I miss you.”

Anne reached out and put her hand around his neck. “I’ve missed you too.” She pulled Tom closer and they shared a deep, passionate kiss leading to a wonderful night of love making.

“So, is your team ready?”

Straightening up in his chair, Tom looked his boss directly in the eye. In less than a week he and his crew would be leaving for Kennedy for their mandatory three-week quarantine period before being strapped into their Saturn V rocket for the adventure of a lifetime. Mastering the tension he felt, Tom answered professionally, “Absolutely, we’re primed and ready.”

“Good.” Dick looked down at his desk, searching through his notes. Finding what he was looking for, he said in a businesslike tone, “David will be your CAPCOM for all three of your moonwalks.”

Tom was pleased his friend would be his link back to Earth while venturing out onto the lunar surface, especially since David had already walked on the moon himself. “That’s great to hear.”

“Also, the names you selected for your spacecraft were approved.” Dick looked up. “Thanks for not picking anything silly or controversial.”

Tom and Dusty had named the Lunar Module, Explorer, while Kirk had picked Galaxy for the Command Module. Tom leaned toward Dick and said with a smirk. “You should have heard Dusty’s original idea. He suggested Adam for the command module and Eve for the Lunar Module. That way when Kirk was docking with the LM, we could radio in that Adam was penetrating Eve.”