TWI-121 Any Man is Fair Game

Excerpt

Biff had not realized that Phil was a hustler—though he should have sensed it in their many conversations in the barracks, or from the flashy, tight clothes he wore. He remembered one conversation Phil had had with a sergeant on the base. The sergeant had asked him why he wore such tight clothes, to which his only response had been, “It pays to advertise!” The full meaning of the statement came to Biff now.

Phil excused himself, rising to retreat to the men’s room to relieve himself.

No sooner had the door closed behind him, than Biff spotted three different civilians hastily making their way to the men’s room. He recalled how George Harris had followed him in there, and remembered how George had stared at him. Biff imagined that Phil had deliberately chosen the right time to go to the rest room. He sensed the scheme.

It was a full 5 minutes before all four men exited from the rest room simultaneously. Phil smiled as he sat down.

“Two of those guys want to sit with us—my God, I had to fight them off, they were pawing me!”

Biff remained silent. He decided to let Phil do the thinking—and, eventually, let him do the talking.

Within a few moments both men were seated beside the two servicemen. They exchanged caustic remarks, kiddingly, intermingled with spicy jokes. Several more bottles of beer were placed before the marines, whose still almost full ones were now lukewarm.

Phil’s dollar still sat on the table before him. He put it in his pocket.

The conversation continued with loud laughter intermingling with soft guffaws.

After some 2 hours, Phil rose and went into the rest room, followed by the man who was seated beside him.