02 June 2020 – Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas

Lieutenant Sabrina Knox-Jones and her husband entered the Student Training Flight office in the ENJJPT Building at 0930. She wore her OCP uniform in an official capacity for the first time. She still wasn’t used to the imagined weight of her rank insignia. A senior airman looked up from her desk.

“Good morning, Ma’am.” The airman nodded at Tommy, who trailed behind Sabrina.

“Good morning. Lieutenant Knox-Jones reporting for ENJJPT.” Sabrina handed over a copy of her orders. Senior Airman Davis pulled Sabrina’s file up on her computer.

“I see you have your private pilot’s license already, Ma’am?”

“I do.” Sabrina handed the airman a copy of her PPL certificate.

“Okay, housing?”

“We’re good. I spoke with Housing once I received my orders and got permission to live off-base. We rent a house about five minutes from the Visitor’s Center on Northview Drive.” Sabrina handed over the address.

“Popular place,” SrA Davis commented. “You’re the third student I’ve seen stay there since I came to Sheppard, and the airman I replaced told me he saw another three there. Moved in already?”

“Yesterday. Tommy and I were unpacking all night. The landlords have found their niche, too, and they just finished a reno.”

“What’d they do for the reno?”

“New floors throughout, fresh paint in every room, new fence around the property.”

“Very nice!” SrA Davis chirped. “You’ll be issued three flight suits at some point. Those are your Uniform of the Day at ENJJPT unless you hear otherwise, even as a casual student.” The airman checked her computer and glanced at Tommy. “Your husband, Ma’am?” Sabrina nodded. “And you have your spousal ID updated?” Davis asked Tommy. A spousal ID is just that – an access card for military wives and husbands – allowing them to get on base and use facilities there.

“We’re both up-to-date in DEERS, but we haven’t gone to the support flight yet,” Tommy replied. ‘DEERS’ is the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, a database of people who are eligible to receive DoD benefits. “That’s our next stop, but we wanted to confirm Sabrina was all set here first.”

“You’re all set here, Ma’am. Here’s a checklist for the rest of your in-processing items. The top section lists the mandatory completion items.”

“Then I’ll depart the office and start work on these.”

“Have a good day, Ma’am.”

The 82nd Force Support Squadron is the unit that supports everyone who lives or works on Sheppard Air Force Base, especially those on active duty. They oversee lodging, education, food sales, and on-base activities such as bowling and other off-duty events. One of the supports they provide is the Military Personnel Flight. MPF tells people about off-base attractions and happenings in the local area. MPF also offers one-stop shopping for ID cards, in-processing, evaluations, promotions, testing, etc.

Getting Tommy’s CAC wasn’t as painful as they suspected, but it did take time. Sabrina and Tommy completed her mandatory in-processing checklist by early afternoon. They checked out one of the on-base eateries for a late lunch.

“I can’t believe you have a mandatory orientation!” Tommy exclaimed around his “Tommy B,” a sandwich filled with mac & cheese, and layered peppered bacon. “It’s not like you work at Target!”

“I’m the low woman on the totem pole now, TJ,” Sabrina replied with a shrug. “I do as they tell me. I’ll wear a onesie around all day and play with aer-ee-oplanes, so it’s all good.” She took a bite of her salad. “Are you getting a job while I’m gone all day?”

“The Legal Aid office here does tax prep during tax season, so I’ll start there. There are plenty of other places off-base I can look into if that doesn’t work out. I’ll also check out Midwestern State University’s MBA program and see if I can work that in while you’re busy.”

“I’m sorry you’re gonna get left alone so often, Tom.”

“Sabrina, I knew what I signed up for the day I kissed you on the slopes of Breckenridge. You have career goals, and I’m not standing in the way of them.”

Sabrina enjoyed one last carefree weekend with Tommy, now her husband of almost two months. They explored the Wichita Falls area and found it to their liking. The people were friendly, the city well laid out, the pace slower than where they grew up.

Sheppard Air Force Base had, for the most part, the same amenities as every base she knew of. She and Tom checked those out over the weekend, too. Their time together ran out far faster than they wanted.

“You didn’t have to get up, Tom. You don’t have to be anywhere this morning, and the sun’s barely up!”

“Sure I did. I needed to get up and help my wife out the door for her first day at ENJJPT. Make her breakfast, and help her establish a routine. Cadre will swamp you with new info during UPT. And that’ll only grow.”

“I really am lucky you found me.”

“I am lucky someone else didn’t snap you up before I came to Colorado.”

With a kiss, Sabrina was gone.

She walked into the ENJJPT building and paused. She looked over her flight suit again, confirming her appearance was perfect. Rank sewn on her shoulders perfectly, unit patches in the right places, nameplate without wings on and straight, hair up correctly, mask on and well-seated ...

‘Breathe, Sabrina. Just breathe …’

Sabrina gathered herself before entering the meeting room specified in her check-in handout.

“Lieutenant Knox-Jones?”

“Yessir?” she replied to the dark, compact man.

“Sminagos Ioannis Koskoulis, Hellenic Air Force. ‘Captain’ in English. I’ll be one of your instructor pilots during UPT and the rest of ENJJPT.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Sir. Sabrina Knox-Jones, originally from outside Boston.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Boston during my time here. Red Sox fan?”

“Yessir!” Sabrina laughed. “Though more of a Boston Bruins hockey fan. I used to play.”

“At least I know what kind of student I’m getting! No swinging your helmet bag if you’re upset!”

“Wouldn’t endear me to my dad’s mom’s side of the family. Keiolis.”

“Then we shall share some ouzo at the appropriate time! Καλως ΗΡΘΑΤΕ! Εύχομαι καλή επιτυχία!”

“I speak a few languages, Sir, but Greek isn’t one of them.”

“‘Welcome! I wish you good luck!’”

“Thank you, Sir. I’ll try not to kill us more than once a week.”

“My family would appreciate that. Ευχαριστώ. Thank you.”

At that point, a man with a gray buzz cut wearing a flight suit strode into the room. Someone called everyone to attention making people shoot to their feet. The man stalked to the podium before speaking.

“Be seated.” Everyone sat again. “I am Lieutenant Colonel Lothar Wehner, West German Air Force or Luftwaffe, commanding officer, 80th Operations Group of the 80th Flying Training Wing. My staff plans and executes your training, and I oversee seven squadrons, six of them flying training squadrons.” Colonel Wehner stepped around the podium.

“What you new students see around you is the mission of ENJJPT, to foster cooperation and build strength within NATO. I have run into pilots I met here during our time as students many times, in NATO meetings, in training, and even while vacationing. We are comfortable interacting after over a year together here. That builds better training in Europe and better cohesion between countries in the alliance.” He looked around the room.

“Relax. Settle in. It will not be long before the volume of information will begin to feel overwhelming. Let your IPs help you where they can, and help each other. It is a long road ahead of you but a rewarding one.” Colonel Wehner nodded to the back of the room.

“ATTENTION!”

The colonel strode out.

“All right, Lieutenant,” Captain Koskoulis said, “let’s get you ready for Phase 1.”

Sabrina sat in a conference room the next day. She wore a flight helmet and face mask like her classmates while they each did simple, repetitive tasks. The staff lowered the air pressure on the students’ breathing devices ten minutes later.

ENJJPT Class 20-06 had just started Phase 1 – academics and pre-flight training. Aerospace physiology and the effects of altitude figured prominently. The classroom sessions introduced them to the theory behind the physiology of flight. The Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device (ROBD) gave the students a practical demonstration.

The repetitive exercise one of the instructors had Sabrina do seem plain silly when she started it. Her classmates received similar but varied tasks to perform while wearing a flight helmet and ROBD, all equally absurd. Fifteen minutes in, the ridiculousness of them struck Sabrina. She began to giggle softly, as did most of her classmates, but then openly. Their repetition of exercises faltered as the laughter boiled out of them.

An instructor walked over and gently stopped Sabrina from continuing the exercise. Others did the same with the rest of the students. He gave the signal to return the ROBDs to regular atmospheric settings. The students’ laughter slowly died over ten minutes. Thirty minutes after that, they were told to remove their masks.

“What you just experienced was the effect of oxygen deprivation,” Major Emhoff, Flight Surgeon from the 82nd Medical Group, announced an hour later. “The ROBDs allow us to show you those effects without pressure chambers. The effects begin to take hold anywhere above five thousand feet above mean sea level. The effects depend on the individual. You must know your limits and learn how aircraft systems can support you during flights.”

“I do not wish to go through that again,” Onderluitenant Marijn Vandewiele of the Belgian Air Component muttered as Major Emhoff departed.

“We must pay attention in the classroom, then,” his countryman Arnout Wouters replied under his breath. The rest of 20-06 nodded.

“Guys, I’ve already been thinking about our class unit patch,” Deacon Ingram announced. “We’re NATO, right? And we represent four nations, we students, that is.” Twenty-three nods from his classmates. “What about something like this? And I’m not married to this design. It’s just a starting point.”

Deacon put a pencil sketch on the large meeting table. A four-inch-round patch stared up at them. The NATO compass rose logo was centered on the circle, with the cardinal points’ extension lines just breaking the edge. One student nation’s flags flanked each compass point: an Old Glory, eine Bundesflagge, een Nederlandse vlag, un tricolore belge. An outer ring of flags held every NATO member’s colors. An arched rocker at the bottom read “ENJJPT Class 20-06.”

“Das ist grandios,” whispered West German Til Hergenröther.

“Ja ist es,” Belgian Phillipe Schoonjans agreed in the same language.

“And we can have a random drawing for which country’s flag goes where.” Darius pointed out.

“Relax, Dar,” Morgan Wade, the only other female in 20-06, said as she rested her hand on Darius’ shoulder. “We know you’re trying to be fair to everyone.”

“And the rest of us appreciate it, Darius,” echoed Brit Eirwen Biven.

“Thanks, Biv, Morgan. Everyone, really.”

“Let’s have the random drawing, finalize this design, and submit it to the cadre,” Kolby Vaughn said. “Show ‘em we’re a unit, a squadron.”

Any perceived unity did not save them, however. There were two more evolutions with ROBDs, followed by a written test in the class.

One week into ENJJPT, Tommy noticed Sabrina sitting at the desk in her ‘home office,’ as they called it, rubbing and stretching her neck.

“Babe?” he asked. “You okay?”

“I’ve been staring at this stuff too long.”

“What is it?”

“Info on the next module: ejection seats.”

“It’s Friday night, and you just got off-duty. Do you need to look at that tonight?”

“I don’t want to fall behind.”

“I understand what you’re saying, Sabrina. But how behind will you be if you wait until Sunday to read that over?” She turned to Tommy and started to speak. He held up his hand to forestall her. “All I’m saying, Sabrina, is you need to prioritize. Figure out how much time off you can give yourself and still learn the material. You still have a year to go. Pace yourself.”

“Dammit, TJ!” Now Sabrina was pissed. “This is my career!”

Tommy stood there calmly, his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the doorframe.

“And the academy? That wasn’t your ‘career,’ Sabrina? You risked career suicide there and prison time at Leavenworth, for someone you barely knew. Are you less important than that girl? Do you even know yourself at this point?” He turned and walked away.

‘Three months.’ Sabrina thought. ‘Three months is all it took for me to knock the shine off our marriage …’

She put her elbows on the desk, leaned forward, and put her head in her hands. Sabrina noticed she still wore her flight suit. She hadn’t even bothered to get out of uniform. She rose and walked to their bedroom. Changing into a sweatsuit, Sabrina walked to the living room.

Tommy felt Sabrina enter the room but kept looking at the television. He wasn’t sure what was on, but he gave the impression he was more interested in the playing video than his wife. The couch cushion sank as Sabrina sat, then Tommy felt her snake under his arm and lean into him. He felt her shake as she cried, too. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and waited for her to finish.

“I’m sorry, Tom.”

“I’m sorry, too, Sabrina.” Tommy kissed the top of her head. “I forget – and don’t really understand – what you went through at the academy, what you suffered. My job as your husband is to provide support however I can. And that includes sometimes telling you what you don’t want to hear.”

“As I just found out …”

“How else can I support you, Babe?”

“Keep giving me a swift kick in the ass when I need it!”

“Is this where I remind you that you’re the black-belt karate expert in the house, and not me? That’s the wrong way to stick to the ‘Happy wife, happy life!’ mantra if you ask me.”

“Okay, figurative swift kick, Mister ‘Fraidy Pants.”

Tommy lifted Sabrina’s chin with his finger and looked her in the eye.

“Except for special circumstances, you are off-duty from when you leave ENJJPT at 1700 Friday until after dinner Sunday night. I accept you will need time during the week to review that day’s information but give yourself – and us – the weekends.”

“I will. I promise.” Sabrina snuggled closer.

Sabrina nearly bounced as she walked into ENJJPT the following Monday.

She and Tommy spent time relaxing at Lake Wichita Park on Saturday. They packed lunch and non-alcoholic drinks and just sat. They didn’t plan anything, didn’t create a timetable, and didn’t rush to do anything. It had been an extended time since either had stopped with all the events happening since graduation. Sabrina didn’t open her ENJJPT files until after dinner Sunday.

“Somebody had a good weekend!” Kiefer Bauer called out in his German-accented English.

“Mind out of the gutter, Herr Bauer! Yes, Tommy and I did have a good weekend, but not in the way you’re thinking!”

Bernhard Schmid, a countryman, reached out and flicked Bauer’s ear.

“Danke, Bear!”

“Bitte, Sabrina!”

Bauer frowned at them both.

“Who’s ready to get shot from a cannon?” Leslie Burrell asked his classmates.

“You mean have a rocket jammed up our asses, Flying Officer Burrell?” USAF 2LT Vic Alvarado asked for clarification. “Plus, doesn’t the Royal Navy have all your cannon tied up?”

“I suppose it would be a rocket, yes … and yes, the RN have for some time, those greedy bastards.”

“We næ like them up north either, Les,” crooned Scotsman Fergus MacKinnon, “not since they shut down Scapa Flow.”

“Your nan was a wee tot when the RN closed Scapa Flow, Mac,” Rhys Bates added.

“Och, aye …”

Fergie’s accent reminded Sabrina of Hamish MacDougal. Recalling her friend and self-chosen uncle’s absence saddened her and made her wonder how he was.

The rocket up the butt was preceded by practice parachute landing falls. To jump-qualified students like Sabrina and fellow USAFA grad Ashton Hill, this was no big deal. Not all classmates were familiar with the process, and the evolutions took time. Ejection seat training follows once the cadre judges everyone ready.

“I didn’t think they would ever teach us what a cockpit looked like,” grumbled Skyler Kirk, an AFROTC graduate from Georgia Tech. “We’re four weeks into UPT!”

Class 20-06 finally started ENJJPT Phase 2 – Primary Aircraft Training in the T-6 Texan. The module began with basic instruments training.

“‘Don’t insult my intelligence, Kirk …’” Gunnar Pohl rasped like Khan Noonien Singh before anyone else. A German Star Trek fan who grew up on dubbed reruns, he later used the show to help learn English.

“What he said,” Alex Weiss agreed. “Gotta walk before we run, Skyler.”

“Yeah? Well, I want to climb in the plane right now.”

“You can go sit in one, Skyler,” Sabrina opined. “But what are you going to do with it?”

“I’ll figure it out …”

“Let me know how that works out for you.” Kirk ignored Sabrina after that.

Skyler Kirk kept his indifference toward Sabrina until the Fighter Aircrew Conditioning Test. This test helps the cadre determine the proper track for a student – which airframe type they will fly – by gauging muscle fitness and anaerobic weaknesses.

The Air Force Physical Fitness Test at the beginning of ENJJPT hadn’t registered with Kirk, though it had with their classmates. Kirk missed the wry grins and shakes of the head from the others as Sabrina prepared for her test.

Which, like her father and his tests, she had no problem passing. Sabrina maxed out her score on all parts of the test without effort. The only surprised member of 20-06 was Skyler Kirk. He walked away wearing a blank look.

“Haters gonna hate,” Morgan Wade whispered as she crossed behind Sabrina.

“True dat,” she whispered back as she finished packing up.

Sabrina and Tommy continued their non-military weekends as often as they could. The weekends helped Sabrina maintain her calm demeanor as ENJJPT continued. While new to the T-6 Texan, her civilian pilot training allowed her to adapt quickly and stand out. Darius Bennett, Alex Weiss, and Cameron James were the other Americans with private pilot licenses. Sabrina outshone them, and they freely admitted she was better.

Skyler Kirk had steam coming from his ears while Sabrina strolled down the flight line without care. His instructor pilot had pointed out a few areas that needed improvement during their post-flight briefing. The IP had taken Skyler to task on one or two of them, causing him to redden in embarrassment. The IPs never seemed to have angry words for the little bitch known as Sabrina Knox-Jones.

So Skyler gave her the call sign ‘Fletch,’ not after Chevy Chase’s character in those movies, but Mel Gibson’s Fletcher Christian in ‘The Bounty’ – a mutiny’s leader. Knowledge of the call sign was limited at first. It exploded right before Phase 2’s simulator and flight training began. It was fellow USAFA grad Ashton Hill who broke the news.

“Sabrina,” he muttered in a quiet voice. “Kirk’s hung a call sign on you, one I don’t think you’re gonna like.”

“This oughta be interesting … Lay it on me, Slick.”

“‘Fletch,’ as in ‘Fletcher Christian …’”

“Leader of the mutiny on the HMS Bounty?”

“Yeah …”

“Slick, you know it’s the people who bitch about a call sign that keep them throughout their career. You go with the flow, and your call sign can change. I mean, I’m never gonna be ‘Maverick’ or ‘Iceman.’”

“‘Icewoman maybe, but ‘Freya’ might fit better.”

“I hope my husband doesn’t think I’m that cold …”

“Oh, man …” Hill growled as he rubbed his forehead. “Don’t do that to an unmarried guy, okay?” Sabrina turned to leave, but he held up a hand.

“I didn’t understand what you did while we were three-digs, Sabrina. My aunt read me the riot act when I bitched about it that Christmas, though, and explained things to me. She’s … well … a strong independent woman, to use my new way of thinking, and doesn’t cotton to men doing as we please, when we please.

“I’ve overheard the IPs talking about you, Sabrina. They think you’re the best student pilot at ENJJPT in years, and we’ve only started flying. Don’t worry about Kirk or the past.”

“Thanks, Ashton. Don’t you hold back, either, okay? Let’s prove the Air Force made the right decision in sending us here.”

The newest subject for Sabrina in flying was flying in formation. Learning to watch your spacing and position while also watching your heading, speed, and fuel proved challenging. It was a challenge she embraced, however. It was something else to be conquered in flight, to bring her closer to space.

Her classmates embraced the challenges with her. This was the future they wanted, the path they’d chosen. Not all of them would fly fighters, but they all wanted to fly. They wouldn’t all serve together directly, but would work with NATO through their countries. There was a swagger to those who wore Darius’ patch. Sabrina ordered a flag with that design and had it anonymously shipped to ENJJPT. It now hung in their large briefing room.

“This class is not fooling around,” Manuel Villegas of the Spanish Air and Space Force muttered to his fellow IPs in their workroom.

“I should say not,” Spyridon Stavrallis of Greece agreed. His compatriots nodded also. “Those at the top help those struggling without question. And before even being asked.”

“This could be the strongest class I’ve seen since becoming an IP,” Ioannis Koskoulis opined.

“Which bodes well for the alliance,” Andres Martín added.

“I hope so, Andres. The Soviets and their friends have been restless lately,” Nikolas Stathakos pointed out. “Remember, however, it will be another year and a half before these pilots finish all their training.”

Class 20-06 blew through their instruments training without any effort. All passed the test with scores above ninety. Navigation, however, and mission planning made more than one student pull up sharply. Western aviation used nautical miles for distance, knots for speed, and feet for altitude. The difficulty for some came with the idea of ‘acceptable loss’ during mission planning. “If we lose forty percent of the attacking force, we can still accomplish the mission.” This was not something they were used to. In school, it was just theory. This was real life.

“I thought you were a hockey player?” Cameron James asked Sabrina as they packed up for the weekend.

“I am, or was, but my husband loves baseball more. We’re driving to Arlington tonight to see a Rangers doubleheader tomorrow. Tommy’s put up with my ENJJPT BS for three months, so this is me supporting him this weekend.”

“And you’re coming back Sunday, in time for class on Monday.”

“Right you are, Cam. You doing anything with the other guys this weekend?”

“Yeah,” Cam laughed. “Getting drunk while we watch that game trying to spot you on TV!”

“Good luck with that! See ya Monday!”

Sabrina zipped home, jumped in the shower, and sat in Tommy’s car in less than an hour.

“Hey, lady!” Tommy crowed as he started the car. “Wanna riiide?”

“Ugh. You’re using the ‘nobody rides for free!’ line on me next, are you?”

“Only if you want me to …” Tommy said as he backed out of their driveway.

“No, thank you. How close is the hotel to the ballpark again?”

“A five-minute drive. The room is overkill since we’ll be at the ballpark all day, but you can’t beat the price.”

“‘Overkill?’”

“It’s more like a suite. There’s a queen-sized bed, kitchenette, recliner, workspace, safe … but it’s less than eighty bucks a night.”

“I’ll take it!”

“If we take our time Sunday morning and leave after a leisurely breakfast, we’ll still be back by early afternoon. Plenty of time for you to review ENJJPT stuff before Monday.”

“No more talk about ENJJPT until we get back, TJ! This is your time this weekend!”

“Our time, Sunshine! We’re taking this trip to be together, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah. Okay.”

Sabrina settled in for the two-hour drive to Arlington, and Tommy shook her five minutes after that.

“Hmm?”

“Time to wake up, Sabrina. We’re at the hotel.”

“We just left our rental!”

“Yeah. Two hours ago. You’ve had a long week, remember? Let’s get checked in.”

Sabrina didn’t remember much about checking in or seeing the room for the first time. She was a zombie and asleep in bed before 10 pm.

Tommy didn’t hold Sabrina falling asleep on her feet against her. With her twelve-hour duty days, she didn’t have much downtime during the work week. She got the random federal holiday off from training, but they trained on a Saturday to make up for it. Sabrina got no leave during ENJJPT, so there was no traveling home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. These weekend excursions were it.

Tommy opted to wear a generic baseball fan’s t-shirt to the Rangers’ home stadium for the doubleheader. Their new field had a retractable roof, so he and Sabrina wouldn’t bake in the sun and heat for hours. He wore lightweight pants and would bring a sweatshirt for hours in the air conditioning. Sabrina wore a long-sleeve t-shirt with her ENJJPT class and program patch proudly displayed. She wore a Bruins cap instead of a Red Sox cap in deference to Rangers fans.

“Where are we sitting again?”

“First baseline, front row,” Tommy answered. “Just past the dugout, so pay attention during play. No screen where we’re sitting.” He reminded Sabrina there was no protective netting in front of their seats guarding against foul balls.

“Damn. I should have told Alex to send me a glove or something!”

“Just use those pilot reflexes to protect me.”

She used them to slap the back of his head instead.

A five-minute drive to the park preceded thirty minutes of finding a parking space, walking to the park, and finding their seats.

“These really are great seats!”

“My girl deserves the best!” Tommy chirped. “Even if she’s really a hockey fan first.”

“I’ll be the first be to smack you in the head if you don’t watch it!”

“Don’t take none a his crap, darlin’!” the older woman behind Sabrina cried. TJ and Sabrina turned. “I don’t take none a this guy’s crap neither!” the blonde said as she pointed to the man beside her.

“I’ll drop bombs on his butt if he pisses me off too much.”

“That’s the way, girl!”

“Uh, Sheena, this young lady will do it!” the man pointed out. “How long till you finish ENJJPT?”

“End of next June.”

“I used to work aviation maintenance there until about five years ago. I miss it sometimes, but after twenty years of doin’ that kinda work, my hands sure don’t!”

“Anyone you know still working at Sheppard?”

“There’s a few.” The man mentioned names. “Let ‘em know Randy Watson said hello, will ya, LT?”

“It’d be my pleasure, Sir.”

The couples chatted face-to-face until the players took the field to start the game. Sabrina and Tommy turned toward the diamond for safety but kept speaking to the Watsons over their shoulders. The seven-inning game passed quickly – with a Rangers’ win. The Watsons began gathering their things.

“It’s been terrific talking to you young kids,” Sheena Watson said. “But we need to be goin’. We have your email addresses, and you have ours. Y’all better keep in touch now!”

“Yes, Ma’am. We will,” Tommy assured her. With hugs and handshakes, the couples separated.

“They were really nice,” Sabrina said as they walked to a concession stand. It was time for a late lunch, after all. All the other guests staying for the second half of the doubleheader had the same idea because the lines were long and barely moved. The Joneses made their way back to their seats after thirty minutes.

“Betcha food’s cold by the time we sit down,” Sabrina commented.

“Why you gotta be mean, Sabrina? For what we paid, these containers oughta come with warmers!”

“Yes, they should!”

They chuckled at the joke as they descended the stairs to their seats. The laughter stopped when they noticed two college-age kids sitting there, hats on backward, beers in their hands, making loud, inappropriate comments to those sitting nearby.

“Un-ass, boys!” Sabrina barked. “You’re in our seats!”

“Bite me, bitch!” one of them fired back. “Try to make me move if you want these seats!”

Sabrina handed Tommy her food without a word and loudly cracked her knuckles. The two men stared back in disbelief. Sabrina then turned and motioned to a park security officer.

“Can I help you, Ma’am?”

“Yessir. We returned from the concession stand to find these two people sitting in our seats. When we asked them to move, this one here told me I was welcome to move him if we wanted our seats back. Here are our ticket stubs.”

The officer glanced down, then up at the two other men.

“You retards get up. Now! These people have tickets to these seats. Get out here and show me your tickets!”

Sabrina and Tommy sat as the two young men complied. The security officer grumbled a minute later.

“You two sit down, but if I come back here, I’m kicking you both out!”

To everyone’s horror, the two men sat where the Watsons had been. And immediately started their nonsense again. By the second game’s second inning, they focused on Tommy and Sabrina.

“You do bring out the best in guys …” Tommy muttered.

“I married you, didn’t I?”

“How far are you gonna take this?” Tommy asked as the men started kicking the backs of their chairs.

“Not sure. Right now, I can’t take it very far without liability.”

That changed when the men reached out to flick Sabrina and Tommy’s ears. Sabrina saw one man flick her husband’s ear just before his partner flicked hers. Her hold on his wrist had him on his knees in a second. The other spectators near them held the other man off while they attracted a security guard’s attention. Three came over.

“They start their BS again, Ma’am?” the guard from before asked. Sabrina didn’t have time to respond before everyone around offered opinions. All opinions went against the two men.

“Guess that makes our job easy then, boys,” the guard said to his colleagues. “Let’s go, you two!”

The two troublemakers were ‘encouraged’ to leave the park. The folks seated near Sabrina and Tommy assured them that real Texans didn’t act that way. Sabrina and Tommy assured them they already knew that and that they had enjoyed their months in Texas so far.

“Now can we watch the second game?”

“Why are you asking me, Tom? It’s not like I asked them to start that bullshit.”

“I know you didn’t, Babe,” he replied, throwing an arm around his wife. “Plus, we can work out our frustrations later!”

“Not from the couch, you won’t be!”