a reading from King James Bible . . the priest sermonisingdeploying hed suggest Genesis 28:11 

                                                                                                   And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set . . .

   very humouredgently he nudged his mothers elbowmurmured Jacobs dream Isnt it the premise for the hymn Nearer my god to thee Sarah Flower Adams 

                                        he didnt believe but he loved the Bible stories his mother read to him as a small boy before he could read what he wanted

he returned from Nam the day earlierhis mother overjoyed 

                                                             Please please come to church with me tomorrow, I prayed every day every day for you.

he kissed her widows peak

                              Yes loveyes  gently he reminded her You remember I do not believe  he had been away two tours 

she hugged him harder but didnt say anything

they stood in the warm scented kitchen hugging

 

                                                                         Sssh, yes. she whispered in answer

laughter bubbled inside him

                              Youll please excuse me for a moment Maw he withheld augenblick leaving alone confused her  he stood he excused himself as he went along the pew before parishioners to the side aisle

he followed it out into the narthex then outside

   outside his laughter possessing himhe roared  he placed his hands on the church to hold himself up

he chortled Nearer my god to thee it almost came out his nose 

                                                              Nearer my god to me 

on his last R & R he went to Japan 

other GIs preferred Korea

they were looking to get laid American dollars went a long way 

                                                                   he was looking for companionship if something came in the offing so be it

three days in there was an offing

Yui

older than he shapelier than most Japanese women

seductively she shimmiedshed her bra though kept her V-neck blouse on

                                                                             I make me comfortable. 

Excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable

   Hai. Yes. her eyes bright

he tried  Excuse me while I slip into someone more comfortable 

Huh? confusion lathered her face

Im sorry Im teasing 

                      he fixed his look his eyesrelished her breasts furtive shadows behind white cotton  he inhaled exhaled  

          chuckled to himself Nearer my god to me

0654,  Sunday,  20  11. 22

1148,  Sunday