"Do
you play scrabble? Great! Can you come to my apartment this Sunday at 4? We can
talk then and play a game or two," retired Air Force Captain Charles Goodwin
invited Albert Morton, the local science teacher at Pasadena High School.
The Sunday after that Albert returned to the Captain's with a friend.
"This is Ms. Hill. She teaches third grade at Rose Villa Elementary."
The next week Ms. Mildred Montgomery, the owner of Casa De Flora saw the
Captain and his dog outside of the library. "What a beautiful Dog!" said
Mildred. Thank you. He is my partner. His name is Buddy. He can pick out the letters in his name,
but not always in order. "Do you like scrabble? Would you like to join Mr. Morton, Ms. Hill, and
myself this Sunday at four for scrabble, tea and strawberry cake?" "Tea and
strawberry cake, yes." she thought.
Then in the local Food Mart Captain
Goodwin met Shirlie Jean Ford, a nurse at Saint Mary's Hospital. "The price of
tomatoes is outrageous," she exclaimed out loud to no one. "Excuse me, do you
know where the bread crumbs are?" the Captain asked her. "Do you live in
Pasadena?" she asked as the conversation continued. "Yes, I moved here three
months ago. My name is Charles Goodwin. Do you like scrabble?"
The Sunday
evening scrabble parties became a regular event. The five talked about
everything from trivia to GOD, and they became "family." They got to know each
other. From Joe's Barber Shop where Captain Goodwin worked two days a week, from
the school, from the hospital, and from the flower shop in Pasadena, California,
came many things to talk about, and out of this fellowship came
romance.
The Captain's apartment had a Chinese motif. It was very
clean and neat. Large, expensive porcelain vases were placed all around.
Beautiful Chinese paintings were on the walls. There were dragons and lotus
blossom engravings on the mahogany furniture. Chinese music played on the
stereo. A model of a F-15E Strike Eagle jet sat on a table. The room reflected a
masculine occupant. From a balcony there was a spectacular mountain view.
Charles Goodwin was called Charlie by his friends. He was born in Illinois.
His father was a pilot in World War II. Charles joined the Air Force after
college and retired after 20 years of service. He was an example of the
centurion in Luke 7:6. Jesus said of the soldier, "I have not found so great
faith" in anyone else. Captain Goodwin lived by the Bible. At fifty years old he
was still handsome, single, intelligent, and active. He worked part time as a
barber at Joe's Barber Shop, and spent hours writing articles about the Gulf
War. He was always well dressed and groomed.
His guest Albert Morton,
the science teacher at Pasadena High was five years younger than him.
"Congratulations on teacher of the year award," Charles greeted him. "Thank you,
it was a real surprise and an honor."
"You were in the Air Force too,"
Charles said. "Yes, but never in combat. Is it scary flying at mach 2, twice the
speed of sound?" "Not at all, Albert, the Air Force provided proper training,
and I had confidence in our aircraft and our missions. You ride a Harley, your
risk of getting hurt is higher than a fighter pilot. By the way, why aren't you
married?" "I haven't met the right woman," Albert replied." "Ready to play
scrabble?" asked the Captain.
**continue**
