When Butches Cry by Genta Sebastian

Author:Genta Sebastian [Sebastian, Genta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapphire Books Publishing
Published: 2016-12-14T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Winter, 1965

December ninth started out with gray skies, but by mid-afternoon, the clouds parted and a pale sun broke through. Busy before dawn, Ana prepared for the party they were throwing after the pinning ceremony. Taken aback to learn Traf’s parents would boycott the ceremony, she realized she’d underestimated Gaspar’s stubborn streak. In the face of her lover’s unspoken discouragement, she regretted ever asking.

Traf’s wounded heart came as a surprise. How come Father’s rejection still hurts, even though I don’t try to please or impress him anymore? No matter what I do, he’ll never approve of me. Why should I care if he comes or not? Unwilling to give him the satisfaction of being unhappy, she shook it off, vengefully pleased she disappointed him as much as he did her.

Three second lieutenants received promotions that day, and the ceremony proceeded with the clockwork precision Traf had come to expect from the Americans. Luis, Hermione’s husband, pinned the new silver colored bar to her shoulder. He grinned with the pride of an older brother as she received her new rank. Although standing rigidly at attention as expected, she heard Ana, Gabriela, Manuela, Hermione, João, Alice, and Joaquim cheering for her in the gathered crowd. Over their heads, the American flag hung proudly.

Later, Ana served their guests lavish amounts of fine food she’d spent days preparing. As they ate, Traf turned to Hermione. Nodding toward Luis seated on the other side of his wife, she whispered, “Did he get nervous when he was pinning on my bar?” She was thinking of bashful Joaquim seated at the other end of the table, trying his best to be invisible beside sociable Alice.

Hermione chuckled and indicated her husband making a silly face at Ana as she refilled his bowl. “This clown?” She slapped Luis on the back. He turned to his wife. Hermione asked loudly, “How did you feel up on that stage with everyone looking at you?” She grinned from him to Traf and back again.

Ordinarily, he would have passed off some comment about how handsome he was, and that it would only be normal for people to look at him and cheer, but instead he grinned at Traf on the other side of his wife. “They weren’t looking at me.” Obvious pride rang in his voice, forcing heat to her cheeks. “They were cheering for First Lieutenant Vitória Mendes.” He raised his glass and toasted, “To the best officer in the US Air Force, trafulha though she may be! To Vitória!” He downed his glass of wine.

“To Vitória!” Everyone followed suit, and the party lingered on until well after ten that night.

As an end to a lovely evening, though urged to sit down, she helped Ana clean up. Having all of Friday off, a three-day weekend stretched endlessly before them. Ana had arranged to meet Manuela and Gabriela at the clubhouse Friday night. They would have a small, private celebration party among themselves.

Up early, just before sunrise, Traf put on her oldest

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