Rouen
Most of time I patrolled the streets in the daytime, which was easy work, although sometimes a bit more challenging in the evening. It was easy to meet and chat with the pretty girls walking about, but unless you spoke French, not so easy to follow-up on. In a bar/café we frequented, I did make an interesting female acquaintance. She was a very pretty blonde woman who hung out with a girlfriend in the bar as a prostitute. We often chatted with them and she explained that she had a child and her husband had been killed in the war. Sometimes I would give her some candy and food for the child and cigarettes for her to sell. She felt obligated to explain that she and her friend wanted to buy a village café in the countryside outside Rouen and would quit what they were doing as soon as they had accumulated enough money. One night when we stopped bye, she and her friend were gone-they had obviously achieved their goal. I thought that was the last I would see of Jacqueline. However, a few weeks later as I was on street patrol in town, there she was sprightly walking with her full shopping basket. We talked and she was radiant in her happiness. She invited me to visit her and see her new place. It was located at least 20 km's out of town off the main road and would be a difficult journey but I promised to try and get out there as soon as I had some free time. I soon found the time, but on a Sunday when there was no bus transportation and little local travel because of the gas shortages. I easily caught a ride out of Rouen to the intersection with the road going to her town but not a single vehicle came along it and I must have walked at least 10 miles to reach it. They had a lovely little country café and I could understand why they would love it. After a welcoming drink and bite to eat, I could see they were busy and I was bushed, thought a short nap would be in order. She took me up to her bedroom and I promptly fell dead asleep. As I awoke in the late afternoon, probably at her instigation, there she was looking down fondly at me as she undressed, climbed in beside me and showed me her appreiciation for past kindness in the best way she knew. I am sure, and certainly hope, she went on to have a happy, prosperous and normal life. Hey, we all have to do tough things in perilous times.
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