In Service
by Jeremy Zentner
I know it’s cliché, but I really love a man in
uniform.
My ex wore his Army formal to my prom. The
photo of us still sits on my nightstand.
Now there’s a new man in uniform looming over
me. My body quivers at the sight of his dauntless face. His
tousled, sweaty curls shake over me. His pallid surplice is
wet with perspiration. His collar yellowed.
I finally had him.
It had been so long since I was alone with a man.
Ever since James passed away. He joined the service my
senior year of high school. We were married not that long
after prom. When James came back, we made plans to
have a baby.
I could only pray that this new man might be
willing and able to do the job. I know it’s selfish of me, but
I really believe the Lord would want me to have another
child. Why else would he have guided me to Father
Williams? He was young and vibrant, with a sort of sexy
intellect. I could only hope that he felt the same about me.
After all, it was quite unlikely that we would meet outside
of this convent. It had to be divine intervention.
When James and I were trying, we went nearly a
year without success. I had never been on birth control,
and we even ate organic. Eventually we visited a fertility
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