This story really happened. The names have, well prolly forgotten (for good reason), not been mentioned to prevent lawsuits.
The summer of '93 held much promise as a promising young man step out of the Army. The man felt Phoenix was a great place to start a new life, metaphorically speaking. After settling in his residence provided by a good Army buddy, the young man felt inclined to eat and eat well. New to Phoenix and without transportation, the ex-soldier walked to the closest eatery, Denny's. Not the dining the soldier longed for, but within the range of walking, do~able. Enjoying the steak and the company of the waitress, he told stories of Army life. He hungered for a better time and asked the waitress where a good place to party. The waitress was friendly but, unfortunately, not something the soldier was interested in. A party was hope that he would find a girl he was interested in. The waitress told him she new of such a party and it was happening after she got of work, in like an hour. The hour ticked down and the ex-soldier waited. During which, the man tried to get more information of the party. The waitress said it was out in the desert, a bonfire. At that time she said that Phoenicians always ask what school you are from and it was best the young man be local. She provide a school.
The Denny's waitress shift ended. The wait for the waitress was long, while anticipating the likes of the party. The duo was off to the party. The waitress suggested she wanted to pick up a friend. The asked if it was okay if the friend was gay. The ex-soldier said it was okay as long as the gay man respected his non gayness. The other fella was picked up. The soldier was amazed at this close relationship with the woman and the gay man. Being not very familiar with such things, the man remained quiet and hoped for a great time at the party. Though, requesting to stop for some adult beverages. The young man went in alone and purchased a size~able quantum of liquor. On the return to the car, he witnessed much laughing, it quiet as he approached. The soldier began to think something was amiss.
The trio arrived in the desert. The night was cool and the stars were bright, but there was no bonfire, people, or any such thing to make this place a party. The soldier queried carefully, for he knew his ride was them, he had no mobile phone, and he was quite aways from town. The waitress and other man said they were early. Consigned to wait, again, the young man drank some beverages. The waitress and the young man tickled each other and the laughing was loud. The time was passing slowly. The young soldier again inquired about the others. The waitress then move on the young man. She was forward and very aggressive. The young man carefully resisted her advance. Yet, she pressed on, over and on top off. The soldier did his best to be both polite and refusing. Without notice, the other man escaped with the only vehicle. The soldier was alone with the waitress. After this time, she stop her advances. Time again passed, awhile passed and finally headlights shown. The headlights belong to not the waitress's car, but to a police car. The waitress informed the young man that it is illegal to be in the desert at night. Fearing the police, the soldier suggested to hide. She complained that the duo would be seen. The man was wearing a white striped shirt. The ex-soldier quickly explained that in the night as long as they had some cover and didn't move, the police would not find them. The one police car quickly became two police cars, yet they still did not find the duo. Within a short amount of time, the police multiplied and they started looking in a search line. The young soldier was reminded of a similar search, while in the Army. He remembered that search was for a presumed dead soldier. The soldier figure the amount of police and the amount of biting insects was not worth hiding any longer. The waitress stated she didn't want to be in trouble. The soldier stated for her to look at the amount of police and did she think they were after something small, like two people hiding in the desert. Something else was afoot and its best to show themselves.
The soldier stood up and raised his hand to show he had no weapons. Instantly, he was thrown to the ground and handcuffed. Two police lifted the soldier and slammed him on the police car hood. Face pressed to a warm hood, the soldier look over and there was the other man. He was sitting in the police car with rivers of tears down his face. One of the policemen grabs the soldier's wallet and found out he was a soldier. The man asked if the soldier had intended to injure the waitress and how did the soldier know the other man. The soldier told the story. The story of how he meet them and how recently he got out of the service. The police man then told the story that made all this make sense.
The police officer explained: There was a complaint about some screaming in the woods. The police sent a car to investigate. The police turned down the rode and found a car trying to leave. The car was the waitress's with the other man driving. The police officer searched the car and found it was not his. The car also contained a woman's purse. The officer asked the man what was going on and the other man told the story of how they were in the desert. The officer handcuffed and put the other man in the back of his police car. They drove down the road looking for the duo. When the duo was not found, the officer, fearing the worst called for backup and the corpse finding equipment. The police all got in a line and searched for a body with flashlights. All the time, another officer squeezed the other man for information. The dogs and helicopters with infrared was called to find the bodies in the desert. Then the waitress and the soldier appeared.
The ex-soldier heard the police story and laughed. For some reason, the story, the misunderstanding was the funniest thing he had ever heard. The trio was let free from the police and allowed to drive home with a warning not to stay in the desert or commit homicide. The car was silent save for the snickers of the soldier and the weight of the disapproving stares, the snickers created. The goodbyes were wordless. No exchange of numbers or information was passed. The waitress and the other man never spoke to the soldier again.
The soldier set out for a night to remember and that is what he received.
