Ossi

4. The Army Calls

The Army Calls

Time to join the Army.

Uri and Udi were on track to becoming pilots. Due to my ability to speak English, French, Arabic, and Hebrew, I was recruited into the Intelligence Corps. It would be the first time that Udi and I would be separated. I was happy but, at the same time, confused and worried.

Udi came over to hug me, but I took a step backward. Nevertheless, Udi came closer and whispered in my ear, “I forgive you.”

I didn’t even say goodbye to him, but I hugged Uri for a long time.

“I am yours, my beautiful. I am yours forever, I promise. Don’t be a hero and come back home, please,” I told him.

We hugged and kissed and held each other, not wanting to let go.

“I promise to marry you, but you have to stay alive and make sure your i***t friend does, too.”

Lisa was crying and glued herself to Udi. Everyone was a mess, especially Lille. She was pleading with my dad not to allow Udi to become a pilot. He was her only son, and for the last week, she had driven Dad crazy. Again, it was all about Udi.

Udi didn’t give up, and before leaving, he hugged me and whispered, “I love you, Ossi. I’m crazy about you.” And then he kissed me on the cheek.

“Please stay alive,” I told him in return.

Lille had reason to be worried. My uncle Ziggi, whom we had never met, had been killed as a pilot. Uri’s dad, Jacob, had suffered a direct hit to his plane but, luckily, was only injured. He had spent over a year between hospitals and rehabilitation. We had two neighbors who had lost their sons, also pilots. So, yes, Lille was familiar with the odds of surviving the Air Force in Israel as a pilot.

Lille had arrived a week before the big day and had spent all her time with Udi.

In my little world, I was happy to leave home to serve in the Israeli Defense Force. It was nice to be away from home and my family, and especially away from those two clowns, Udi and Uri.

My parents asked me to be aware that I am attractive. Perhaps, that was why those two would not leave me alone. They were constantly watching over me. It was hard for them to let go.

Udi and Uri made plans for me to serve in the Air Force with them, to hover over me, making sure none of the soldiers would have a chance to get near. But, because of Udi’s behavior over the last two years, I made sure not to be anywhere near him.

Udi and Uri excelled in all their duties. They were fearless, ready to take over the sky and beyond. “The sky’s the limit” didn’t apply.

Everyone on the base took notice, and it was clear that they would become among the finest pilots in the Israeli Air Force. Their commander, Benjie, had to keep them on the ground, but it wasn’t easy since they invariably wished to practice pushing the envelope.

The reward was countless parties, crazy parties.

Benjie’s family owned a farm not too far from the base. The boys spent their free time on that farm when not on call, mainly partying. Those parties lasted day and night, and the girls … well, they were willing and gave them the best time they could.

Back then, there was a saying, “There is God, and then there are pilots.”