USA: Embarassment is temporary
Pat B
=2/28/19=
It was Friday and Maria had been focusing on her studies.while that damn article was troubling, she had to put it aside and push on, she noted the sympathetic looks from classmates, a couple of exchange servicemen from the Royal Marines did comment that ‘they knew the story was a load of bollocks.’ and ‘not to worry the mail is full of shit in the best of times.’
That and Ange had left several messages, some in English and some deteriorating to Italian, some of the words her cousin’s voicemails changed to rather scandalously profane Italian, and some of the words like puttana, Bastardo, and a few others were very much bad words. She had tried to push it down, but it had blown up. It was no longer silly. She was actually upset about this whole thing. Oh God, what did Peter think, did she think he was doing this for someone else?
He had responded monday with, “I don’t believe a damn word of it.” so that part was calmer, there was still the concern. But how would the Corps handle this, was her career dead before it even started.
There was a knock on her door and it was Ange.
“Hey. I picked up the photos since I figured you didn’t want to be in public for a while.” The USB drive was placed on her desk, “I….I’m sorry this happened. “
“Stop Ange, it’s not your fault. Unless you did something truly shitty like tipping off the media.” She knew her cousin wouldn’t dare.
“Thanks, have you talked to Peter?”
“He doesn’t believe a word of the article, he’s pissed. But I’m...scared.”
“Why?” Her cousin looked at her.
“How do I start this just ‘hi I didn’t do it.”
“Pretty much yeah. Honestly, if he believes that crap, then he’s not worth you.”
“Thanks.” Maria smiled. Then there was another knock on the door.
A senior NCO poked his head in after Maria acknowledged, “Corporal, Company Commander and Staff Judge Advocate want to see you Now. “ then he saw Angelica, “Petty officer, don’t you have anywhere to be?”
“Not really...Gunny.”
“Find somewhere, Now.”
“Aye” She got up and left. Maria sighed and picked up her utility top and put it back on. She reached for the USB.
“No...leave that here.” The older man looked at her, “No need to check that, lock it in a desk drawer or something.” Which Maria did. Then he continued, “I think this is a crock of shit, but we gotta go through the paperwork.”
“Of course.” She took her cover and they were soon in a small office which was much smaller with her company commander a Captain, who she had never met and a Major who was a little less intimidating. They both introduced them self Captain Jack Aubrey was her company Commander and would handle the main question, and the Staff Judge Advocate who introduced herself as Major Sofia Jacquez, she would review if any legal issues cropped up with her statements. First thing was she was read her Article 32 rights because the article insinuated adultery, which was an offense under UCMJ, it was required. So that already put her on edge. The fact she didn’t nearly burst into tears, was a testament to her discipline
The first question the Captain asked her was simple, “Corporal Garibaldi, as you are no doubt aware, an article in the Daily Mail was published which stated you were taking some……” there was a pause and the stern military commander seemed to look more like the unsure 30-year-old he was, “....personal photos for a person who is not your husband. You do not have to answer this question under Article 32, but do you wish to answer?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is that article true?”
“No, sir. “
“For the record Corporal, if I asked Major Jacquez to review the photos, would she find any parts of your uniform used in these photographs?”
“No sir, I didn’t even wear my uniform out.”
That got a nod.
Then Maria asked, “Sir do you want me to get the pictures?”
“That will not be necessary Corporal. Everything I've been lead to believe was you are a squared away Marine, who is someone to watch. I admit, to be frank, I had concerns, being your father is who he is. But seeing you in action, I will admit my concerns were wrong.”
Then Major Jacquez spoke up, her accent was one of the Southwest United States, “Corporal. Based on what you said and based on conversations we’ve had with former roommates and your cousin. You have one hell of a defamation suit, probably not Invasion of Privacy, because the only pictures were in public, sorry but Libel is definite .”
“Ma’am?”
“You Corporal can take the Daily Mail to the cleaners. And because you are not a public figure, Sullivan does not apply.” She handed her a folder, “I called our legal referral, we’ve got one attorney they recommend. His name Charles Begaye, he’s one of the best of libel/slander law, he’s admitted to the Federal bar, state bars in Texas, New Mexico, and a ton of other states, and a qualified Solicitor in the UK. Now I will provide the names of a few other attorneys as well, but when I asked they recommended him. But you make your own decision.”
Captain Aubrey spoke again, “Officially, as of now you are on leave, be back Monday. Next weekend is field ops, so get whatever ducks you need in a row, you good to go Marine?”
“Aye, sir.” Maria did salute, which was returned. Then Aubrey had an almost wolfish smile, “As for the Mail, make them regret screwing with the USMC, as far as the Corps is concerned, you’re good, and we are on your side.”
Major Jacquez spoke up, “One other thing, I communicated with OGE, if someone sets up a gofundme for you, any money that didn’t go to legal fees will be donated to either the public debt or to a charity of your choice, with proof. However you don’t set one up, understand?”
“I understand.” She paused, “I don’t want to get rich off this.”
“You might Corporal,”
==
In the extended stay hotel Peter was using as a temporary residence Bjorn continued his silent patrol. Lorenzo trudged in, Peter had asked him to watch Bjorn while he was travelling to see Maria, he had been politely encouraged by the Marine officer in his little project to see her, because she might need the back up. He was planning to anyway, but that pushed it. So Lorenzo agreed to make sure the cat was ok and make sure he had food and water, plus wet food.
Setting down his schoolbag, the Secret Service agreed to give him space for this one. First thing Lorenzo did was set out the can of wet food which brought Bjorn out of his hiding place, he studied the two bipeds warily then began to sniff the food.
Peter’s house phone rang, Lorenzo, out of habit answered it, “Hello?”
Maria’s voice came through, “Lorenzo, why are you answering Peter’s phone.”
“He asked me to watch the cat. Who is awesome by the way.”
“Where is he?”
“He said he had to go somewhere.”
There was a pause, “Ok Hey, this article stuff, how are you doing with it?”
“Ok I guess, guys at school some of them like to give me shit because of it, but…. Some guys they want to get copies of the pictures, they said you’re a babe.”
Maria had to laugh, “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“But it’s not trouble for you?”
“I just think they’re dicks, why don’t they leave you alone?” Then he asked, “Maria, are you going to sue them?”
“How did you hear.”
“Today at school Mr Greene pointed out that they broke rules of journalism and may have lied.”
“Libeled, and yeah. I meet with a lawyer as soon as I can talk to Peter.”
“Ok, get em. No one makes fun of my sister but Me and Pietro.”
===
The second call was more personally embarrassing but caught her dad in the Oval Office, he was in what was determined Executive Time, so he picked up when it rang. The number showed it was his daughter.
“How are you doing ?”
“Good dad, Peter did say he didn’t believe it, and the Corps are on my side. But….”
“Maria, you’re an adult, married and everything, I figured that he didn’t drive 30 hours once a month to go to the CYO dance with room for the Holy Spirit and a soda at the Malt shop.”
“Dad!” Maria tried to hide her embarrassment.
“Hey, would you rather me play ignorant?”
“In this case yes.” She paused, “I’m sorry if this will cause issues.”
“With what, the election,? Look, here’s the weird part, if I win great, if not, I never expected to get this far. Besides, I got time before I announce, and as I’ve said before, I want you to be happy. That’s number one ok?”
There was a pause then Sal spoke, “right now, I want to have the reporter that wrote this deported. And their work visas revoked, but...I have to take my grandfather’s advice. When you were born, I was nervous being a father and all, and my grandfather told me, ‘She’s a little bird Salvatore, let her spread her wings and she will fly far.”
“He used to call me that uccellina.” Maria paused. “I wonder what he’d do if he was here?”
“Get his shotgun down and start shooting Mail reporters for insulting his little bird.”
“Dad, just to let you know, I’m going to sue the bastards, I’m going to meet with an attorney this weekend.”
“Maria…. I have to ask one question.”
“Oh?”
“The pictures, will they leak?”
“God I hope not, but I doubt it, I have them on USB, only other is the photographer, and he’s been around forever.”
“Ok, Anthony was concerned, so we can prepare for it.” He paused, “As for suing them…”
“Yes?”
“Fight hard uccellina.”
There was a pause, Maria had to fight the small lump building in her throat, “Thanks dad.”
===
Peter had flown out early and got a hotel in the city, Or that was his intention, but when he went to the hotel he was told, “don’t worry we have a suite ready for you and we were told not to present the bill.”
That was unusual but he put his bags in the room, before heading off to base to collect his wife.
==
He had arrived on base and was escorted by an overly chatty Lance Corporal; it seems the Marines had a lot of Lance Corporals, who had a lot of opinions; this one, recognizing who he was, and who he was married to, had weighed in, and he was not a fan of what happened, and he did let Peter know that if he wanted to handle things, he had his back.
Maria had hung up with her father, and was about to settle into the stuff she could study outside of the secured classroom. Which wasn’t much, but she had to do better then she had.
There was a knock on her door, with one hand she buttoned her utility blouse, she had to look the part of an NCO, and answering the door in a t-shirt was not professional. But she opened the door and was face to face with Lance Corporal Howe, who said, “Corporal, this gentleman was looking for you?”
Then he stepped aside and Peter was there, one thing is he was using a cane now, she blinked then pulled him in for a hug.
That was when Lance Corporal Howe figured it was his time to exit. So when they were embraced he ducked away.
==
They had left soon after to the hotel where he had been booked in. The usual load of clothing had been unpacked and as with most places the TV had some bad movie on, this time it was Bloodsport. Maria looked at her husband.
“What happened that you need the cane?”
“Knee’s getting worse my orthopedists wants to do surgery, I’d need someone to help around the house, though so we want to wait till you get home.”
“Will you be ok for our wedding?”
“Yeah, don’t expect me to hit the mosh pit any time soon.” He saw her expression, “I’m fine, I’m doing my therapy, I talked to dad, if I need the surgrey he can come out to help, hell your mom offered to play nurse, but...that seems kind of awkward. Hell Toni is looking in to seeing if she can hold at Andrews for a couple weeks so I can recover.”
Maria nodded, “So I can’t worry?”
“I’d say you got enough to worry about.” He smiled, seeing the ‘purse dog’ face come back. “Hon, why the hell were you taking photos for me anyway?”
“It wasn’t JUST for you, obviously they weren’t for anyone’s’ eyes, but you. But it was also…. Sort of a….” She was fumbling for words now.
Peter smiled, “Let me guess, and this also goes to how you’ve changed a bit the last few weeks. Since Tel Aviv.”
So the conversation began, she began to tell him why she did what she did, how being scarred, even if the Israeli doctors tried to minimize the scarring, but they could only do so much. She finally seemed to wind down.
Peter paused and digested, then he spoke, “I can relate. I mean I got my own scars. But the pictures?”
“Sort of a, ‘I survived, I’m tough, and I’m proud of who the hell I am.”
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Good. we can set those pictures aside now, when do we meet with the lawyer?”
“Tomorrow.” then she looked at her arms, “How did I get so pale?”
“You stopped tanning.” Peter paused, “I didn’t want to say anything.”
She looked at him. “We got a balcony?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m going to change and get some sun.”
===
Maria and Peter Garabaldi
Actions
Character development.