Why Not? The Men of Spies R Us.
May 31st, 2005 by C.A. Dubois
As you know, I have come to adore the seven men who comprise the group I call, Spies R Us. Over the past few weeks I have been privileged to get to know these men better. Joy’s departure left only 7 men in Spies R Us. Secretly I call them my Seven Dwarves.
I’m not Snow White and these men are anything BUT the typical Dwarf, but they are cute in their own way. I’m sure they’d each cringe at the use of the word ‘cute’ to describe them, but what the hell…you only live once right?
First and foremost is the leader of these Seven Dwarves; David.
David is my husband in real life but here in Smalltownville he is the commanding officer of this unit. He is also a waiter at the local diner. If you’ve read Our History then you know the David I am married too. The David who commands Spies R Us is a very different man. For now I will share a bit about David the commander.
David is precise and strict. His attention to detail, borders on being anal. His walk, his posture, his entire presence reeks of authority tempered with fairness and respect for his men. The men in this unit are very loyal to their commander and I can see why, David is loyal to them. David leads by example and doesn’t ask anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. He doesn’t treat his men as ‘lesser’ then him, no matter their rank; he treats them as though they were an extension of himself… David isn’t easy to get angry; his demeanor is very playful or jovial most of the time. And the thing that strikes me the most about David the Commander is how rapid his mind works. There are times when I am observing David as he works with his men and I see portions of my daddy in David’s mannerisms. I’m not a mushy woman, but I am very proud of the type of commander and man David has become. Daddy would have been proud too.
The Second Dwarf is Doc. Doc really is the doctor for this unit. He’s average height and build, with dark hair and brooding eyes. The first thing you notice about Doc when you see him are his hands. Doc has the biggest set of hands I have ever seen. Amazingly, his touch is gentle despite the physical size of his hands. Doc’s demeanor is always calm and collected. He’s an avid observer and often times he has already noticed the malady one of the men go to him for help with. I’ve watched as he has gotten out some medication and had it prepared simply because he noticed someone’s headache.
Doc during off hours is one of the sweetest men I know. He used to be a Naval Surgeon. He has one grown daughter and is divorced. Most of his free time is spent tinkering with his automobile, or anyone else’s for that matter. He claims he enjoys fixing cars better then fixing people. But if you had seen him helping Jones with his twisted ankle, you’d know like I already do, that Doc’s one true love is taking care of the men in his unit. Everyone in this unit trusts Doc with their lives and their trust is well placed! Doc has been going over every aspect of my medical records dealing with my recent accident. I don’t think he mistrusts my doctors, I believe it is his way of making sure I am taken care of. That’s just the type of man Doc is.
The Third Dwarf is Luke. Luke, you may recall, was ‘married’ to Joy before her departure. Part of Luke’s cover here in Smalltownville has centered on his sudden love, ensuing courtship and eventual marriage to Joy. Now that Joy has been removed from the unit (The cover story being that Joy realized she loved a previous lover and left Luke) Luke’s cover story is his obvious grief over the divorce Joy filed for. In reality, Luke is a hysterical man. If this unit has a unit comedian, it would be Luke! He is the King of one liners and when he and I get going back and forth everyone laughs through tears. Behind the cover story is a man of wit, talent and comedy that should have made him a super star! Luke is a blond haired, blue eyed, beach boy from the west coast. His deep tan accents his blue eyes and that brilliant smile that is normally on his face. Luke is also one of the lead Singers of the Band.
Luke should have been the next big sensation in the movie and music world. His voice is brilliant…it resonates through you in such a way that it holds you spell bound. His dashing smile and rapier comedy would have had everyone paying any amount to see him on stage. Every time I look at Luke I get a mental image of him on a stage somewhere, it is where he seems to belong. Luke’s never been married or seriously involved in a romantic relationship. His true love is his work. Often times he shares stories with me of his grandfathers or uncles who served in various branches of the armed forces. Despite Luke’s obvious Hollywood appeal, he is completely happy and thrilled to be serving his country like he does. His love for America and fellow personnel who protect her is unmatched! I dread the day Luke does fall in love…I think so highly of this man that I can’t imagine any woman being good enough for him. Whoever she ends up being better treat him like a king, he deserves it through and through.
The Fourth Dwarf is Rodgers. Ahhhhhhhh Rodgers…what can I say about him? If I had to pick one of the dwarves Rodgers closely emulated it would have to be Grumpy. Rodgers has the most gruff and rough exterior. His face is in a constant frown and he loves to growl at people. But behind the obvious frown is laughing eyes. Rodgers is our resident pessimist. If something isn’t fucked up beyond repair; it will be….at least that is how Rodgers sees it. Rodgers also loves to armchair quarterback ANY sport on TV. I have laughed my ass off as I watched him armchair quarterbacking a Bass Fishing show! My God he can make me laugh, the way he armchair quarterbacks!!!
Rodgers is almost as tall as my David. He has red hair that he claims becomes curly if he lets it grow above a quarter of an inch. His freckled face might be sweet looking if he removed that frown he always tries to wear. Rodgers is always stubbing his toe or knocking his head on something; ALWAYS. When he does, he lets out a string of curses that sends me into fits of giggles. Sometimes I swear he bumps or bangs himself just so he can curse! He is definitely a professional at it.
Rodgers is our mechanic here in the barn. If it can be fixed/repaired/or invented, Rodgers can do it. He is a mechanical whiz and a perfectionist. At any given time Rodgers has some sort of tool tucked into a pocket on his being. The cutest part about Rodgers; he’s the band’s Drummer. Rodgers hates bar girls, he hates girls who are ‘fake’ (IE fake boobs, nails, hair color etc…) and yet he is always the ones the girls flock too in the band. I love listening to Rodgers grumble after a night playing. He loves the attention, I can see it in his eyes, but to hear him speak you’d think he was nearly disgusted with everyone and everything. Yeah, Rodgers is Grumpy….in the cutest of ways!
The Fifth Dwarf is James. James is the quiet one around here. I’m not quiet sure what his specialty is, but I do know he is always milling around downstairs in the weapons lockers. If he’s not down there then he is sitting in his cubical downstairs studying about weapons. Is there such a thing as a weaponologist? Well there is in Spies R Us and James is ours! James is the shortest one in Spies R Us. (Me not included) He stands at a mere five foot, eleven inches! (That is not short in my book okay? But I guess in the guy world it is?) James has green eyes and is almost as tan as Luke is. James works out a lot, more so then any other Spies here; so he is also our lean and chiseled Spy.
James doesn’t talk unless he has to. In the band he is their keyboardist. Even on stage James doesn’t talk/sing, but he can play! As a child James was classically trained on the piano. Often times late at night I can hear him playing some of my favorite classical pieces. The one thing I adore about James is he never minds it if I sit on his piano bench with him. That’s one of my new favorite pastimes, sitting on the piano bench listening and watching James as he plays the classical music. James talks volumes through his piano, so maybe labeling him as the quiet one is wrong. To the outward observer, yes he’d be the quiet one, but if you listen with your heart to his music, he speaks volumes!
The Sixth Dwarf is Wagner. Wagner is probably best described as….a surfer dude type of guy. Wagner is so laid back that sometimes I wonder if he’s ever been riled up. Nothing seems to rattle Wagner. Wagner is tall and muscular, (None of the dwarves are flabby, all of them work out) and he has jet black hair. He also has the thickest New York accent I have ever heard. Considering the fact that my mother was from the Bronx, that is saying a lot about Wagner’s accent!
Wagner is the unit paperwork guy. I’m sure he has other specialties, none of these men are just one thing within the unit, but so far all I have witnessed is Wagner fulfilling an admin type of position. Wagner thrills me because nothing ever gets to him, ever! His favorite saying is, “Ah hell, all’s well!†I just LOVE that! I also love how Wagner senses Rodgers’ pessimism and fights it with his own laid back style. Nothing infuriates Rodgers more then when he is grumbling aloud and Wagner stretches and says, “Ah hell, all’s well!†Hahahaha
Wagner is also newly in love. His beloved girl back home is apparently all he ever really wants to talk about. I guess he has driven the others crazy with all of the talk about her, but since I am new hear, it doesn’t bug me. Wagner is a hopeless romantic too. He often shows me the poems he writes for and about her. During my hospital stay Wagner finally found and purchased ‘the ring’. I’ve seen a picture of Wagner’s Gal, and all I can say is if she likes diamonds, she will flip when she sees this one. Of course Wagner isn’t going to propose until he is off of this assignment. But in the mean time he often runs his romantic ideas about this perfect proposal past me. He confessed that he felt if he could get me to say something like “Awwww that is sweet†then his Gal would love the proposal. (Wagner and everyone else knows I am NOT a romantic so it’s hard to impress me)
Wagner is the youngest of the Spies R Us unit. He is also the newest one to their line of work. As such he still has that glimmer of excitement in his eyes. The others have all been doing this so long that their glimmers have faded a bit. But in Wagner’s eyes, the ideals we all hold so dear glimmer brightly! He is a doll and faithfully writes letters to both his Gal and his mother!! He is truly a sweet person and I love his laid back style.
The Seventh Dwarf I’ve spoken about before. You’d know him as Jones. Jones and I work side by side during this process of translating daddy’s notes. As such, Jones is probably the one I know the most around here. (Other then David) Jones is brilliant. His keen mind works at the same rapid fire pace as mine so we make a great team. Jones is well versed in over 6 languages. He also knows sign language and Braille. If I had to pick one of the guys and label them as the brains of this unit, I’d pick Jones.
Jones is a tall skinny guy. In a lot of ways he reminds me of a very young David, at least physically. He has mousy brown hair and hazel eyes but he has this twinkle in his eye that could drive you nuts. Whenever you look at Jones, you wonder if he’s up to something. Jones can’t sit still unless it is absolutely necessary. He is able to work on the fly from almost anywhere. That means he and I are not confined to the rec room in the loft as we work. Jones also has one of the deepest baritone voices I have heard. He too play’s guitar and is in the band. He loves all things Rock and plays the best damn air guitar I have ever seen!!! Jones also loves racing, which mean he and I often sit and watch the races while we supposedly work.
Jones is divorced and has two twin boys who are 9 years old. About the only time Jones doesn’t look like he is up to something is when he is speaking of them. There is no doubt that this man adores his sons. He has already sworn a blood oath not to ever allow me around his boys. He fears I shall teach them too much and they might turn out like me. (GRIN)
Of all of the men in David’s unit, it is Jones who seems to always keep in mind that I am David’s wife. Sometimes Jones catches me as I watch David out of the corner of my eye. “He loves you more then anything.†Jones will tell me at such times. Jones also reminds me how hard this is for David too. “He never wanted you involved because he thought it the best way to protect you.†Jones once told me.
Jones is David’s Executive Officer. They are also best friends and have been working together for years. Jones even worked and trained under my father, although I do not recall seeing Jones before my arrival here. David is God Father to both of Jones’ sons. David never told me that before, because I wasn’t allowed to know about Jones back then. I also found out Jones was going to be the best man at our wedding. Actually, what I found out was David asked Jones to be his best man. David confessed to Jones that he was waiting for me to divorce my ex and then he was going to propose. Of course our spontaneous wedding prevented Jones from being able to fulfill his duties as best man, but I can tell by the look in Jones eyes that he took David’s asking him to heart.
I don’t know how well any of these descriptions sound. There is so much more to each man. If I tried to share everything with you, I’d have to write a book about each one of them.
Since my accident, each and every one of them has become like a big brother to me. They helped move me here. They all harass me about following doctor’s orders. They all ask me a million times if I have taken my medication and they all look out for me.
David has stayed quietly in the background. I know he is watching as I form my own relationship with each man. David’s not watching due to jealousy, he is watching with the eyes of a commander. I understand that in order for this unit to accomplish its task we all have to work together like a well oiled machine. Teamwork isn’t something you can order people to do, it has to be forged through the bonds each team member creates.
Slowly, The Seven Dwarves and I are learning to create bonds between us. They are all so unique and individual and yet – when it comes time to be ‘on the job’ they all have that same composure, the same mannerisms, that same “Espirit De Corps†my daddy and his men always had.
With Joy’s departure there has been an obvious lack of tension. While none of them will discuss her anymore, it is obvious that she or her presence created so much tension here. Slowly these men are re-forging their bonds…bonds that were tested by Joy’s actions. I still don’t know what happened that night, but what I do know is that somehow these guys are seeing I’m not like Joy. I think that’s a good thing.
So those are my Seven Dwarves. I wish I could share more about them, but at this point I can’t. I’m sure as time goes by and as I share more about my life here, you’ll get to know them better. They are Damn Fine Men and I am proud as hell to know them.
Spies R Us has the best of the best in my opinion. (I’m not biased am I?)
Why Not – Right?
- No Comments »
- Posted in Blast From My Past, Humor, Spies R Us
