Summer '69 Read online

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Summer ‘69

  About the Author

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

  Synopsis

  It’s 1969 and the Vietnam War is in full swing. Tommy Benton and the others on her commune are vehemently against the war. Tommy divides her time between organizing and leading protests and enjoying the love of different women on the commune. She’s passionate about two things: free love and protesting the Vietnam War.

  When the Fourth of July rolls around, Tommy leads the people in her commune, as well of thousands of others, in a peaceful demonstration. After, she enjoys the party atmosphere that consumes the commune. The following day, a reporter shows up to interview her. He promises to submit his article to the bigger, national papers, and Tommy feels that she’s finally making a name for herself on the national scene as a leading activist.

  Summer ‘69

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Summer ‘69

  © 2016 By MJ Williamz. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-962-4

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: October 2016

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])

  By the Author

  Shots Fired

  Forbidden Passions

  Initiation by Desire

  Speakeasy

  Escapades

  Sheltered Love

  Summer Passion

  Heartscapes

  Love on Liberty

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to Laydin, first and foremost, for her undying support and encouragement. Thanks also to Sarah and Inger who read the story for me. And thanks to Rad, Sandy, Cindy, and everyone at Bold Strokes Books who allow me to keep publishing my stories.

  Dedication

  For Laydin – For life

  Tommy Benton was in her tent reviewing the notes for her speech the following day. She felt confident. It would be the Fourth of July, and as America celebrated its birthday here at home, kids were dying in Vietnam. And that wasn’t right. She had organized a rally at the Town Hall for the Fourth to call attention to the war. People would be eating hot dogs and shooting off fireworks with little or no thought given to the unfair war going on halfway around the world.

  She stepped out of her tent and joined in the revelry that usually preceded a strong rally. The commune was ready. The hard work of making signs and passing out flyers was done. There was nothing to do now except show up the following day at three o’clock. So, music was playing and people were singing and dancing. There was an overall bacchanalian feel to the commune.

  Tommy took the joint that was passed from the man next to her. She took a long hit and passed it on. She loved her commune. She loved the freeness that flowed through everyone and everything. She took a joint out of her pocket and lit it. She took a deep pull on it and passed it back to her right. She was feeling good.

  The drumbeat coursed through her. She felt the earth beating beneath her. She was at one with the music, lost in it. She felt a tug on her hand and looked to see Connie, a curvy woman with long dark hair.

  “Hey, Connie,” Tommy said.

  “Hey. Let’s get out of here. Let’s go back to your tent.”

  Always one to celebrate free love, Tommy closed her hand around Connie’s.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  They cut through the crowd and then the tents until they came to the spacious red tent Tommy called home. Once inside, Tommy closed the flap and zipped it shut.

  “Have a seat,” she said and motioned to the cot along one wall. She picked up a joint from the small table. “Want some of this?”

  “Sure.”

  Tommy lit the joint and took a toke. She handed it to Connie who did the same. They passed it back and forth one more time before Tommy placed it in the ashtray. She crossed the tent and sat on the cot with Connie.

  “You’re beautiful,” she said. She cupped Connie’s jaw and traced it with her thumb. “So beautiful.”

  Tommy lowered her mouth to claim Connie’s. When their lips met, Tommy felt electricity course through her veins. She ran her tongue along Connie’s lower lip, and Connie opened her mouth to allow Tommy in. Connie tasted like wine and pot. It was a heady combination that made Tommy’s pulse race.

  Tommy eased Connie back on the cot and climbed on top of her. She kissed her hard, with all her pent up desire conveyed in that kiss. Her tongue danced with Connie’s as her passion flared. She ground into her, needing her, craving her.

  She sat up long enough to strip Connie of her shirt. She stared down at her full breasts and almost drooled. She felt the moisture pooling between her legs. She kissed her again and kneaded a breast before pinching and twisting a hard nipple.

  Tommy kissed down Connie’s cheek to her neck and eventually down her chest. She kissed all over her breast before finally sucking Connie’s nipple into her mouth. She took it as deep as she could and pressed it against the roof of her mouth. Tommy played over it with her tongue, loving the feel of it hardening more as she teased it.

  While she played with Connie’s nipple, she moved her hand between them and unbuttoned and unzipped Connie’s shorts. She slid her hand inside and felt Connie’s skin ripple at the contact.

  “I’m dying here, Tommy,” Connie said. “I need you so bad right now.”

  “Patience, my dear. I’m getting there.”

  Tommy stood and stripped then took Connie’s shorts and panties off. She lay back down next to Connie and pressed into her, the feel of flesh on flesh a powerful aphrodisiac. She ran her hand down her body, over her beautiful curves, until she came to where her legs met. She found her wet and ready.

  She slipped her fingers over Connie’s slick clit and farther until they were inside her.

  “Oh, yes,” Connie said. “That’s it. Oh, my God, you feel so good.”

  “Oh, baby. You’re so warm and wet and tight. You feel amazing in there.”

  “Don’t stop, Tommy.”

  “I’m not about to.”

  Connie was bucking off the cot, meeting each of Tommy’s thrusts. Tommy stroked all the soft spots she found deep inside, and soon Connie was writhing at her touch. Tommy slid her fingers out and caressed Connie’s clit until Connie cried her name as wave after wave of orgasms rocked her body.

  Tommy was aroused beyond words after making love to Connie, but waited as patiently as she could for Connie to return to earth and catch her breath. Once she had, Connie wasted no time in pleasing her. She kissed her lustfully on her mouth before kissing down her body. She stopped to suck a nipple, taking part of Tommy’s small breast in her mouth as she did. She released it then and kissed and nibbled lower, down Tommy’s tight belly until she came to where her legs met. She placed Tommy’s knees over
her shoulders and gazed at what she beheld.

  “You’re beautiful, Tommy. But I knew you would be.”

  Tommy appreciated the sentiment but didn’t want to be admired. She wanted to be taken.

  “Take me, Connie. I need you.”

  Connie lowered her head and licked the length of Tommy, who grasped the sheet under her. Connie slid her fingers inside Tommy while she sucked on Tommy’s hard clit. Tommy felt the familiar ball of energy form inside her belly. She held onto it as Connie worked her magic until she could hold out no longer. The ball burst open, shooting energy through her limbs as she came again and again.

  While Tommy lay spent, Connie started getting dressed.

  “Where are you going?” Tommy said.

  “You’ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow. You need your sleep. Good night, Tommy. And thanks.”

  Tommy watched her walk out into the night before she rolled over and fell sound asleep.

  ***

  Tommy awoke late the next morning and went to the dining building to forage for breakfast. There was a large pan of scrambled eggs and several pots of coffee. She helped herself to both. Trinity, who was in charge of the kitchen, walked over to join her.

  “Are you excited about today?” Trinity said.

  “You know it. I can’t wait to get our message heard. When Nixon took over in January, he promised to bring an end to this war. He’s done nothing. We need to call for an end to the war, and this is just one small rally to call attention to it. Others are rallying, too, so hopefully our voices will be heard.”

  “Well, if anyone can lead a successful protest rally, it’s you. You’ve done it all over the States.”

  “Thank you for your vote of confidence. I just hope to have continued success today.”

  She excused herself, washed her cup, fork, and dish, and placed them in the strainer. She walked out into the quiet commune. The partying had gone on late into the night. Some people were milling about, but the vast majority were still asleep.

  With several hours to go before the rally, Tommy went back to her tent and grabbed her fishing pole. She made her way through the tents to the forest and through that to the creek that ran along the far border of the commune. This was her quiet place, the place she came when she needed to get away for a while.

  She dug in the moist dirt for a worm and ran the hook through it. She cast her line out and reeled it back in. No bite. She did this over and over until she finally got a fish on. She reeled it in. It was a nice sized trout. She baited her hook again and continued to fish. When she had five fish caught, she carried her things back to the commune. She dropped her pole and tackle box at her tent then took the fish to Trinity at the kitchen.

  “Thanks,” Trinity said. “This should supplement dinner nicely.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. You about ready to head over to Seaview Square?”

  “Just say when.”

  “I’m thinkin’ now is a good time to round everyone up. You mind helping me?”

  “Not at all.”

  Trinity went one way and Tommy went the other. People were all over the place. Some were in their tents and some were playing cards or dominoes. Others were just hanging out. The air had the feel of a carnival. People were excited for the rally, as well as enjoying their day off from their usual chores.

  At two thirty, Tommy climbed onto the makeshift stage in the center of the compound. She called to everyone to quiet down. Eventually, they did.

  “Okay, everybody. Listen up. I want to thank you all for all the hard work you’ve done to get us ready for the rally today.”

  There were cheers from her followers.

  “I also want to remind you that this is to be a peaceful demonstration. And I mean peaceful. There will be no altercations started by anybody in our group. Anybody involved in violence of any sort will be asked to leave the commune. Is this understood?”

  Again, a loud cheer erupted from the group.

  “Excellent. Let’s go!”

  She jumped off the stage and led her group out of the commune. They passed a motel where Navy personnel often stayed while on liberty and cut through town. There wasn’t a lot of traffic, but what there was had to wait for them to cross the street. There were a few horns that honked at them, but the marchers just kept going, anxious to reach their destination.

  They reached Seaview Square, a popular gathering point for the citizens of the town. Tommy’s mind was blown at the number of people she saw there. Thousands of people had turned out to help her protest the war. She also saw a local news van. Her heart soared. She should have been nervous about making a speech in front of so many people, but she wasn’t. This was what Tommy was all about. She wanted to be a famous activist, and this was just one more step toward achieving that goal.

  Tommy led her commune past Seaview Square, and the rest of the people joined them. She marched right up to the doors of the Town Hall, which was closed for the holiday. She spoke into her megaphone.

  “Men and women, thank you all for being here today. It’s important that we show our solidarity to the powers that be. It’s critical that they see we will not sit idly by while they continue to massacre babies over in Vietnam.”

  The crowd broke out in applause. She waited until they were quiet again.

  “Our government is sending mere children halfway around the world to fight a war that we don’t belong in.”

  More applause.

  “They’re not prepared for the conditions they’re forced to live in. They aren’t prepared to fight a battle that isn’t theirs. We need to pull them out.”

  The crowd started chanting, “Pull them out!”

  She let them chant for a few minutes then raised her hands to ask them to quiet down. They finally did.

  “Vietnam is not our war to fight,” she said. “It has nothing to do with our country, and there’s no reason the young men and even the few women over there should be served up on a platter to the people of that country.”

  There were more cheers.

  “One thing we can do besides stand in protest like we’re doing today. We can refuse to go. You can burn your draft cards. You don’t belong over there any more than the kids who are there now.”

  The crowd began the familiar refrain, “Hell no, we won’t go.”

  Members of the commune raised and lowered signs with those words painted on them. The crowd had worked itself into a frenzy. Tommy had decided they’d heard enough.

  “Thank you very much for your time,” she called out. “Now, go spread the word!”

  She walked down the steps, and the members of her commune fell into step behind her. The rest of the town hooted and cheered for her as they marched off. She led them through town the same way they’d come, and soon they were back at the commune.

  “You were wonderful,” Trinity said to her.

  “Thanks.”

  “I need to go work on dinner. If you see any of the other dinner crew, remind them we still have work to do, okay?”

  “Will do.”

  Tommy stood in the middle of a crowd of people who took turns patting her on her back. Someone handed her a bottle of bourbon. She took a long pull off it and handed it back. The warm liquid felt good going down her throat. She took a joint out of her shirt pocket and lit it. She passed it around. A bottle of wine came around, but she just passed it on, preferring bourbon.

  “You were awesome today,” a man named Michael said. “And we made the news. Right on.”

  “I know. Can you dig that? We sure gave them something to talk about, didn’t we?” she said.

  “That you did.”

  “It was a group effort, man. We were all in it together.”

  “Yeah. That’s true.”

  The bourbon made its way back to Tommy who took another long drink. She fought the urge to hold the bottle and passed it on again. Her joint had come back as well, and she took two tokes off it and passed the roach to Michael.

  Tommy wa
s feeling mellow yet still euphoric from the rally. It was a nice mixture, and it worked for her. She made her way over to where some of the members had started playing music and singing and dancing. Again, the air was that of a festival. She loved it. Life was good. She was part of something big; she could just feel it.

  She left the festivities briefly and went to her tent to pour herself some of the good bourbon she kept there. She took a sip. Oh, yeah. That was what she needed. She took her cup and exited her tent. Connie was standing right there.

  “Hey, Connie. What’s up?” Tommy said.

  “Want to share a joint?” She held up one already rolled.

  “Sure.”

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

  Tommy got the uneasy feeling she did when a woman thought their sex was more than she meant it to be.

  “Hey, Connie. You know I think you’re foxy and all, but last night was a one-night thing for me.”

  “What? Oh, hey, don’t sweat it. I just want to smoke a joint with you, not sleep with you. I’ve promised myself to William tonight.”

  “Right on. I just needed to make sure we were both on the same page. Come on in.”

  They entered the tent, and Connie gave Tommy the joint to fire up.

  “You want some bourbon?” Tommy said.

  “No, thanks. I’ve got wine.” She held up her cup to show it to Tommy.

  “Groovy.”

  Tommy lit the joint and took a long hit off it. It burned her throat and lungs. This wasn’t the good shit she got, but it would work. She handed it back to Connie. Connie took a drag and passed it back. Tommy took one more extended drag and gave it back to Connie. Tommy held it in as long as she could, then exhaled. Her head felt light, and she wanted to laugh. She sat on the couch and pulled Connie with her.