Just One Little Pill

Howard Odoms is just one of the virile American servicemen stationed thousands of miles from home. They find themselves in a sleepy holiday destination in Scotland, which has become a strategic submarine base during the Cold War. The sailors don’t want to fit in, and the locals don’t want to make room for them. The exception are young women, who ache for some fun and excitement – which the Americans are happy to provide.

Of all the bars in Dunoon, the Anchor Bar is one of the few that will serve Americans – and the only one that will admit coloured servicemen like Howard.

Amid the girls flocking to town to bag themselves American boyfriends, the barmaids in the Anchor have prime position, with a clientele all to themselves.

Howard likes sex. He’s good at it and is happy to practice his talent whenever the opportunity arises. It’s the only pastime that makes it bearable to be stationed in a place where he’s persecuted for the colour of his skin.

He intends to return to America the instant this posting is up. He’s not going to let anything get in the way of that – not his besotted girlfriend nor her plan to keep him for herself. Any mistakes will remain behind in Scotland.

But the best-laid plans are subject to human error. And as Howard discovers, the past is a hard thing to bury…