“What??”
“Tonight, at the USO dance,” Louis winked. “I’m planning to fill up your dance card, baby.”
“I don’t know, Lou, I’m not sure I’d be good company.”
“Of course you would.”
A lightbulb went off in Sal’s mind. “Louis, I just had an idea. Would you excuse me? I need to take care of this request from the royal cousin right away.” Sal got up to leave and Louis grabbed her hand.
“Honey, wait. It’s gonna be okay. Whatever it is that’s bothering you, it’s gonna be okay.”
Sal nodded and quickly left the Commissary. Louis was just trying to be kind. Sal knew that. But Louis didn’t know that things would never be okay again. Never. Whoever said war is hell didn’t know the half of it. This was an awful, evil place and Sal desperately wanted out. But there was no way out because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t run away from herself.
She knew someone else who wanted out, though, and Sal was about to make their wish come true.
Chapter 15
Over in the surgery unit, doctors and nurses were making one last check of their patients before heading out to the soiree. At the moment, there weren’t many long-term “guests” as they sometimes called patients, so the staff determined that only one doctor was needed on duty tonight. All other medical personnel were free to go to the social.
A young medical assistant named Ned was hounding Mary. He was an ambulance driver who shadowed David between runs to bring wounded soldiers to the hospital. It was obvious that he wanted to be just like David and learn how to operate, both in and out of the hospital. He tried to mimic David’s flirtatious style with the ladies, but he was nowhere near as smooth.
He snuck up behind Mary and kissed her cheek.
“Ned! Don’t do that.”
“What’s the matter, cutie? Am I too hot for you to handle.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “Too hot? Ha. If brains were sexy, you’d be a half wit.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Exactly my point.” Mary went to look at a patient’s chart and Ned dogged her.
“So, wanna be my dance partner tonight?”
Mary looked at Ned like he was crazy. “Thanks, but I have no intention of tying myself to one partner all night.”
“Even if that partner is me?” The innocent look on Ned’s face was almost laughable.
“Especially if that partner is you. Now, do you mind?”
“Mind what?”
“I’m busy, Ned!” Mary spotted Kay with a patient and she hurried over, hoping Ned wouldn’t follow, but no such luck. “Hi Kay. When are you going to be finished here?
“I don’t know. Why?” Kay checked a patient’s I.V. drip as she spoke.
“I thought we could walk over to the USO dance together,” Mary said, hoping Ned wasn’t still hanging around her.
“Oh. Sorry honey. I can’t,” Kay stated. “I’m not going.”
“You’re not going?? But everyone is going,” Mary insisted. “You have to go. I need someone to hang out with.”
Kay smiled, noticing Ned loitering a few feet away. “I have a feeling you won’t be alone for long.”
“But why aren’t you going, Kay?” Mary was practically begging Kay not to abandon her.
“I volunteered to be the doctor on duty tonight,” Kay explained.
Ned joined the conversation. “That’s too bad, Dr. Nolan. Everyone says it’s going to be fun.” He tossed a wink in Mary’s direction.
“I’m not really interested in fun anyway,” Kay said. “But you two go and have a wonderful time. I know you will.”
Ned put his arm around Mary, but Mary pushed his arm off and walked away from him.
Sal came into the infirmary looking every which way until she saw the person she was looking for. “Dr. Nolan! Doctor, I need to speak to you.”
“Why? What’s up?” Kay continued checking patient charts, barely paying attention to Sal.
“I need to talk to you privately.” Sal motioned toward an empty infirmary cubicle. Kay’s interest was now piqued. So the two women went into the cubicle and Sal began talking in hushed tones.
“Do you still want to get out of this place?”
“I know I need to give the Army a fair chance,” Kay sighed, reciting a speech she had given herself half a dozen times already. “I signed on for six months and I’ve only been here a couple weeks. I plan to fulfill my commitment.”
“Suppose there was a way out? At least temporarily.”
“What are you talking about, Major? What do you mean ‘a way out’?”
“Look at this.” Sal showed Kay the teletype. “This man, he’s a cousin or something of the royal family and he’s demanding the services of one of our doctors.”
“Why? I mean, is he sick?”
“Don’t know. It doesn’t say. But it says he needs the doctor to come to Merrifield Manor immediately. Merrifield is the name of his estate in Southampton.”
“But ... why me?”
“It doesn’t have to be you, Kay. I’ll send someone else if I have to. But you’ve been saying how miserable you are here and ....”
“How soon do I leave?” Kay asked, starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Sun-up tomorrow. I’ll have Ned Jansen drive you there in his ambulance.”
Kay looked at the note again. “Okay then. Sir Alexander Fielding, here I come.”
Chapter 16
Cathy was starting to feel claustrophobic. She wasn’t used to people being so close to her, looking at her so intently, touching her, breathing on her. She wanted to scream and run away.
“Hold still!” Suze was applying rouge to Cathy’s cheeks while Millie pulled the rollers out of Cathy’s hair.
“Ouch! Are you trying to torture me?” Cathy dug her fingernails into the sides of the chair she was sitting in and wondered why Millie and Suze were taking this sudden interest in her.
“Sorry,” Millie said as she began brushing Cathy’s hair carefully, trying not to disturb the waves she’d just created in Cathy’s thick, black mane.
The beautification of Cathy was taking place in the dorm room that the female Commissary workers shared. Doris recovered from the stomach flu that sent her to the infirmary last week, and she was getting glitzed up too.
Maggie entered the room all a-flutter. She held up the dress she purchased from the PX for Cathy. “I got it! I won the bid!”
“You did?” Cathy couldn’t believe it. It was one thing for Maggie to say she wanted to buy Cathy a dress. It was another thing entirely for her to actually do it. Cathy wasn’t used to people keeping the promises they made to her.
“That’s gorgeous,” Doris said enthusiastically. “Didn’t that entertainer wear that dress -- the singer who came through here with the USO show about four months ago? What was her name?”
“That’s right. This dress belonged to Liz Carmen. I think she left it here on purpose for just such an occasion.” Maggie was practically gushing at this point. Cathy thought Maggie probably wanted to wear the dress herself. “Ready to try it on, Cathy?”
“I guess,” Cathy answered as she started to get out of her seat. Suze pushed her back down.
“I’m not done with you yet! Hmmm.” Suze’s sour expression worried Cathy.
“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing,” Suze answered. “It’s nothing. It’s just ... I’m not sure this is a good look for you.”
“Don’t be silly,” Maggie said to Suze. She took Cathy’s hand and pulled her out of her seat. “Here, let’s get this dress on you.”
Maggie and Doris helped Cathy out of her robe and into the dress. The dress had a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline, cut far lower than Cathy was used to. The black bodice was dotted with bugle beads and sequins, and the skirt flared out, making it a perfect choice for dancing. It fit Cathy like a glove.
Maggie and Doris stepped back to look at Cat
hy. Cathy saw tears shining in Maggie’s eyes and watched Suze cover her mouth to keep from gasping.
Cathy reacted to the expressions on the women’s faces, which she interpreted as distress. “It’s awful, isn’t it?”
“Not at all,” Doris responded, quickly picking up a hand-held mirror and holding it far enough away so Cathy could see as much of herself in it as possible. “See for yourself.”
Cathy squinted at her reflection in the mirror. Millie gave Cathy back her eyeglasses and Cathy put them on. “That’s ... that’s not .... That’s me?”
Maggie nodded. “Yes honey, it’s you.”
Cathy barely recognized herself and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She always thought she looked odd in a dress, but she didn’t think so tonight. She didn’t even know she could look this feminine. “I’m ... I’m a pretty girl,” Cathy said, in a tone that was more surprised than boastful.
Doris, Millie, and Maggie laughed, while Suze rolled her eyes. “You look beautiful, Cathy,” Maggie said.
“No one’s ever called me beautiful before.” It was the truth. Hardly anyone took notice of her at all, let alone give her a compliment. Cathy was truly overwhelmed.
Millie was pleased with her handiwork as she eyed her creation. “Get ready for a lot of male attention, Cathy.”
Suze sighed audibly. “Okay, Cinderella, let’s get a move on. It’s time to go to the ball.”
Chapter 17
The 1044th Division was home to about 400 men and women, and just about all of them would be attending at least some of the USO festivities tonight. The ratio of men to women was about 10 to 1, so most of the men would be sitting on the sidelines, while the women would be in hot demand as dance partners.
As the Sergeant in charge of base operations, Louis arrived early with Willie, his company clerk, to make certain the USO team had everything they needed. Mostly, the USO brought everything with them: records and record players, singers, dancers, musicians and musical instruments, party streamers, balloons, and confetti. Four of the USO workers were men and 16 were women. The female USO personnel helped to pick up the slack left by the shortage of women. In other words, they were there to make sure that every man who wants to dance would get the chance.
One woman was conspicuously absent. “Wonder where Sal is,” Louis mumbled to himself. He watched the men and women of the 1044th file into the conference hall as Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood” played and the USO staff welcomed each and every one to the party. The music got louder and the lights got lower.
Over by the bar area, a young nurse was fending off advances from a would-be suitor. “Ned, you have really got to stop following me around. I’m not interested in you. Could I possibly be any clearer?”
“Something tells me you’re just playing hard to get.” Ned took Mary’s hand and kissed it.
“Really? I was aiming for impossible to get. I need a drink. Bartender, could I get a rum and Coca Cola?”
“You look a little young to be drinking, miss,” the bartender said.
“I’m old enough to be in the Army!” Mary was in no mood to suffer fools tonight.
A soldier who had been observing from a respectful distance walked up to the bar. “Two rum and cokes, please,” Michael said. He smiled at Mary, and when the bartender filled his order, Michael gave one of his drinks to her.
“Hey!” Ned protested. “I was here first. You trying to steal my girl?”
Michael locked eyes with Mary and without even looking at Ned, he said, “The lady says she’s not interested. Beat it.” Ned gave Michael the finger and stormed off.
Without breaking Michael’s gaze, Mary took a sip from her glass. “Thanks for the drink, Private. And thanks for getting Ned off my back.”
“No problem. You looked like you needed a little help.” Michael took a seat at the bar next to Mary, grazing her arm with his elbow. “But why aren’t you interested in him? He’s a cute kid.”
“Kid is the right word. He’s a boy. I prefer my men older.” Mary took another sip from her highball and glided her free hand over the top of Michael’s hand. “And more experienced.”
“I see,” Michael winked, turning on that playboy charm of his that left a trail of broken hearts all over base. “So tell me, Mary. What else do you like in a man?”
Mary donned a seductive little grin and eyed Michael up and down, her eyes settling upon his backside. “A tight rear-end.”
Michael raised his eyebrows. “You don’t mince words, do you?”
“As I recall, neither do you. Besides, you do have a nice bottom. Don’t forget I’ve seen it up close and personal.”
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten.”
“I’m surprised you can even sit down after that vaccine I gave you.”
Michael rubbed his butt and squinted at her. “You took a little too much pleasure in your job that day.”
“Can you blame me? ... Ha! I just figured out why they call you a Private.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you have very nice ... um ... privates. Hahahaha.”
Michael laughed. “I’ve seen yours too, remember?”
Mary leaned closer to Michael and spoke in a sultry tone. “Tell me what you thought. Did you like what you saw?”
Michael leaned closer. “I’d have to be dead not to like it.”
Mary leaned closer still and lowered her voice. “Maybe you’d like to see it again.”
Michael took a deep breath and leaned closer, practically touching Mary’s nose with his. “I can’t believe such a suggestion is coming from a sweet young lady like you.” Michael licked his lips slowly.
“Maybe I’m not so sweet. Or a lady.”
“Mmmm. I may have to report you for lewd and lascivious conduct, Nurse Clayton,” Michael whispered. Then he leaned away and studied Mary’s face for a long moment. “Bartender, two more rum and cokes.”
“Trying to get me drunk, Private?” Mary asked, but she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.
“More like trying to get lucky.”
“I see. Well I’ll tell you a little secret, Michael, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
Michael made the sign of an “X” over his chest. “Cross my heart, hope to die.”
Mary fluttered her eyelashes at him. “You don’t need to get me drunk to get lucky. All you have to do is ask.”
Michael smiled and stood up. He held out his hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
Mary smiled coyly as she slipped her hand into Michael’s. “With pleasure.”
Chapter 18
Cathy was afraid this would happen. She didn’t think she’d like the attention she was getting from men, and she was right. Sitting in a chair along the perimeter of the room, she felt like a piece of jewelry in a display case. The men gawked at her cleavage and asked her to dance, but she was more comfortable sitting on the sidelines alone.
Cathy wasn’t just awkward, she was socially backward, and she knew it. She didn’t have parents to teach her the social graces, which probably explained her lack of social skills. As for boys, they were fine to have as friends, but any time a boy became interested in anything more, Cathy ended the friendship abruptly. She was too embarrassed by her lack of experience and overcompensated by keeping the opposite sex at arm’s length. On those rare occasions when she was physically attracted to a man, like she was to David, she didn’t know how to let him know. She lacked feminine charm and didn’t know the first thing about flirting.
She repeatedly put her hand to her bare chest, the low neckline making her feel cold and self-conscious. She just wanted to cover up. Her high heels pinched and the hair spray made her scalp itch. All she wanted to do was go home and wash up.
But every so often, Maggie would catch her eye from another part of the room. She would smile at Cathy and nod approvingly, making Cathy feel obligated to stay. She needed to get Maggie’s money’s-worth out of the dress. This is why it was better not to have f
riends, Cathy told herself. No friends, no obligations.
She watched the people on the dance floor, looking like they were having the time of their lives -- men and women who were doing the lindy or the jitterbug to The Nickelodeon Song, or dancing slow and close to Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust. Cathy felt a twinge of envy, wishing she were more like “normal” people -- carefree, confident, and always up for a good time. But she couldn’t be someone she wasn’t.
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