NOTE: I haven't seen all the episodes of M*A*S*H, as in Australia, reruns are patchy, so if I've got anyone's details incorrect please tell me mirandabelle@bigpond.com
Any other comments would be greatly appreciated!
“Welcome to the four-oh-seventy-seventh Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Best care anywhere.” Two Majors, one female one male greeted me after Sgt. Sanders had helped me off the chopper. I saluted instantly and they shared pleased smiles. “2nd Lieutenant Annabelle F.A.J. Dawson.” I dropped the salute and offered my hand, “Major Margaret Houlihan, ranking nurse. This is Major Burns, second in command.” Major Houlihan shook my hand. “Pleased to meet you, come and we’ll introduce the Commanding Officer of this outfit. Radar, take the Lieutenant’s bags.” A small man my height came up and took my bags. “Lieutenant Annabelle Dawson, Corporal Radar O’Reilly.” Radar saluted. “Nice to meet you ma’am.” I saluted back. “Likewise Corporal.” Major Houlihan smiled directly at me as we turned and walked away from the chopper pad. “I’ve heard a lot about you. 24 and a second Lieutenant, you’ll be the second in command of the nurses. I hear you’ve had specific training.” I kept walking; the Majors flanked me while Radar, carrying my bags scuttled behind. “Yes, I graduated from high school when I was 18, and went to nursing school. I spent four years there and when I was 22 I graduated and I spent ’49 and ’50 at various Forts along the East Coast receiving specific war nursing skills. When the war broke out here, I was told that I would be front-liner but then I was decided I’d be too green and so I was sent to the M*A*S*H unit that was closest to the front. You’re 3 or 4 miles I hear.” Major Houlihan nodded, “Very good you’ll be a fine addition to this outfit, you’ll have you…” A Sargent whistled as I passed him. “Watch your mouth!” Snapped Major Burns who had previously not said a word. Major Houlihan continued talking. “You’ll have your own tent. We may move some other nurses in there but at present it’s your own.” We went into the CO’s tent and the pilot who had flown me here left as we approached the desk. “Colonel Blake this is the new nurse, 2nd Lieutenant Annabelle F.A.J Dawson.” I saluted and he returned it. I realised then that there were two other men in the room. All three men had glasses, which were at various stages of emptiness. “I’m Lt. Colonel Henry Blake, CO of this madness, the outfit not the war…” “Or we would have shot you and gone home!” quipped one of the two men. “And these two men are doctors Pierce and MacIntyre.” I saluted them, Major Houlihan murmuring a few pleased words in Major Burns’s ear about my formality, and both men shook my hand. “Annabelle, can I call you Annie?” I nodded, “Yes Doctor, nearly everyone else does.” He smiled and stood up, “John MacIntyre. Call me Trapper. Say Annie, were you at a lecture at Boston Mercy back in ’45, there was a sweet little cookie there asked everyone to call her Amy-Jane?” The other doctor, still sitting down spoke up, “Amy-Jane, 16?” Trapper shook his head, “No, 18 or 19.” “Ooh, what a cookie.” “Yeah.” Even Colonel Blake looked dreamy at that. “Anyhow Annie, I was there, but is there any chance that cookie was you?” My face reddened a little bit. “The same cookie, I was the one with the questions. I was still 18.” Trapper smiled, “I liked your style, you argued everything that Matron said, and everything you said was so self-assured and right.” I smiled, I remembered a young doctor, he had been then no more than the age I was now, with brown curly hair, a prankster if you ever saw one. “I remember you, I never liked your style. You were trouble.” He laughed and Major Houlihan spoke up. “Colonel, I’ll have her shadow Major Burns and I for a few days. Just to get her into the routine, she can start her shift on Monday?” Colonel Blake nodded, “Whatever you like Major.” The other doctor, slightly shorter than Trapper and with darker, straight hair stood up, “Come now Margaret is that really necessary? Does she have to be turned into a Ferret-Face-ette? Though with a cute face like this, it’d be hard.” He cupped my chin in his hand and I awkwardly removed myself from his grasp. Major Houlihan spoke up, “Nurse if you’ll come with Major Burns and I, we’ll show you around the camp and let you get settled in.” Major Houlihan saluted and left. Major Burns and I followed.
An hour later, I was in my tent, trying to come to get used to my new surroundings when there was a knock on the door and the person marched in. “So… cookie,” It was Dr Pierce, “18 and wanting to be called Amy-Jane, you must have been some dish then. But you’re even more gorgeous now.” There was another knock at the door. “Who is it?” I called, “Major Burns, I’m starting a shift in three minutes and Major Houlihan suggested I take you with me.” “Come in Major, I’ll be just a minute.” I sat down and reached for my hairbrush. Major Burns entered and while I quickly pulled my hair back, he and Dr Pierce talked, “What are you doing here Pierce this is a lady’s tent?” He asked “I’m fully aware of that and seeing as I’m obviously the only man here I’ll go and continue trying to make a lady friend later.” Frank gave a thoroughly inelegant snort, “Nurse Dawson is a respectable and responsible young lady. I’m sure she’s not interested in your type of cretin.” Pierce appeared hurt, “Now, now, I’m sure she’s cottoning onto me just fine.” He took my hand, “My tent for a poker game say 1700 hours?” I removed my hand from his grasp. “No thankyou doctor, I’d really rather not.” Burns chased him out of the room. “Out!” The last thing I heard before Major Burns slammed the door was “You’re so cute when you’re angry Frank.” I turned around in time to see Frank blow a raspberry at the closed door. We went to Post-op. Only half the beds were filled, one of them by a nurse. “Hi, I’m Lieutenant Baker.” She offered me her hand, “Annie Dawson, what’d you do?” Baker laughed, “I discovered a fox-hole meant for Major Burns there. My ankle was sprained pretty badly. Boy did Hawkeye get burned for that! No pun intended!” I chuckled, “Well, just stay off it, and if it gives you too much trouble, I can give it a rub, my massage skills are practically known all over Portland.” She smiled, “Thankyou Lieutenant,” I smiled and stood up, “Call me Annie, just cause I’m the second in command for the nurses I don’t want to be different from you guys.” Major Burns was calling, “Aah, I see you met Lieutenant Baker, one of the brighter sparks in the outfit. Now your shift in Post-Op will involve…”
I checked the patient’s charts confidently, I had only been in the room for 15 minutes, but I could sense that Burns was beginning to feel slightly inferior to me. “Doctor, isn’t this is quite a lot of Penicillin?” Major Burns looked over my shoulder, “No not at all.” Trapper and Doctor Pierce had been following us and at my query and Frank’s obvious surprise Pierce came up behind me and took the chart from my hand. “Jeez, Frank are you trying to make this man’s blood 50 percent penicillin?” He asked, “Doctor Pierce I have been practising for 12 years, I am your superior officer and this man is my patient I say what happens to him. Pierce was serious now, “Frank, halve that dose or I’ll go over your head.” Frank gave another inelegant snort. Pierce motioned to Trapper and the two men marched into Blake’s office, I followed them, curious and received a wink from Baker. “Henry, Frank’s trying to drown a patient in Penicillin again.” Pierce dropped the chart on Henry’s desk, right onto a child’s brightly coloured painting. “Watch it Hawkeye, that’s Bloomington Gallery work there, isn’t my Janie wonderful?” Pierce nodded, “She’s a beautiful artist, I’m sure she has her dad’s artistic skills.” Pierce grinned, “Yeah, like the time the latrine blew up on you, and you wore the seat around your neck!” Trapper hooted and Henry turned his attention to the chart. “Nurse Dawson, I’m going to give you your first proper assignment, see that this patient’s dose is halved.” I nodded, “Yes Colonel,” He wasn’t finished though, “Frank, check with me or Hawkeye before you give a dose that big again.” Frank sulked visibly. “Yes Colonel.” Henry beamed now that the serious work was over. “Frank you’re dismissed, I want to talk to Nurse Dawson, Pierce and MacIntyre alone.” Frank grumpily left the office, and nearly walked into Radar. “Colonel Blake sir there’s an aid station on the phone, 3 miles from here…” Colonel Blake had already picked up the phone. “Trapper, stand up,” Pierce chided, “Give the lady a seat.” Trapper groaned, lifted his legs and put his feet on the desk. “Here, sit on that,” he motioned to the ‘bridge’ his legs made. “Is that an order doctor?” He smiled, “Yes Annie, it is.” I rested my self lightly on his legs. Henry hung up the phone, “Radar! Get me an ambulance, a driver, corpsmen, a jeep and supplies.” Radar was there, “They’re on their way sir.” I jumped, “You’ll get used to it Annie,” Trapper said, I stood up and he moved his feet back to the floor, “Come here,” I approached him and he pulled me onto his lap. “Now ladies, and ladies, may I have your attention.” I looked at him, “First of all, Nurse, I hate using that term, it makes you seem distant, do you have a nickname?” I smiled, “I was christened Annabelle Felicity Amy Jane. I have so many nicknames I can’t count them all.” Henry smiled then too, “Annie will do me, and you can call me Henry. Everyone else does,” Pierce chuckled, “That’s only if we’re in a good mood with him! And you can call me Hawkeye,” I smiled, “Last of the Mohicans?” He looked surprised, “How’d you guess?” I laughed, “My brother Jack read that, I gave it to him when we turned twenty, there was a week there when he wanted to be called Hawkeye.” Hawkeye smiled, “It was the only book that wasn’t medical my dad ever read, what do you mean by when we turned twenty?” I smiled, “I’m a twin.” Henry cut in, “can we swap life-stories later, we’ve got a mission and I think you three are up for the job. That aid station has patients coming out their ears. They want someone to do a pickup on the really bad wounds and patch up the minor ones. Radar’s getting you a jeep, ambulance, supplies and a driver so go get your med bags, helmets and you three are going to get them.” “Henry, you’re not seriously thinking of sending Annie there are you?” Hawkeye was surprised “It’s going to be a good experience for her, I’d have sent Baker if she wasn’t laid-up. No names mentioned… Hawkeye.” I spoke up then, “I was meant to be a front-liner nurse anyhow, with my training but it was decided I was too green at 24, most of the other women who’d had my training had done WW2. They were all much older than me.” Trapper looked unhappy. “Are you trying for good experience or to scare the pants off her?” Hawkeye chuckled, eyeing me appreciatively. Henry looked surprised, “I thought you two didn’t believe in censorship, and besides, I wouldn’t have said she could go if I didn’t think she’d be okay. We have a very strong-willed girl here I think. Besides, Korea isn’t all fun and games. I want her to see what it’s really like, get her used to it right away rather than have her faint or vomit in the OR at the first sign of blood.” Trapper and Hawkeye resigned “Okay, go get ready before I have to kick your butts into gear.” We left and soon we gathered outside.”
Radar had found Igor, an enlisted man to drive the ambulance and he was sitting behind the wheel while we said goodbye. There were also two corpsmen waiting. “Lieutenant, just stick right with Pierce and MacIntyre and you’ll be okay, they’ll look after you, won’t you Captains?” Major Houlihan had taken my hand and gave it a squeeze before letting go. Trapper chuckled, grabbed her and kissed her. “Margaret my dear, if I don’t come back, see that our children get a good education.” She gasped angrily before Hawkeye moved in for the kill, kissing her too. “If I don’t return make sure my boy Radar gets a proper talk on the birds and the bees, I was going to tell him when he turned twelve, but just in case…” Henry smirked, “Trapper, I’m asking you to look after Annie for me real good okay. Annie, stick right with him.” Trapper and I nodded, “I’ll take the most excellent care of our new nurse.” He put his arm around my shoulders, “Hey Radar, she’s tiny, you’ve got competition.” Radar looked irritated, “Cut it out you guys.” Henry laughed, “Annabelle, just whatever you do stick right with Trapper and Hawkeye, do everything they say… well everything within reason.” I laughed and Hawkeye began talking, “Don’t you worry Lyssie, you’re in the best hands this side of Korea, and this is for luck.” He took hold of me and kissed me. I made a hasty retreat to the jeep, while Hawkeye and Trapper received some last instructions. “No funny business okay, if she gets worried, reassure her, but no monkeying around! I’m a bit worried about sending off our newest, youngest, unmarried nurse with you two goons, but I think she’ll come in useful. No hanky-panky.” Hawkeye and Trapper nodded, cracked a poor joke which I couldn’t hear and fought over who was driving. “Trapper, you can drive a golf ball, drive a man crazy, drive me up the wall, drive me around the bend, drive in, drive through, drive out, drive around and drive a knife right through my heart, but you will never drive when I’m in the jeep.” Trapper resigned and we left.
I squawked and grabbed Trapper. “Hawkeye slow down!” Trapper called, “Annie nearly got thrown out of the jeep!” Hawkeye sniggered but did slow down. Normally the 3 miles would have taken us no more than 10 minutes or so, but we had to take a roundabout route, to avoid minefields and woods. I fell silent, and Trapper looked at me, “Penny for your thoughts Annie?” I looked up at him, “Hawkeye” I whispered, “Oh, he kisses everyone, and if he has his way, he’ll get a lot more from you.” Trapper kept his voice low and we hunched together in the back of the jeep. “No… you probably don’t see, I’ve never been kissed before.” Trapper nearly shouted, “Annie, you’re joking, never? I shook my head, “Never ever, well, never from a man who wasn’t my relative well except for just then.” Trapper looked very surprised, “So that means you’re a vir… don’t worry, I shouldn’t really say that.” I smiled as Hawkeye pulled up in the aid station, “I’m a virgin, I’m proud of it, don’t worry.” Hawkeye heard that and gasped as the ambulance pulled up behind us, “You, with a face like that?” I blushed then as someone came up to us, “Drop it Hawkeye,” I said and we were lead to the wounded.
I had expected worse to be honest. I found it reasonable easy to help both the doctors, and when they found a simple case, which needed just a few stitches and could go back to the frontline, and they left him with me. I saw a few pretty gruesome sights, limbs hanging on by nerves and things like that, but a few deep breaths, counted by Hawkeye as I worked kept my breakfast and lunch down. “Nurse,” The corpsman, Igor was calling, I ran to him, “There’s blood in this guy’s mouth, he’s choking,” I bent down and felt gently down his side, there was broken ribs on his left and so I rolled him onto his right, blood and saliva flowed from his mouth, glad for the rubber gloves I was wearing, I cleared his airway and as I listened to his laboured breaths, I thought there was a punctured lung, “Shoot, doctor!” I called Trapper came running “This guy’s got a breathing problem, there’s blood in his throat, and his ribs on his left are broken. “You did good to roll him off his ribs, and clear his mouth,” Trapper listened with a stethoscope, “This lung’s punctured, I think that all four ribs that are broken are in there, what happened to him?” One of the corporals at the station came up, “Thrown by a shell blast. Is he bad doctor?” Trapper nodded, “He will be if we don’t get him back real soon, is there a chopper you can get him on?” The corporal shouted a few words and a Sargent came up, “Captain, there’s a chopper headed to Seoul in two minutes, if you stick him on that the pilot will do a drop-off at your M*A*S*H.” Trapper nodded, “Corpsmen!” I realised we’d been shouting ever since we’d arrived, the sound of gunfire and shelling was everywhere. The corpsmen carried the patient to the chopper. “Good call Annie, your experience is going to come in handy here. Check him out for me, he looks touchy.” I bent over the private, “Am I okay?” He asked, “Yes, just shrapnel in your leg, you’ll be fine,” He smiled, “Is everything else there?” I grinned, “Yes, you’ll be a father someday, now just relax, and yell out if it hurts while I bandage it.” I quickly bandaged the man’s wounds, which covered most of his upper thigh. Hawkeye came over, “Shrapnel.” I said, “There’s no serious nerve or artery damage he’s relatively minor.” Hawkeye’s sweaty face looked down at mine. “Annie you’re a lifesaver – literally. Trapp told me about the lung case.” He checked the patient, “Nice call, check him out, and I’ll be with you in a second.” He helped Igor carry him to the nearly full ambulance while I ran to the next patient. I tripped and fell headlong in a puddle. I heard Trapper’s laugh as I pulled myself up again and crawled to the soldier. “Annie!” He cried, throwing both arms around my neck, wincing painfully as he did so. “Jeremy! Jeremy! Oh my god, are you okay? I never thought I’d see you!” I hugged him and kissed his face, which was as muddy as mine. “Annie, what are you doing?” I let Jeremy go and he fell back to the ground, I realised there was blood on my uniform his blood, not mine. He had a bullet in his shoulder. Trapper ran up and sprinkled sulphur on his wound before bandaging his shoulder tightly to his chest. “Annie, who’s this?” I smiled, and took Jeremy’s unwounded hand. “Trapper John MacIntyre, doctor, he’ll look after you. We’ll have you at the 4077th where I work in no time. Igor! Come and get this one, and take special care of him.” Igor and another solider who I’d recently stitched up, put him on a stretcher and carried him off, “Annie, what do you mean by hugging wounded?” Trapper asked. “If he was your brother…” was all I said as I stood up and found the puddle again. Trapper helped me to my feet, I was covered in mud, “It’s a good look on you. He’s your brother, but you called him Jeremy, not Jack.” I bent over a patient “I have five brothers, and Jack, Jeremy and Joseph are in Korea.” Trapper nodded, “I can take this, go help Hawkeye.” I ran over to Hawkeye. “Oh, taking camouflage a little far aren’t we?” He quipped, “Yes doctor,” I bent down and helped him fix up the patient we were working on.
We were back on the road when we saw a bunch of troops walking towards us. We stopped when they flagged us down. “Can you take a look at this foot?” Their leader asked, Hawkeye jumped out of the jeep, and it was a simple matter. He got back in and we’d just started the engine when there was an almighty whistling and an explosion the ground seemed to shake and the troops hit the ground. I don’t know who said more unsavoury things, Hawkeye, Trapper or I as was yanked out of the jeep and pulled under it while more mortars dropped around us. I was so scared; the front had been bad but for some reason, when we were two miles back from it, I guess I didn't expect to get shelled. “Annie, it’s okay.” Trapper had put his arm over me, I didn’t realise that I was shaking and crying. I was terrified and as the shelling stopped, Hawkeye ran out, Trapper kissed my muddy-blonde curls “It’ll be okay Annie, we’ll need your help out there.” And then he ran out to a fallen man too. I took a deep breath and followed. “Annie, get my med bag from the jeep, we’ll patch them up and put them on the ambulance.” The ambulance had stopped when the first shell hit and now the corpsmen were resettling patients dislodged by the blasts. Another mortar fell and I jumped as it narrowly missed the road. “Hang in there Annie, go and check him out.” Trapper squeezed my hand tightly as I gave him his bag. He pointed at a solider and I scrambled over to him. “I’m gonna be okay aren’t I?” he asked, “You’ll be fine, we’ll get your bleeding fixed and you’ll be at a M*A*S*H in a few…” I jumped as a mortar fell and the blast threw three men. “Annie, get him,” Hawkeye called, I saw that he and Trapper had already taken the other two men. I tied the bandage off and motioned to Igor. I ran to take the man thrown by the blast. I rolled him over and my breakfast instantly came to my mouth. His face and stomach was half gone, and burns covered his chest – he was dead. I crawled a few feet and threw up my breakfast. I heard Hawkeye, “Trapp, can you take her?” Trapper was behind me in a second, holding my hair back while I brought up my lunch as well. I continued to retch, but it was mostly just saliva now. “Oh sweet Jesus,” I murmured and nearly collapsed, Trapper just caught me before I fell face down in my own vomit. He rolled me back onto his lap, his right arm cradling my head. His left hand began rubbing my stomach in slow circles. “Come on men, let’s keep moving!” The leader of the group called to his men, most of them got off the ground, some struggling up with help. Three men never left the ground. “Christ that’s awful,” I was sweating and crying, my tears leaving tracks on my bloodstained and muddy face. Hawkeye came over and I saw his disapproving glance at Trapper’s hand, which still continued its unhurried circles over my abdomen. “Amy Jane, are you okay?” Hawkeye bent down beside me. “Oh my god, it was terrible, so bloody awful.” I sat up a little, both men hurrying to support me, “I know Annie honey, I know, but it’s like your first time of anything, you’ll get used to it after a few more times.” Trapper continued soothing me, his arm tightly around my shoulders and his hand still on my stomach. “Sir, do you want us to ahead?” Igor was there, “Yes, if you beat us in, tell Henry we’ll be right behind you.” Hawkeye stood up and offered me his hand. “Annie, do you think you can stand up?” I shook my head weakly. “We’ve really got to get going though with that load of wounded we’ve got though, they’ll need our help.” I tried to stand and fell on Hawkeye. “Easy does it,” Hawkeye caught me. “Okay, steady now,” Trapper righted me and helped me take a very shaky step. I saw the body of the man I couldn’t save and fell to my knees again. I retched again, my empty stomach bringing up nothing. I was still shaking and Hawkeye rolled me onto my back. Trapper slid his arm under me and lifted me. “You okay Annie?” He asked as he carried me back to the jeep. Hawkeye stretched out in the back and Trapper lay me against him. “It’s so goddamned awful, the inhumanity of it all.” Hawkeye sighed as I leant against him and shifted me into a more comfortable position between his legs, “Honey, this is Korea.”
******
“Jeez Louise.” The Colonel whistled sharply as Trapper stopped the jeep.
“Annie babe, what happened to you?” Hawkeye was lying in the back of the jeep, my head was lying on his chest and the rest of me was sprawled between the ‘V’ in between his legs. Trapper laughed as he jumped out of the jeep.
“She found the same knee-deep puddle, face first, twice. She got a real good mud bath!” Henry chuckled but eyed my weary, and still rather green face as Trapper took my hands and hauled me to a standing position in the back of the jeep. Hawkeye became serious,
“Then she discovered the first patient she couldn’t help. He was a mess, face and bowels half gone.” Trapper put his hands on my waist and lifted me. He swung me lightly around and put me down. I gave a surprised squeal and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Easy does it Annie darling.” Trapper said jokingly, kissing my surprised face.
“Easy does it Trapper!” Henry said, “Annie, I know you’re tired but I was hoping for your skills in the OR today, hill 135 was overrun and although we won there’s a pile of soldiers, some of ours, some of theirs, that are about to come in.”
I nodded; Trapper and Hawkeye were already heading for the bustling OR.
“I’ll be fine Henry, honest. Besides I have nothing to lose.” I said, as Henry and I followed them into the area where the doctors scrubbed up. Henry chuckled then.
“Lost your lunch hey? That’s most people’s first response.” Hawkeye chuckled when he heard that.
“Gloves Margie! Yeah, and her breakfast, but it’s better out on the road somewhere than brought up suddenly onto a patient.” Margie Cutler, a sweet and pretty nurse appeared with some gloves for Hawkeye and Trapper, while I took off my muddy jacket and began removing mud from my hands.
“Trapper, there’s a punctured lung case that came in on a chopper, I’ve got Frank in there, but could you relieve him before he gets to the heart?” Trapper and Hawkeye almost ran into the OR.
“Frank’s malpractice skills are famous all over Indiana.” Henry murmured. I chuckled as he scrubbed up and I tried to remove the mud from my eyebrows.
“Henry what about my clothes?” He looked me over, I’d removed my jacket and shirt, but my t-shirt and pants were soaked and covered in mud.
“Okay, I can help you with your shirt. Radar! Give me your shirt.” Henry ordered the surprise company clerk as he passed by.
“Sir,” Radar protested blushing, “There’s a ma’am in the room.” I turned my back and still muttering I heard Radar give the shirt to Henry.
“Here, take off your shirt and anything else that’s wet under there, and stick that and a gown on. I’m really needed… oh god here come the choppers from hill 135, if you feel green let me know,” He tossed me Radar’s shirt which I hurriedly changed into. I smiled as I found some of the white pants that the surgeons wore in the OR, grabbed them and pulled them over my muddy green ones. I scrubbed my hands, allowed Margie to tie on a mask, give me some gloves and I took a deep breath. I entered the OR and was faced with my first OR session which was far from being my last.
******
“Metzenbaum scissors,”
“Metz doctor,”
“Sponge,”
“Sponge,”
“Suction, more in there, that right, keep it clear thanks this blood’s like driving in a fog, clamp.”
“Clamp,”
“Kiss,”
“Where?”
“Surprise me.” I giggled at Hawkeye and Nurse Dish, and looked at Frank Burns who I was assisting. He remained stonily silent except for the curt request for an instrument. I yelped suddenly as my eyes went once more to Hawkeye.
“You okay Anna?” Called Trapper,
“I’m fine, thanks. Major Burns do you insist on clamping my finger to the patient?” I asked coolly as I could, but unable to keep nervous eyes of the end table where Jeremy lay under Hawkeye’s knife.
“Nurse Dawson if you’d keep your eyes on this patient, instead of doctor Pierce’s you’d have been able to move your hand.”
I frowned, “Major Burns, with all due respect,”
Trapper snorted, “God, can’t be much there,”
I continued, “With all due respect sir, Hawkeye is operating on my brother and I’m more than a little worried.”
This time Frank snorted, “Well if you’re worried, Colonel Blake shouldn’t have let you in here, now keep your eyes on your work and don’t worry about such trifles as your brother.”
I scowled directly at Frank and dropped my eyes, “Don’t worry Annie,” Henry called, “Hawkeye will look after him fine, won’t you Pierce?” Hawkeye nodded, his eyes not leaving my brother.
“Frank, as much as I hate to take away your verbal punching bag, I’d like Annie’s help.” I grinned and after motioning to Nurse Kellye to replace me, I left the table.
“Gloves please Major Houlihan, what is it, Trapp?” Trapper looked over his new patient,
“His colon’s just full of metal, and where there’s no metal there’s holes,”
I nodded “Stop any bleeding you can, try not to disturb the shrapnel, it can cause worse damage.” I accepted a pair of new gloves from Major Houlihan.
“Do you mind if I observe you, Lieutenant?” She asked. I went to Trapper and looked over the patient,
“No not at all, Major, feel free. Oh God, how can they do that to people, it’s so bloody cruel.” I murmured as my training took over,
“Easy, Annie,” I heard Trapper whisper. I detached myself from the inhumanity and just became someone who was trying to save someone else’s life.
“Doctor, I know it’s tempting to just pull that bit, but that jagged edge probably continues into the muscle and if you yank on it it’s likely to cause a tear…”
******
“Annie, how are you holding up?” Henry called sometime later.
“Just fine,” I responded. “I’m going great, hungry though.”
Hawkeye laughed, “One look at the food and you won’t be any more.” Henry laughed,
“M*A*S*H 4077th, best care and worst food anywhere.” I smiled, as a new patient was brought to my table.
“Oh god… those people have no morals, look what the North Koreans did to him, he’s up to his neck in holes.” Hawkeye was already checking the patient’s vital stats.
“Hell, Klinger,” He addressed the large, very hairy Lebanese man who was wearing a dress. Corporal Klinger had brought in the patient.
“He’s dead for god sakes, there are two things we doctors can’t cure, the common cold and death, get him out of here!” I was going to place a soothing hand on his shoulder, but checked myself; I was supposed to remain sterile.
I stepped closer to him, our bodies touching, “Just cool off okay.” I whispered.
The two or three hours we’d planned for fixing up the guys from the aid station had already stretched to 10, and kept stretching, 20… 30… 40…
******
“Nice job doctor,” I said automatically as the patient, alive and well was taken from the OR. Trapper smiled briefly,
“Let’s see, hmm, this leg looks really badly bruised, all mashed, and there’s a hell of a lot of bleeding,” I handed Trapper what he wanted before he asked for it,
“Oh, not another Radar, you’re already his height so why do you have to pick up on his ‘radar’ as well?”
I smiled, “I’m not, that’s just what I would have done,”
Trapper laughed, “I know, I was just pulling your tiny leg, now you’ve gotta stop that bleeding.” He addressed the artery not me.
“See that spurting, there’s a blockage higher up…” Frank passed by,
“Nurse, you were put there to give a doctor the instruments he requires not advice, and don’t go thinking just because you’ve had more training in this topic that you know everything.”
Henry spoke up then, “Can it Frank.”
I continued talking, “The pressure behind the blockage gets up enough to push the blockage, but only enough for that spurt, whatever it is, it just gets back in the way.”
Trapper nodded, perspiration beading on his creased brow,
“Higher up, keep looking… see?” I smiled, shifting so I stood next to Trapper,
“Annie, you’re amazing, where’d you learn all this stuff, hmm?” I grinned,
“I did it all through college and everything, and some of it is just intuition.” Trapper grinned, I think, at least the sides of his mask turned up and his eyes sparkled.
“Nice intuition, found it, there’s a bone fragment, Jesus, and his entire leg’s a mess, all shattered, why wasn’t he x-rayed? Damn it, why can’t someone fix that thing?” The x-ray machine had packed up about five patients ago.
Henry rolled his eyes, “What something we use regularly and rely on actually work properly?” Hawkeye chuckled,
“That’ll be the same day Klinger gets his Section-eight.” I laughed; I’d already been told about and encountered Klinger’s stunts to get out of the army. I continued helping Trapper with the patient’s leg.
Trapper seemed depressed, “He’ll lose everything below the knee, I’m not even sure if we can keep that.” I began handing Trapper what he needed, and although it was a messy task, Trapper handled it well and the final amputation was pretty clean.
Finally Trapper was satisfied, “Thank god, that’s over. I’m glad we could keep his knee though; he’ll be able to sit normally. Nice work Annie.”
I smiled, “Thanks, but I didn’t do anything more than give you what you needed.” Trapper smiled, and I looked at him, feeling a soft spot that had already formed for him, grow into affection.
“Well,” Trapper said, “You did it very well.”
******
Hours later, I stretched and my neck cracked.
“Ouch,” murmured Margie sympathetically. Trapper, whom Henry seemed, determined to have befriend me, and I worked on our last patient.
Everyone else had already finished up, and there was a cleanup in process.
“Three-oh silk thanks,”
“Three-oh silk doctor.” I obediently handed it to him,
“Annie, angel, that’s four-oh.” I quickly handed the right silk.
“Sorry, whoever did this tray stuffed up the order of everything.” Trapper nodded,
“That’s okay.” Major Burns came past,
“Captain, how do you expect Nurse Dawson to become used to an army outfit, if you’re so relaxed about a mistake?” Trapper laughed,
“And which Major was helping arrange these trays I’d like to know?” Frank muttered something and slunk away.
“Okay, help me here and we can close soon.” I nodded,
“Meet me?” He asked suddenly,
“Where?” I responded, going completely on impulse.
“Martinis, my tent, after we’ve finished here.”
I laughed, “Okay,” Henry, at the other end of the room I noticed was smirking.
“Great job, Klinger, Igor, get him out of here.” I yawned,
“Hmm, I’m heading for the mess tent first, I need food.” Trapper nodded,
“Well, I’m going to clean up here first, and then I’ll meet you in the mess tent.” I grinned and headed in the opposite direction to him.
******
“Gosh,” I sat down with some mush on a tray, “How long was that?” Nurse Baker limped in,
“46 hours, and if you think that’s bad try a 60 hour shift.” I yawned as I shovelled some food into my mouth.
“That’s disgusting what they do to those people. My brother included, how is he?” I asked Nurse Abraham,
“He’s sound asleep, but he’ll be fine, Colonel Blake said that he can stay here for a few days till he’s ready to go back to the front.”
My face lit up as Trapper came into the tent,
“Annie, are you ready for some mean homemade gin?”
I stood up, “aren’t you eating?”
He shook his head; “I’ll save that pleasure for later, now madam, if you’ll just come with me.” He offered me his elbow and giggling, I took it. He led me from the tent.
“Here is the Swamp, the home of myself, Hawkeye and Ferret-Face.” He opened the door and I stepped through it.
“Here, sit,” Trapper pushed some magazines off a chair.
“Hawkeye’s taken a nurse for a nightcap and Frank’s probably in Margaret’s tent, so we’ve got the place to ourselves, to talk and drink.” He poured me a drink and then poured himself one.
“Cheers,” I took a sip,
“Whoa, that’s mean!” He laughed,
“Yeah, true, but it’s best that way.” I took another sip,
“You’ll get used to it,” he assured me, it was true, my mouth was nearly numb after the first three or four sips and then I was able to drink it without wincing.
“So… Annie,” He sat on the edge of his bed, one hand resting on my knee.
“Is it true what you told me about being untouched, and I mean really untouched.” I nodded,
“I’d never been kissed, before, I mean, sure I’d had lots of guys just drooling, but Jack and I were each other’s best company through high school and I was so busy trying to raise my brothers and sisters I had no time to think about that.
See, because I was born when mum and dad were 16, then the next year they had Rachael and the year after Jeremy was born, and then my dad died in an accident at work. Mum was 18 and she already had Jack, Rachael, Jeremy and I to care for. Then about seven months after dad died, mum had Andrew and Eve, more twins.
So she was a single woman, not yet twenty and six kids to raise. She married some guy and they had Miriam and Joseph who are twins as well. I was four or five when Victor left mum; decided he didn’t want to raise eight children.
The next year mum married Leo, I was six then. They had Chris two days after Jack’s and my seventh birthday. Leo bailed out too when mum got pregnant with Lily. I was 8 going 9 when Lily was born and I was already able to cook and look after my siblings.”
“That’s amazing Annie, no wonder you’re so strong-willed.” I smiled, my true story often left people stunned.
“There’s more. Alice appeared when I was 14, not sure where she came from to be honest. But I delivered her, and then mum got real sick so when most girls were just thinking about getting boyfriends, I was trying to bring up a family.
Mum got married again, when I was 18. She and Patrick had Matthew just before I left for nursing school and then they decided to have one more baby, so last year, when I was 24, Grace was born. I also had after school jobs to help with the money. I know more about raising children than I do about love.”
Trapper’s hand tightened on my knee released it and rubbed my leg a few times.
“Wow, you poor thing, what an unfulfilled life you’ve led! More martini?”
I yawned and drained my glass, “No, thanks, I’ll take a raincheck.”
Trapper stood up, “Okay, how about dinner in the Mess Tent tomorrow… err today, umm I’ll pick you up from your tent, 1830 hours?” I nodded,
“That’d be nice.”
Trapper opened the door, “Can I walk you to your tent?”
“Deal.”
*** ***
At my tent door I invited him in.
“Sorry about the bed, but it’s the only place to sit, I haven’t got a chair.”
Trapper grinned and sat down. He took my hand and drew me closer to him,
“I’ll get you one in Seoul; I think I have three days worked up.” I smiled,
“You don’t have to Trapp,”
He shook his head, “Oh but I want to, and if I have my way, you’ll come with me and choose the chair.”
I laughed and removed my boots. Even my socks were soaked.
“Urgh!”
Trapper grinned, “You’ll get used to that… and that.”
Trapper yanked me to the floor as a shell shook the camp.
“Everyone just stay…” The PA crackled but the rest of the sentence was lost in another explosion.
“Everyone just stay where you are, Colonel Blake is personally taking care of the morons…”
Another shell.
“They should stop now,” Trapper sat up and helped me up as well,
“Can we not talk about shells, okay?” I asked, I was nervous, remembering the day I’d spent on the road, and for the rest of my life, I would remain scared of loud explosions.
“So why Trapper?” I asked; another shell shook the tent.
“I thought you said they’d stop.” I jumped nervously.
Trapper put his hand over mine, “It’s okay Annabelle. Shelling is a part of life in Korea, unfortunately you’ll get used to it.”
I groaned, “Anything else I should know about?”
Trapper’s hand over mine tightened as another shell dropped.
“The bad food, the vile coffee, Frank’s whining, late nights, early mornings, cold weather, mud, rain, rats, shelling…”
Another explosion, a brief silence and three in quick succession, the lights flickered and Trapper came closer to me.
“Klinger’s dresses, Radar’s pets, Hawkeye’s jokes, Father Mulcahy’s preaching…”
“It’s okay, I’m a Catholic.”
Trapper continued, “Civilians, wounded and diseases.”
He moved still closer to me.
“The occasional crazy soldier, hot weather, humidity, cold showers…” Another three shells one after another and I twitched anxiously with every explosion. Trapper pulled me towards him, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“And this,” He kissed me for a second and I turned an amazing shade of red.
“That’s not a bad part of life now is it?” I shook my head,
“Why Trapper?” Another shell, “Why are you called Trapper?” The man in question laughed,
“Well, see a few years back I was on a train with a woman in the bathroom. The porter found us and well, she said I’d trapped her.”
I laughed too, snuggling into Trapper’s embrace.
“Trapper… Trapped her… Trapper…” I mused, and he kissed me again.
“That’s right,” He yawned, “I trapped her… just like I trapped you.” I yawned now and he kissed me, longer and slower.
“Mmm, that’s nice”
“Folks all clear, our fabulous Colonel blasted the those guys the shelling has been redirected.” I relaxed,
“Good,” murmured Trapper. He was asleep and there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.” I called tiredly. Hawkeye was there,
“I knew he’d…” A big yawn from Hawkeye, which set me off,
“I knew he’d do that, fall asleep so I…” I yawned and then Hawkeye did.
“I brought a wheelchair to get him out of here.” I don’t know who gave a wider yawn; Hawk or I.
Hawkeye hauled Trapper to his feet and dragged him to the door, “And Hawkeye intervening at the wrong moments.”
Trapper mumbled before Hawkeye dumped him in the chair. I closed the door tightly, and turned and collapsed on my bunk in a state of sleep so deep, it passed as unconsciousness.
Some hours later I woke up, had a shower and continued with my duties as a nurse. As I emptied a bedpan, I mulled over everything Trapper had said from the bad food to his kiss.
“Well” I decided, “This is Korea.”
******
I’d been in Korea for little more than a month. I was fitting in well, and had paired up with Trapper. Whether it was in the OR, the Mess Tent, The Swamp, at one of Henry’s famous lectures, or just in our spare time, we weren’t often seen apart, and people had gotten tired of hearing Trapper’s voice, “Annie did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are?” We were at a movie once when he said that and everyone turned around, “Yes, you have!” I thought it was funny, so did Trapper, once he saw the lighter side of it. Long sessions in the OR were becoming par for the course, and I was getting used to it, and I thought the rest of the camp would be too, but I noticed everyone getting restless. And then one day, in the middle of lunch, Hawkeye just stood up on the table. I was nervous; I heard he started a food fight like this once. “Ladies, gentlemen and cockroaches alike, may I have your attention please?” he called, banging on a tray. We slowly fell silent and Trapper and I pulled our eyes off each other to look at him. “I’ve decided, it’s time for a party!” He called, and a few people cheered. Henry started up, “Now listen Pierce, I don’t want you doing anything crazy…” Hawkeye scanned the room, “In honour of, Annabelle Dawson! Annie baby, tell the lovely people when your birthday is.” He pretended to hold a microphone in front of my mouth, “4th of July.” I responded honestly, “Aah, was that the 4th of October, 1600 hours till late in the Officer’s Club? I think it was, everyone, you heard the lady, 4pm today!” Applause burst out and I sat there thoroughly bewildered. “Don’t worry Annie,” Trapper whispered, “When Hawkeye’s like this, you’ll find most people in the camp have two or three birthdays a year. Mine are June 19, August 23 and December 12, and none of them are right, I’m a spring baby. Basically all it is, you show up at the appointed place and time, get given some cheap present. Hawkeye has a whole box of things he’s bought from the orphans. Then you dance, sing, drink, get wasted and have a good time.” Hawkeye hadn’t finished, “It’s an out of uniform party, and I want to see everyone in their party clothes.” I laughed, “So as long as it’s not my fatigues or Class A’s I can wear it?” Trapper nodded, “You catch on quick.” I smiled, “Will I have fun tonight?” Trapper laughed, “Fun is an understatement.”
******
Annie, are you sure that booze is good for you?” Trapper asked, I was on my third martini. “Of course it is, my liver’s as much untouched as I am,” I nodded perkily, “She’ll have a hangover, the size of Mount Kilamanjaro.” Hawkeye said, sipping his martini, “That’s what I’m worried about,” Trapper murmured watching me as I wove my way to the record player. I changed the record, and returned to the bar. “Annie, from now on you’re going to have real alcohol, scotch on the rocks for the lady.” Trapper removed my glass from my hand. Hawkeye thumped the bar and someone turned off the music. “As I said earlier, this party is in honour of Annie here and I propose we give her her birthday gift now, so we can all get really drunk!” He handed me a crudely made doll, her body was stuffed with dried grass and she was wearing a dress made from a hanky. Her features were painted onto her Hessian body, and yet I thought it was the nicest thing I’d seen since I arrived in Korea. “Thankyou,” I smiled and kissed Hawkeye on the cheek. “Well,” Hawkeye called, “Let the party begin!”
******
“And we’ll be happy in my blue heaven!” I sang, I was definitely drunk now, but pleasantly drunk, I was having a great time. Trapper and Hawkeye were enjoying my attentions too, I had passionately kissed them both several times, to say nothing of several other very pleasantly surprised men. Henry was in the corner with a nurse, he was pickled and was currently denying his marriage. “Annie, how about you do a song for us?” Hawkeye said, he and Trapper lifting me onto the bar. I stood up and straightened the blue dress I was wearing. I began singing, walking up and down the bar, bending and kissing men between lines. People began to cheer and as I finished singing, I swung myself off the bar and into Radar. I kissed him and looked at him, “Well, aren’t you going to ask the lady to dance?” I led him onto the dance floor. Radar looked embarrassed, “Radar, did anyone ever tell you how cute you are?” Fortunately for Radar, someone cut in and I responded by throwing my arms around their neck and kissing them. Drunkenly he responded until we both had to come up for air “Hi Henry” I said when I saw who I’d kissed, “Jeez Louise!” He said, dancing me towards Trapper, “Hello, Igor.” I stopped and kissed him. Henry pulled me off him and dumped me on Trapper, “You guys have created a monster here.”
******
Hawkeye waltzed me down the aisle between the beds in Post-Op. At about 8pm, four hours after the party had started, we’d spilled into the compound and through the camp itself. We’d taken the party into Post-Op to brighten up the soldier’s lives and most of them were very appreciative of it. Major Burns, who was on duty however, didn’t see the funny side of things. He tried to chase us out until he realised that Henry was leading us. “Colonel Blake, this is highly unbecoming conduct for a commanding officer!” Henry stopped dead in his tracks. “Frank, we are just trying to bring a little sunshine to these poor guys lives, now I don’t think they’d like you interrupting their party.” Henry slurred. “Colonel Blake, that is no way to behave in a medical outfit! You are disturbing the patients who are trying to sleep.” Henry looked around; every patient was sitting up, smiling. “Frank I rather think that the patients are enjoying the festivities, especially the show Trapper, and Hawkeye are putting on.” Frank looked around desperately for backup, but found none. Someone had spiked Major Houlihan’s coffee and now somewhat drunk, she was most definitely for the party. The ‘show’ Henry was referring to was Hawkeye who at present had taken on the form of his alter ego, Groucho Marx, complete with glasses. Trapper was Harpo, horn and all and they were currently fooling around like idiots. I sat on a stool at the other end of the room, a scotch in my hand and telling appalling jokes, which you had to be drunk to appreciate, and consequently a captive audience who thought the jokes were hilarious surrounded me. I’d kissed every man in the room now, except Frank Burns, and drunk though I was, I had to draw the line there. I also hadn’t kissed the Father, but he had removed himself from the wilder part of the party. “All in favour that Frank leaves the room and the party?” Every hand in the room went up at Margaret’s rather drunken suggestion. “Okay!” I called, standing up, “Follow me!” I put my hands on Major Burns’s shoulders and started a conga line. Laughing and singing, we conga lined him out of the room. The party kept going, we roamed around the camp singing and dancing, and I was still kissing every guy that I met. At about 1am, 9 hours after the party had started in the Officer’s Club, someone yawned, which set off a chain reaction. Slowly we all said our goodnights and went to bed. Well, most of us went to bed, two nurses had to force themselves into unnatural states of alertness for Post-Op duty and Trapper, Hawkeye and I spent half an hour locating and bedding down Henry and anyone else that passed out along the way. Klinger was locked in the latrine; someone had found him trying to get signatures for his discharge and done the only thing that was possible. Once Henry was safe in bed, with Hawkeye singing him a lullaby, Trapper let Klinger out. Father Mulcahy was sitting up reading his bible and praying for any sins people committed over the night until someone, with a glass of water, told him to be quiet. Frank had disappeared, I guessed to Margaret’s tent and we took the chance to get me bedded into the Swamp. A body, Radar we figured as everyone else was accounted for, was occupying my tent and we couldn’t be bothered moving him. Another bunk was in the Swamp, there had been another doctor in 1950, but he was transferred and never replaced. Both men kissed me goodnight and tucked me in and we fell asleep so soundly we never even heard Frank come in.
******
I woke at about 10 am; I tried to remember what I’d done the previous night. The camp was quiet, except for the sound of Trapper snoring. I sat up in my bunk in the Swamp. I remembered what happened, and everyone I’d kissed and I heard Hawkeye groan. “Oh vengeful god, what did I do to deserve this?” He buried his face in his pillow. I smiled, Hawkeye had a king-sized hangover and although I had been a great deal more intoxicated than Hawkeye and Trapper, I was feeling pretty good. I heard Trapper groan too, “Hawkeye stop having your hangover so loudly.” he rubbed his head, “Why do I think I’ve been sitting in a 44 gallon drum while someone played on the damned thing with a big stick?” I yawned and stood up, most of the camp was coming to life, a chow line was beginning to form, and there was a queue for the showers. “Annie, do me a favour, turn off the sun.” muttered Trapper. I went to the still and poured the two men a drink. “What’s this?” Hawkeye asked, “Hair of the Dog,” I whispered my reply, so as not to jar their heads. I had a mouthful too as the PA came to life. “Attention all personnel, Colonel Blake requests that you report to him within the next hour to prove that you are not AWOL, and receive your after-party cleanup orders.” Trapper groaned his reply, but looked better as he finished his drink. “Oh, I forgot that bit.” Hawkeye muttered, “The cleanup, well, let’s see what damage we’ve done.” He dragged himself to his feet and pulled on some clothes… his dressing gown. I looked around for my clothes and realised my dress, which for whatever reason wasn’t on me anyway and was draped over the still was all I had. Everything else was in my tent. “Here,” Trapper hauled himself out of bed, he had gone to sleep fully dressed, and he gave me his robe. “Thanks Trapper.” I wrapped it around myself, “That’s a kiss an hour,” I laughed, “One hour thanks,” I kissed him twice, “And here’s you change madam,” He kissed me and we staggered outside “Whoa,” There were streamers and bottles over the compound and Radar’s teddy had been hoisted up the flagpole. “Well, let’s go report to Henry and then find out what we have to cleanup.” I walked towards Henry’s office. His office was dimly lit, and he was nursing a bigger hangover than anyone else. “Here,” I poured him a drink and he took it gratefully, massaging his throbbing head as he did so. I went behind him and started rubbing his shoulders gently, “That’s nice thanks Annie. Oh, this is a doozy of a hangover.” Hawkeye laughed, “Ssh, that’s too loud Pierce, have any of you seen Radar?” I kept massaging his back, “Yes, well, we think he’s the one asleep in my tent.” Henry sat up suddenly, “What?” I kept up the massage as I talked. “Well, everyone else is accounted for, his bed’s empty, my bed’s full and I slept in the Swamp…” Henry almost laughed, “He didn’t quite make it back huh? The last thing I remember was dancing Frank out of the OR.” I laughed then, “It was Post-Op where he was being a spanner in the works, we found you at about ½ past 2, you were asleep in a jeep. Or unconscious as the case may be. You didn’t even notice us put you to bed. That’s probably a good thing though, Hawkeye sang you a lullaby, and he couldn’t hold a tune if his life depended on it. How’s that?” Henry stretched, “Much better. Thanks, now I want you two to help in the Officer’s club, picking up tables and whatnot, Annie, could you collect everyone’s belongings from the compound, other people’s tents, the latrine, showers, Officer’s club… flagpole. And see that they get returned. “Sure Colonel,” I left, grabbing various articles of clothing as I went. Radar staggered in, “Oh my goodness, Lieutenant ma’am I’m so sorry, I don’t quite know what I did, but I woke up in your bed.” He saluted, his entire face red, “That’s okay Radar, as long as you had fun. And I’ll get your teddy off the flagpole really soon.” Radar blushed, “Thank you ma’am.” I dragged one of Klinger’s stoles out from under the desk and left.
******
“Knock, knock.” I tapped on Major Houlihan’s door and entered. “What?” she snapped, “Oh it’s you Lieutenant, what is it?” I smiled, “I’m on the return the lost items shift, anything missing?” She shook her head, “But please return these to Major Burns.” I smiled and accepted a bag of clothes. “Have a nice day!” I called as a nurse passed me, loaded with rubbish. “Lori, anything yours?” I called, “Yeah, that jacket there and that, could you put them in my tent thanks Annie?” I called back “Sure!” And kept going, picking up things and returning them to their owners, most of whom were grateful, some of them not. Frank Burns was one person who didn’t appreciate me delivering his clothes that Major Houlihan gave to me. “How did you get these?” He snapped, “Major Houlihan had them in her tent…” His chin disappeared as he tried to hide his embarrassment, “Now why would they have been in her tent… I have no idea…” I sighed and left the tent, while he spluttered excuses. “Ma’am!” Radar stopped me about five minutes later. “Yes, Radar?” Radar looked at the ground, “Did you umm, get my…?” I smiled and handed him the bear. “Thanks…” his voice trailed off, his face stiffening, “Choppers?” I asked, he nodded, “Yep,” he ran off, calling “Choppers! Choppers!” I headed for the mess tent, where I left the other things that were yet to be claimed and jumped in a jeep headed for the chopper pad.
******
“Annie, you’re going to need to be two steps ahead here, right?” I nodded, and I literally was, I knew what Trapper was going to ask for before he opened his mouth. “Wow, that was some party!” Hawkeye exclaimed, “Yeah,” I agreed, “But the hardest part is getting back into this after all that fun.” Hawkeye nodded, “It’s another thing you’ll get used to Anne,” I rolled my eyes, “Well I’ve always prided myself on being very flexible.” Major Burns said sniffily, “Shut up Frank!” Margaret’s head was a little sore and she was somewhat irritable. Hawkeye grinned, “Annie, before we forget, Happy birthday to you…” The rest of the OR joined in and made it a fitting end to my birthday.
