A short story
May. 18th, 2004 06:53 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
takenhawkeye.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
mash_slashJust a short little thing I threw together, I hope no one minds my posting it here. Any grammatical errors I have missed pointed out to me would be a wonderful thing.
Summary: Not long after arriving home, Radar takes a short trip to Bloomington, Illinois.
***
A month after returning home Radar, having put in a call to the 4077th and gotten the necessary information from Klinger, set out to leave again. When he told his mother of just what he planned to do, she agreed that the farm could spare him for a weekend, and gladly sent him on his way. Only after he had double-checked that the neighbors would be looking in on his mother, and the farm, did he leave. Nervous as he was, he was restless and ready to be moving along.
Thanks to a relatively short ride in an airplane, a waiting cab with a driver who redefined the meaning of speed, and the carefully dictated directions he had received from Klinger, Radar arrived in the short span of one day. He spared no time renting out a room in a reasonably clean motel and stayed only long enough to drop off his bag. He was anxious and eager, unable to wait another moment, and grabbed the small package he had carried with him on his travels. Clutching the brown wrapping to his chest, he hurled himself out the motel door and into the nearest cab.
Twenty minutes later he stood on a front stoop of a modest light blue house, on top of a lush green lawn that was surrounded by a white picket fence. Children ran and laughed in the streets as neighbors called hello to each other. Radar smoothed his hair for the umpteenth time and checked that his best Sunday tie was straight. Quickly, before he could lose his nerve, he sharply knocked on the door.
A call from inside sounded out as Radar gulped, clutching the small package even harder. Moments later the door swung open to reveal a rather pretty middle-aged woman, apron on, hands covered in suds.
"Yes?" She quickly dried her hands off on her apron, patting her neatly pulled back hair. "May I help you?"
Radar glanced back out into the cheery neighborhood before speaking.
"Mrs. Henry Blake, ma'am? Mrs. Lorraine Henry Blake?"
She stared, wary. "Yes, that's me. And who, may I ask, are you?"
It was now or never. "I'm Walter O'Reilly, ma'am. But you can call me Radar. I was wondering if I could come in for a minute?"
Lorraine narrowed her eyes, debating, before stepping aside, holding the door wide open. "Yes, of course. You'll have to excuse the mess; my son is just starting one of those stages."
Radar nodded, glancing around the room. He had to admit, it was extremely pretty, the walls painted a pale yellow with a lush white carpet beneath his feet. Pictures adorned the room, displaying a family as the years past and its members grew. Across the room, Radar could spot a smiling young bride and groom, and next to that a photo of two little girls in crisp dresses smiling tightly for the camera. Hanging on the wall across from him was a baby boy, laughing, and nearest to where he stood lay a framed photo of a middle-aged man in uniform. Henry.
"Ma'am, I hate to intrude like I did, but I have something I wanted to give to you." He held up the brown bundle in his hand as Lorraine shut the door. She motioned him to follow her into the kitchen. "I served with your husband in Korea, and I must say he was one great guy to be serving under."
Lorraine merely nodded. "Have a seat, uh --"
"Radar."
"Radar." She turned to the sink and began to pick up where she left off with the dishes. "You served with Henry, you say?"
"Yes. I was the Company Clerk, worked directly with him, ma'am."
"Please, call me Lorraine."
Radar shook his head. "I don't think I could do that."
She nodded. "I remember reading about you a few times in his letters home. Said you were bright kid."
"I tried." Radar motioned to the package now lying on the table. "I just got back home myself, last month. I've been thinking an awful lot about Colonel Blake and I decided to come out here to Bloomington and --"
Drowning out his well-practiced speech, a side door came flying open, emitting two young girls. They halted in their steps as they noticed Radar. Lorraine turned at the sound, smiling down at the children.
"Radar, I'd like you to meet my girls. This is Janie, and the messy one over there is Molly. Girls, this is Mr. O'Reilly." Shyly, they smiled, moving slowly to hide behind their mother. "He's come for a visit. He used to know Daddy, back when they were both helping to make the soldiers feel better."
Radar grinned. "Gee, I just love kids. It's nice to meet you both."
Blushing, they dug their faces even deeper into Lorraine's skirt. She reached behind to shoo them away. "Go on, you two go and play. We're going to talk some, and then dinner will be nearly ready." Nodding, the children hurried from the room.
"They're real cute, ma'am."
"Thank you." Pausing, she made her way to the counter, silently offering a mug of coffee. Radar shook his head and she set the cup back down. "Now, what was it you were saying?"
Suddenly, Radar remembered just why he was where he was.
"Uh -- as I was saying, ma'am, I just got back home, to Iowa, a little while ago, and I thought --"
Lorraine sank into a chair across the table, hands gripping at her coffee mug, and pointed at the brown package. "What have you got, there?"
Radar, his speech having been thrown to the wind long before, reached for the bundle, flustered. "This is -- uh -- this is why I came out her like I did, ma'am." Pushing the package toward her, he continued. "If you please. I still keep in touch with the others in Korea, and we came up with an idea that I thought you would like. Colonel Blake was always such a --" He cut off, eyes searching the face of the woman before him. "Ma'am?"
Lorraine glanced up, eyes shinning. Wiping a lone tear away she muttered, "This is -- this is real nice of you, Radar." Turning her eyes back to the plaque resting in her grasp, brown wrapping discarded about the floor, she read the inscription aloud. "'In loving memory of Doctor Henry B. Blake; husband, father, Colonel, and friend. May you always rest in peace, Henry'." Her breath hitching, Lorraine struggled to get around the lump that was rapidly forming in her throat. "I can't -- I -- thank you --"
“Captain Pierce was the one who picked out the words, and Klinger was the one who helped me come up with the whole thing. We was going to mail it, but then I got sent home and I thought maybe if I delivered it -- I put three letters in there. For your kids, ma'am. For when they get older. Tells 'em all about Colonel Blake and what he did and how great he was. All about him."
Lorraine set the plaque on the tabletop and fumbled for her coffee. Taking a deep drink, she sighed and anxiously smoothed out an invisible crease in her dress. "You'll send my thanks along to these men, won't you?"
"Yes, ma'am. They'll be waiting to hear how it went."
Faintly smiling at the young boy across from her, Lorraine stood back up, taking a nearly full coffee mug to the sink and emptying it. "Henry was -- was well liked then? He had friends over there, in the war?"
"Gee, yes. Henry was one of the best men any of us have known. Always kept Major Burns and Major Houlihan from getting Hawkeye and Trapper into too much trouble and he took good care of me, I'd say."
She nodded. "Good. I'd hate to think he didn't enjoy those last -- " Coughing, she stopped. "Well, that's great to hear. And the gift, that'll just --" Lorraine paused, searching for the words. Finally, she settled for, "It was hard, and it still is, but I think this will make it just that much more bearable."
Radar agreed. "Giving the doctors and all of them that message was one of the hardest things I've ever really done."
"Message?"
He suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable, and merely muttered, "I had to tell the others that Colonel Blake -- " He cut off, sure Lorraine understood.
She did. Walking back to where the plaque lay, reading it again, she repeated, "This is real nice of you, Radar."
He stood up, hands fidgeting nervously. "You're welcome, ma'am. I'm glad I could -- well, I should go. I have to --"
"You've got a place to stay?" Lorraine looked up at him, eyes soft and warm.
"I rented out a room at a hotel for the weekend. Then I'll have to be getting back to Ma on the farm."
Lorraine nodded. "I'd be happy to have you join us for dinner, if you wish."
"Oh, I don't think --"
"Please." Her voice had an odd pleading quality to it, and Radar was abruptly aware of how the woman had changed from the strong female who had answered the door to this vulnerable person. He realized just how alone she must be, in this house, with her husband's children. "Please, I'd like to -- I'd like to hear more about Henry, and Korea. He never said much in his letters, and I'd like to know if -- well, the children would love to hear stories about their father anyway."
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose on you."
"You wouldn't be." Seeing the doubtful look in the young man's eyes, Lorraine added, "You can help me finish the cooking and we'll do the washing up, then. That alright?"
"I'd love to stay." Rolling up his sleeves and washing his hands, Radar set to work on a pile of potatoes while Lorraine began mixing things inside a pot.
"Tell me," she said, after a moment of silence had passed, "Tell me about the war."
Radar complied.
***
Farewell.
Summary: Not long after arriving home, Radar takes a short trip to Bloomington, Illinois.
***
A month after returning home Radar, having put in a call to the 4077th and gotten the necessary information from Klinger, set out to leave again. When he told his mother of just what he planned to do, she agreed that the farm could spare him for a weekend, and gladly sent him on his way. Only after he had double-checked that the neighbors would be looking in on his mother, and the farm, did he leave. Nervous as he was, he was restless and ready to be moving along.
Thanks to a relatively short ride in an airplane, a waiting cab with a driver who redefined the meaning of speed, and the carefully dictated directions he had received from Klinger, Radar arrived in the short span of one day. He spared no time renting out a room in a reasonably clean motel and stayed only long enough to drop off his bag. He was anxious and eager, unable to wait another moment, and grabbed the small package he had carried with him on his travels. Clutching the brown wrapping to his chest, he hurled himself out the motel door and into the nearest cab.
Twenty minutes later he stood on a front stoop of a modest light blue house, on top of a lush green lawn that was surrounded by a white picket fence. Children ran and laughed in the streets as neighbors called hello to each other. Radar smoothed his hair for the umpteenth time and checked that his best Sunday tie was straight. Quickly, before he could lose his nerve, he sharply knocked on the door.
A call from inside sounded out as Radar gulped, clutching the small package even harder. Moments later the door swung open to reveal a rather pretty middle-aged woman, apron on, hands covered in suds.
"Yes?" She quickly dried her hands off on her apron, patting her neatly pulled back hair. "May I help you?"
Radar glanced back out into the cheery neighborhood before speaking.
"Mrs. Henry Blake, ma'am? Mrs. Lorraine Henry Blake?"
She stared, wary. "Yes, that's me. And who, may I ask, are you?"
It was now or never. "I'm Walter O'Reilly, ma'am. But you can call me Radar. I was wondering if I could come in for a minute?"
Lorraine narrowed her eyes, debating, before stepping aside, holding the door wide open. "Yes, of course. You'll have to excuse the mess; my son is just starting one of those stages."
Radar nodded, glancing around the room. He had to admit, it was extremely pretty, the walls painted a pale yellow with a lush white carpet beneath his feet. Pictures adorned the room, displaying a family as the years past and its members grew. Across the room, Radar could spot a smiling young bride and groom, and next to that a photo of two little girls in crisp dresses smiling tightly for the camera. Hanging on the wall across from him was a baby boy, laughing, and nearest to where he stood lay a framed photo of a middle-aged man in uniform. Henry.
"Ma'am, I hate to intrude like I did, but I have something I wanted to give to you." He held up the brown bundle in his hand as Lorraine shut the door. She motioned him to follow her into the kitchen. "I served with your husband in Korea, and I must say he was one great guy to be serving under."
Lorraine merely nodded. "Have a seat, uh --"
"Radar."
"Radar." She turned to the sink and began to pick up where she left off with the dishes. "You served with Henry, you say?"
"Yes. I was the Company Clerk, worked directly with him, ma'am."
"Please, call me Lorraine."
Radar shook his head. "I don't think I could do that."
She nodded. "I remember reading about you a few times in his letters home. Said you were bright kid."
"I tried." Radar motioned to the package now lying on the table. "I just got back home myself, last month. I've been thinking an awful lot about Colonel Blake and I decided to come out here to Bloomington and --"
Drowning out his well-practiced speech, a side door came flying open, emitting two young girls. They halted in their steps as they noticed Radar. Lorraine turned at the sound, smiling down at the children.
"Radar, I'd like you to meet my girls. This is Janie, and the messy one over there is Molly. Girls, this is Mr. O'Reilly." Shyly, they smiled, moving slowly to hide behind their mother. "He's come for a visit. He used to know Daddy, back when they were both helping to make the soldiers feel better."
Radar grinned. "Gee, I just love kids. It's nice to meet you both."
Blushing, they dug their faces even deeper into Lorraine's skirt. She reached behind to shoo them away. "Go on, you two go and play. We're going to talk some, and then dinner will be nearly ready." Nodding, the children hurried from the room.
"They're real cute, ma'am."
"Thank you." Pausing, she made her way to the counter, silently offering a mug of coffee. Radar shook his head and she set the cup back down. "Now, what was it you were saying?"
Suddenly, Radar remembered just why he was where he was.
"Uh -- as I was saying, ma'am, I just got back home, to Iowa, a little while ago, and I thought --"
Lorraine sank into a chair across the table, hands gripping at her coffee mug, and pointed at the brown package. "What have you got, there?"
Radar, his speech having been thrown to the wind long before, reached for the bundle, flustered. "This is -- uh -- this is why I came out her like I did, ma'am." Pushing the package toward her, he continued. "If you please. I still keep in touch with the others in Korea, and we came up with an idea that I thought you would like. Colonel Blake was always such a --" He cut off, eyes searching the face of the woman before him. "Ma'am?"
Lorraine glanced up, eyes shinning. Wiping a lone tear away she muttered, "This is -- this is real nice of you, Radar." Turning her eyes back to the plaque resting in her grasp, brown wrapping discarded about the floor, she read the inscription aloud. "'In loving memory of Doctor Henry B. Blake; husband, father, Colonel, and friend. May you always rest in peace, Henry'." Her breath hitching, Lorraine struggled to get around the lump that was rapidly forming in her throat. "I can't -- I -- thank you --"
“Captain Pierce was the one who picked out the words, and Klinger was the one who helped me come up with the whole thing. We was going to mail it, but then I got sent home and I thought maybe if I delivered it -- I put three letters in there. For your kids, ma'am. For when they get older. Tells 'em all about Colonel Blake and what he did and how great he was. All about him."
Lorraine set the plaque on the tabletop and fumbled for her coffee. Taking a deep drink, she sighed and anxiously smoothed out an invisible crease in her dress. "You'll send my thanks along to these men, won't you?"
"Yes, ma'am. They'll be waiting to hear how it went."
Faintly smiling at the young boy across from her, Lorraine stood back up, taking a nearly full coffee mug to the sink and emptying it. "Henry was -- was well liked then? He had friends over there, in the war?"
"Gee, yes. Henry was one of the best men any of us have known. Always kept Major Burns and Major Houlihan from getting Hawkeye and Trapper into too much trouble and he took good care of me, I'd say."
She nodded. "Good. I'd hate to think he didn't enjoy those last -- " Coughing, she stopped. "Well, that's great to hear. And the gift, that'll just --" Lorraine paused, searching for the words. Finally, she settled for, "It was hard, and it still is, but I think this will make it just that much more bearable."
Radar agreed. "Giving the doctors and all of them that message was one of the hardest things I've ever really done."
"Message?"
He suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable, and merely muttered, "I had to tell the others that Colonel Blake -- " He cut off, sure Lorraine understood.
She did. Walking back to where the plaque lay, reading it again, she repeated, "This is real nice of you, Radar."
He stood up, hands fidgeting nervously. "You're welcome, ma'am. I'm glad I could -- well, I should go. I have to --"
"You've got a place to stay?" Lorraine looked up at him, eyes soft and warm.
"I rented out a room at a hotel for the weekend. Then I'll have to be getting back to Ma on the farm."
Lorraine nodded. "I'd be happy to have you join us for dinner, if you wish."
"Oh, I don't think --"
"Please." Her voice had an odd pleading quality to it, and Radar was abruptly aware of how the woman had changed from the strong female who had answered the door to this vulnerable person. He realized just how alone she must be, in this house, with her husband's children. "Please, I'd like to -- I'd like to hear more about Henry, and Korea. He never said much in his letters, and I'd like to know if -- well, the children would love to hear stories about their father anyway."
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose on you."
"You wouldn't be." Seeing the doubtful look in the young man's eyes, Lorraine added, "You can help me finish the cooking and we'll do the washing up, then. That alright?"
"I'd love to stay." Rolling up his sleeves and washing his hands, Radar set to work on a pile of potatoes while Lorraine began mixing things inside a pot.
"Tell me," she said, after a moment of silence had passed, "Tell me about the war."
Radar complied.
***
Farewell.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 03:08 pm (UTC)Honestly, this does help . . . has grammar has tripped me up more than once.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 04:32 pm (UTC):)
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Date: 2004-05-18 05:22 pm (UTC)Farewell.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 03:07 pm (UTC)as per request, a few grammatical things i caught, just reading through:
"A month after returning home Radar, having..." should this be "A month after returning home, Radar..." ?
"displaying a family as the years past and its members grew." past -> passed?
"in his letters home. Said you were bright kid." ' is this "said you were a bright kid." or "said you were bright, kid." ?
those are all i see as of right now, hope that helped.
(really sweet story.)
no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 07:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-19 04:42 am (UTC)Farewell.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-20 01:36 am (UTC)I found this while searching the archives, and I am so very happy I did. As far as I'm concerned, this is canon. Of course Radar would've visited Lorraine - and the voices here are absolutely perfect. Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-20 10:42 am (UTC)Thank you so much for writing it.
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Date: 2006-06-23 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-02 03:34 am (UTC)Beautiful.
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Date: 2008-12-04 07:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 03:25 am (UTC)To be honest, I needed an ego boost and was rereading an old rec someone made on one of my old fics. And, surprise.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 04:11 am (UTC);D hee hee