Prompt- two strangers meet on a snowy evening... (post war story)
He sat down on the park bench and waited for the bus to arrive. Walking was his preferred method to get from home to work and work to home, but it was one of the snowiest days of the year so far, and Charles didn't feel like walking the entire distance in several inches of snow.
He leaned back and sighed, watching the warmth from his breath create a small wisp in front of him. And it was only a few minutes of waiting for the bus until he was joined by another person awaiting the arrival of the bus.
"Mind if I sit here?" He asked, pointing to the empty spot next to Charles.
"Go right ahead."
So the stranger sat down on the cold metal bench in silence. That is, until he spoke up.
"Aw, nuts!"
Charles looked over to the man, who was patting down his pockets.
"Is something the matter?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I must have dropped my wallet on my way over here."
Charles felt bad for the guy, and assuming he had his money for the bus fare in his wallet, decided to be generous on this chilled evening.
"Well if you need, I could pay for your ride."
The man smiled back. "That's awful nice. But it's not just the money I'm worried about, I had some real important photos in there. My wife, the girls, and a photo of my M*A*S*H unit."
"Did you say M*A*S*H? I too happened to serve in one of those. Where where you-"
But he was interrupted when the man let out a relieved laugh. As he sat up, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"Would you look at that! It was there the whole time!" He looked back to Charles, "I'm sorry, now what were you saying?"
"I was asking what unit you were stationed in."
He nodded and pulled out the worn black and white photograph out of his wallet and handed it to Charles. "The four-oh double seven."
Charles was shocked, clear as day in the picture he could make out Margaret, Hawkeye, Father Mulcahy, Klinger, and Kelley.
"Why... I don't believe it..." Charles quickly fished his own wallet from his coat pocket and handed his own M*A*S*H photo to the man.
"I too served in the 4077th, here."
Trapper looked over the photo. There was Margaret, Hawkeye, Klinger (not in a dress to his surprise), Father Mulcahy, Kelley, and a few new faces, along with no Frank.
"Well I'll be..." Trapper looked over to Charles. "Who would have known?"
Charles laughed. "You wouldn't happen to be the infamous Trapper John I had heard so much about?"
Trapper grinned his usual goofy smile, "That would be me."
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, I am Charles Emerson Winchester the Third," he said, extending his hand in greeting.
Trapper took hold of his hand, "Well it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Chuck."
"Really, just call me Charles."
Trapper though for a moment before giving him a nod. "Hey Charles, would you by chance want to stay at my place for dinner? We could get to know each other a little better, plus, Louise makes one hell of a roast chicken."
Charles smiled, "Why, I believe I'd quite enjoy that."
And strangers they were no more.