The Generals all doted upon her ceaselessly; they called her the cutest little thing, offered her candies, and smiled in a pleasant, grandfatherly way each time she passed. After all, who could resist the sweet little girl, her long blonde hair tied into a braid with a blue silk ribbon, her frilly little dress swishing as she followed her father obediently and adoringly around the room while he paused to talk with each of the dignified men in it.
If she hadn't loved her father so much, she wouldn't have been caught dead in that dress. And he knew it. But for him she would do anything, and that was why she stood shyly in the tall, elegant shadow of Major Houlihan, her eyes sparkling and a dimpled smile blossoming each time he turned his face upon her.
"And what are you going to be when you grow up, little darling?" The Generals would ask, crouching down to her height to take in the rosy face. Every time, she would answer in a polite, but firm voice
"I'm going to be the second Houlihan to make Major in the United States Army, sir. Maybe I'll even make it to Colonel. Or General!"
Then the man, whoever he was, would laugh from deep in his belly and stand up, clapping a hand to her father's shoulder and making some remark about her sense of humor. That was how it went all night. But when the conversation died down and the floor was cleared, a slow, soft music filled the air that simply enchanted the little girl's soul. Slowly, couples filed into the middle of the hardwood floor and began to dance. Mostly they were Generals and their wives but the slow, rhythmic swaying caught her attention and held it there.
She remembered one night, long ago, when her father was off-duty on one of the many bases they had lived at over the years. The same sort of music was drifting into their quarters from down the hallway and her beloved father had settled her atop his own feet and danced gently with her, smiling in that way that only a loving father could.
During a pause in conversation she looked up, smiling that beautiful smile, and tugged on the pressed brown sleeve of her father's Class-A uniform. He glanced down at her, his face emotionless, as she whispered
"Daddy... will you dance with me?"
His face creased with an unreadable expression and he simply went on talking to his companion, as though she had never said a word.
As though she wasn't there.
During that one moment, her soul was crushed. The light in her blue eyes was extinguished and her smile faded. Turning, she walked quickly away from her father, intent on locking herself in the nearest latrine. She was halfway to the door when, with an unpleasant jolt, she collided with a young boy who blushed furiously and mumbled
"Excuse me, miss. Did I hurt you?"
His smile was genuine, and she knew at once that he was just a poor Army brat like her, desperate for a friend his own age. Rather than replying, she drew herself up to her full height, barely an inch above the boy, and narrowed her eyes in a look so cold it would have put ice to shame. Head held high, she swept past him and out the door.
If she hadn't loved her father so much, she wouldn't have been caught dead in that dress. And he knew it. But for him she would do anything, and that was why she stood shyly in the tall, elegant shadow of Major Houlihan, her eyes sparkling and a dimpled smile blossoming each time he turned his face upon her.
"And what are you going to be when you grow up, little darling?" The Generals would ask, crouching down to her height to take in the rosy face. Every time, she would answer in a polite, but firm voice
"I'm going to be the second Houlihan to make Major in the United States Army, sir. Maybe I'll even make it to Colonel. Or General!"
Then the man, whoever he was, would laugh from deep in his belly and stand up, clapping a hand to her father's shoulder and making some remark about her sense of humor. That was how it went all night. But when the conversation died down and the floor was cleared, a slow, soft music filled the air that simply enchanted the little girl's soul. Slowly, couples filed into the middle of the hardwood floor and began to dance. Mostly they were Generals and their wives but the slow, rhythmic swaying caught her attention and held it there.
She remembered one night, long ago, when her father was off-duty on one of the many bases they had lived at over the years. The same sort of music was drifting into their quarters from down the hallway and her beloved father had settled her atop his own feet and danced gently with her, smiling in that way that only a loving father could.
During a pause in conversation she looked up, smiling that beautiful smile, and tugged on the pressed brown sleeve of her father's Class-A uniform. He glanced down at her, his face emotionless, as she whispered
"Daddy... will you dance with me?"
His face creased with an unreadable expression and he simply went on talking to his companion, as though she had never said a word.
As though she wasn't there.
During that one moment, her soul was crushed. The light in her blue eyes was extinguished and her smile faded. Turning, she walked quickly away from her father, intent on locking herself in the nearest latrine. She was halfway to the door when, with an unpleasant jolt, she collided with a young boy who blushed furiously and mumbled
"Excuse me, miss. Did I hurt you?"
His smile was genuine, and she knew at once that he was just a poor Army brat like her, desperate for a friend his own age. Rather than replying, she drew herself up to her full height, barely an inch above the boy, and narrowed her eyes in a look so cold it would have put ice to shame. Head held high, she swept past him and out the door.