It was going to be a hard day, Noelle could tell.

She had already gotten into trouble.

Sobel tipped over her bed because the sheet was creased at the bottom.

And when he left, a few of the guys were pissed at her.

Then, Winters got them all lined up outside.

"Alright, you know the drill". He said, "drink everything from your canteen".

It was normal for them to drink every last bit of water before training. They did it every morning, Noelle was used to it. But that morning, it wasn't her greatest morning. And halfway through drinking her water, the liquid sat heavily in her stomach. Still, an order was an order, she had to finish every last bit.

However, as soon as she finished drinking the water, it all projected right out of her mouth, almost hitting Smitty, who yelped and took a step to the side. Before Winters could say anything, Sobel marched right over to her. Grabbing her by the ear, he took her away from the guys and handed her a shovel.

"You have ten minutes to dig me six holes. If you do not complete this task, you're out".

Believe me, she could have run out of that camp and submitted defeat.

So, she got digging.

While everyone started to run up Currahee, Noelle was digging holes.

However, before they left, Winters came over to her.

"Once you've finished, drink more water before you join us, okay?"

God, he was so kind.

Noelle nodded, "yes, sir".

Smiling a little, Winters clapped her shoulder and left.

Sometimes it was nice being alone and digging up holes. Noelle did a lot of thinking during those times. Nothing too complex, she just thought about Hillend, the town and being at the beach, trying to catch some fish for dinner. She'd think about people she never met, though would have loved to meet. Her mother, for example. She never knew her mother, she died once Noelle was born. Noelle bet her mother was pretty, with eyes like hers. She'd imagine her being warm, loving and kind. It was always nice to imagine a person you'd never met. It was nice thinking about a life you craved but could never have. Noelle didn't know why it was nice, but it kept her mind occupied when doing something hard.

Make no mistake, Noelle was used to hard work.

She worked in the pits, was brought up extremely poor.

When you were that poor, you had to get creative and find out how to survive.

Noelle would steal from the farmers. She had to, how else would they eat?

They'd set up traps in the forest, capture a few rabbits or whatever they could get. Noelle was very good at creating new traps. She had always been clever in that sense. She just couldn't read or write well, that was it. One time, she brought home two rabbits, that did them good for a couple of days. But it didn't beat the day Jimmy came home with two pounds and food.

They didn't have good water supply. Noelle would go next door with two buckets every day and use their water for washing and drinking. If they got sick, they'd get medicine from the doctor who lived down the street, who was always willing to help the needy. Noelle could milk it, she could play the victim if it meant they'd survive the winter. And winters in Scotland were horrible.

Noelle completed the holes and ran to join the others up the mountain.

Covered in sweat and mud, already exhausted.

She joined her Platoon and ran up the rest with them.

The thing about Sobel was, he was running with them. You could tell the man struggled but he still did it. He earned a new nickname, the Black Swan, because he ran like a duck. His arms would be flapping around like a bird. It was the craziest thing, what a way to run! And during his flapping moments, he'd shout things at you.

"Hi-ho Silver!"

"The Japs are 'gonna get you!"

"Keep running! You drop out, you're done!"

And they'd all huff and puff.

"Stupid mick". They'd say, "what an asshole".

Whatever helped them get up that mountain, it was said under their breath.

Smitty had the best one, "I'll show you".

And waiting for you at the top of the mountain was Winters, who was second up there.

He'd be encouraging you to keep going.

"I'll meet you at the bottom, we can do this – come on!"

It didn't matter much to Noelle that day, because it was a bad one.

September the fourteenth. She hated it.

Having her bed flipped over, getting sick and then digging holes.

And during the obstacle course, she went and fell off the wall.

Noelle fell back, head smacking on the ground.

It was very painful, and it made her head fuzzy.

Sitting up, she rubbed the side of her head.

"Private! Get up!" Sobel screamed, marching over to her.

Oh, she'd just need to get up.

Noelle clumsily got onto her feet.

Taking a few steps back, she ran and leapt onto that wall. Toye grabbed her arm, helping her up. He gave her a tiny concerned look.

"Okay?"

Noelle nodded, "aye".

"Right, let's go – come on".

She got off lightly with that fall. Her back was sore, it wasn't broken. But her head hurt like hell. It made her dizzy and she felt sick from it. Noelle didn't touch her lunch that afternoon, she just stared at it, feeling her stomach churn at even the smell of food. It wasn't a good day. Everyone had bad days, Noelle remembered when she had the flu but still had to work in the tunnels. She thought that would have been her worst ever day, but worse days followed after.

It was a Monday as well, always the worst days.

Noelle drank a lot of water during lunch, making up for lost fluids.

It was a little concerning when Noelle didn't eat because she loved to eat. Didn't matter how that meal tasted, she'd eat it. Noelle decided to stop playing with her food and she got up, leaving the mess hall earlier than they had to. After putting her food away and ignoring the glares she got from the cooks, Noelle headed outside.

She wondered down the camp, passing the barracks.

They still had fifteen minutes until lectures.

Noelle almost wanted to hide out and skip lectures. Her head hurt enough as it was.

So, when the time for lectures came, Noelle got into the lecture room and sat in the back.

She'd take notes, listen in and try to understand.

One day, she hoped to just get it, like it would all suddenly click into place. When it came to maths, Noelle found that was her greatest struggle and every trooper had to learn basic maths because it came into play when reading a map and figuring out distances and what not. You didn't have to be Einstein, but you did have to grasp basic knowledge.

When lecture ended, everyone cleared out of the room.

They had two hours free time before more physical training.

Noelle stayed behind.

Lieutenant Nixon did the lectures. He was a good guy, a cool-hand.

She wanted to ask the man for help. Because Noelle felt like a failure.

And sitting at the table, watching him. Noelle chickened-out.

She got up, collected her things and scurried out of that room.

Noelle sat on the edge of her bed and pulled off her boot.

Her feet were ruined. They were red, covered in blisters.

The boots were too big and constantly rubbed against her flesh. And when they got wet, it softened her skin, which caused her skin to peel and bleed. They had been like this for a couple of weeks now, Noelle just didn't tell anyone. Besides, her head was sore still.

"Ah…Nelly". Lipton sighed sadly, "why didn't you tell anyone your feet were so bad, huh?"

She quickly put on her sock.

Lipton looked at her for a few moments, with a frown.

"Come with me, alright? We'll get them looked at".

Noelle felt like the world's biggest failure. It was a very scary process when you were injured during training. If you missed out on days, you'd risk getting held back and then placed into another unit. Noelle didn't want that, she liked being in Easy Company.

So, she was very nervous.

Where's Carwood taking me?

It was a small barrack with a red cross painted above the door. Lipton walked in first, Noelle followed shortly after. A few guys were there, she recognised them, Al Mampre, Earnest Oats and Ed Pepping, all Easy medics. Al was assigned to 2nd Platoon, he was a good guy. They liked him, though the medics were often very quiet and kept to themselves.

Lipton figured taking Noelle here, would prevent her from being kept held back. Though these men were still training, they still got to use their tools.

"Sargent". Mampre greeted kindly, "what can I do you for?"

Lipton placed a hand on Noelle's shoulder, "Nelly's having problems with her feet".

"Right…let me take a look". He then looked at Noelle, "Nelly, hop-on up that table there, huh?"

Still a little cautious, Noelle jump on a table.

Mempre took off her boots and socks, exposing her feet.

"Yeah, we can do something – she'll need smaller boots. That's the problem".

"I'll speak with Sargent Diel". Lipton said, "Nelly? I'm 'gonna get the Sargent, okay?"

Noelle gave him a tiny nod, looking down at her hands.

It was a case of giving her feet a good wash, applying a special cream to the wounds and giving her dry socks and smaller sized boots. Noelle wouldn't suffer anymore injuries after that, though it could have turned into something a lot worse if Lipton hadn't noticed anything. The process of getting her blisters tended to hurt but she was used to the odd blister here and there.

Sitting on the table, Noelle looked at everything curiously.

They had dummies, to practice on.

Some of the dummies had needles stuck in their arms, some were wrapped in bandages. These guys must have worked very hard because on top of training with the Company, they had to learn all this medical stuff.

"What'd they teach 'ye?" Noelle asked Mempre.

"How to preform immediate first aid". He told her, "and how to look out for signs for trench foot, frostbite and other ailments".

"Like…getting sick and that?"

Mempre nodded, with a tiny smile. "That's right, Nelly".

"You missed out the part of controlling blood loss". Pepping pointed out with a smirk.

"How could I forget that conversation". Mempre mumbled, shaking his head.

Noelle tilted her head to the side, "how'd 'ye do that then?"

He looked at her, "control blood loss?"

She nodded.

Mempre sighed, "well…you've 'gotta find out what kind of wound you're dealing with first-"

"loss of limb". Pepping said.

"Artery". Oats added.

"If a bullet went through, if it hit an organ".

"Where the exit wound is".

"Once you've figured that out". Mempre said, "then you start applying pressure. The pressure could range from being inside the body, or right above the wound". He said, "it all depends".

"Blood loss is a big deal". Pepping said, "and then you've got your plasma, you inject this baby right here into the veins, it helps the blood volume and blood pressure maintain at a normal level. It prevents shock".

"Then you've got sulfa powder, you put that on an open wound, it prevents infection". Oats added. "And after you've done that, you move the wounded guy out to an aid station, where the regimental doctors and surgeons take over".

Noelle looked back down at her feet.

Mempre smiled, "your feet are a minor case, you don't have to worry about them".

She looked back at him and smiled.

"You'll be back with your buddies once we get you new boots".

Noelle bit down on her lip, "a don't think they're 'ma buddies, not yet".

"You ain't fitting in?" Mempre asked her softly.

She shook her head.

"Well, that's a shame". He said, "you seem like a sharp kid".

"Sharp?"

Mempre chuckled quietly, "yeah, you seem bright – you know, clever".

Noelle raised an eyebrow, "don't take this the wrong way but…'a think that's silly".

"Why's that?"

"Cause no one's called me bright before".

Mempre gave her a sad sort of smile, "well, maybe they weren't so bright, huh?"

Noelle looked up at him and smiled. "Ta".

"Does that mean 'thanks?"

She nodded.

Mempre smiled back at her, "well, you're welcome, Nelly".

Noelle decided she liked the medics.

Diel gave her new boots, they fit much better, though still a little big but it was the best they could offer her. Noelle had tiny feet, she was a small girl. Even her uniform was too big, but she never complained about it, not once. However, Guarnere, he got a hold of her uniform that night and adjusted it for her.

"My Pop, he's a tailor". He told her, "I learned a few tricks from him, kid".

Noelle was in her PT gear, sitting on his bed beside him.

"What'd the docs say about your feet?"

"Said it were fine". Noelle mumbled softly.

"Good". He nodded, "well – least you won't be assigned to another unit, huh?"

"Aye – that would be bad, eh?"

"For sure, Nelly".

With her uniform tailored, Noelle felt things starting to fit into place.

That night, she got into her bed and brought out her notepad.

"Jimmy,

Happy Birthday.

Luv,

Noelle".

Things were staring to click into place for Noelle.

After lectures, she was handed back a worksheet they had to complete during class.

The guys all passed, everyone was relieved.

For Noelle, she had been dreading this moment.

Earlier that day, she threw-up in the latrines. The nerves were terrible.

Noelle found it hard to concentrate and ended up falling off that wall again.

She didn't hurt her head that time, though did give her arm a good knock. Thankfully, it wasn't broken but Noelle was angry with herself for not paying better attention. She was getting fitter, Noelle could do the obstacle course and complete it with her Platoon. She could do thirty push-ups, pull-ups and one hundred sit-ups. Better still, Noelle could reach the top of that mountain in twenty minutes, with the rest of the guys. It was crazy, it used to take them over forty minutes to run up that mountain and now, in just over a month, they had cut that time in half.

She had proved herself physically.

And her rifle, that weapon was her best friend.

Noelle treated it with a lot of care and fired it with meaning. Her target shots were greatly improving. She wasn't as good as Shifty, Sisk or McClung but she was decent for someone who hadn't even touched a gun before. Emotionally, Noelle was pretty strong. Mentally, that tore her up. She was still slow, not very quick to think on her feet. But she was finding that she could follow orders better now, without asking, "how do I do that?", or "why do I need to do that?"

Easy were shaping up to be a great Company, one of the best out of 2nd Battalion.

They trained a lot harder than Dog and Fox.

More runs, more marches, more physical demands.

Noelle couldn't believe she was still around.

However, sitting in this classroom, with a worksheet marked and placed in front of her, she could feel herself start to shake. Noelle flipped the worksheet over, staring back at it. This was just a general understanding of what they had gone over for the past month. Maps, compasses, tactics and general maths.

"Well done, everyone". Winters said, "you've all passed".

It was true, they had all passed, even Noelle.

It wasn't a big deal for some but for people like Noelle and Toye, it was a huge deal.

Noelle had just passed, by the skin of her teeth.

Four more wrong answers, she would have failed the test.

Everyone was clearing out of the barrack, Noelle was still staring at this worksheet.

Her brown eyes, they were filling with tears.

"Private Stewart?"

Noelle looked up from her worksheet.

Winters tilted his head to the side, with a tiny smile.

"Lectures are over".

"Sorry, sir".

Noelle quickly got up from her seat, taking her sheet.

Biting down on her lip, she looked up at Winters. "Can 'a keep it, sir?"

Winters looked at the worksheet, she was holding onto it tightly.

He gave her a tiny nod, "you may keep your work, Private".

This bright smile reached her face, "thanks, sir".

Not failing that test, was Noelle's greatest accomplishment in her sixteen years of life.

You couldn't have painted a happier person.

But, like most things, people ruined that moment.

When Noelle was making her way to the barracks, 1st Sargent Evans stopped her.

"Private, you can't take that with you".

"But –". Noelle was about to tell him Winters allowed her to keep the worksheet. She didn't, because she couldn't put the man under the bus. "Okay, first Sargent".

Evans snatched the worksheet from her hands, looking over it.

"This is terrible, Private".

Her heart sunk like a ship.

"You'll need to re-do the test".

Sighing quietly, Noelle nodded.

"Okay, Sargent".

She had to trail behind him while he told Sobel.

God, Evans could have let this slid, so easily. But his only friend in Easy was Sobel, who he worked closely with. And the only person Sobel liked, was Evans. Of course, the CO made a huge deal out of this and ordered her to take the test again, and again – until she got it right. It wasn't a hard task, she just had to correct the answers she got wrong. And if she got only two of them wrong, Sobel told her to do it again.

Noelle was sitting in that lecture room for hours.

She missed target practise and she missed supper.

Her mind was fried. Noelle didn't know how long this would take.

But at eight, that night, she finally completed the task and got it right.

"You're dismissed".

Noelle, relieved, left the lecture barrack and made her way to bed.

She wasn't bright, Mempre was wrong.

Noelle felt like an idiot, a huge idiot who was dragging everyone down.

"He gave you, what? A dozen chances". Malarkey said to her.

She nodded, staring down at her boots, while she sat on the edge of her cot.

"You don't look happy". He pointed out quietly, "you passed, Nelly. You should be happy".

Noelle slowly looked up at him.

"Happy?" She whispered, "'a failed".

"No, you didn't". Muck said, "you passed, Nelly".

It didn't feel like she passed.

Murphy kicked off her boots, took off her uniform and got into bed.

Exhausted, she fell asleep before lights out.

When Sobel got promoted to Captain and Winters as 1st Lieutenant, Sobel had to take out his jealousy and aggression onto his Company and he did this in a very cruel way. First off, he told them to eat up, they were having lectures after lunch, no more runs or obstacle courses. So, they all stuffed up on spaghetti. It was very tasty, even though some complained it was only noodles with ketchup. Noelle enjoyed it, she ate every last bit.

However.

Sobel and Evans soon came charging into the mess hall.

"Orders changed! Easy on your feet, we're running Currahee! Three miles up, three miles down! Hi-ho silver!"

How bittersweet, after enjoying lunch, now they all had to run on a full stomach.

It was a miserable run, everyone was puking.

Sobel would poke fun, offer them an ambulance ride back down the mountain.

But you couldn't stop, even if you were chucking up, you had to keep running.

Running and vomiting wasn't an easy task, Noelle found.

She got it everywhere, all down her shirt and her boots. That was going to take ages to clean, she was more pissed off at that than anything else. Noelle would heave, vomit would come out, she'd cough, and someone would slap her on the back. And when she was puking, she'd do the same for the guy next to her.

They all truly hated Captain Sobel.

When they got back, they had to quickly shower and change for tonight's march.

Everyone was rushing around, trying to get the stains off their shirts.

Soap, warm water, it was everywhere.

Noelle scrubbed to no end and once that was drying, she moved over to her boots.

"That fucking asshole". Toye was grumbling, "that fucking asshole".

"Yeah, he's an asshole". Liebgott muttered.

"There was no Goddamn need for that". Grant said. "None at all".

"So, he's an asshole". Guarnere mumbled, "so, what? We can't stop it".

"He's right, we just 'gotta keep going". Muck pointed out, "let's show that ass who's boss, huh?"

"He is the boss, Skip". Malarkey smirked.

"Well, I know that, Don". He said, "but, we just 'gotta show him that he can't tear us up".

Noelle paid no mind to their complaints, everyone complained.

She complained, sometimes. Mostly about lectures or digging holes.

Noelle was humming a song under her breath, one she had heard on the radio.

She couldn't remember the name of it but loved her voice. Noelle was never a music fan, not until Malarkey, Muck and Penkala would sit her down and force her to listen to all the greats. Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Bing Crosby. And the female artist she couldn't remember the name of, the song she was currently humming.

"You remember that one, huh?" Penkala asked her softly.

Noelle stopped humming and looked up at him.

"What's the name?"

"Summertime, Billie Holiday".

Noelle smiled, looking back down her at boots. "Oh, aye". She said, "'a like her".

"Me too". Penkala said, "some of the fellas, they don't".

"They 'no like her voice?"

He frowned a little, staring down at her.

Did she have no idea?

"What's it like in Scotland, Nelly?" He asked, "do people – do they all get along?"

Noelle scratched the end of her nose. "How'd you mean like?"

Penkala sighed softly, shaking his head. "Well…do you know Billie is African American?"

She shook her head, "'a 'didn't know". She then asked, "is that…like, is that bad?"

"No". He said quietly, "no, it's not bad at all, Nelly".

Noelle nodded a little, "aw, good. Cause 'a like her loads".

Penkala smiled.

"She sounds like an angel".

"She wrote a good song called Strange Fruit". He told her, "I think you'd like it a lot".

"Will that be on the radio thingy?"

Penkala shook his head, "no…it won't".

Noelle frowned, "that's 'no fair, eh? Bet it's cracking".

He smiled again, "it's a very good song, yeah".

She then cleared her throat, "and by the way".

"Yeah?"

Noelle's eyes shifted into a look no one had seen before.

"Not everyone gets along".

The way she said that, sent a tiny shiver down his spine.

And he wanted to know but he was scared to find out.

Penkala looked down at her boots, "they look good, Nelly".

Everyone was ready for the night march after supper.

When the other Company's were getting ready for bed, Easy were forced for a twenty-mile march that night, in complete darkness. Sobel wouldn't be attending this one, he'd be waiting with Evans by the barracks, making sure they made it back on time with their canteens full. He sometimes attended the marches, though it was usually Winters leading them.

Twenty-miles.

Next week, it would be twenty-five.

Jesus, how much would they be doing by the end of their time here?

Noelle had noticed how her eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness.

The others were finding the same. It was like having night vision. And from these marches, it brought out a new strength in them because it didn't matter how tired they were, they found that they could push past the tiredness and carry on. Noelle found a sense of comfort from hearing their own boots march against the ground. It was weird, gave her a sense of belonging.

If the guy in front of you swayed, you'd give them a tiny poke on the back.

They'd snap out of it and continue.

When Noelle stumbled, the guy behind her poked her a little too hard and she fell.

It caused a stop in the march.

"Nelly". Malarkey sighed, grabbing her arm.

"Sorry". She whispered, while he helped her back up.

"Everything okay?" Winters asked, who had come back to check.

"Fine, sir". Malarkey replied, "she tripped".

He nodded, looking over at the girl. "Okay, Private Stewart?"

"Yes, sir". Noelle said, "sorry, sir".

"That's okay". He replied smoothly, "alright – pick it up, Easy".

Grumbling, they continued the march quietly.

Malarkey looked down at the girl.

"Okay?"

Noelle nodded, "aye, fine".

Guarnere turned around, "you two, keep quiet".

"Right". Malarkey smirked, "sure thing, Bill".

Noelle grinned, looking down at the ground.

Looking back up, she looked towards the trees. They were strange at night, looking more like looming shadows and between the branches, bushes created faces and figures. Noelle remembered when she thought she saw another person in the tunnels with her, the darkness likes to play tricks with you. It heightened your senses, made you feel more nervous somehow. She used to get scared walking home along after work, because she had to cut through a graveyard. And it wasn't until one of the workers said to her;

"the safest place to walk, is through a graveyard. No one can hurt you there".

That's when Noelle started to feel better about walking through that graveyard.

Human's could be cruel, extremely cruel.

Men would beat their families, women would turn to alcohol.

Kids would hurt other kids.

And the police would attack the innocent.

Noelle had seen a lot of messed-up things. She had been into trouble with the police a lot. For stealing, mostly. Other times, Noelle hadn't done anything. Jimmy was always taking the blame, always tried to keep Noelle out of trouble but it was hard, when trouble always found them, no matter how hard they tried to keep things in secret. She was too young to see the problem, and even to this day, Noelle still didn't see the problem.

"It's all my fault, Noelle".

Blinking, she looked away from the trees.

Noelle swallowed back the tightness in her throat. It didn't do her any good thinking. Just made her weak and more vulnerable to Sobel. And that was the last thing she needed.

When they got back, Sobel was mad at Winters because they were running late.

He was also extremely mad at Christenson, who took a drink from his canteen.

Christenson had to repeat the twenty-miles alone.

When they got back into the barracks, they had to get ready for inspection the next morning.

So, it was cleaning and ironing.

Noelle placed her uniform on the table and picked up the hot iron.

She did what she usually did, only this time, the iron went right over her hand.

Letting out a tiny yelp, she dropped the iron and it landed on her foot.

"Aw, shit!"

A few heads turned then, they'd never heard her curse before.

Some of them laughed, while Diel picked up the iron.

"What did you do?"

Noelle was clutching her hand, "ran it over 'ma hand, Sarge".

Diel sighed, "Jesus Christ, Nelly – alright, come with me".

Placing a hand on her shoulder, he quickly let her out of the barrack and into the latrines.

Turning on the cold tap, he took her hand and stuck it under the water.

Noelle bit down on her lip, "that's cold!"

Diel raised an eyebrow, "good".

"It's sore".

"Yeah, I bet, kid". He shook his head, "you're lucky it ain't worse".

Noelle looked up at him, "it's 'no bad?"

"No, it's fine". Diel's voice softened a little, "just 'gotta be more careful, alright?"

She kept it under the water for five minutes.

Noelle pulled it back, when the water dried from her hand, it started to hurt again.

"Can 'a do it again?"

"We don't have time".

She pulled a face, "but it's sore, Sarge".

Diel shook his head, "sorry, kid. You're just 'gonna have to ignore it".

When they got back into the barrack, Muck and Malarkey were ironing her uniform.

Noelle's face softened, while she wondered over to them.

Muck smiled at her, "can't be doing this with a burnt hand, huh? Why don't you clean your rifle? We'll do this for you".

She felt her eyes burn a little at the kind gesture.

"Thank you". Noelle croaked, before turning around and walking over to her cot.

Letting out a shaky sigh, she started to take apart her rifle.

Maybe she did have friends after all.

"All my love, Faye".

"Man…you are lucky, Skipper". Malarkey said, "I don't have anything from Bernice".

Muck shrugged, "she's probably waiting for you to write her, Malark".

"Yeah, maybe".

Penkele rolled up an envelope and tossed it towards Noelle.

It hit the side of her face.

Frowning, she looked over at him.

"What?" She mumbled.

Penkala smiled a little, "where's your mail?"

"'No here". Noelle muttered, "how?"

He shrugged, "well – what about your family?"

She sighed, "what about 'um?"

Malarkey's eyebrows formed a small frown. "They haven't written to-"

"so?" Noelle's voice raised a little, "leave off, 'awright?"

The three of them stared at her, eyebrows raised.

She looked back down at her rifle, ignoring their stares.

Malarkey cleared his throat, "I didn't get letters today either, Nelly".

"Okay". Noelle mumbled lowly.

Muck frowned a little more, "does it bother you, Nelly?"

"No". She expressed, "but you's going on about it – does".

"Okay". Penkala raised his hands, "we won't talk about it again, alright?"

"'Awright, good".

Rubbing his lips together, Malarkey turned on the radio.

Noelle raised her head, Billie Holiday was playing.

Lips turning into a smile, she resumed cleaning her rifle and hummed along.

"Summertime and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high".

Malarkey started to sing quietly.

She looked over at him.

"Oh your Daddy's rich and your ma is good lookin'

So hush little baby, don't you cry".

Noelle smiled brighter now.

"You're good at that".

Malarkey looked at her, "what? Singing?"

She nodded, "aye…you sound like them singers on the thingy".

"Thank you, Nelly". He said with a smile, "I appreciate that".

'Goodbye Blues' came on next, by the Mills brothers.

Noelle liked this one.

She liked the guitar solo in the background. She thought it was pretty cool.

Like always, Noelle said, "I wish it were louder".

"Man, you and that guitar, huh?" Penkala smirked, "what about the piano?"

She shrugged, "it's 'awright…'a like the bass and the guitar best".

"Maybe you could learn one day, huh?"

Noelle shook her head, "am not smart enough, Penk".

Penkala waved his hand, dismissing that statement.

"Nelly, you know how to fire multiple weapons, you can learn an instrument".

Biting her lip, she looked up at him.

"You reckon?"

Penkala nodded, "of course, Nelly".

Noelle looked back down at her rifle, "maybe one day, eh?"

Malarkey was leaning back against his pillows, smoking and listening to the music.

Muck was writing up his reply to Faye.

And Penkala was reading a letter from his parents.

Noelle watched them all carefully, before she looked back down at her rifle.

"Don't have parents". She said quietly, so only they would hear.

They soon looked her way.

"Mum died when 'a was born". Noelle said, "dad died too, when 'a was nine".

"Shit, Nelly". Malarkey whispered, after a few moments of silence.

"That's rough, Nelly". Muck added quietly.

She shrugged, "it's fine".

Noelle carefully started to put her rifle back together.

"We managed, eh?"

"Who's we?" Penkala asked her softly.

Shaking her head, Noelle swallowed thickly.

"Doesn't matter". She whispered. "So…'a won't be getting letters or that. Don't worry 'bout it".

They didn't worry about it, they just felt bad about it.

Noelle would never receive a letter from home, she wouldn't get that morale out in combat. It didn't seem to bother her much, but it bothered them a little. It sucked that she wouldn't have that. They felt sad for her. The more they learned about Noelle, the harder her story got. No parents, no money and no school. It must have been tough for her.

And she was a sweet kid, they were beginning to see that.