Chapter Six
August 1942
I felt the fire of a burning question
Jo woke on Friday with a pounding headache. She took two aspirin while getting ready in the bathroom, and that seemed to help. Last night's telephone conversation with Will had gone basically nowhere. He'd admitted to lying to her after Jo asked him point-blank, which she was not surprised about. But she was still in Georgia and still had a decision to make. The fact that it was based on a lie meant nothing when it came down to what needed to be done. She'd hung up the phone with more uncertainty than she'd started with.
Now, as she sat in the dim, early-morning light of her hotel room, Jo felt a rush of anger, and what bothered her the most was that she didn't know where to direct it. Not at Will – she knew he had been trying to help her, and not at Sink or anyone at Toccoa – they' d had no idea about what would happen. The only person left was herself.
Did she want to be a paratrooper? That was the sixty-four dollar question, and Jo could not, for the life of her, seem to answer it. Maybe what she needed was more time, but she was unsure of even that. But - and Jo's apprehension hinged on it - maybe it wouldn't be such a horrible thing to get swept up like this, in something bigger than herself. She was the only person there was to answer to. Maybe this was a good idea.
Walking silently through the rows of buildings, Jo made her way to the main office. Today was even hotter, and her blue dress stuck to her legs as she opened the door and felt the somewhat cooling breeze from the clunky metal fan resting on the receptionist's desk.
The woman, who Jo had found out was named Trudie, directed her again to Sink's office.
"They've got everyone in there," she whispered loudly. "General Taylor himself came down from New York special."
Oh boy. Jo took a deep breath, suddenly feeling dizzy. She gripped the side of the desk and tried to steady herself.
"Are you all right, dear?"
"Oh, um, yes, I'm fine. Fine. Totally fine," Jo answered, somewhat breathlessly. She seemed more like she was trying to convince herself than Trudie. She had a decision ready, but had been hoping that more information would be given to her. She was open to amending her decision, but she was not prepared for this. It sounded like an interrogation.
Sink opened the door then, and gestured for her to come in. We're ready for you, Miss Brandt."
Jo took another deep breath, trying to calm herself. Sei tapfer, Josfina. Sie können dies tun. Be brave, Josefina. You can do this.
She walked in with legs that suddenly felt like they weren't her own. When Sink asked her to sit, she was more than relieved.
When she looked up, she could see everyone in the room. Sink sat at his desk with a man Jo guessed to be General Taylor. She didn't see anyone else, like Trudie would have led her to believe. However, Jo wouldn't put it past anyone to hide behind a door or in the corner. She glanced over her shoulder nervously.
"Miss Brandt, General Maxwell Taylor." He shook her hand with a iron grip, and Jo tried not to wince.
After they had run through routine pleasantries, Taylor gave Sink a look that suggested they had better get down to business.
"So, Miss Brandt, you want to join the paratroops?"
"Yes, sir." The words sounded foreign to Jo, and her voice shook ever so slightly. She hoped Taylor wouldn't notice. Say yes now, get used to it later.
"What abilities do you possess that you believe qualify you for a place in this unit?"
"Well, sir, I believe I am prepared enough for all the physical requirements, and, sir, if I were to go into battle I'd want to know that the person next to me was trained to be the best." It wasn't a lie.
"And my skills as a translator, if they were needed – I speak German fluently," Jo added, almost as an afterthought.
Taylor nodded forcefully. "What is your recommendation, Colonel?" he asked, addressing Sink.
"Sir, I believe Miss Brandt has the qualifications. She writes very well. She seems extremely competent, and ready to take on challenges. If she were a man I'd say yes right on the spot."
"If she were a man" Taylor echoed. He looked straight at Jo.
"Miss Brandt, as a woman in an all-male fighting unit, we are not going to make any sort of special accommodations for you. None. You will be expected to live with the men as any other recruit would, and complete the same training to the letter. No exceptions will be made on your behalf, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir, I do." Jo sensed that Taylor felt she wouldn't make it through one week, let alone a year. A sudden flame rose up in her, sparking anger and defiance. She would show him that she could handle herself as well as any man, or even better. She would prove him wrong.
"All right, then." Taylor gave Jo a last nod.
"Well, Miss Brandt, welcome to the paratroops. We will provide complete instructions tomorrow when you return to the barracks. Reporting time is 7:00 AM sharp"
"Yes, sir."
He got up then, and so did Jo, and then Sink. She shook both their hands and left, surprised at how short the meeting was more than anything else. The realization of what she had just signed up for had not begun to take. Walking briskly past the front desk she said a quick goodbye to Trudie and rushed back to her room to telephone Frankie about shipping some of her stuff back to Philadelphia. Distracting herself seemed to be the best way to put off thinking about what would happen tomorrow. After a quiet dinner, she fell asleep with a book in her hand, not even guessing in the slightest as to what the next day would bring.
