A/N: Quickest update in a while! Here's another chapter to hold you over 'til dinner. Also, I thought I'd share this with you HH fans, I was at the Boone County Extension Office a while back (Boone County is right across the river from Cincinnati) and imagine my delight when I see that the president of the local Homemakers Association in 1948 was a Mrs. Hilda Hogan. I couldn't make this up if I wanted to. I love coincidences.


A woman? Yes. A lady? Not really. The major had mentioned that etiquette had changed and Hogan couldn't get it off of his mind. She showed up in coveralls, and came back from the showers wearing shorts and an undershirt! Not a skirt or a dress to be seen. Plus, if there was any difference between a pilot and a grunt, much less a civilian, then she definitely wasn't soft-spoken and otherwise lady-like. Maybe the major was right; this dinner could be a problem.

When night fell again and the two officers were in their bunks Hogan voiced his concerns. "Major?"

"Yes Colonel?" Amy whispered from the lower bunk.

"I was thinking about what you said today, about your manners being…I guess a little too up-to-date."

"Yes, sir."

"You don't have to be so military all the time." Hogan realized that he'd complimented her on it before. "I just got a kick out of it earlier. We really aren't too concerned with protocol around here."

"Okay."

"Anyways, you are very military, and military isn't lady-like." He paused, hoping that he hadn't offended her. "I think tomorrow we'll work on you."

"Yes, sir." Hogan inwardly face-palmed. This was going to be harder than he'd expected.

ooooo

"How's it going LeBeau?" Hogan asked the next morning.

"Well, she's great with a book on her head, fine posture, but she is too fearless." The Frenchman answered.

"How do you mean?"

"Felix got loose again and she helped us to catch him."

"Gotchya." Hogan watched Amy playing cards with Newkirk. She reminded him of the flappers of the prohibition years.

"She can be quiet, but when asked to speak, she does not honey-coat her opinion." He added.

"Hmm. Well, keep working on it. I'm going to go speak with Hilda about helping the major to 'powder her nose'."

Hogan left the barracks and LeBeau returned to the major's side.

"Now, madam, when you eat, you must use the correct silverware. Always start with the silverware farthest from your plate, and work inwards with each course." Amy put her cards down as a sign of respect, but kept an eye on them. In just a day or so she'd picked up on Newkirk's bad habits.

"Never cut your meat with your fork, or stuff your napkin in your collar. When you eat soup, move your spoon away from you, and sip from the side of it. Don't put the whole thing in your mouth."

"Goodness, with all these rules, you'd be hard pressed to find time to eat." Amy said jokingly.

"You got that right! Now let us get on with our game, Louis." Newkirk interjected.

"Colonel's orders Newkirk. I have to teach the major how to behave at dinner so she doesn't arouse suspicion."

"And I appreciate it LeBeau. I'll try my best to be quiet and sweet." Amy said as she laid down another card.

"Gin!" Newkirk exclaimed.

"You son of a gun."

ooooo

"Ugh, I hate skirts." Amy expressed her disgust while slipping into her 1940s era clothes.

"What do you normally wear then?" Hilda, who looked quite confused

"Oh, nothing." Amy said as a dismissal, rather than an answer.

"Nothing?"

"I mean-just forget I said anything."

"Here, try on this jacket." Hilda held up a tailored-looking jacket with big shoulder pads and Amy inwardly sighed.

Once Amy finished getting dressed Hilda led her into the Kommandant's bathroom to fix her hair and makeup. Her lipstick could stop traffic, and the tools Hilda used in her hair about made her sweat, but when she was finished, she decided that she didn't look half bad for trying to fit in in the forties.


A/N: Alright tell me what you think. I hope I didn't get any of my information wrong. If anyone has any more info on 40s etiquette, I'd appreciate it. Please leave a review.