Disclaimer: I don't own MASH, enough said.
A/N – Wow, I updated. I better let you read so then you can review, pretty please.
Her feet ached. She could only wish that very soon her feet would find themselves lying on her cot. A human being can only take so much before every attempt to ignore pain becomes useless. At this moment, Alice couldn't ignore it anymore. 15 minutes 'till the end of her shift.
Aching feet. Ten minutes…
Feet aching more. Nine minutes…
Still aching and still seven minutes to go…
Six minutes…
Three minutes…
Ten seconds…
Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one… Finished. Her feet felt like they were on fire.
Alice Pierce collapsed on her cot with nothing but sound relief to be off her sore and aching feet. She pulled an already opened letter from underneath her pillow that she had received last week. This must be the forty-seventh time she had read it and rereading it wouldn't hurt.
My Dearest Ally,
When do you come home? Honestly, I think everyone gets more paranoid as each day passes. We don't just miss you; we are obsessively awaiting your return. Please tell us if you can. I think the whole gang's a little desperate to hear.
Your news about Wexstan is both surprising and unsurprising. Many soldiers feel they have a sense of duty to finish what they started over there. At the same time, I don't think I could have done what he did. Maybe I'm a chicken, but I can't imagine going back. I so desperately wanted out of Korea, I never would have looked back. That's the difference between him and I. Still, I greatly respect him for his decision. It takes a lot of guts to voluntarily go back to war. For that, I can say he is truly honorable.
I sold Spoony's puppies. It was time for them to go to new homes. I have the money in your bank account for when you come home. Poor Spoony seemed so depressed afterwards and they say animals don't have feelings. I'm not so sure if that's right.
Your Grandmama has taken up knitting again. Let's just hope her sweater stays a sweater this time. We have enough knitted blankets as it is. I just don't understand why every sock, sweater, scarf, mitten, and washcloth somehow turns into a blanket. Do you know why?
I'm doing the best I can with the practice here at home. But I think I might follow Charles's advice and retire finally. It's time to let go. Hey, I might actually have time to golf now.
Keep looking up' when the going gets tough. God bless.
Love,
Grandpapa Hawkeye
One of Alice's dearest friends in the CSH looked at her still form smiling. Maggie carefully placed the worn letter in its envelope and put it under the pillow before covering Alice as she slept. The smiled faded as Maggie remembered her own aching feet. Time to take a snooze too.