Sunlight tried creep in through the black out curtains, as my alarm clock rudely informed me that it was time to wake up. Rolling over, I expected to see Joe laying there next me, his hair all a mess. But instead I found a large daisy, one that he must have bought at the crack of dawn, and a hand written note.
"I would have rather been court-martialled for not attending my duty, however I didn't fancy letting them in on the reason why I didn't show up, they might get jealous. Don't worry about anything. You are the smartest person I know and I know we will see each other again.
Ahava Joe."
I frowned as I had no clue as to what "ahava" meant. For almost a second I had forgotten that Joe had told me he wouldn't be there when I woke up. Folding up the note, I placed it my pocket as I got ready for work. Wearing a pair, and throwing my spare OD's (courtesy of George), underwear and t-shirts into a rucksack, I folded my dress uniform, civilian clothes and shoes into my suitcase. If the guys were to come back at some point, then it's logical that I would too. Taking my suitcase downstairs, I left it beside Jenny's and Sophia's. They had packed theirs the night before, before they had headed to the duty bunk. There were a few things that I had to retrieve from Battalion Head-quarters, grabbing my cap and keys I headed out the door. It was strangely comfortable to wear OD's. There was no worrying about the wind and laddered stockings, or if my scars were showing. Walking through town I saw some of the small children from yesterday and their mothers gossiping between themselves. It made me sad to think how blissfully unaware they were of what was coming, of what we were about to head into. The "download" I had received the night of my birthday, had been more of a flash back. I was remembering things I had been taught in the future, about what was to happen now. Only snap shots, snippets of information. "The biggest allied invasion of all time" the unfamiliar voice circled round my head. I knew it was something big, England was the international jump point, but to know how truly big it was, no one knew. It was just a case of wait and see.
Heading up the hill, I saw Lt. Col Strayer heading back the opposite way. Asking his driver to pull over, I saluted. Here we go, I thought. The start of so many goodbyes.
"Lieutenant Reedman. I have just heard from the Colonel that you have received your orders to ship out. I just wanted to wish you all the very best for invasion and hopefully we'll meet again over there." Offering his hand, we shook on it. Lt. Col Strayer had been the unlikely ally against some of the other officers and especially against Sobel.
"Thank-you Sir." I knew there was nothing there was much else to say. Saluting him again, his driver took that as his queue, shifted gear and drove on. Entering HQ, I received the usual "Good Morning" form the duty orderly. The post room was thankfully open, as I need them to know where to re-direct my mail should I get any from my mother between now and god-knows-when. Filling in all the necessary forms I left. The Sergeant had been polite as normal, saying that awful word. Please will you just quit with the good-byes! With my mind consumed in its own thoughts, I never saw the collision that was waiting to happen, as I walked straight into Lt. Thomas Meehan. He had been moved over from Baker Company after Colonel Sink had shipped Sobel off to Chilton Foliate.
Lt. Meehan was a completely different leader to Capt. Sobel and boy did it show when it came to the guys. He was fair and just, although strict at the same time. He was a man who worked for respect as opposed to Sobel who expected it because of his status. Lt. Meehan, was all for the extra medics, even if we weren't the conventional type. He treated me with the same respect he treaded all his other junior officers and certainly no differently because I was a woman.
"Betty? Are you okay? I wasn't looking where I was going?" I was in a world of my own. It was only when I was being yanked to my feet did I even register the fact I had fallen down.
"Erm…yes, I'm fine Sir. You Okay? I'm such a clumsy thing today." I wasn't all there. I had lists of things to do running round my head and all I wanted to do was get out of there. He studied as though I was the morning newspaper, Tom caught hold of my wrist.
"Elizabeth, what's wrong?" It hadn't dawned on me that Lt. Meehan hadn't been at my birthday party. He had stayed behind an extra day to sort out the de-brief for the exercise they had all just come off.
"No-one has told you Sir?" Tom shook his head.
"I got my assignment orders last night. I'm leaving for the coast in the morning." The look that swept across his face was a mixture of anxiety, sorrow and excitement all at the same time. He knew what this meant. If the medics are being shipped out, then it can't be long before the rest of them are called forward.
"Elizabeth, I'm…erm sorry. Good-" I waved my hand to stop him from finishing his sentence.
"Please; please don't mention that god-awful word! I will see you all again. I am not leaving forever. I am just going down the road a earlier than you!" I hadn't planned on using the Company CO as a sound board, but it just happened all at once. Feeling embarrassed, I looked down at my feet.
"It's quite alright. I understand. I will see you again sometime soon." Saluting my CO, he just stuck out his hand. Shaking it, Thomas Meehan smiled. He had been a welcomed breath of fresh air round the Easy Company Head-quarters and I for one would be sorry not to see him on my morning walk.
Heading out the other side of head-quarters, I sat down on the stone steps and pulled out my smokes. Puffing away on the cigarette, I revelled in its magic to calm my nerves. I watched as Second Platoon had hand to hand combat training. Bill and Joe were fighting each other; rolling around on the grass like two school boys. Muck and Penkala were trying to box one another, only to miss every time and poor little Perconte was paired up with Bull, who just towered over him. Joe was fighting with Webster, who wasn't really all that interested and would rather debate than fight. I could tell anyone the smallest detail about each of them. Lipton shifts all the weight to his right knee because of an old football injury to his left. Bull flicks his left wrist whenever he's gonna try and grab you, because it clicks and sometimes locks out and Bill, well he's got a bad elbow from when he fell out the tree house in my back yard after drinking all of Ernie's beer! I sat there in my own thoughts, happily surrounded by the noise of the boys and every day life from the head-quarters. I hadn't planned on crying, at least not here but the reality of leaving them all behind hit me. The idea that I would be separated from them and from Joe, for who knows how long crippled me. Not noticing my new companions I continued to stare, blinking away my tears.
"Gee Dick, you know I think Betty might have something in her eye! She keeps blinking a hell of a lot!" I forced a laugh. You could always trust Lewis Nixon to make light of a bad situation. Throwing his arm round my shoulder, he pulled me in for a one armed hug.
"You'll be fine kiddo. You'll do great." Sniffling a response that mimicked "thanks", I just wiped my eyes with the backs of hand.
"I don't think I can. I don't think I'm going to be okay. How can I go ahead of you lot? How am I meant to find you all when I have to get a dam ship and you guys are going to be jumping into god-knows-where?" My fear was starting to get the better of me and that is the worst thing to have wandering around a training base. It slowly seeps into every man's head and eventually it gets the better of them. Our silent observance of the company was interrupted as Sophia come tearing through the French doors. Skidding to a halt, the need to tell me what ever was going on was impaired by her inability to breathe properly.
"Sophia, calm down. What's wrong?" Flailing her arms around, she just looked at me. The fear and anxiety of what was to come that had plagued my own thoughts was now staring me back at me.
"We…have…to…go….now! The…driver…is…here!" I just looked at her.
"Are you sure? When did he arrive?" I was panicking. Despite my dislike for the word, I hadn't said my goodbyes. I wasn't ready to leave yet.
"He turned up at the house and said that orders had changed and that we were to be ready in an hour…and that was forty minutes ago! I've been looking for you for ages." Sophia started patting herself down for cigarettes, until Lewis handed her his.
"Your bags are on the jeep, you just need to say goodbye." I grimaced at the sound of that word. The definition of "goodbye" is to acknowledge the parting of someone or something. I wasn't parting from anyone. Saying goodbye and meaning it possibly meant that I would never see them again. Standing on the steps, Dick had given the signal for the Company to finish up PT. It was an impromptu gathering that required no introduction, save one.
"Lt. Reedman has been called forward early. She is leaving now. So say what you have to gents and be quick about it." Dick and Lewis moved over to one side. Even though they respected me as an officer and friend, they, or more Dick was a little uncomfortable with my closeness to some of the enlisted men.
It was hugs all round from everyone. Remembering their faces and their mannerisms, I informed them that I would write as often as I could. Some of the guys didn't even get post from home, which was a shame. I hugged Shifty first, who bless, him looked a little embarrassed.
"It's Okay Shifty…no one is gonna tell your Ma!" He mumbled something that sounded like 'Thanks.' Next was Bull. The tank of a man towered over me. Only managing to have my arms around his waist, he wished me luck and told me that he would see me again soon. Next was Joe. I kept telling myself over and over again, that I was not to cry that I was to hold it all together. Smelling his aftershave I could feel myself crumbling. Whispering in my ear that he alone wanted a letter a day, I asked him. "What makes you so special?" I whispered back to the chuckle in his voice. I had to break away from him, more to save my emotions than to save the arousal of suspicion. Joe Toye, ever the gentleman and fine soldier, saluted and then engulfed me a huge hug. I would miss Joe. It was true, just the sound of his voice would make even the worst day that little more bearable. "I will miss you Elizabeth." The devilish grin spread from ear to ear, as he pulled back to kiss me gently on the cheek.
"I will miss you too Joseph." I moved around the rest of the company. Shaking hands or receiving hugs. Through the last four months I had gone from just being their company medic, to their confidante, sister, mother (in some cases) and friend. I reached George Luz who had such a long face.
"Why, you really that unhappy to see me go George?" I teased. He held up a picture of me and a few other guys, George included that had been taken at Christmas.
"I am yes, but also because, well, we are gonna be loosing the best set of legs in the company. No one is gonna want to go running now!" Everyone laughed. It was something that I had noticed, only from a medical point of view, that almost every member of the company attended every PT session there was.
"Well thanks George. If you ever get to be so lucky to meet Rita Hayworth, you just remember to tell her that I'll give her a run for her money." George just smiled. A quick hug and I moved on. The last person in line was, bar Joe, the only other person I did not want to leave. Feeling myself beginning to shake and the tears rolling down my face of their own accord, I hugged Bill has hard as I could. I didn't care that I looked emotionally inept. He was my best friend and for all I knew I was never going to see him again.
"Hey stop ya crying!" Bill couldn't cope with his sisters crying. I was someone that was definitely on his 'I can't handle list.' Holding me back, he just looked at me. The anger and the tension had once been like a brick wall between us was now gone. There was nothing left. The twinkle in his eye, that one of pure mischief was back.
"You're a broad from South Phili and an officer, don't even think of crying!" Pulling me back into a hug I could hear Sophia tapping her toes on the ground.
"Bill, I gotta go. Sophia is waiting for me. I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean any of it. Do you forgive me?" I could feel him take a long breath in. Rubbing my shoulders he breathed out.
"It's not me who needs to forgive you kid, it's you who needs to forgive me. I should never of hit ya. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it. You forgive me?" I couldn't believe this was happening. It was the first time we had ever argued, but now we were all better.
"Yes Bill. I forgive you." Sophia whistled, pointing at the door.
"Come on Betty! We're going to be late!" Dragging myself away from Bill, I hugged Lewis, who was a little shocked to say the least. I just told him to ease up on the whiskey. "You don't know for sure if there's gonna be any left, after all I'm gonna be there before you remember!" Telling me to get outta there I moved over to Dick. Saluting him was, in my eyes the only way to say goodbye to this man. He was by far the best officer, man and friend anyone could have asked for. Extending hands we shook on the fact that we would see each other again soon.
Turning to the window on my right I saw a figure move. Placing my cap on my head and straightening out my uniform, I snapped out the sharpest salute I could find. Taking hint on what and who I was saluting, the rest of the guys followed suit. Receiving one back, I was happy. I had said my goodbyes and that was that. Turning my back on them, all I could down was hold my head up high as I climbed into the front of the jeep and left my boys behind.
