Carter decided that it was safer to stay in the cooler until the results for the PBAs were in. That way the others would be more concerned with announcing the winners than berating him for hitting Colonel Hogan over the head. Maybe they would forget completely. Or maybe that conk on the head had restored Colonel Hogan's memories and he would be the hero!
Or maybe they would get on his case anyway.
Anyway, on April 6th, Carter used pushed back the stone block covering the entrance and crawled out of the cooler and into the tunnels. He found the others, except Colonel Hogan, gathered around Kinch's radio, going through a bunch of papers.
"Hiya, fellas," Carter greeted. The others looked up at his arrival.
"Hey Carter. Enjoy your vacation?" Kinch asked.
Carter shrugged. "I wouldn't recommend the accommodations. On the other hand, the food was terrible. How's the colonel?" he asked tentatively, trying to tamp down his hope.
"He still thinks he's seventeen. He was madder than a wet hen when he found out you hit him on the head, but I think he's calmed down by now," Newkirk informed him.
"He is very excited that the votes are finally in," LeBeau added.
Carter let out a little sigh of relief. Well, his plan hadn't worked, but at least Colonel Hogan wasn't going to court martial him- for now anyway. "Boy, I'm excited too. I can't wait to know which stories won. I could plotz!"
LeBeau tugged on Newkirk's sleeve and leaned over to whisper, "Qu'est-ce que c'est 'plotz'?"
Newkirk raised an eyebrow. "I don't ruddy well know, mate. I think he's spent too much time in the cooler."
"All right," Kinch said, shaking his notepad in the air, "I think I have everything totalled."
The others eagerly leaned in. "Well? Which stories won? Don't dawdle, out with it!" Newkirk said.
Kinch cleared his throat and stood up. Carter patted the desk, providing a bit of a drumroll. "Thanks, Carter. Let's start with the winners for THE BEST SNAPSHOT!"
THE WINNING STORIES
BEST SNAPSHOT
GOLD
Oberst vs the Paperwork
by Visage
SILVER
Rich Man, Poor Man, Every Man in Line
by Abracadebra
BRONZE
Klink's Mini Monocle Madness
by baja_king
And
Promises
by Visage
And
The Smoke-out
by katbybee