A/ N I'm sorry it's been awhile since I updated but quite honestly, I was stuck but I think with the help of the People's Sgt, I got unstuck so here we go on the life of Sherman Potter!

As far as I know, they never did name the nurse that Sherman had the affair with so I will.

Also in the last chapter, I had named Sherman's daughter Sherry but it was really Evy as one reviewer pointed out, the writers of M*A*S*H kept us guessing at things as they kept going back and forth on different things.

Sherman is on the couch with his granddaughter Misty reading to her from the book of 'Black Beauty. His other granddaughter Kim laid down on the floor in front of the old black n' white television set and a voice comes booming out and it said; 'We are proud to announce that you will be watching Guy Lombardo and his royal Canadians, broadcasted from the ball room of the Waldof-Austoria hotel, here on CBS' A roaring fire is growing in the fireplace to warm them on New Years Eve . The television is not loud enough to drown out Sherman's words as he reads the last lines of the chapter to Misty, 'After this we continued our journey, and as they got out of the cab, our friend was saying, 'My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong, that we have the power t stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt'.

He closes the book and smiled at Misty and she looked up at him and she said, "Thank you Grandpa." She then shimmered down the couch to lay down on the floor with her friend, Kim.

Mildred went over and sat down next to her husband and he looks at her lovingly and they put their old, frail hands in each other and then look at the television to watch Guy Lombardo and his band play a song and Mildred looks at the clock on the wall and saw that it said 11:03 then she turned to watch t.v. then they hear a knock on the door and Sherman said, "That's probably Margaret, She said she might come over with Daniel since Hawkeye is working." Mildred then said, "Busiest night of the year for doctors, New Years."He smiled at her than got up and answered the door. Sherman's neighbor, Jerry comes in. and he said, "Hi Sherman, I hate to bother you but we got a problem."

Sherman looked at the other people with Jerry, Jerry's wife Mildred and about 3 other families with him and Sherman said, "Well, you best tell me, I'll do what I can." Jerry than tells him, "Well, it seems like their is a power surge going on in the neighborhood and it seems that you are about the only house around that has electricity." Sherman looks at he freezing children snuggling in their coats for warmth and he said, "Good Lord, get everybody in!"

Mildred jumps up and she said, "I'll go get some blankets and bedding together." Just then a plump red haired woman in a blue plaid flannel shirt and jeans comes in and she holds an armful of blankets then said, "I bought some Mildred but we are going to need more." "OF coarse, come on Lisa. Sherman,, you best go see about the other heaters in the house, we may have to set some neighbors up in the den."

Jerry than said, "I can't believe how cold it is and it's not even snowing." Sherman nods his head then said, "It will be before long, Radar tried to tell those numbskulls at he station that it will be but they didn't belive him, I think they learned their lesson, Radar's sense about whether has only got keener since we left Korea; don't ask me why but I think it has something to do with those colder than the devil's ice heart winter's over there and now they will be holding their..." He remembers his young granddaughter over on the floor and he quickly changes his words, "Heads in their hats!"

Misty than stands up and proudly said, "My daddy knows everything!" Sherman chuckles then two boys come in and one boy who is a tall, red haired boy who looks about 9 and another boy who looks about 8 and the red-haired boy says "H, hi Misty" She sees her two friends and she said, "Come over here Georgie , by the fireplace!"

Both boys walk over to the roaring fireplace and warm up and Sherman said, "Let's go into the den and check on the heater in there, let me warn you; it's an old one, It's one of the first things we bought when I became a full-time doctor." Jerry nods his head and they walk down the small hall and Sherman opens the door and Jerry sees a den that is full of Sherman's life. The first thing is sees is a sturdy bookcase full of medical knowledge, He saw a picture of a beautiful blond-haired girl and it has a small golden nameplate underneath that says 'Evy'. Then he saw a painting g of Evy in the exact poise then he looked around the room and sees pictures and paintings of horses Sherman has had throughout the years. He saw a picture of a young fifteen year old Sherman with four guys and a small girl, he saw a picture of a man and woman holding hands that is simply labeled 'Mom and dad', Then he saw a series of paintings that he knows is Sherman's family from the 4077th in Korea then he saw some fresh new paintings of Misty and one called 'Steed stable',

He then watched Sherman walks over to a heater that he recognizes as a 1930s Parlour stove, the stove is blue and white, about a foot and a half tall,sitting on claw legs/ Sherman opens a little door and sees that it runs on coal and Sherman said, "Mildred bought this in the winter of 32, she just fell in love with it and never could get rid of it so we do our best to keep it in shape. I know we ought to get rid of it and put something more modern in but, well..."

Sherman reaches over to pic up a small bag of coal and Jerry looked around the fine den then he said, "Um, Sherman, now that I got you alone,there's something I want to talk to you about..." Sherman empties half the bag in the stove and he picked up the fire poker and moves around the coals and looks at his friend and neighbor then Jerry goes on, then asked. "What is it son?"

Jerry looks around with a worried look on his face than he takes a breath then says, "Well, it's just that Millie and I, well, she's taking this class at college...they are at night and since she's not at home to fix my supper, well, I've been eating out a lot and there's this young waitress at the diner where I eat; her name is Lori, she's a short little thing...funny, attractive...and I'm starting to have these warm, fuzzy feelings and...I feel like a heel."

Sherman puts down the fire poker amd he went to sat down in a bright ruby-red wing chair and he asked, "DO you love her? Do you love Millie?" He nods his head then san said, "Yes but..."

Sherman put up his hand and he said, "Don't do it son, it isn't worth it." Jerry looked at him and arched his eyebrow asking a silent question then Sherman just nods his head and he said, "Yes, I had an affair...it was back in '32, just after new years, I guess that's why it's not one of my favorite holidays. Everybody says it's a day to wipe the slate clean and you get to start over..." He shook his head then said, "It just reminds me of how stupid I was and almost lost the best thing I ever had put on me since my mother made biscuits. That might be simple but..."

One morning I came out, I was putting on my suspenders, Evy was 6 months old and she was playing on a blanket on the floor and Mildred was in the kitchen packing up the last few knick knacks we had in there. We were moving to some new housing in St. Louis that she was going to find and rent while I finished up the last few days of my residency. I'll never forget that morning, I went over and kissed Evy, she just cood and giggled like any baby girl seeing her old pop then I went over to Mildred, she put her arms around me and kissed me .

I sat down at the table to eat the meager breakfast that we could afford back then, an orange and a small cup of coffee. She then asked, "How do you feel?" I took a sip then said, "Excited,this is the last few days of my residency but I'm also sad since you are leaving." She smiled warmly at that then said, "I hate it also, I don't have to go Sherman: I can stay." I shook my head and said, "No, go on and find us a place to live but try to find something with a big enough living room and an extra room that I can use as a exam room, I want to put up my shingle as quick as I can."

Mildred then heard Evy coo and she looked over to check on her then said, "I left you the last of the potatoes and some ham left from the other night, maybe you can make a stew for yourself tonight, after that, you're on your own." I laughed then took a bite of one of the orange slices then said, "I better get going, that old truck is taking a few minutes to warm up these days, that L-29 may be on its last legs." Mildred then said, "Hopefully, we can buy a new car when you start your practice." Sherman takes another sip of coffee then said, "Let's not count our chickens before they hatch, let's see how I do in this practice; I may still have to go to work in a hospital someplace" She shook her head then I took the last slice of orange and quickly ate it then hugged my wife then said, "Bye!" I went over and kissed my baby girl on her little hand then left for the hospital.

About 30 minutes later, I walk into the lobby of the hospital and look around The lobby seemed rather cold in appearance except for the nurses desk, at the desk was a woman of a slight build, her hair was midnight black and she had it in acute little bun but she kept little ringlets out in front by her ears that framed her face in such a cute way she had such blue eyes that I have never seen on a person since...her name was Marjorie.

Marjorie looked at me and she smiled and said, "Doctor Potter." I smiled back and tipped my hat and said, "Marjorie" and then after that, the day was busier than bees in a honeycomb. I smiled at Marjorie on the way out and she said, "Have a good night Doctor" I turned and smiled back and said, "I'm going to try." "I'm sure Mrs. Potter will have you a good meal when you get home." "Well, she did leave me some stuff to put together. She left this morning for St. Louis, she's going to try and find a home up there while I finish up my residency here, should be back together in a week or two." "Well, let me know if I can help you. My sister says I'm a good cook." I tip my hat and say, "Will do." Then I walk off for hoe not knowing I made the biggest mistake of my life.

I went home, looked at the potatoes, sliced them thin, reached in and got the ham from the ice box, got some homemade chicken broth one of our neighbors made and fixed myself a small pot of stew. Then I went over and got Mildred's picture in the oval frame and kept it with me the night, I even slept with it on the pillow next to mine.

Things were going as normal, then by the fifth night, it was the next to the last night that I would ever be in that hospital, at least as a resident, I was dragging, it had been an especially hard day, it was just bone weary tried in my body. I went by the desk and Marjorie say m, she looked and she said "Good night", at least I think she did, I was so tired, she could have said a curse on me and I wouldn't have noticed; well, she noticed the sad sack on my eyes and she offered to make me dinner, I thought about what was left in the kitchen, which was just salt and a little pepper, so...I went home with her."

Back in the last forty-five minutes of 1965-

Sherman raises his hand to stop Jerry from asking a question then he said, "No, we didn't sleep together that night but...

Back in January of 1932-

I went back to her apartment the next night and she fixed me another fine supper...nothing really happened but I sat back in the chair, light up a stogie and she actually had some whiskey. But all that night, I thought about her and all the next day as I ran around doing errands to leave there. Well, that night, I went to her place and after another fine supper,another stogie but this time since I wasn't going in the hospital the next day...I drank more whiskey than I planned, we both did and things heated up more in that apartment than the fire roaring in the fireplace.

Eyes roamed, hands felt and kisses were shared. She let down her hair and it fell like a black waterfall then we looked at each other and our thoughts became consumed with knowing each others bodies and so one by one, our clothes came off, we just left a trail of clothes from the fireplace to her bedroom. The next morning, I felt so enormously guilty that I silently dressed and left without even really speaking, I spent that day and the next in a world of guilt then the last day in that town, I went to the hospital, you know to say goodbye to everybody, I knew she would be there at that desk like she was everyday but to my surprize, she wasn't.

I asked Alan about her and he said, she didn't come in. Well, I left and met Mildred in , she met me at the train station with Evy. Everything was..."normal", we kissed, we hugged and the days went on with me and my family but...it wasn't, there was something in her eyes.

Back in 1965-

"So, it isn't worth it Jerry, that look in their eyes, , it just isn't worth it. Could you look at Millie with that look in her eyes, knowing you put it there?" Jerry looks around and he asks, "She never said anything?"

Sherman shook his head and said, "No, but she knew, I don't know how but she knew...you never did answer, Jerry, do you want to put that hurt look in her eye?" Jerry slowly shakes his head "No" than Sherman looks at the stove and feels the heat and he stands up and said, "Let's go "

They go in the living room and they hear Guy Lombardo sing 'Auld Lang Syne' They look down and see all the kids asleep in front of the fireplace, Mildred comes to stand beside her husband and lovingly puts her hand on his and Jerry walks over to his wife and puts his arm around her.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

On another part of the world, Guy is singing the same song on a television set and a woman's elderly voice said, "Please turn tit off." A young man in his 40's gets up from his chair and goes and clicks off the t.v. then he said, "You never did like this song mother"

The elderly woman smiles and she said, "No, I don't but I love you son."

A young nurse comes in and she gently said, "Miss Marjorie, time for your pills."

The nurse hands her some water and the pills then she leaves and Marjorie said, "I love you Sherman." The boy named Sherman smiled and he said, "I love you mom, I best get home to Sandra."

Marjorie smiles and she said, ""Give my love to her and goodnight"

Sherman picked up his jacket and leaves the nursing home his mother lays in and Marjorie looks at the velvet darkness outside her window and she said, "Good night Sherman."