Henry paced back and forth in his office, his heart doing double time to catch up with him. He was so worked up that at this point even alcohol wouldn't help.
"Boy, what was I thinking? What was I thinking?" He muttered.
A knock on the door and then it opened. "I don't know what you were thinking, but then again I don't read minds. Should we call Sidney?" Hawkeye quipped in
true Groucho Marx fashion.
"Aw knock it off, Pierce! And cut the wisecracks while you're at it! Can't you see I'm upset here?"
"Well, gee, Henry. I'm sorry. Anything I can do?"
"Oh no, there's nothing anyone can do! He'll never trust me again! "
"Who'll never trust you again?"
"I'm too upset to even drink!"
"Sounds serious. Should I call Sidney?"
"Cut it out, okay?"
"How about if you talk and I'll drink for you?"
Normally Henry would laugh at Hawkeye's stupid, smart aleck comments, but not today. He glanced at Hawkeye, taking note that the captain's smirk had
disappeared, replaced with a look of concern.
"Henry, what is it? You look pale."
"Well… Gosh when a man does something horribly wrong, it's his place to forgive and apologize, right?"
"Um…"
"Am I right?"
"Well, I suppose so, but-."
"So should I apologize or not?"
"Henry, I don't even know what-."
"You're right, Pierce. I should just apologize and say it was all my fault, even though it wasn't right?"
"I-."
"Thanks, I never could have had the courage to do this without you."
"Well, gee, Henry I don't know what to say. I-."
"Look, I've gotta go, but help yourself to anything in the liquor cabinet, all right? Key's around here somewhere. I'll be back soon. There's something I've gotta
do."
"You all right, Henry?"
"Haven't we gone over this already?"
"You're right."
"I am?"
"Just go, Henry! Go!… Do!… Be!"
"Yeah…"
Henry let the door slam behind him and looked around the radio room, dismayed to find it empty. He even looked under the covers of the young corporal's bed,
hoping to find a furry brown teddy bear hiding there. But it too was missing.
Damn..
He considered putting out a search, calling everywhere to see if anyone had seen his friend. But it was wrong. He needed to do it. And he wouldn't stop looking
until he found who he was looking for. He searched the mess hall, the OR, and every tent he could find.
"Damn!" he yelled when he opened yet another tent door. The figure inside turned around and jumped in surprise.
"I beg your pardon!"
"Oh my… Sorry Father. I was looking for Radar. You haven't seen him, have you?"
Father Mulcahy thought for a moment. "Well, now… Actually I did see him earlier. He looked quite upset. Oh dear! I hope he's all right! I tried to get him to talk
to me but he would have none of it. Do you know what's bothering him?"
"Unfortunately I do. Me."
"I'm sorry?"
"So am I. Thank you, Father."
"You're most wel-."
The door slammed behind him and Henry looked around the camp. Why today of all days did the place have to be practically deserted? He almost hoped that a
chopper would approach and he'd hear Radar's voice calling everyone to the scene. But instead the sky was blue and there were no sounds anywhere.
He walked and walked, certain he would go out of his mind if he didn't find Radar soon. The kid couldn't have gotten far, but the fact that his silly teddy bear was
gone was enough to worry a man to his grave. The bear and Radar were closer than Radar was to most of the guys in the 4077.
When he came to Rosie's Bar, he slowed his pace. If he couldn't find the young corporal, he could at least stop for a drink. Maybe it would calm his nerves. The
moment he stepped inside, he locked eyes with the young man who sat at the table alone, drinking a Grape Nehi.
"Um, thanks for the Nehi Rosie, but I lost my appetite." Radar stood and laid a dollar on the table.
"Radar, wait…" Rosie called to him. But Radar kept on walking.
Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar. "Here. I'll get that." He handed the dollar to Rosie and took the one from the table.
"Colonel Blake, what are you doing?" Rosie asked.
"Changing currency. Thanks Rosie."
"But Colonel…"
Blake walked out of the bar, trying to keep up with the corporal, who held that silly bear under his arm. Whomever heard of a kid bringing a teddy bear to a bar?
He almost laughed but stopped in his tracks when he saw Radar turn around.
Oh geez…
The kid was crying!
"Radar…"
Radar resumed his walk, going faster and faster until Henry almost had to run to keep up with him. "I'm not talking to you sir!"
"But you've gotta talk to me, Radar! I'm your commanding officer!"
"Not anymore."
"What do you mean, not anymore?"
"Just what you think it means! I put in for a transfer."
"How the heck can you do that? Someone's gotta sign for it, and I'm the only one who can-Radar, did you forge my name?"
"Yes sir."
"That's illegal as hell and you know it!"
"So throw me in the stockade, all right? I don't care!"
"Radar, wait!"
Radar turned around, his glasses hazy. "What?"
"Look, I… Can't we talk about this?"
"There's nothing to talk about."
"I beg to differ. We've got an awful lot to talk about."
"I don't. You've already said what you wanted to say. The hell with me, right?"
"Radar please… Let's just… Look, let's go back into Rosie's and I'll buy you a beer. And then we'll go to my office and talk, all right?"
"Well… I'd rather have a Grape Nehi, but I don't have any more money."
Blake reached into his pocket. "Oh, that reminds me. Here"
"What's this?"
"It's a dollar. What does it look like?"
"So why are you giving it to me?"
"Because it's yours."
"I don't…"
"It was laying on the table but I took it and gave Rosie one of mine, so now I'm giving you yours back. Or something like that."
"Why?"
"Oh come on, Radar, do I have to explain everything? Just come in with me and I'll buy you anther Nehi, all right? Please?"
"Well…"
"Come on…"
Radar followed him, reluctantly back into Rosie's Bar.
"One Grape Nehi for the Corporal and a whisky for me."
"Should I, Radar?"
"Aw, come on Rosie what do you mean should you? I'm ordering, aren't I?"
"It's all right." Radar said.
"What did you do to him anyway?" Rosie demanded.
"Never mind, just give us the beer and the Grape Nehi and step on it."
"Yes sir."
Rosie took the lids off of the bottles and handed them to Blake. "Enjoy."
"I'll sure as hell try."
"Well try hard, because it look like Radar's about to cry again."
"Aw, knock it off, will ya, Rosie? And don't say a word about what I told you!" Radar snapped.
"You haven't told me anything. Just that you hate Colonel Blake!"
Radar seethed and rose from his chair. "Man, I tell you something in private and you blather it all over the place!"
"There's no one here but you and the Colonel!"
"That's even worse!" Radar said. "He rose from his chair and stormed off, leaving his Grape Nehi untouched.
"See what you did?" Blake asked.
"What I did? You're the one who upset him! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"I am, believe me!"
"Then fix it!"
Henry sighed. "You're right. Rosie, thanks for the beer… and the Grape Nehi."
"No problem. Give Radar a hug for me, all right?"
"Sure thing."
Feeling worse than before, Henry returned to the OR and opened the door. "Is Radar in here?"
"Why would Radar be in here? He's too short to do surgery. He wouldn't be able to see the patient!"
Hawkeye snickered and even Father Mulchay cracked a smile. Imagine, a priest, thinking that was funny!
"Shut your trap, Trapper!"
"What's eating him?"
"Who knows?" Hawkeye replied.
"Never mind, just get on with whatever it was you were doing!" Henry ordered.
"We're playing backgammon. Can't you tell?" Hawkeye shot back.
"Oh for God's sake, Pierce!"
Henry returned to his office, intent on going in but then he caught a glimpse of Radar who was sitting on his bed, clutching his teddy bear. Damn… how many
tears could this kid cry?
"Radar, come in my office please. I'd like to talk to you."
"Yes sir." Radar stood and turned around.
"You can bring him with you. He'll want to hear this too."
Radar looked up. "Sir?"
"Your friend there. Bring him with you."
"Oh…"
Henry walked to his office, hoping like heck that Radar was behind him. But if he wasn't Henry certainly couldn't blame him. He wouldn't want anything to do
with himself either. Especially after-
"Yes sir?"
"Have a seat, Radar."
Radar sat. "Yes sir."
"Here, you forgot this." Henry handed Radar the bottle of Grape Nehi. "I'm not really thirsty, sir."
"Please?"
"No thank you."
"Oh for God's sake, Radar, please take it. You can pour it in the latrine for all I care but please…"
"Oh… all right."
"Great, now we're getting somewhere. Now, look, I know you hate me right now. Believe me, I hate me too, but we have to straighten this thing out."
Radar looked at the ground. "You've already said what you have to say, Sir."
"Aw Radar come on, can't a guy apologize? Look, I'm really sorry for yelling at you, all right?"
"You've never yelled at me like that before, sir. And I don't understand why you did it in the first place. I was only trying to-."
"Look, I was upset, all right? Lorraine and I had a fight over the phone about the cat and the furniture and the kids. I was all worked up and when you came in
and told me that you had forgotten to write that letter that I asked you to write to General Hammond, I just-."
"But I told you I wrote it! Honest!"
"You did? I don't remember you saying that."
"That's because you were too busy yelling at me sir! With all due respect."
"Oh Radar, you know I didn't mean it!"
Radar shot out of his chair "You said mean things about my animals! You said I should just take them into the woods and let them go! They'll die if I do that!
They wouldn't be able to survive! And then you told me to go with them and stay there! Well why don't you go into the woods and I'll run this place? I bet I
could do it better than you! And another thing, I hope your wife buys furniture that you hate!"
"Radar!"
But the kid was gone in a flash, leaving Blake feeling worse than ever.
That night, he couldn't sleep. He walked around the entire camp, wishing that he could keep walking until he got to Illinois. But that would just make him feel
worse and he'd probably walk all the way back. He had to make things right with the kids. He wanted to blame Lorraine. After all, she started the fight. Aw, hell,
who was he kidding? It was his fault for suggesting the grey shag carpeting, when he knew that she hated it. All of it was his fault. He had no one to blame but
himself.
But geez, why did he have to yell at the kid? Radar never did anything to anyone, except annoy Henry to no end with his showing up in his office before Henry
even knew that he needed him. And now he'd give anything to turn around and bump into Radar with a clipboard in his hand that held something to sign. He
was tired, damned tired but he wouldn't stop looking until he found the kid.
Worn out beyond belief, he made his way to post op. Since he felt useless enough, he might as well make amends by checking on the patients. Maybe they
would appreciate his presence. Or not.
He walked in, somewhat relieved to find the place quiet, save for a few patients and nurses.
"Colonel Blake. What are you doing in here this time of night?" Kellye asked.
"Oh geez, can't a man walk into post op without the twenty questions routine?"
Kellye looked stricken by his comment. "I'm sorry sir. It's just that it's… two thirty in the morning and you're not usually-."
"I know. Oh geez, I'm sorry for snapping at you like that. I'm sorry for all of it."
"Are you all right, sir?"
"No, I'm not all right! I always say the wrong things, I can't do anything right! I should just go home!"
"Sir! It's not busy right now and most of the patients are sleeping. I'm just a nurse, but did you want to talk about it?"
"Oh Kellye, you're not just a nurse. You know that. You're one of the best nurses we have here at the 4077. I don't say that often enough and I should."
Kellye smiled. "It's all right. It's nice to hear even once in a while."
"Well, I'm going to start saying it more often."
"Thank you, sir."
"Say, you haven't seen Radar, have you?"
"Sure, he's right over there."
Henry gasped in horror when she pointed to a bed in the corner of the room.
"Oh my God… what happened?"
"Nothing happened, he just…"
Henry rushed over to the bed where Radar was sound asleep holding his bear in his arms. One look at him made Henry want to cry. And God knew that he
hadn't cried since he didn't know when.
"What happened?" He asked again. "Oh God… Is-is he gonna be all right?"
"He's fine, sir."
"Who operated on him?"
"Nobody, but sir-."
"What do you mean no one? You mean he's just lying there with no care whatsoever?"
"Colonel Blake, I promise he's fine!"
"If he was fine, he wouldn't be lying in a bed in post op! Now what happened?"
"Well, he didn't say. He just came in here and asked if he could sleep here. Said he would leave if they needed the bed and go sleep in the Swamp if Hawkeye
and Trapper would let him."
Henry sighed. "Damn it… Do you mind if I talk to him for a minute?"
"Okay, but don't upset him! We almost had to sedate him when he came in here. He was so distressed!"
"Yeah, that's my fault."
"He mentioned that."
"Great."
"I'll be right over here if you need me. I'm warning you though. Don't upset him!" she wagged her finger at him.
"I won't, I swear!"
"Okay, but I'm watching you!"
Henry winced. Geez, the entire camp hated him! He walked over to Radar's bed. The kid was sound asleep, probably dreaming about puppies or kittens or Grape
Nehi's floating in the air. If only Henry's dreams could be so sweet.
He sat down in a chair beside the young corporal and gently touched his shoulder. "Radar? Radar?" His quiet tone did nothing to wake Radar so Henry tried
again, louder. "Radar!"
Radar yelped in surprise and sat up in bed. "What? Oh… It's you." And then he promptly turned over so that he was facing away from Henry.
Just as Henry feared, Kelly stomped over and put her hands on her hips. "What's going on here? Colonel Blake you said you wouldn't disturb him! Now I don't
have authority to throw you out, but I can get it! You know I can!"
"Look, I-I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to him."
"Well, talk fast so he can get some sleep, okay? And for God's sake be nice!"
"Okay, okay! Geez…"
"Radar, look… I-I just want to talk to you for a minute, all right?"
"Well…"
Henry could feel Kellye's glare behind his back and he knew he was treading on thin ice with her. She'd never want to assist him in surgery again. And dare he
think that she might even put in for a transfer? That would be his worst nightmare. Or one of them anyway. They'd never find another nurse like her.
He looked at Radar and sighed. "I promise I won't hurt you. Or at least I'll try not to, all right? And if you really don't want me in here, just say the word and I'll
leave."
Radar brought his bear closer to his chest. "You can stay."
"Boy that's really swell of you, Radar. Really, it's-."
Kellye cleared her throat giving Henry the message.
"Right… Look, Radar, I like you. I like you a lot. And the last thing I'd want to do is upset you, you know? You're a good kid. You're more than that. You're
practically a man. You're more of a man than a lot of people in this camp, including myself. Radar I swear I didn't mean to yell at you the way I did. I just-Oh
hell, I don't have an excuse because there isn't one. I was upset and angry at Lorraine and the cat and I never should have taken it out on you. You've never let
me down once since you've been here. Not once. So what I'm trying to say is… I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of those things I said about your animals. I swear it,
I won't yell at you ever again. Even if you deserve it! And trust me, you'll never do anything to deserve being yelled at. I have a bad temper. I know it. And I
should talk to Sidney to see if there's something I can do about it. I mean I know in the Army you're supposed to be tough but that doesn't mean you have to be
a jerk. Frank knows more about being a jerk than anyone, right?" He laughed out loud. " That was a joke Radar. But anyway, I just wanted to say I'm sorry and I
hope you forgive me, so would you at least lie to me and say that you do?"
His question was met with silence.
"Radar? Radar…"
He smiled when he realized that Radar had fallen asleep. Henry took the bear and tucked it under Radar's arm and then covered them both with the blanket.
"Don't tell anyone I said this or I'll deny it, but I love you Radar."
As Henry stood and turned to leave he heard a faint voice.
"Love you… too."
~Fin~