bob
May 1944
Sitting on the counter by the sinks inside the latrines, Nelly's head looked up when the door opened, and Skip came rushing in with a bag. The young man looked flustered – dramatically so, it was mostly put on show for Nelly to make her smile. And she did smile. Skip smiled back at her and approached Nelly with the bag – which he soon sat on the counter by her leg.
"That was confusing". He said, "I went into a drugstore called Boots – named after a fucking shoe, by the way...".
She chuckled quietly.
Skip's grin widened. "But I got everything. It pays to be an older brother, Nelly". Tipping the bag upside down, the contents spilt over the counter. "So, I got this pink stuff – more pink stuff...lipstick and this...eye paint brush thingy".
Nelly looked at him. "Now...we do it".
"Now we do it, Bilbo". Skip confirmed. "And I'll try not to make you look like Bobo the damn clown".
She chuckled again and shook her head. "You won't...I trust you".
He let out a fake sigh. "See, that's a problem". He picked up one of the "pink things" which turned out to be blusher. Skip didn't have any brushes, he had to use three fingers. Smearing powdered blush onto his fingers he began petting it onto Nelly's cheeks. "Not bad – it's not too pink". He mumbled thoughtfully. "Sort of nice...rosy, pink but lighter – I mean, you're pale, so, I had to go with the lightest shade they had".
"What's a wedding like?" Nelly asked.
Skip hummed in thought before answering. "It's nice...but the party after is better". He said, "My wedding won't be boring, that's for sure".
Nelly could believe that. "You'll...go as Gandalf".
"Damn straight". He said with a tiny grin.
"Faye...she'll like that?"
"Hell no, Nelly". Skip sounded amused. "She'll want me in some nice suit – not an amazing grey cloak, fake beard and staff".
Nelly's lips twitched.
"Close your eyes – I'm done with the first pink thing". Skip instructed.
Eyes closing, Nelly soon felt Skip's finger smearing something across her eyelid. "What is that?"
"I think it's called eye shadow". He said, "Either way, it's pink. I thought I'd get you all matching 'cause your dress is pink too, right?"
"Yeah".
"Man, your cousin is nice". Skip smiled. "Buying you a dress and all for his wedding".
"He is". Nelly agreed. "But no shoes...".
"Where does the dress end?"
"Below my knees".
Skip smiled. "So, you'll be wearing your pink dress and jump boots?"
Nelly frowned. "Bad?"
"Opposite". He said, "It's a complete Nelly thing to do – it's good, buddy". He said, "You pulled it off last time with Ruth's dress, you can pull it off again". Skip rubbed the pink eye shadow off his finger with a paper towel. "Alright – let's do this eyelash thing...eyes open, look up".
The brush smeared black paint onto Nelly's eyelashes, thickening and lengthening them. And after the eyelashes, Skip applied a light shade of pink lipstick onto her lips. He gave a nod to himself – he hadn't done too badly at all. Reaching behind her, Nelly took off her hair tie and her chestnut curls fell just by her shoulders. Skip smiled.
"Brilliant". He said, "But – it needs a comb". He handed her a black comb.
"Water?"
"No – no, no water". Skip said, "Keep it dry. You've already washed your hair".
"Okay". She softly complied and began combing her hair.
As she was combing her hair, Buck walked inside the latrines. "You almost done, sport?"
"Yeah, sir". Nelly replied.
With a grin, Buck closed the door. "Let me see". He approached Nelly and stood in front of her. Skip beamed proudly at his work of art on Nelly's face. "You look great, Nelly". Buck smiled.
With a nod, Skip looked at his nails. "I did that".
Buck sent Skip a tiny frown. "The make-up?"
"Yup". He let out a sigh. "Good job, if you ask me".
"Where in the hell did you learn?"
"My sister". Skip said, "Anyway – it doesn't matter...point is, Nelly looks great".
Clearing his throat, Buck got rid of the frown and smiled at the girl. "Where's your dress?"
She gave a nod to a stall – the dress was hanging on a hanger on the door. "I just pressed it".
"Looks nice". Buck approved. "Not a crease in sight".
Jumping off the counter, Nelly walked toward the stall. Grabbing the end of the dress, she yanked it off the hanger – the two men cringed. "God, be careful...". Skip said.
And she trailed it inside the stall.
"Oh, God...the bottom...". Buck cringed again. "It's trailing across the damn floor".
Nelly was obvious. Entering the stall, she closed the door and set the dress down to take off her fatigues. The men could see the dress sitting in a pile on the floor. Skip ran a hand down his face and looked at Buck. "She's not used to dresses...". He excused her.
"Clearly". Buck remarked quietly with a tiny grin.
Nelly stepped into the dress and pulled it up. Arms going through the short leaves, she tried to pull the zipper up at the back but found the task impossible. Nelly sighed. "Skip...".
"Yeah, I'm coming". Skip approached the door. "Is it open?"
"Yeah".
Entering the stall, Skip zipped up the back and fastened the buttons by her neck. Nelly walked out of the stall and sat on the ground to put her boots on. Buck's hands shot up in the air. "Sport, what in the hell...".
Skip chuckled. "She needs a break from us fellas".
"She's 'gonna ruin that dress". Buck commented.
Skip sent him a grin. "Now you know how Joe feels – frustrated, always". He said, "One hour before we met Ike and Churchill, Joe was fussing over Nelly's Class A because she got straw all over her uniform from being in the barn".
Buck snorted out a tiny laugh. "Poor Joe".
Rising to her feet, Nelly brushed off her dress and looked up at the Lieutenant. "I'm ready, sir".
He smiled. "Alright...let's go watch your big cousin tie the knot".
...
Edwyna Griffiths made a beautiful bride. The happy couple tied the knot a Saint Michael's Church in Aldbourne. Nelly had enjoyed watching the ceremony. She felt her heart burst over her cousin getting married, it was such a happy event. Aldbourne's vicar, Reverend J.S Elliot officiated the wedding. And Edwyna's sister Kathleen was maid of honour. The knot was tied on a bright but mild Sunday afternoon.
"You may kiss the bride". The Reverend smiled.
And grinning, Buck jokingly covered Nelly's eyes. So, she missed the first kiss as newlyweds. But Nelly did see the couple's smiling faces once the kiss ended. Smiling, Nelly clapped along with the rest of the wedding guests. When the ceremony ended, they moved the party into one of Aldbourne's pubs – the Crown. It was a larger pub than the Boar. In the Crown, they had a space for dancing and music blaring out from speakers around the room. Nelly bought herself a warm pint of beer and sat at the table with Buck and Heyliger.
"That's as big as your head, Murray". Heyliger teased lightly, nodding toward her pint.
Smiling small, Nelly soon looked at Buck. "Do you want one?"
"I don't drink, sport". Buck replied. And grinned. "But you enjoy yourself, Nelly".
Setting her pint down, Nelly slurped the froth from the top. And then ran her arm over under her mouth. Heyliger chuckled at her action before facing the dancefloor. "Oh, here we go...".
Following his stare, Nelly spotted Speirs and his new wife take to the floor. A slower song started to play through the speakers. And the newlyweds began dancing. Picking up her pint, Nelly took a few sips while she watched. And as she watched, Nelly began to envision her own wedding day. Head cocked to the side; her body relaxed while her mind drifted away. Nelly's eyes took in Edwyna's tearful smile and Speirs's own soft smile. Nelly imagined it was her and Alex dancing to their first song as newlyweds.
Nelly was looking forward to her day out with Alex – just the two of them. Alone. And together. Slowly, the smile began to fall from her lips. Alone. Nelly's face created another frown. Alone. A warm feeling soon poured down her dress.
"Jesus, Nelly...". Buck whispered. And he grabbed the empty pint glass from Nelly's hand.
She had accidentally tipped her warm beer all over the front of her dress. "Shit...".
Setting the glass down, Buck gave a nod toward the bathrooms. "Go get cleaned up before someone notices".
It wasn't that Nelly was scared to be alone with Alex, she was nervous. Nelly had never done anything with anybody. Pushing the bathroom door open, Nelly turned on the taps at the sinks and grabbed a few paper towels. And as she began wiping her dress, the door opened, and a woman stepped inside.
"Are you okay?" The woman asked with a frown.
Looking up and over at the woman, Nelly nodded. "I just...I spilt my beer".
"I can see that". She sounded amused but not completely. "I know, I'll help you".
Nodding, Nelly set the paper towels down. "Thanks".
"But I'll say...we need some privacy". The woman said smoothly while she locked the bathroom door from the inside. "Don't worry, we won't be long".
Nelly smiled small. "I feel like...I feel stupid...".
"Don't worry, love". She assured Nelly softly. "You'll let me help you, right?"
"Yeah".
Smiling, the woman set down her purse and walked over to Nelly. Her eyes took in her wet dress. "It'll need to come off".
Nelly frowned a little. "Really?"
"Yes". She said, "It's wet, love. You can't wear a wet dress to the party. Don't worry, I've locked the door – no one can come inside".
"Well...okay...". Nelly sounded hesitant as she turned her back to the woman. "Can you...get the zip down, please?"
"I can". Standing behind Nelly, the woman's cold hands touched the back of Nelly's neck. She unfastened the buttons at the top and soon slowly pulled the zip down toward Nelly's back. She didn't wait for Nelly – the woman gently pulled down the sleeves of the dress. But Nelly frowned and took a step forward.
"I can manage the rest".
The woman hummed. "I'm not sure you can".
Frowning still, Nelly turned around and faced the woman.
The woman smiled. "It's okay...we're both girls".
But Nelly thought the woman looked older than forty. "I think I'll just...manage by myself now".
And the older woman rolled her eyes with an easy-going grin. "Oh, love. Don't be so dramatic. I'm only trying to help you". She said, "So, take off your dress and we'll get you dry, love".
There was this nagging feeling inside Nelly's gut, telling her it was wrong. But then she thought, maybe she was just being dramatic, and the woman did actually want to help. Nelly stared up at the woman's face – she was smiling at Nelly; her lips were but the woman's eyes told a different story. The nagging feeling in her gut increased. Nelly took a step back. "No...". She whispered.
The smile slowly started to fall. "Take your dress off". She almost demanded. "I can't have you looking like a drowned rat at this wedding party. We're guests, we have to look proper".
Shaking her head, Nelly repeated quietly. "No...". She felt incredibly uncomfortable. Nelly's hand was pressed at the top of the dress, stopping it from sliding down her body.
"You'll upset your cousin and the bride for looking so messy...". The woman was persistent. She added, "Quickly now, come on. I can't keep the door locked for much longer".
"I'll hurt you if you don't leave". Nelly told her.
The woman looked appalled. "Excuse me?"
"You...heard me...I'll hurt you". She said to her quietly. "I'll break you...if you don't leave".
"I'm only trying to help – "
"no...". Nelly cut her off quietly, "You're not".
"That won't sit well with your superior officers". She almost sounded smug. "If you threaten me or hurt me".
Nelly thought back to November when she basically got the Sergeants to perform an act of mutiny in front of Sink. And if Sink knew Nelly had threatened or hurt a civilian – especially a civilian from Aldbourne, Nelly would have to kiss her jump wings goodbye. He'd surely kick her out of the Airborne. "What do you want?" Nelly asked the woman quietly.
She smiled again. "To help you, love".
Looking past the woman's shoulders, Nelly stared at the door. And nodded. "Okay".
"Now...take off your dress, love".
Her eyes filled with tears and one tear rolled down her cheek.
But then, someone started pounding on the door.
"Can you unlock this bloody door, please!" A voice outside demanded.
The older woman sent Nelly another smile. "To save...gossip and confusion. I think this should stay between us. Don't you agree?"
Nelly found herself nodding – she just wanted it to be over.
"Good". The woman said sweetly before turning her back to Nelly and unlocking the door and it flung open when a group of impatient women rushed into the bathroom.
"What were you doing, Aunty Jade?" One of them asked.
Jade smiled. "I was helping the poor love over there, sweetie. Her dress is covered in beer".
Eyes rolling with a smile, Jade's niece kissed her cheek. "Well, you've angered a lot of women, but they'll forgive you".
Eyes dazed, Nelly pushed herself off the wall and began walking out of the bathroom and back into the noisy pub. She felt confused, uncomfortable and sick all at once. Nelly wasn't sure what had happened back with Jade but what she did know, it wasn't anything good. And that puzzled her to no end. Her mushy brain was having a hard time processing the events and her feelings during and after. Nelly's frame pushed its way through small gatherings of family and friends, while her feet and mind took her to safety – outside.
Nelly wanted to leave.
Her brain took control of her body and told every nerve and muscle to get out of the Crown. Nelly was almost at the door when Buck stood right in front of her with a tiny grimace. "Sport, you forgot to zip yourself up".
Nelly was forced to stop walking. Buck was in her way.
"Here – I'll do it". Rounding the back of Nelly, he quickly zipped up her dress but didn't get a chance to fasten the buttons at the top because Nelly was moving. With a frown, Buck quickly stepped in front of her again. "Where are you going? You can't leave, sport. It's your cousin's big day". Smiling, Buck told her, "Let me help you, I'll fasten up that button and...".
At those words, the sickening feeling intensified. Nelly wrapped an arm around her stomach and slightly bent at the waist. Stepping out of her way, Buck set a hand on her back.
"Are you feeling sick?"
Nelly gave him a faint nod.
"Get back to the restroom, sport".
She shook her head. "No, no...no...". Nelly whispered.
Upon seeing the scene, Speirs set down his beer and quickly jogged over to his cousin and Buck. Reaching them, he crouched a little to catch Nelly's face. "You sick?"
Buck sighed. "I don't know what's going on, Ron". He said, "She's not had anything to drink – two sips of a beer, top".
Speirs figured it was one of those "shellshock episodes" like back at the train and inside the dark room in Edinburgh. But they weren't in the dark – none of the windows was boarded up and it was still light outside. And Nelly wasn't breathing fast and uneven. Speirs changed his mind and thought his cousin was unwell. "You want some water?" He asked.
Nelly faintly shook her head.
And Speirs was sure he saw tears fill her eyes. He gave Buck a brief frown.
"What's going on?" Buck asked. "Are we puking or...?"
Speirs let out a tiny sigh. "I don't know". He said.
"Do you want me to take her back, Ron?"
Speirs decided to ask Nelly. "You 'wanna head out, kid?"
She nodded.
"Alright, Nelly". He said while giving her arm a gentle squeeze. Straightening himself back up, Speirs sent Buck a nod. "Take her back – make sure she's alright, Buck".
"Don't worry, Ron. I'll take care of Nelly".
But before they even thought about taking a step forward, Nelly hiccupped and gagged. Her eyes widened slightly. "Sorry...".
"It's okay". Speirs assured her with a frown.
"I'm...okay...I...". And then she vomited.
In front of all the wedding guests.