bob

Nelly came to when Babe weakly shook her arm. Dizzy and a little nauseous, Nelly opened her eyes with a tiny groan. Hand reaching for her rifle, she took hold of the strap and dragged her weapon toward her side. Babe was sitting up and strapped his rifle over his shoulder. Nelly took a look at the replacement and noticed blood on his arm. Sighing quietly, she pushed herself into a sitting position. And her head turned to the right, where she saw the department store was on fire. A few hours into combat and she was already injured. For Babe, it was his first ever jump into combat, and he was hurt already. Nelly gave a weak nod to his arm.

"That's...blood".

"I'm fine". Babe mumbled, "We should go".

Nelly lightly joked, "Welcome to the war, Babe".

A tiny smile met his lips. He shrugged. "Could've been worse".

Humming softly, she nodded faintly. "True".

Babe rolled up his sleeve and looked at his hand and arm. The glass had cut up his skin, leaving fresh and open wounds. They weren't very deep. "Should I bandage this?"

"Yeah". Nelly replied.

"Alright". Taking out his aid kit, Babe brought out a white bandage and got to work.

Around them, they could hear the sound of vehicles popping and exploding. Smouldering black smoke billowed in the air – almost covering the blue sky above them. And the Dutch were out of their houses, trying to put those flames out. A couple of women even began brushing the streets, sweeping glass and rocks out of the way and off the roads. A tiny smile met Nelly's lips.

"They make it feel...normal".

"Who?" Babe asked.

"The Dutch". She said softly, "Cleaning already...like it's...some street party rather than an attack".

"They must fucking hate the Krauts".

"Most do". Nelly confirmed. "But...they have a lot of collaborators as well".

"That's fucking nuts". Babe grumbled.

"Yeah...it is". Nelly quietly agreed. She then looked at Babe's arm. "Feel okay?"

"Fine". Babe said.

Softly, she asked, "Are you sure?"

Babe's expression softened. He smiled. "I shouldn't listen to Sheehy or Leonard...you're nice".

Biting her bottom lip, Nelly faced the front. "I forget what they...said to me".

"Probably for the best".

"Yeah".

Babe said to her kindly, "You shouldn't take shit from nobody, Nelly".

She admitted, "I know what you mean...but my mind...takes that very literal".

He huffed out a laugh, "Gross".

Standing up and looking beyond the road, they spotted Easy, and 2nd Battalion at the canal. The bridge had been destroyed. The middle was torn in two – they couldn't cross. Babe and Nelly cast each other a small frown before walking along the road to join their Company. One man from Easy decided to strip butt naked and swim toward a rowing boat – a few others watched and laughed.

"Where the hell have you two been?" Toye asked them.

"Sorry, Joe". Babe said, "We got a little tied up".

Just then, an MG-42 opened fire from across the river.

"Dammit!" Toye yelled, "Heffron, get on that damn machine gun!"

Bullets hitting the water and the bank, the men dove for cover. And right at the bank, close to the broken bridge, Heffron fired his machine gun at the Germans. But his machine gun wasn't enough to take down a nest. So, Guarnere barked for Malarkey to fire up his mortar. And the first shell Malarkey fired silenced the enemy machine gun. The experienced veterans knew exactly what to do; Winters didn't give an order during that brief attack.

As Nelly sat herself up, Speirs was soon crouched in front of her. "Let me see you".

"What?" She frowned. "I'm fine".

His eyes continued to scan her face and body for blood and wounds. Nelly let him, there was no stopping her cousin sometimes. Speirs nodded – seemingly relieved. "Yeah, you're fine". He took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips.

"What now?" Nelly asked.

"Waiting for the engineers to build a new span". Speirs said, "It could take a while".

She nodded faintly. "Yeah".

They had walked eight miles from their assembly point to that broken bridge. Nelly had doubts about Operation Market Garden already. They couldn't possibly reach Arnhem in two days' time. Not at the speed, they were going. Nelly guessed they'd dig in, sleep and then tomorrow, they'd liberate Eindhoven. Her eyes looked toward the water, where she saw Gordy Carson falling out of the capsized rowing boat – his plan wasn't working. They were stuck outside of Son and had to wait. Nelly rubbed her heavy eyes.

Speirs sent her a sympathetic smile. "Tired?"

"Little bit". Nelly said quietly.

"Won't be long now, kid".

Hand rubbing against the side of her nose, Nelly pointed out, "This is going to fail".

A small frown pinched Speirs's face. "Tell me very quietly why".

"Landing zones are too far away from Arnhem". Nelly whispered, "These are not old men and kids...they're soldiers".

"Yeah". Speirs quietly agreed. "And they were prepared".

"You have...trust with the Dutch resistance". Nelly said, "Not all Dutchmen are trustworthy".

"Collaborators?"

"Everywhere". Nelly whispered, "Montgomery is stupid...I'm not kissing his ass".

Speirs pulled a mildly confused face but let the last comment slide.

"I wouldn't even...touch his ass...".

"Okay". Speirs decided to put a stop to it, "That's enough ass talk, Nelly".

"I'll bet it's...gross...".

"Nelly – come on, stop it".

A smile played on her lips. "Like...old leather or something – "

"for God's sake, kid". Speirs complained. "I don't 'wanna hear about the man's ass".

"Nah, but like...". Nelly crossed her legs. "It would be like...droopy and – "

"Nelly, stop". Speirs cut her off with a small and amused smile. "We're done".

Amusement leaving her eyes, Nelly looked back across the canal. She thought about Eindhoven and wondered if she'd see any familiar faces in the city. Nelly didn't want to see anyone familiar. They failed that city. Gut twisted with unease; a tiny grimace settled on her face.

Speirs noticed. "What is it?"

Pursing her lips together, Nelly shook her head. "Nothing". She said quietly.

"You're thinking about seeing Eindhoven again, aren't you?"

Shaking her head again, Nelly's eyes stared down at the ground and her fingers began pinching grass stems and plucking them out of the earth. "Not really".

"It's okay if you are". Speirs said to her quietly. "I'd think about it if it were me".

"Well, I'm not, so...it's fine". She mumbled.

"Okay". Speirs knew she was lying. But he wasn't about to push his cousin for answers. "I – uh – I 'gotta get back to work". He said, "I need to check when those engineers are coming".

"Alright". Nelly said quietly and looked up at him. "Bye, then".

"See you around, kid".

...

It started raining at night, as soon as they crossed the makeshift footpath created by the engineers. Across the canal, men were ordered to dig in and set up outposts. Men dug outposts by roads and a few along the canal. Nelly and Babe took OP duty first. They were back across the canal and stationed at Son. OP wasn't so bad, they had lukewarm coffee and a ration pack to eat. And all Nelly could talk about was Private Lindsey.

"Lindsey...why? Why not...Peter or...Samuel?"

Babe was getting bored of the same conversation. "When I meet him, I'll as him".

There was a short spell of silence.

Babe relaxed, thinking the subject had finally ended. But it didn't.

"It's not even...". Nelly gave her head a shake. "But it's a girl's name".

"Christ...I miss those 88s". Babe said under his breath.

"I just don't – "

"fuck, marry or kill – here are your options". Babe cut her off.

Nelly frowned. "I'm sorry?"

He grimaced and faced her. "I forgot, you're only eighteen – and a girl. Sorry".

"Game?" She asked softly.

Clearing his throat, Babe nodded. "Yeah. But it's a stupid game".

"I...fuck?"

"Stop". Babe raised his hand. "Just...we'll do something else to pass the time".

"How do you play?"

He huffed out a laugh and shook his head. "Nelly, we're not playing".

Nodding, Nelly faced the front. "Okay".

It was hard to make out any sound with the raindrops tapping on their helmets. But the two Privates soon heard a nearby cry – whoever made the cry, sounded as though they were in a great deal of pain. Babe and Nelly inched forward and frowned at the noise.

"What the fuck is that?" Babe whispered.

"I don't know". Nelly whispered back.

"Should we go see?"

"Yeah".

Grabbing their rifles, they climbed out of the OP and began following the road toward Son and the sound. After a few minutes of walking, they soon spotted a horse standing still – attached to the animal was a cart. And next to that cart, was a German soldier. A very young soldier. He was the one making all the noise. Keeping guard of the soldier, were two members of the Dutch resistance. And the culprit causing the young German pain was an old lady. She was hitting his wounded shoulder with her pocketbook.

Babe and Nelly stood and watched for a few moments – their minds were busy processing what they were witnessing. The two Dutchmen smiled and greeted the Paratroopers. Babe gave them a nervous sort of smile back and Nelly walked over to the old lady. The young German was in a serious amount of pain. And Nelly wanted to stop the old lady. So, she grabbed the woman's arm and tried pulling her back.

"I think you should – "

But the old lady smacked Nelly across the arm with her pocketbook.

Nelly was met with instant pain. Whimpering, she clutched her sore arm and stumbled back from the old woman. Babe winced and jogged over to Nelly. "You okay?"

Tears reached Nelly's eyes. "Yeah...". She whispered – voice somewhat strained. "Fine".

Babe cast her a frown – a half-amused, frown. "Did – did the old lady hurt you?" He could hardly keep a straight face.

Nelly hummed shakily. And shook her head. "No...".

"Are you sure?"

She turned her back to Babe. And told him almost tearfully, "I'll sit down".

Confused, Babe faced the old lady. And the old lady gave Babe a sheepish smile before pulling a brick out of her pocketbook. Babe huffed out a surprised laugh. "Holy shit!"

"Your friend...". One of the Dutchmen smiled. "He's okay?"

"Oh, yeah – great". Babe still sounded surprised. "She has a damn brick in her purse!"

"Yes". The other Dutchman confirmed. "We take this boy...to your Regiment?"

Babe nodded and gestured toward the road. "You're heading in the right direction".

"Thank you".

Babe huffed, still surprised. "Yeah – yeah, you're welcome". With a shake of his head, he turned around and searched for Nelly. "Man...combat is fucking weird...". He said to himself. Babe saw Nelly by the OP and with a softer look, he approached the girl. Nelly was busy taking in slow and calming breaths when Babe reached her. "You alright, Nelly?"

She hummed and nodded – though, the sound of her voice betrayed her.

Babe sent her a frown. And he tutted with sympathy. "I got beat up by an old lady once – a nun, at my old school. I fucking hated those nuns...". He asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Great – yeah, I'm...great". Nelly turned around and faced him. "Better than great...I'm good".

Confused, Babe's head tilted to the side. "Good's not better than great".

"Why did a bag hurt me?" Nelly asked.

"It had a brick in it".

Nelly's eyes widened. "What?"

A smile met Babe's lips. "Yeah...it had a fucking brick in it, Nelly".

Frowning, Nelly's eyes looked toward the road. "I should...hit her back".

"Really?" Babe looked amused. "Nelly, she's like eighty".

"So?" Sounding offended, Nelly looked back at Babe. "She hit me, Babe".

"Eighty". Babe reminded her. "Eighty".

Nelly thumbed her chest. "Eighteen".

With a grin, Babe pointed to himself. "Twenty-one...we done here?"

Nelly gave her arm a rub. "It doesn't hurt anymore".

"Oh, good". Babe smiled. "So, it ain't broken?"

"No". Nelly said, "This is...secret".

He huffed out a laugh. "Yeah...I think if the fellas knew an old lady almost took your arm off, you'd never hear the end of it".

Nelly nodded slowly. "Yeah...".

"Sure as hell beats getting the belt".

Nelly agreed. But then frowned. "I don't know...".

"Nelly, I'd rather get one wallop with a brick on the arm, than fifty strikes with a belt".

"You got the belt?"

Babe snorted. "Religiously".

"From...region?"

"What? No...". Babe looked amused. And said, "My old man. When I was twelve, an officer caught me and my cousin smoking. And the cop told my dad. I got the belt and wasn't allowed out of the house for two weeks".

"Oh". Nelly then asked, "Why...is your name Babe?"

"We all got nicknames". Babe shrugged. "My brother John, we call him Jack".

She frowned. "Why?"

Babe found her confusion amusing. "Get a load of this, right – my brother Jimmy, his name is Shad, just like the fish – cause his mouth is always open, shouting and hollering. And then I've got my buddies, Skip-a-beat-Nelson, he's got a heart condition. Rubber-nose Morris, cause he can push his nose all over his face...".

A smile met Nelly's lips.

"Uh – oh – Anthony the Brain cause he's the most educated. And Tony Save You For Wednesday, cause he auditioned for the choir at grade school and sang a few bars of Ave Marie and the nun said to him, that's okay Tony, we'll save you for Wednesday".

Nelly chuckled quietly.

Babe smiled. "Guess what your name is?"

"Oh, no...". She continued to smile. "What?"

"Old Lady's Pocketbook". Babe said, "Bricks for short".

Chuckling again, Nelly shrugged. "Well...okay".