All's Fair in Love and War... Yeah Right
Chapter 6
Born to Fly
I was finally able to get back in a plane, I was so excited. We did our usual routine, like before we entered the war. We got up, ready, ate breakfast, worked on the planes, ate lunch, worked on the planes, test fly the planes, then dinner. On that first morning, I was the first up, as usual. I got ready and then waited outside for the others to get ready. I half expected that officer to come up and flirt with me, and Danny to come out here and tell me to stay away from him, then insult the man, in his inconspicuous way. I was never able to do that. I always tell people straight what I think of them. Red opened the door, neither of us said anything. I went back in and sat on my neatly made bed.
"Jo? Why didn't you sleep in your bed last night?" asked Tony.
"What? I slept in my bed last night!"
"No you didn't," said Earl.
"Then, where did I sleep, if y'all know so much."
"Turn around, did you make your bed this morning?" asked Red.
"No." I looked at my bed, I was sitting on my bed. "Who made my--"
I saw Danny's bed, I had slept in Danny's bed. I sighed.
"Are you okay Jo?" asked Gooz.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I miss him way too much."
"It's okay, Jo we all miss him."
I sighed again, and finished getting ready, then we left for breakfast. I really didn't say much, I couldn't think of anything to say to them. After breakfast, I went to start on the planes, I was done about an hour before the others. I immediately found the plane that needed the most care, I got out everything I needed and I went to work. The guys came in when I was almost done. They didn't see me, I could hear them talking.
"I wonder where she could be," said Red.
"She can't be far. You know her. She's got to be around planes," said Gooz.
"Yeah, but, well, she was upset this morning, and planes make her think of Danny."
"Everything makes her think of Danny," said Earl.
"True, but I don't blame her. Most things make me think of Betty."
If I keep working on the plane quietly they'll never know I'm here . But, they're right, you know. I do think of Danny. I wonder if he's watching over us, I wonder if he still loves me. The wires I was working on sparked, for no reason, I mean it was hot sparks. I jumped back, and cursed. The guys saw me.
"Jo! How long have you been here?" asked Earl.
"Since I finished breakfast. Did y'all see that?"
"What?"
"The wires, they sparked, but the plane isn't runnin', it shouldn't do that. It surprised me."
"That's impossible," said Red.
"No, Red, anything's possible. Jo did wear a tight, quite revealing red dress in the middle of a war. Nothing's impossible after that," said Gooz.
"Shut up Gooz! I had no decision in that! If I'd have had my way, I would have killed them all, but I couldn't as I was out numbered a hundred to one!" I protested.
"Okay."
I rolled my eyes and finished the plane I was working on, without any more weird sparks. Colonel Doolittle came in, just as I began to work on another plane.
"Good. You're all here," he said.
"Where else would we be, sir?" said Gooz.
"Good point. General McCawley? Where is she?"
"Right here sir," I said, hanging upside down from under the plane.
"How much time have you spent with Gooz?"
"A lot of time sir, I can't seem to get rid of him, sir."
"Well, I'm glad you haven't killed him. Does anyone know where that awful- looking plane is, it's not here."
"Yes sir, it is."
"I don't see it."
"Look closer, sir. I fixed it up this mornin'. It's over there."
I went back working on the plane.
"General, would you please come here?"
I got out of the plane and walked over to him.
"Yes sir?"
"Did anyone help you do this?"
"No sir."
"Where were they?"
"Eating breakfast, sir."
"Why weren't you?"
"I'd already eaten, sir."
"You didn't talk?"
"Nothin' to say sir."
"Did you paint it too?"
"First thing."
"Nothing artistic?"
"I'm not creative, sir."
The men laughed.
"Really?"
"No sir, I'm the most uncreative person ever."
"I doubt that. How bad do you want to fly?"
"More than I want to breathe, although to me there's really no difference."
"Good. I want to see you fly this plane later today. Understand?"
"Yes sir."
Then he left.
"He likes to ask questions, doesn't he?" said Earl.
"Obviously," said Tony.
I laughed, and went back to work. I skipped lunch, to work on the other planes, then I was finally able to get in one. I got into the one I had fixed up and flew around the sky. It was heavenly. I felt as if Danny was flying next to me. I loved being up in the sky. I did barrel rolls, outside loops, unfortunately I couldn't play chicken, no one to play it with. Who is that? There was someone heading straight at me. Not stopping. I decided to play a little chicken.
"Righty tighty," came a familiar voice, although I couldn't place it, I was too excited I was playing chicken again.
"Okay."
We played chicken and the men were laughing and clapping, and I landed. I got out and Gooz picked me up and spun me around.
"I can't believe, General, that you fixed that up, all by yourself," said Doolittle.
"Thank you, sir."
"I can't believe you played chicken, I thought I had told you not to do that with the government's planes."
I noticed he was looking behind me. I turned around and saw Rafe.
"I knew I recognized your voice."
"You didn't realize it was me?" he asked.
"No."
"I feel so loved."
"I know you do."
Everyone laughed at me and Rafe. Within the week we were on Midway Island, fighting for it. We won, and not long after that we won the war in the Pacific. We went back to Hawaii for another week. I was still working on the planes when Doolittle walked in.
"Afternoon sir," I said.
"Good Afternoon General. I've a question for you."
"Go ahead sir."
"Do you ever take a break?"
"Not usually, sir."
"Well, I order you to enjoy your last week doing something other than fixing up these old planes."
I sighed. I couldn't win this argument. Then I remembered Rafe bringing a box in for me this morning.
"Okay, sir."
He smiled and I went back to our bunk and opened the box. It was a swim suit. It was that kind-- um-- what did they call them? Oh yeah, a bikini. I sighed I looked at the box again. To: Jo, I hope you wear it. From: Rafe. I put it on and put my overalls over it.
"Jo! You came out!" yelled Red.
I waved, then I took off my overalls, reluctantly. It was too hot to wear them anyway. I saw the guys looking at me, all of them surprised.
"What?"
"Oh my Lord. I've died and that's an Angel!" shouted Gooz.
"Shut up! And don't look at me like that!"
"Come out here with us Jo!" called Rafe.
"Only if you make them stop starin', before I do!"
"Okay. Y'all she'll come in the water if y'all don't stare at her like that. If she catches you doin' that she'll kill you. Okay?"
They nodded and I joined them in the water. A half an hour later two women put towels down on the beach and laid in the sun. One had black hair and the other was a blonde. Martha and Barbara, I could hear them.
"Hey Earl! Tony!"
"What?" they said together.
"Can you go get my hair holder on the beach?"
"Both of us?" asked Earl
"Yup."
"Okay," said Tony.
And they walked up to the beach. Then they saw Martha and Barbara. They hugged, kissed, and talked. Martha and Barbara shook their heads to what the other two had said. They smiled and picked the two girls up and ran into the water. They dropped Martha and Barbara in the water and were playing around. Something hit me. I turned, it was Gooz's surf board, and Gooz was chasing it.
"Wanna try?" he asked.
I shrugged.
"Sure."
"Know how?"
"I've seen you fall off enough times to know what NOT to do."
The others laughed, and I swam out on the board, not too far from the guys. I waited for the best wave and I surfed in to the shore. The guys clapped and I took the board back out to Gooz.
"Have you ever surfed before?"
"No. That was my first time on a surf board."
Barbara, Tony, Martha and Earl came out to us. As Gooz glared at me and went back out on the waves.
"That was great!" said Martha.
"Do you have your own surf board?" asked Barbara.
"No, that was my first time on a surf board. This is my first time in the ocean," I replied.
Everyone stared at me.
"Really? You didn't get in before Pearl?" asked Rafe.
"Nope, no time. I was always workin' on the planes."
"Well, Danny always found time," said Martha.
"Yeah, he and Evelyn came to the beach almost everyday. It was so sweet," said Barbara.
I had forgotten about the two of them being together.
"I didn't want to come to the beach because of that, actually," I said.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I came a couple times, but never got any further than the beach, then I left. I never stayed for more than five minutes."
"Oh. Were you in love with Danny?" asked Martha.
"I still am, and always will be. I'm getting hungry. I'm gonna grab a bite to eat."
I swam to shore, with Rafe not far behind me. He grabbed my foot. I stopped.
"Jo, are you okay?"
"Yes, why? I'm just hungry."
"No, not about that, about people talking about Danny."
"Why would I be not okay about that?"
"Why should you be? They only know about what happened with Evelyn and Danny, that's how they know about him."
"Okay? And I should care?"
"Yes! God Jo! You're being so hard headed!"
"So would you rather me be that little girl that lets everyone walk all over her, and not have a problem with it? Well, Rafe, I have feelings, although I don't show them all the time! I'm sorry I'm not that little girl the whole world wanted me to be! I think I'm who I want to be! I'm not sure any more! I could always feel right with Danny! Now, I can't be myself! You're obsessed with Evelyn, and Gooz, Red, Tony, and Earl don't want me hanging around them all the time. Danny made me feel like someone cared about me when you and Ma didn't! Did I ever tell you where I went when I was upset, when I wasn't in that tree?"
"No."
"I went over to Danny's I climbed to his window and knocked quietly, and talked to him until I felt better then I came into our house. I let you have the house, because everything there reminds me of Danny! I can't stand it! And you'd never understand! You didn't loose the only person that ever loved you forever! You have Evelyn! I have no one! No one, Rafe! I'm goin' in."
And I left him there. I went into our bunk and cried, I tried not to, but I couldn't help it. Right before the others got back, I left. I went out for dinner. I went out and ate, then went out to a night club, I needed a drink bad. After an hour or two, they found me. I was feeling better, but I knew it wouldn't last.
"Jo. Come on, we're leavin' now," said Rafe.
"No."
"What?"
"I said no."
"Well, I said we're leavin'."
"And I said no I'm not."
"Jo, come on, please," said Gooz.
"I don't want to."
"We can play Twister."
"I hate Twister."
"Then you can go to sleep, and if we leave now, you won't throw up so much."
I sighed.
"Fine."
Then we left. The next morning, I felt horrible, just as I had the night we thought Rafe was dead. I got up, dressed and I left. No one followed me, I was surprised. I went out shopping, something I had never done before, without being forced to. I bought myself breakfast, and walked around for a while, buying on impulse. After lunch, I went back to the base, with a bunch of bags in my hands. Rafe, Red and Gooz were waiting for me.
"Jo! Where were--" began Rafe.
"I went shoppin', don't say anything. I went out, got some new clothes, and some other stuff I just got."
"You did what?" asked Gooz.
"What? I went shoppin', big deal."
"Ma just rolled over in her grave," said Rafe.
I sighed and put my things away. I had a bunch of little toy planes, I handed them to Rafe. He just stared at me.
"They're for Danny."
"Oh, okay."
I shook my head, and continued to unload my things, I also got two hula shirts, and a wrap around hula skirt, for the beach. I got a few paintings, and a bunch of photo frames.
"Paintin's? Frames? Bed covers?"
"I do need somethin' to move into my apartment."
"Oh yeah."
"Oh yeah, what do you think I'd move in with you and Evelyn?"
"No, I forgot about your apartment."
Then I pulled out my snacks. Chips, chocolate, Hostess cakes, and soda.
"Do I even want to ask?" asked Tony, walking in with Barbara, Earl, and Martha.
"I went shoppin'," I said.
He choked.
"You did what?"
"I went shoppin'. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Well, yeah. YOU went shopping!" said Earl.
I stuck out my tongue at him.
"What did you get?" asked Barbara.
"Shirts, a skirt--" Earl choked this time. "Toy planes, for my nephew, painting's of Hawaii, frames for my many photos, and bed covers, because I'm movin' into an apartment. When I get back to Washington, I'm going furniture shoppin'."
"What's with the snacks?" asked Martha
"Post- death depression."
"You're dead?" asked Barbara.
I stared at her.
"Huh?"
"Why post- death depression?"
"Because Danny's dead, but I never had any time to wallow, so I'm doin' it now."
I saw Rafe reach for the chips out of the corner of my eye. I slapped his hand away.
"Ouch!"
"Those are mine!"
The others laughed. I held out the chocolate to Martha and Barbara. They each took a piece
"Thank you," said Martha.
"Thanks. Yum! These are my favorites!" said Barbara.
"You're welcome," I replied, passing the chocolate around to everyone.
"I did have a --" began Rafe.
I handed him the chocolate.
"What did you have?" He handed me a box. "Is it another bikini?"
He laughed.
"No. Open it."
I opened it, it was a hula dress.
"Thank you Rafe."
"You're not going to comment on it being a dress?"
"Nope, I don't mind it so much anymore, as long as it's not pink and frilly, or just pink."
Everyone laughed.
"We have a surprise for you too," said Gooz.
"Oh Lord. What is it?"
"If we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"
"Tell me!"
"No."
"Gooz, I'm not in the mood for this."
"Nope. We'll tell you later."
I paused for a second.
"It's later."
Everyone laughed.
"No."
"C'mon, it's only two hours until dinner, if you don't tell me, I won't eat."
"Only two hours? Barbara, Martha, you're up," said Red.
"What?"
"Come with us," said Martha.
They dragged me into the bathroom. They sat me down, and Martha took tweezers to my eyebrows. I had to bite my lip, so I wouldn't scream. Barbara started on my hair, by brushing it.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"Do you brush your hair?" asked Barbara.
"Not usually, I run my-- ow-- fingers through it, but that's it."
"This is going to take a while."
Martha nodded. Then I had a bikini wax, then she waxed my legs.
"Go easy! That hurts!"
"Baby," said Martha
I looked up toward the ceiling.
"You think this is funny, don't you Danny. You and Ma are just laughin' at me, aren't you?"
After another hour and a half of brushing and curlers, my hair was done, and all the while Martha did my make- up. Luckily, it wasn't as heavy as Diana used to do. When Martha was done, I was able to look in the mirror, I had red lipstick on, and a touch of light blue eye shadow, and mascara. At least I didn't look like a clown. Then Martha left the room and came back with the dress Rafe had gotten me. I put it on, and Barbara took out the curlers. I looked in the mirror, but not before, Barbara put a headband in my hair, to push the curls out of my face. They somehow talked me into putting on high heels. I stood up and miraculously made it out of the bathroom. They were all shocked. Tony took a picture of us all, minus himself and Earl.
"Now for our surprise," said Gooz.
"Uh oh. If I had to go through all this for a surprise--"
"Just come on."
He led me to a car and Red and Rafe got in behind me, with a small movie camera.
"What are you doing?"
"Filmin'. Your future husband might be interested, or at least Evelyn will be, in how good you can look," said Rafe.
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm never gettin' married, I told you that."
"Okay."
We drove toward away from the base, but we were caught, by Doolittle.
"Where's McCawley?" was the first thing he said.
"Right here," said Rafe.
"No, your sister."
"Right here."
I raised my hand slightly. His eyebrows shot up, and he stared in disbelief.
"Sir, we're late for a surprise," said Gooz.
"Well, carry on, you must tell me how this turns out."
"They've got a movie camera," I said.
He laughed and we drove away. A few minutes later he stopped in front of a restaurant. He led me to a table, in the back, and they left, I supposed they sat somewhere, where they could see me, but I couldn't see them. A man with brown hair, brown eyes and pale skin, came up to me.
"Are you Jo McCawley?"
"Yes."
I stood up, to shake his hand.
"I'm Paul Shrapper."
I stuck out my hand, instead of shaking it, he kissed it, and handed me a single red rose. I took it, and he pulled my chair out for me, and we sat down. We ordered and then began to talk.
"So, I hear you're in the Army," he began.
"Yes, I'm a pilot. The only woman pilot next to Amelia Earhart."
"Where did you fight? Europe, or Pacific?"
"Both, actually. I was in Europe first, and then transferred to the Pacific to help finish that up. What about you? What do you do?"
"I'm in the Navy, a doctor. I was stationed in Virginia during the attack of Pearl Harbor."
"Really? My brother, my old friend, and I almost slept through it."
"How?"
"Well, Rafe and I kinda got drunk the night before, and then he and Danny got into a fight and them the MP came and we ran to Danny's car and the next morning we woke up to see Pearl Harbor being bombed, and the Japanese flying over us. We rushed to Pearl and got as many of the guys as we could, I think Gooz ended up in my lap, very uncomfortable, but we got to the air field, a few miles away from Pearl, and Danny, Rafe and I got up into planes. Together, I think we shot down ten. I shot down three, Danny shot down three and Rafe shot down four, yeah that's ten."
"Wow. Who's Danny."
"Former fiancé."
"Former? What happened?"
"We was killed during the Doolittle Raid."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Thank you. But as Rafe says it has been three years and that I need to get over it. Do you have a girl back home you had in mind for a wife."
"No. I had no one."
"Where are you from?"
"New Orleans, Louisiana."
"Really? Wow. I'm from Tennessee. It's very borin' there
"How long are you going to be in Hawaii?"
"'Till the end of the week, then I'm goin' back to Washington."
"You got a boyfriend?"
"No. I'm not really in search of a serious long term relationship, to be honest with you."
He looked relieved.
"Me neither."
Our food came. I had ravioli in tomato sauce and he had Chicken Alfredo, we both had wine to drink.
"Where are you stayin'?"
"The Naval base, what about you?"
"The Air base."
We ate our dinner, talking about various things. When we were done I looked around the restaurant.
"Are you looking for someone?"
"My brother, Gooz and Red are here somewhere with a movie camera, and if they aren't watching us now, we might have a chance to sneak out."
"I've got a car."
"Perfect. I can't see them. Should we go now?"
"Let's pay first."
He smiled at me and I smiled back. The waiter came back.
"Any dessert?" he asked
"No thank you. May we have the check, please," said Paul.
"It's been taken care of."
"Okay."
We got up and hurried out of the restaurant and into his car. He took me back to the base.
"I want to show you something. Come on," I said.
"What is it?"
"Just come on."
He got out of the car and I took him to the cliff over the beach and we watched the sunset. Rafe would kill me and Paul if he knew about this. No one knew this was my new 'secret spot' and I was sharing it with a man I barely knew. I was going to be a rebel tonight. When it was dark Paul and I made our way back to the car. We didn't quite get that far. We got to the parachute hangar and we went in there.
"We could get kicked out of the Military for this."
"We won't."
I turned to face him, he wasn't there.
"Boo!"
He grabbed me around the waist.
"So you wanna play huh? Well, two can play that game."
"Okay."
I slipped out of his arms and hid in one of the parachutes, until he walked by, then I got behind him and tapped his right shoulder then stood on his left side. He turned in a circle and saw me. Without realizing it, we kissed, but it didn't stop there. I ended up on my back, again. At about two in the morning, we got dressed and he went back to his base and I snuck into mine, or at least I tried. When I opened the door, and walked in, the light came on. Red, Rafe, Gooz, Earl and Tony were still awake. Red had turned on the light. Rafe was standing with his arms crossed, looking very angry, Gooz, Tony, and Earl were ready to hold him back, and they were gonna have to from the look in his eyes, and Red looking tired.
"Um... hi?"
"Where were you?" demanded Rafe.
"On a date."
He looked at the clock.
"Until two in the morning?"
"We talked a lot."
"You left the restaurant."
"I was tired of being watched."
I was getting as angry as Rafe.
"Really?"
"Yes! And Rafe? I'm twenty seven, I think I have the right to do things without you permission."
"What about Danny's? He could be alive! We didn't find his body. I didn't die, even though I was shot down!"
"Well, Rafe, you didn't stay away for three years! Only three months! Danny isn't comin' back, although I hate to admit it!"
"Well, it might take Danny longer than me."
"Rafe you know as well as I do if he had to wait any longer than he had to he'd swim from China."
I grabbed my pajamas and went into the bathroom to change. When I came out, I ignored them and went to bed. I didn't realize the tears streaming down my face. I sat down on my bed and Rafe sat next to me, and hugged me.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I'm sorry too. We came back here after we left and we watched the sunset. Okay?"
"Okay."
I never told him about anything else about that night. He never asked, neither did the others. I didn't see Paul after that, at the end of the week I went to visit him, but he wasn't there, so I left him a note. It said: 'Dear Paul. I just stopped by to tell you good bye, because I'm leaving tomorrow. I guess I'll see you some time, later in life. Good bye, from Jo.' and I went back to our bunk to finish packing. The next day, I was about to when Doolittle walked in.
"General?"
"Yes sir?"
"Would you be interested in every six months coming back here and test- flying for us?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. I'll see you then."
He left, and I went to get on the plane to take us back to California, then I got on the train to Washington.
Chapter 6
Born to Fly
I was finally able to get back in a plane, I was so excited. We did our usual routine, like before we entered the war. We got up, ready, ate breakfast, worked on the planes, ate lunch, worked on the planes, test fly the planes, then dinner. On that first morning, I was the first up, as usual. I got ready and then waited outside for the others to get ready. I half expected that officer to come up and flirt with me, and Danny to come out here and tell me to stay away from him, then insult the man, in his inconspicuous way. I was never able to do that. I always tell people straight what I think of them. Red opened the door, neither of us said anything. I went back in and sat on my neatly made bed.
"Jo? Why didn't you sleep in your bed last night?" asked Tony.
"What? I slept in my bed last night!"
"No you didn't," said Earl.
"Then, where did I sleep, if y'all know so much."
"Turn around, did you make your bed this morning?" asked Red.
"No." I looked at my bed, I was sitting on my bed. "Who made my--"
I saw Danny's bed, I had slept in Danny's bed. I sighed.
"Are you okay Jo?" asked Gooz.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I miss him way too much."
"It's okay, Jo we all miss him."
I sighed again, and finished getting ready, then we left for breakfast. I really didn't say much, I couldn't think of anything to say to them. After breakfast, I went to start on the planes, I was done about an hour before the others. I immediately found the plane that needed the most care, I got out everything I needed and I went to work. The guys came in when I was almost done. They didn't see me, I could hear them talking.
"I wonder where she could be," said Red.
"She can't be far. You know her. She's got to be around planes," said Gooz.
"Yeah, but, well, she was upset this morning, and planes make her think of Danny."
"Everything makes her think of Danny," said Earl.
"True, but I don't blame her. Most things make me think of Betty."
If I keep working on the plane quietly they'll never know I'm here . But, they're right, you know. I do think of Danny. I wonder if he's watching over us, I wonder if he still loves me. The wires I was working on sparked, for no reason, I mean it was hot sparks. I jumped back, and cursed. The guys saw me.
"Jo! How long have you been here?" asked Earl.
"Since I finished breakfast. Did y'all see that?"
"What?"
"The wires, they sparked, but the plane isn't runnin', it shouldn't do that. It surprised me."
"That's impossible," said Red.
"No, Red, anything's possible. Jo did wear a tight, quite revealing red dress in the middle of a war. Nothing's impossible after that," said Gooz.
"Shut up Gooz! I had no decision in that! If I'd have had my way, I would have killed them all, but I couldn't as I was out numbered a hundred to one!" I protested.
"Okay."
I rolled my eyes and finished the plane I was working on, without any more weird sparks. Colonel Doolittle came in, just as I began to work on another plane.
"Good. You're all here," he said.
"Where else would we be, sir?" said Gooz.
"Good point. General McCawley? Where is she?"
"Right here sir," I said, hanging upside down from under the plane.
"How much time have you spent with Gooz?"
"A lot of time sir, I can't seem to get rid of him, sir."
"Well, I'm glad you haven't killed him. Does anyone know where that awful- looking plane is, it's not here."
"Yes sir, it is."
"I don't see it."
"Look closer, sir. I fixed it up this mornin'. It's over there."
I went back working on the plane.
"General, would you please come here?"
I got out of the plane and walked over to him.
"Yes sir?"
"Did anyone help you do this?"
"No sir."
"Where were they?"
"Eating breakfast, sir."
"Why weren't you?"
"I'd already eaten, sir."
"You didn't talk?"
"Nothin' to say sir."
"Did you paint it too?"
"First thing."
"Nothing artistic?"
"I'm not creative, sir."
The men laughed.
"Really?"
"No sir, I'm the most uncreative person ever."
"I doubt that. How bad do you want to fly?"
"More than I want to breathe, although to me there's really no difference."
"Good. I want to see you fly this plane later today. Understand?"
"Yes sir."
Then he left.
"He likes to ask questions, doesn't he?" said Earl.
"Obviously," said Tony.
I laughed, and went back to work. I skipped lunch, to work on the other planes, then I was finally able to get in one. I got into the one I had fixed up and flew around the sky. It was heavenly. I felt as if Danny was flying next to me. I loved being up in the sky. I did barrel rolls, outside loops, unfortunately I couldn't play chicken, no one to play it with. Who is that? There was someone heading straight at me. Not stopping. I decided to play a little chicken.
"Righty tighty," came a familiar voice, although I couldn't place it, I was too excited I was playing chicken again.
"Okay."
We played chicken and the men were laughing and clapping, and I landed. I got out and Gooz picked me up and spun me around.
"I can't believe, General, that you fixed that up, all by yourself," said Doolittle.
"Thank you, sir."
"I can't believe you played chicken, I thought I had told you not to do that with the government's planes."
I noticed he was looking behind me. I turned around and saw Rafe.
"I knew I recognized your voice."
"You didn't realize it was me?" he asked.
"No."
"I feel so loved."
"I know you do."
Everyone laughed at me and Rafe. Within the week we were on Midway Island, fighting for it. We won, and not long after that we won the war in the Pacific. We went back to Hawaii for another week. I was still working on the planes when Doolittle walked in.
"Afternoon sir," I said.
"Good Afternoon General. I've a question for you."
"Go ahead sir."
"Do you ever take a break?"
"Not usually, sir."
"Well, I order you to enjoy your last week doing something other than fixing up these old planes."
I sighed. I couldn't win this argument. Then I remembered Rafe bringing a box in for me this morning.
"Okay, sir."
He smiled and I went back to our bunk and opened the box. It was a swim suit. It was that kind-- um-- what did they call them? Oh yeah, a bikini. I sighed I looked at the box again. To: Jo, I hope you wear it. From: Rafe. I put it on and put my overalls over it.
"Jo! You came out!" yelled Red.
I waved, then I took off my overalls, reluctantly. It was too hot to wear them anyway. I saw the guys looking at me, all of them surprised.
"What?"
"Oh my Lord. I've died and that's an Angel!" shouted Gooz.
"Shut up! And don't look at me like that!"
"Come out here with us Jo!" called Rafe.
"Only if you make them stop starin', before I do!"
"Okay. Y'all she'll come in the water if y'all don't stare at her like that. If she catches you doin' that she'll kill you. Okay?"
They nodded and I joined them in the water. A half an hour later two women put towels down on the beach and laid in the sun. One had black hair and the other was a blonde. Martha and Barbara, I could hear them.
"Hey Earl! Tony!"
"What?" they said together.
"Can you go get my hair holder on the beach?"
"Both of us?" asked Earl
"Yup."
"Okay," said Tony.
And they walked up to the beach. Then they saw Martha and Barbara. They hugged, kissed, and talked. Martha and Barbara shook their heads to what the other two had said. They smiled and picked the two girls up and ran into the water. They dropped Martha and Barbara in the water and were playing around. Something hit me. I turned, it was Gooz's surf board, and Gooz was chasing it.
"Wanna try?" he asked.
I shrugged.
"Sure."
"Know how?"
"I've seen you fall off enough times to know what NOT to do."
The others laughed, and I swam out on the board, not too far from the guys. I waited for the best wave and I surfed in to the shore. The guys clapped and I took the board back out to Gooz.
"Have you ever surfed before?"
"No. That was my first time on a surf board."
Barbara, Tony, Martha and Earl came out to us. As Gooz glared at me and went back out on the waves.
"That was great!" said Martha.
"Do you have your own surf board?" asked Barbara.
"No, that was my first time on a surf board. This is my first time in the ocean," I replied.
Everyone stared at me.
"Really? You didn't get in before Pearl?" asked Rafe.
"Nope, no time. I was always workin' on the planes."
"Well, Danny always found time," said Martha.
"Yeah, he and Evelyn came to the beach almost everyday. It was so sweet," said Barbara.
I had forgotten about the two of them being together.
"I didn't want to come to the beach because of that, actually," I said.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I came a couple times, but never got any further than the beach, then I left. I never stayed for more than five minutes."
"Oh. Were you in love with Danny?" asked Martha.
"I still am, and always will be. I'm getting hungry. I'm gonna grab a bite to eat."
I swam to shore, with Rafe not far behind me. He grabbed my foot. I stopped.
"Jo, are you okay?"
"Yes, why? I'm just hungry."
"No, not about that, about people talking about Danny."
"Why would I be not okay about that?"
"Why should you be? They only know about what happened with Evelyn and Danny, that's how they know about him."
"Okay? And I should care?"
"Yes! God Jo! You're being so hard headed!"
"So would you rather me be that little girl that lets everyone walk all over her, and not have a problem with it? Well, Rafe, I have feelings, although I don't show them all the time! I'm sorry I'm not that little girl the whole world wanted me to be! I think I'm who I want to be! I'm not sure any more! I could always feel right with Danny! Now, I can't be myself! You're obsessed with Evelyn, and Gooz, Red, Tony, and Earl don't want me hanging around them all the time. Danny made me feel like someone cared about me when you and Ma didn't! Did I ever tell you where I went when I was upset, when I wasn't in that tree?"
"No."
"I went over to Danny's I climbed to his window and knocked quietly, and talked to him until I felt better then I came into our house. I let you have the house, because everything there reminds me of Danny! I can't stand it! And you'd never understand! You didn't loose the only person that ever loved you forever! You have Evelyn! I have no one! No one, Rafe! I'm goin' in."
And I left him there. I went into our bunk and cried, I tried not to, but I couldn't help it. Right before the others got back, I left. I went out for dinner. I went out and ate, then went out to a night club, I needed a drink bad. After an hour or two, they found me. I was feeling better, but I knew it wouldn't last.
"Jo. Come on, we're leavin' now," said Rafe.
"No."
"What?"
"I said no."
"Well, I said we're leavin'."
"And I said no I'm not."
"Jo, come on, please," said Gooz.
"I don't want to."
"We can play Twister."
"I hate Twister."
"Then you can go to sleep, and if we leave now, you won't throw up so much."
I sighed.
"Fine."
Then we left. The next morning, I felt horrible, just as I had the night we thought Rafe was dead. I got up, dressed and I left. No one followed me, I was surprised. I went out shopping, something I had never done before, without being forced to. I bought myself breakfast, and walked around for a while, buying on impulse. After lunch, I went back to the base, with a bunch of bags in my hands. Rafe, Red and Gooz were waiting for me.
"Jo! Where were--" began Rafe.
"I went shoppin', don't say anything. I went out, got some new clothes, and some other stuff I just got."
"You did what?" asked Gooz.
"What? I went shoppin', big deal."
"Ma just rolled over in her grave," said Rafe.
I sighed and put my things away. I had a bunch of little toy planes, I handed them to Rafe. He just stared at me.
"They're for Danny."
"Oh, okay."
I shook my head, and continued to unload my things, I also got two hula shirts, and a wrap around hula skirt, for the beach. I got a few paintings, and a bunch of photo frames.
"Paintin's? Frames? Bed covers?"
"I do need somethin' to move into my apartment."
"Oh yeah."
"Oh yeah, what do you think I'd move in with you and Evelyn?"
"No, I forgot about your apartment."
Then I pulled out my snacks. Chips, chocolate, Hostess cakes, and soda.
"Do I even want to ask?" asked Tony, walking in with Barbara, Earl, and Martha.
"I went shoppin'," I said.
He choked.
"You did what?"
"I went shoppin'. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Well, yeah. YOU went shopping!" said Earl.
I stuck out my tongue at him.
"What did you get?" asked Barbara.
"Shirts, a skirt--" Earl choked this time. "Toy planes, for my nephew, painting's of Hawaii, frames for my many photos, and bed covers, because I'm movin' into an apartment. When I get back to Washington, I'm going furniture shoppin'."
"What's with the snacks?" asked Martha
"Post- death depression."
"You're dead?" asked Barbara.
I stared at her.
"Huh?"
"Why post- death depression?"
"Because Danny's dead, but I never had any time to wallow, so I'm doin' it now."
I saw Rafe reach for the chips out of the corner of my eye. I slapped his hand away.
"Ouch!"
"Those are mine!"
The others laughed. I held out the chocolate to Martha and Barbara. They each took a piece
"Thank you," said Martha.
"Thanks. Yum! These are my favorites!" said Barbara.
"You're welcome," I replied, passing the chocolate around to everyone.
"I did have a --" began Rafe.
I handed him the chocolate.
"What did you have?" He handed me a box. "Is it another bikini?"
He laughed.
"No. Open it."
I opened it, it was a hula dress.
"Thank you Rafe."
"You're not going to comment on it being a dress?"
"Nope, I don't mind it so much anymore, as long as it's not pink and frilly, or just pink."
Everyone laughed.
"We have a surprise for you too," said Gooz.
"Oh Lord. What is it?"
"If we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"
"Tell me!"
"No."
"Gooz, I'm not in the mood for this."
"Nope. We'll tell you later."
I paused for a second.
"It's later."
Everyone laughed.
"No."
"C'mon, it's only two hours until dinner, if you don't tell me, I won't eat."
"Only two hours? Barbara, Martha, you're up," said Red.
"What?"
"Come with us," said Martha.
They dragged me into the bathroom. They sat me down, and Martha took tweezers to my eyebrows. I had to bite my lip, so I wouldn't scream. Barbara started on my hair, by brushing it.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"Do you brush your hair?" asked Barbara.
"Not usually, I run my-- ow-- fingers through it, but that's it."
"This is going to take a while."
Martha nodded. Then I had a bikini wax, then she waxed my legs.
"Go easy! That hurts!"
"Baby," said Martha
I looked up toward the ceiling.
"You think this is funny, don't you Danny. You and Ma are just laughin' at me, aren't you?"
After another hour and a half of brushing and curlers, my hair was done, and all the while Martha did my make- up. Luckily, it wasn't as heavy as Diana used to do. When Martha was done, I was able to look in the mirror, I had red lipstick on, and a touch of light blue eye shadow, and mascara. At least I didn't look like a clown. Then Martha left the room and came back with the dress Rafe had gotten me. I put it on, and Barbara took out the curlers. I looked in the mirror, but not before, Barbara put a headband in my hair, to push the curls out of my face. They somehow talked me into putting on high heels. I stood up and miraculously made it out of the bathroom. They were all shocked. Tony took a picture of us all, minus himself and Earl.
"Now for our surprise," said Gooz.
"Uh oh. If I had to go through all this for a surprise--"
"Just come on."
He led me to a car and Red and Rafe got in behind me, with a small movie camera.
"What are you doing?"
"Filmin'. Your future husband might be interested, or at least Evelyn will be, in how good you can look," said Rafe.
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm never gettin' married, I told you that."
"Okay."
We drove toward away from the base, but we were caught, by Doolittle.
"Where's McCawley?" was the first thing he said.
"Right here," said Rafe.
"No, your sister."
"Right here."
I raised my hand slightly. His eyebrows shot up, and he stared in disbelief.
"Sir, we're late for a surprise," said Gooz.
"Well, carry on, you must tell me how this turns out."
"They've got a movie camera," I said.
He laughed and we drove away. A few minutes later he stopped in front of a restaurant. He led me to a table, in the back, and they left, I supposed they sat somewhere, where they could see me, but I couldn't see them. A man with brown hair, brown eyes and pale skin, came up to me.
"Are you Jo McCawley?"
"Yes."
I stood up, to shake his hand.
"I'm Paul Shrapper."
I stuck out my hand, instead of shaking it, he kissed it, and handed me a single red rose. I took it, and he pulled my chair out for me, and we sat down. We ordered and then began to talk.
"So, I hear you're in the Army," he began.
"Yes, I'm a pilot. The only woman pilot next to Amelia Earhart."
"Where did you fight? Europe, or Pacific?"
"Both, actually. I was in Europe first, and then transferred to the Pacific to help finish that up. What about you? What do you do?"
"I'm in the Navy, a doctor. I was stationed in Virginia during the attack of Pearl Harbor."
"Really? My brother, my old friend, and I almost slept through it."
"How?"
"Well, Rafe and I kinda got drunk the night before, and then he and Danny got into a fight and them the MP came and we ran to Danny's car and the next morning we woke up to see Pearl Harbor being bombed, and the Japanese flying over us. We rushed to Pearl and got as many of the guys as we could, I think Gooz ended up in my lap, very uncomfortable, but we got to the air field, a few miles away from Pearl, and Danny, Rafe and I got up into planes. Together, I think we shot down ten. I shot down three, Danny shot down three and Rafe shot down four, yeah that's ten."
"Wow. Who's Danny."
"Former fiancé."
"Former? What happened?"
"We was killed during the Doolittle Raid."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Thank you. But as Rafe says it has been three years and that I need to get over it. Do you have a girl back home you had in mind for a wife."
"No. I had no one."
"Where are you from?"
"New Orleans, Louisiana."
"Really? Wow. I'm from Tennessee. It's very borin' there
"How long are you going to be in Hawaii?"
"'Till the end of the week, then I'm goin' back to Washington."
"You got a boyfriend?"
"No. I'm not really in search of a serious long term relationship, to be honest with you."
He looked relieved.
"Me neither."
Our food came. I had ravioli in tomato sauce and he had Chicken Alfredo, we both had wine to drink.
"Where are you stayin'?"
"The Naval base, what about you?"
"The Air base."
We ate our dinner, talking about various things. When we were done I looked around the restaurant.
"Are you looking for someone?"
"My brother, Gooz and Red are here somewhere with a movie camera, and if they aren't watching us now, we might have a chance to sneak out."
"I've got a car."
"Perfect. I can't see them. Should we go now?"
"Let's pay first."
He smiled at me and I smiled back. The waiter came back.
"Any dessert?" he asked
"No thank you. May we have the check, please," said Paul.
"It's been taken care of."
"Okay."
We got up and hurried out of the restaurant and into his car. He took me back to the base.
"I want to show you something. Come on," I said.
"What is it?"
"Just come on."
He got out of the car and I took him to the cliff over the beach and we watched the sunset. Rafe would kill me and Paul if he knew about this. No one knew this was my new 'secret spot' and I was sharing it with a man I barely knew. I was going to be a rebel tonight. When it was dark Paul and I made our way back to the car. We didn't quite get that far. We got to the parachute hangar and we went in there.
"We could get kicked out of the Military for this."
"We won't."
I turned to face him, he wasn't there.
"Boo!"
He grabbed me around the waist.
"So you wanna play huh? Well, two can play that game."
"Okay."
I slipped out of his arms and hid in one of the parachutes, until he walked by, then I got behind him and tapped his right shoulder then stood on his left side. He turned in a circle and saw me. Without realizing it, we kissed, but it didn't stop there. I ended up on my back, again. At about two in the morning, we got dressed and he went back to his base and I snuck into mine, or at least I tried. When I opened the door, and walked in, the light came on. Red, Rafe, Gooz, Earl and Tony were still awake. Red had turned on the light. Rafe was standing with his arms crossed, looking very angry, Gooz, Tony, and Earl were ready to hold him back, and they were gonna have to from the look in his eyes, and Red looking tired.
"Um... hi?"
"Where were you?" demanded Rafe.
"On a date."
He looked at the clock.
"Until two in the morning?"
"We talked a lot."
"You left the restaurant."
"I was tired of being watched."
I was getting as angry as Rafe.
"Really?"
"Yes! And Rafe? I'm twenty seven, I think I have the right to do things without you permission."
"What about Danny's? He could be alive! We didn't find his body. I didn't die, even though I was shot down!"
"Well, Rafe, you didn't stay away for three years! Only three months! Danny isn't comin' back, although I hate to admit it!"
"Well, it might take Danny longer than me."
"Rafe you know as well as I do if he had to wait any longer than he had to he'd swim from China."
I grabbed my pajamas and went into the bathroom to change. When I came out, I ignored them and went to bed. I didn't realize the tears streaming down my face. I sat down on my bed and Rafe sat next to me, and hugged me.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I'm sorry too. We came back here after we left and we watched the sunset. Okay?"
"Okay."
I never told him about anything else about that night. He never asked, neither did the others. I didn't see Paul after that, at the end of the week I went to visit him, but he wasn't there, so I left him a note. It said: 'Dear Paul. I just stopped by to tell you good bye, because I'm leaving tomorrow. I guess I'll see you some time, later in life. Good bye, from Jo.' and I went back to our bunk to finish packing. The next day, I was about to when Doolittle walked in.
"General?"
"Yes sir?"
"Would you be interested in every six months coming back here and test- flying for us?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. I'll see you then."
He left, and I went to get on the plane to take us back to California, then I got on the train to Washington.