I deeply apologize for the long wait. But, like most, I have been
busy with school and other things; I've even been having sperts of
writer's block and I would rather wait it out than put out
something mediocre (though sometimes I wonder if I didn't do that).
I have the next couple of installments, and I'm just doing the
finishing touches. I hope you enjoy it ~ hopezen.
July 27th 1958
"This little piece of Americana is as boring as Pierce made it out to be," Charles already missed the hustle and bustle of Boston.
"The infamous Crabapple Cove sure has lived up to its reputation, hasn't it?" Father Frances John Patrick Mulcahy was eagerly observing the town they had all heard so much about.
"Excuse me, but do you know where I can find Dr. Pierce?" BJ energetically asked two elderly gentlemen smoking outside of the post office.
"Daniel or Hawkeye?" one took his pipe out of his mouth with a welcoming smile.
"Hawkeye," BJ said with excitedly.
"Let's see," he had to think about it a bit, "'spose he'd be at the office this morning."
"Better hurry though," the second man interrupted, "he's got folks coming in from out of town. Told me as he was going in that he was going taking off early."
"Could you please tell us where his office is?"
"Hmm, well, you see that brown building there?" he pointed down and across the street, "It's the blue one next to it. Can't miss it."
"Thank you," BJ and the others went on their way.
"It must be an entire town of them," Charles insinuated as they were out of earshot.
"Seems Hawkeye has done very well for himself," the Father noted. "Daniel Pierce, MD. Benjamin Franklin Pierce, MD," he read the gold on the glass panel of the door.
"Odd looking doormat," BJ gestured to the silly looking Airedale sleeping at the door. "Move it pooch," he gently kicked (more of a push) the drowsy dog out of the way.
"We've gone back in time," Charles chuckled at the seemingly unprofessional office. He was too used to the whites of the halls in Boston.
It was small and chummy. There was an empty front desk and a hallway that seemed to loop around a centered room. The walls were basic wood planks with pictures of babies, children, weddings, and just about anything the people of Crabapple Cove wanted to be shown off. Right behind the desk there was a framed Crabapple Cove Currier dated July 29th 1953 with large print that read, "The War is Over!"
"Cozy," BJ was enjoying being in Hawkeye's world again.
The door hadn't bee closed all the way. There was a small crack just big enough for the dog to open it; he wriggled through his way the three men and skipped down the hall merry as could be. The men followed him; into an opened door directly across from one that had a sign that read, "the sulfas in the living room between the end tables".
Hawkeye was putting the finishing touches on the last of his paperwork. He was so excited that everyone was coming. He regretted not keeping in touch, but he never had the time or motivation to do so. He constantly thought about them; he wondered how they were doing and how their lives changed; he also thought about the other things about the war that disturbed him. That part of him was put on hold with anticipation for the moment; he was in such a hurry to finish that he tossed his pen on the floor.
The dog sleeked in as he was bent over in his chair grabbing for his pen. He was surprised to get a slimy tongue licking his face from his nose to his chin; the desk rattled with the impact of Hawkeye's head.
"Ah, Howler!" he yelled, "Out! Get Out!"
The dog only gave him a sad look trying not to understand that he was in trouble. Hawkeye instinctively checked his head with his palm. The spectators were laughing to themselves; they were about ready to explode.
"How many times do I have to tell them kids?! Stupid dog," he shook his head and locked a stare with the mutt.
They couldn't hold it in anymore; laughter boiled from their teeth. The corners of their mouths were shot so high that it was making their eyes water.
"That animal takes orders as well as you did, Hawk."
Hawkeye just realized part of his surrogate family standing in his office. They looked exactly the same; they all had a bit of gray starting around their ears, but they looked the same. "I didn't think you were coming till later?" he stood up and moved to the front of his desk.
"We decided to ambush you," BJ hugged his long lost friend.
"Well, you sure did catch me with my pants down," he was absolutely giddy.
"Pierce, please spare us. It has been a wonderful existence without you camaraderie," Charles joked.
"You haven't changed a bit you big gallout," he gave a hug to Charles who gave him a hearty pat on the back in return. "How have you been, Father?"
"Never better, Hawkeye. BJ tells us your married," Mulcahy was the first to jump the gun.
"Yup," he shook his finger to show off his ring. "Four years, six months, and counting," he said proudly.
"And where is the poor woman that you no doubt tricked into marrying you?" Charles was very curious.
"She's at home getting the last few things together."
"You must have a very understanding wife," BJ spoke from experience. "Oh, did you ever get a hold of Margaret?" the thought just occurred to him.
Hawkeye cracked one of those mischievous smiles; the first comment would be too easy. They were going to jump out of their skins when they found out. "Oh, yes."
"Is she coming?" BJ was amazed. He had tried every thread; even Colonel Potter tried to find her with all his friends in high places, but they couldn't find her anywhere.
"Are you kidding? She wouldn't have missed this for the world."
"Did you know she's married?" the Father asked. "Sherman sent me a letter that he had heard that her father said that she had married some, and I quote," he caught himself before he went on, " 'some jackass doctor that didn't know his buns from his brains'."
"Oh, I have no doubt that Alvin Houlihan would say such a thing about his son-in-law," Hawkeye knew his father-in-law wasn't crazy about him, but they had grown to know a bit more about the other and they were civil to one another - plain and simple.
"Sounds as if you have some inside information," BJ saw the trickster look trademark on his friends face.
"Believe me, you're going to love him," he waved his hand in strict confidence.
The group was laughing and enjoying each other. It was great for all of them to do just that. They were quickly and inevitably interrupted.
"Don't run," a voice warned the stampeding feet into a fast walk.
"Daddy!" Five children burst into the room; one threw herself at Hawkeye making him pick her up.
"You didn't wake us up," one of the little boys pulled on his pants on the opposite side his sister.
"I know. I had to come in early to get some things done."
"Fishing early," the little brunette remembered from the night before.
"Ah, here you are," Hawkeye's father came into the room. He didn't expect there to be a meeting going on. "We're not interrupting anything are we?"
"Dad, I'd like you to meet the boys from the 4077th; BJ Hunnicutt, Father Frances John Patrick Mulcahy, and Charles Emerson Winchester III."
Daniel was interested in these men that had been through so much with both Hawkeye and Margaret. He had heard stories upon stories (most within the last few weeks) about them. He was warmly greeted by the three visitors.
"Daddy, you weren't at breakfast," Kat drilled her father while the strange strangers were talking with their grandpa. He told them that he would be home before breakfast.
"I know, I was here longer than I thought I would be," he explained.
"Mommy put yours in the trash," Alex told him flat out.
It made Hawkeye grit his teeth. He knew she was running around in circles trying to get everything ready and together. He had come to the office to catch up on some work he had left undone; there was more than expected there to be and he lost track of time.
"So much for the very understanding wife," Charles chuckled.
"Oh, she's not mad. Her temper flared, but you know she gets." Daniel thought that Hawkeye had exaggerated in his description of her; the first time he saw her get really mad, she frightened him. But he learned that she got over things quickly and that her bark was worse than her bite, and that her temper had cooled from boiling to lukewarm. She rarely did it now and only did it toward Hawkeye, when the kids weren't around, who somehow knew how to take it. Though in the past few weeks she was stressed and more vocal.
"Can we go outside?" Jimmy asked being board of the conversation.
"Well aren't you going to say hello to the gentlemen?" Hawkeye knew they wanted to get out of there so bad.
"Hi." They said quickly.
"Boys," they really wanted out of there, "this is the gang. The strapping young men here are Jimmy and Alex, and the lovely ladies are Chelsea, Kat, and wiggle worm here is Jess," he saw the smiles on his friends' faces. They couldn't believe it.
"Very peased to meet you," Jess bobbed her head at every word making sure not to forget any. She held out her little hand with the fingers extended; she was leaning so far forward she was about ready to fall out of her father's arms.
"Hi, there," BJ shook Jess' hand that barely fit into his fingers and did the same for the others.
"A pleasure, I'm sure," Charles was surprisingly taken by her cheerfulness and bouncing curls.
"Well, hello little ones," Father Mulcahy could see what they had inherited from their father.
"Please Daddy?" Kat asked with ants in her pants.
"Do you promise to stay clean?" he eyed them.
They all nodded their heads in compliance; they had received explicit instructions to stay clean and dry from their mothers before they left the house.
"All right, go," he saw them turn on their heels before he even finished.
"Down?" Jess turned to face him.
"Are you sure?" he played with her.
She nodded her head up and down locking eyes with him, "Oh, all right then," he put her down.
She immediately saw Howler. She knew he wasn't allowed inside the office; she had gotten in trouble for bringing him in many times before. "Oh, Howler," she went over and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're not allowed. Outside," she dragged him out, but he was happily following.
"So where's Peg? You do know you were supposed to bring her," Hawkeye teased.
They were gawking at the newly absent children. It was hard to believe that Hawkeye Pierce, of all people, would have children; they knew he was very caring and great with them, but him being a father was a hard concept to grasp.
July 27th 1958
"This little piece of Americana is as boring as Pierce made it out to be," Charles already missed the hustle and bustle of Boston.
"The infamous Crabapple Cove sure has lived up to its reputation, hasn't it?" Father Frances John Patrick Mulcahy was eagerly observing the town they had all heard so much about.
"Excuse me, but do you know where I can find Dr. Pierce?" BJ energetically asked two elderly gentlemen smoking outside of the post office.
"Daniel or Hawkeye?" one took his pipe out of his mouth with a welcoming smile.
"Hawkeye," BJ said with excitedly.
"Let's see," he had to think about it a bit, "'spose he'd be at the office this morning."
"Better hurry though," the second man interrupted, "he's got folks coming in from out of town. Told me as he was going in that he was going taking off early."
"Could you please tell us where his office is?"
"Hmm, well, you see that brown building there?" he pointed down and across the street, "It's the blue one next to it. Can't miss it."
"Thank you," BJ and the others went on their way.
"It must be an entire town of them," Charles insinuated as they were out of earshot.
"Seems Hawkeye has done very well for himself," the Father noted. "Daniel Pierce, MD. Benjamin Franklin Pierce, MD," he read the gold on the glass panel of the door.
"Odd looking doormat," BJ gestured to the silly looking Airedale sleeping at the door. "Move it pooch," he gently kicked (more of a push) the drowsy dog out of the way.
"We've gone back in time," Charles chuckled at the seemingly unprofessional office. He was too used to the whites of the halls in Boston.
It was small and chummy. There was an empty front desk and a hallway that seemed to loop around a centered room. The walls were basic wood planks with pictures of babies, children, weddings, and just about anything the people of Crabapple Cove wanted to be shown off. Right behind the desk there was a framed Crabapple Cove Currier dated July 29th 1953 with large print that read, "The War is Over!"
"Cozy," BJ was enjoying being in Hawkeye's world again.
The door hadn't bee closed all the way. There was a small crack just big enough for the dog to open it; he wriggled through his way the three men and skipped down the hall merry as could be. The men followed him; into an opened door directly across from one that had a sign that read, "the sulfas in the living room between the end tables".
Hawkeye was putting the finishing touches on the last of his paperwork. He was so excited that everyone was coming. He regretted not keeping in touch, but he never had the time or motivation to do so. He constantly thought about them; he wondered how they were doing and how their lives changed; he also thought about the other things about the war that disturbed him. That part of him was put on hold with anticipation for the moment; he was in such a hurry to finish that he tossed his pen on the floor.
The dog sleeked in as he was bent over in his chair grabbing for his pen. He was surprised to get a slimy tongue licking his face from his nose to his chin; the desk rattled with the impact of Hawkeye's head.
"Ah, Howler!" he yelled, "Out! Get Out!"
The dog only gave him a sad look trying not to understand that he was in trouble. Hawkeye instinctively checked his head with his palm. The spectators were laughing to themselves; they were about ready to explode.
"How many times do I have to tell them kids?! Stupid dog," he shook his head and locked a stare with the mutt.
They couldn't hold it in anymore; laughter boiled from their teeth. The corners of their mouths were shot so high that it was making their eyes water.
"That animal takes orders as well as you did, Hawk."
Hawkeye just realized part of his surrogate family standing in his office. They looked exactly the same; they all had a bit of gray starting around their ears, but they looked the same. "I didn't think you were coming till later?" he stood up and moved to the front of his desk.
"We decided to ambush you," BJ hugged his long lost friend.
"Well, you sure did catch me with my pants down," he was absolutely giddy.
"Pierce, please spare us. It has been a wonderful existence without you camaraderie," Charles joked.
"You haven't changed a bit you big gallout," he gave a hug to Charles who gave him a hearty pat on the back in return. "How have you been, Father?"
"Never better, Hawkeye. BJ tells us your married," Mulcahy was the first to jump the gun.
"Yup," he shook his finger to show off his ring. "Four years, six months, and counting," he said proudly.
"And where is the poor woman that you no doubt tricked into marrying you?" Charles was very curious.
"She's at home getting the last few things together."
"You must have a very understanding wife," BJ spoke from experience. "Oh, did you ever get a hold of Margaret?" the thought just occurred to him.
Hawkeye cracked one of those mischievous smiles; the first comment would be too easy. They were going to jump out of their skins when they found out. "Oh, yes."
"Is she coming?" BJ was amazed. He had tried every thread; even Colonel Potter tried to find her with all his friends in high places, but they couldn't find her anywhere.
"Are you kidding? She wouldn't have missed this for the world."
"Did you know she's married?" the Father asked. "Sherman sent me a letter that he had heard that her father said that she had married some, and I quote," he caught himself before he went on, " 'some jackass doctor that didn't know his buns from his brains'."
"Oh, I have no doubt that Alvin Houlihan would say such a thing about his son-in-law," Hawkeye knew his father-in-law wasn't crazy about him, but they had grown to know a bit more about the other and they were civil to one another - plain and simple.
"Sounds as if you have some inside information," BJ saw the trickster look trademark on his friends face.
"Believe me, you're going to love him," he waved his hand in strict confidence.
The group was laughing and enjoying each other. It was great for all of them to do just that. They were quickly and inevitably interrupted.
"Don't run," a voice warned the stampeding feet into a fast walk.
"Daddy!" Five children burst into the room; one threw herself at Hawkeye making him pick her up.
"You didn't wake us up," one of the little boys pulled on his pants on the opposite side his sister.
"I know. I had to come in early to get some things done."
"Fishing early," the little brunette remembered from the night before.
"Ah, here you are," Hawkeye's father came into the room. He didn't expect there to be a meeting going on. "We're not interrupting anything are we?"
"Dad, I'd like you to meet the boys from the 4077th; BJ Hunnicutt, Father Frances John Patrick Mulcahy, and Charles Emerson Winchester III."
Daniel was interested in these men that had been through so much with both Hawkeye and Margaret. He had heard stories upon stories (most within the last few weeks) about them. He was warmly greeted by the three visitors.
"Daddy, you weren't at breakfast," Kat drilled her father while the strange strangers were talking with their grandpa. He told them that he would be home before breakfast.
"I know, I was here longer than I thought I would be," he explained.
"Mommy put yours in the trash," Alex told him flat out.
It made Hawkeye grit his teeth. He knew she was running around in circles trying to get everything ready and together. He had come to the office to catch up on some work he had left undone; there was more than expected there to be and he lost track of time.
"So much for the very understanding wife," Charles chuckled.
"Oh, she's not mad. Her temper flared, but you know she gets." Daniel thought that Hawkeye had exaggerated in his description of her; the first time he saw her get really mad, she frightened him. But he learned that she got over things quickly and that her bark was worse than her bite, and that her temper had cooled from boiling to lukewarm. She rarely did it now and only did it toward Hawkeye, when the kids weren't around, who somehow knew how to take it. Though in the past few weeks she was stressed and more vocal.
"Can we go outside?" Jimmy asked being board of the conversation.
"Well aren't you going to say hello to the gentlemen?" Hawkeye knew they wanted to get out of there so bad.
"Hi." They said quickly.
"Boys," they really wanted out of there, "this is the gang. The strapping young men here are Jimmy and Alex, and the lovely ladies are Chelsea, Kat, and wiggle worm here is Jess," he saw the smiles on his friends' faces. They couldn't believe it.
"Very peased to meet you," Jess bobbed her head at every word making sure not to forget any. She held out her little hand with the fingers extended; she was leaning so far forward she was about ready to fall out of her father's arms.
"Hi, there," BJ shook Jess' hand that barely fit into his fingers and did the same for the others.
"A pleasure, I'm sure," Charles was surprisingly taken by her cheerfulness and bouncing curls.
"Well, hello little ones," Father Mulcahy could see what they had inherited from their father.
"Please Daddy?" Kat asked with ants in her pants.
"Do you promise to stay clean?" he eyed them.
They all nodded their heads in compliance; they had received explicit instructions to stay clean and dry from their mothers before they left the house.
"All right, go," he saw them turn on their heels before he even finished.
"Down?" Jess turned to face him.
"Are you sure?" he played with her.
She nodded her head up and down locking eyes with him, "Oh, all right then," he put her down.
She immediately saw Howler. She knew he wasn't allowed inside the office; she had gotten in trouble for bringing him in many times before. "Oh, Howler," she went over and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're not allowed. Outside," she dragged him out, but he was happily following.
"So where's Peg? You do know you were supposed to bring her," Hawkeye teased.
They were gawking at the newly absent children. It was hard to believe that Hawkeye Pierce, of all people, would have children; they knew he was very caring and great with them, but him being a father was a hard concept to grasp.