Rafe looked at me. "I know how this must be hard on you."
"no.it's hard on you.and I know it.."
Rafe hugged me and I nearly heard him cry. I think I kinda cried too. The tear flowed down. But yes.Rafe was crying.he was hurt. All I can do is.just.I didn't even know what to do either.my heart ached.and all I can do..is show compassion.after all.he was my brother.the only true person who would never let me down.
Then Danny came in. He saw us and just looked down and walked off to the other side while we just sat down hoping for the best..
We finally ended up on a ship. It was many men and I was the only woman. Well actually.girl accroding to Rafe I'll become a "woman" until I'm 21.ugh. well so I was the only girl there.
Many guys kept whistling and making little jokes as I walked past them. One came up to me. Some man with black curly hair. He looked at me up and down.
He whistled real loud. "wow. so what brings you here? As an inspiration to us men.cuz you sure are inspring me girl."
'hey watch it! I aint your little barbie doll. Show me respect."
Rafe was looking from a distance with a (huh! You can imagine.) type of face that is usally seen on a father when you did something real bad. But naw he had the face as if ready to kill the guy next to me.
"respect? Girl with that body.." he got closer to me. I kinda backed away but he forced me up to him. I didn't like this but I only smiled.
"it'll be hard to show you respect so how about a kiss."
"oh yeah." I said sarcastically. "close your eyes baby."
He closed his eyes.
I lift up my knee which hit him in the stomach since he was real close.
"AND KEEP ON DREAMIN'!"
I turned and walked off while the man fell on the floor holding his stomach.
The boys there started to howl.
"oh she got you!"
They started laughing.
I walked up to my brother and he only laughed. "nice one Lia."
"thank you.now come on."
We kept walking when C.Doolittle called us all to stand in the line. When he saw me all he did was wink. I only smiled but Rafe just HAD to make a smart remark.
"Look like Doolittle likes you Lia."
I stepped on foot.
"ahhh!!!" he shouted as if someone just gave him a shot.
I turned to him and deepend my voice as joking on him. "oh yeah a man who can be my father is madly in love with me."
Doolittle noticed and looked at Rafe. "your shoes to small for you son?"
"no." Rafe said holding his foot. "it's just.my sister has learn a lesson from me." Remebering when I stepped on his foot the day I was teasing him about Evelyn.
"oh I see.we'll get you new shoes tommorow." Doolittle said as he walked off.
I snickered and then turned the other way.
****oh yeah and I'm not going to repeat word by word what C.Dolittle said cuz it aint my orginal work.it's just making a book of the movie so please don't be offended if I don't repeat exactly what they said. =)****
"okay first as I see you all standing in line here..I think to myself.how it felt standing here 10 years ago.oh don't think I'm that old gentlemen.and then I see Lia here Ms.McCawley.and she shows that anyone can live up to a dream if they wish."
The boys started to whistle and clap. I think I felt slighly pink but I only smiled.
"but but but I'm not here to talk about that.I'm here to make a confirmation.that means you will be willing at all chance to do this.now.you see the man by your side."
I cleared my throat.
"and Mr.Walker and Mr.McCawley the young lady by your side."
I smiled.
"there is a chance by the next week that you.he.or she.may be dead"
Rafe then whispred. "don't worry Lia. I'll bring flower for you"
I made a face and then smiled. "but Rafe.how will you be able to bring me flowers when you'll be dead as well.."
Doolittle sighed. "now all who is willing to take this risk.please...step forward.."
Everyone stepped forward and no one stood back. I think I hesitated from the inside but not from the out because I was one of the first.
Doolittle looked around satisfied that no one single person backed down.
I want to introduce a couple of people. Doc White is a flight surgeon; he has volunteered for gunnery training so that he can go on the mission, because we can't spare the weight of an extra man and Ross Greening, who will oversee your equipment. Any questions?
I looked around and saw that Danny had stepped up to ask a question.
"Who'll be the first one in, Colonel? I'd like to volunt - "
Rafe elbows his ribs so hard it takes his breath away.
I started to laugh softly.
Doolittle sighedf as if he was repesting this story to a slow minded person.
" I thought I'd made it clear, I'm not just putting this mission together -- I'm leading it myself. "
Rafe then turns to me and says real quick. "Forget the flowers Lia we're all going to die"
I could only laugh.
We then went to the Eglin field. We looked around. I saw some B-25 bombers from all different angles. We all smiled. Obviously we liked what we saw.
Doolittle looked at us. "this is what we'll fly. the B-25"
We all made sounds of agrrement. We liked to hear that.
"the one thing you'll have to be aware of from the very beginning. You see that private?
We all look ahead and from a runaway a few feet away. He smiled and waves at us. I'm the only one who waves back. He winks at me and then starts painting a red line across the runway.
Then I notice the other one who was more close by was painting a green line.
Doolittle then explained. "Green means go. Red means dead"
So we started our training.
We're practicing takeroff's. Which obviosuly half of us fail.half? I mean ALL of us failed. I was Rafe's copilot while Red was Danny's.
(I know that Red was Rafe's and Anthony was Danny's but I gotta but Lia somewhere)
None of us can make it pass the red line.
Doolittle seem disappointed.
Every time we failed Rafe would come up with a smart remark.
"oh come on Lia we'll make it."
"what the infinity time we try it?!" I said at him.
"um.yeah."
"Rafe.shut the fuck up and run that plane before I throw you past the red line."
"damn pushy pushy Lia"
We were brought to a room where I sat down in between Rafe and Danny like always. Bravlio was to Danny's side and Raymond to Rafe's. We were in the lecture room. Try to figure out what Doolittle did there?
Lecture.
"You're having trouble getting airborne in the shorter space because you're not revving the engines enough. You've got to push them to the limit before you ever start to move."
I noticed that Rafe was distracted like he's lost in thought, looking at Danny but turns away when he notices that I'm looking at him or that Danny would have turned and looked at him. Who would have known that one women could break such a great friendship. It angered me in the inside. But I wasn't going to have my mind occupied by that. I was-"
"Lia may you repeat to all of us what I have just said?"
I looked and saw Doolittle there. I jumped up a bit to see him.
"oh would you like to tell us what you're day dreaming about?"
"I'm sorry sir I was."
"well I hope you heard Lia because Ms.McCawley you're up first when we get outside."
I turned slightly pink and got up as everyone else left the room.
We were practicing hard. Good thing I heard what Doolittle said in the beginning.
We all tired hard , revving the engines and taking off hard.
We all cross the red line.
"WHOO!!!!!"
During take off and after takeoff.
Rafe pushes his engine hard and still crosses by twenty feet.
Danny on the other hand push even harder and but miss by ten feet. Damn it!
" We've got to get the weight down." Doolittle says outloud.
Greening who is beside him only nods.
I was peeking and looking at what Greening and Doolittle was up to.
Greening has removed the intensely complex Norden sight from a bomber and put in on a table for Doolittle.
" Okay, forty pounds gone. And in it's place, this." Greening shows Doolittle an aluminum strip on a swivel.
" Weight, 3 ounces. Cost, 20 cents."
Doolittle takes a bite of his doughnuts he had near by. I can only roll my eyes. "is there a time where that man isn't stuffinf his face with doughnuts?" I laugh. "but he's a great guy"
He then asks " Does it work?"
Before I can hear Rafe pulls me back.
"eavesdropping Lil' Lia.come on.."
"hey wait what??"
He picked me up dragging me off while I kicked my feet.
"Rafe !! Rafe!! RAFE!!!"
I sat down as I saw the pilots paint and decorate their planes as well as the bombs that will soon hit Japan's battle bases.
I started to laugh as one pilot was painting something and then came Doolittle who looked at it like if it was some piece of crap or something. I was drinking some drink Rafe got me. Not sure what it is. But if he wants to poison me. it's a good plan cuz as of now. I don't care. Although this stuff is good.
"may I tell you that I have respect for my planes."
The pilot nodded still painting of a picture that looked like a nurse shwoing a lot of skin.
"THAT MEANS I DON'T WANT TO SEE TITS ON IT!"
I bursted out laughing and Doolittle noticed. I sprayed out the drink in my mouth when I did. Causing Raymond next to me to get wet. Doolittle gave a small chuckle and then turned to the pilot. "and if you are don't make them so lump sided."
Raymond got and looked at me. "you're disgusting Lia."
I blushed. "sorry."
"awwww Calm down " Danny said smiling. "it's only root beer."
"that's what this stuff is?" I said looking at it for a moment and then shrugged still drinking it.
Anthony was with a camera.
"hey Lia.you think they just picked us because we're young and dumb."
"well it's better then an old and slow riiiiiiiiiight?"
Red who was paitning stopped. "oh come on. you heard them we're the best."
"once again." I said. "because we're young and dumb and it's better then old and slow."
Danny took his rootbeer and poured it at me.
"OH NOT YOU DIDN'T!!!!"
"Hey we're YOUNG and DUMB right?"
I started to chase him screaming. "DOOLITTLE!!!!"
Rafe stopped Doolittle. "I got her."
"yeah you better because I'll get two farmer boys and the little farmer girl"
I threw the rootbear at Danny. I got perfect aim :D
Rafe came and held me back. "come on Lia."
I started kicking and then started to laugh. "I need a bath."
I walked off.
Next day.
We started to practice today. We were at treetop level as to practice bombing range. Greening used the makeshift sighe and drops a sack of flour as practice right in the middle of the bull's eye target which was drawn out of chalk.
So we're still working on it. As of me and danny. There haven't been no love affairs yet.I was too into this to even remember that.
We're flying again treetop level with Doolittle in the fornt as the lead bomber. I was with Rafe as co-pilot as usual and Danny was with the same person.
Doolittle said over the radio. "Right down the treetops boys."
I took the radio. "um Doolittle."
"oh yeah sorry Lia.and lil miss farmer girl."
Most of the boys laughed.
"ha ha ha you're real funny Doolittle."
Rafe brings down his plane softly.
Then out of no where Danny's plane appears UNDER him.
Rafe jerks his nose up quickly obviously angry. I can only laugh. From the radio danny was laughing too althoughhe had scared the shit out of his crew.
Night time.
I'm outside looking up at the moon. Danny's beside me but we don't say much.He turns to me and smiles. "Hey you know the different stars coordinators?"
"no.not really."
"well you see that's Draco.it's Latin for Dragon.you have to look real carefully.good thing it's a clear night."
"Yeah I said pretending to be looking at the "dragon star" although I couldn't"
Danny is about to take my hand when Rafe appears and sits looking at us.
We both sit up and I smile. "Hey Rafe Fun today huh like old-"
But Rafe interrupts me and pretends I'm not even there when he says quickly.
"Danny, what the hell are you trying to do out there?"
"What do you mean? I'm just doing what we've always done. You know me Lia and you"
"No. You're trying to beat me. "
"We've always tried to beat each other."
I smiled ignoring the fact that he was rude. "Yeah it's nothing new-"
" Bullshit! We've played with each other, pushed each other. This is different. Like you want to prove that you're better than me. Who's that for -- Evelyn?"
I get up as if I really don't want to be here. I start to walk off.
"Lia get your ass over her!"
I swing around. "do I have to?" I said in a voice as if I was a little kid told to go to bed.
Danny's anger flares for a moment. But I sat down and the face I make. (I guess) cheered Danny up a bit.
" Maybe just trying to measure up." He said out of nowhere.
"What's between you and her is between you and her. But here's what's between you and me. Everybody has a hero, Danny. And you're mine."
I looked at Rafe. "for real?"
"When we were growing up, Lia and I had everything. You had nothing. You climbed out of a hole I couldn't even see the bottom of. I think maybe when I went off to England, I was trying to measure up to you. Measuring up's over. Let's just look out for each other. Okay?.all of us like it was before.me you and Lia" We embrace, closer now than ever.
In the morning.
With the planes practicing their short takeoffs, we see Roosevelt in one of his fireside chats, his voice broadcast across America...
"Good evening, America... "
Families all across America are gathered around radios, listening.
" I'm told that 80% of American families are listening to these fireside chats of ours, and I'm happy we can come together, as one great American family. I'd like each of you within the sound of my voice to find a map... "
Families do as told, gathering around encyclopedias, school books, any reference they have, spread on kitchen tables, suburban living room rugs, or farmhouse hearths...
"Look at the Pacific Ocean. It covers half the surface of the earth. And look at the great Atlantic. The oceans both divide and connect us to our enemies, and either they will come to us, or we will go to them.."
We were in San Francisco.Why? Ask Doolittle.
I looked at Rafe. We were still in our planes.
Red looked at us. "N-naval station? What's g-going on?"
I shurrged. "Wish I knew, Red."
The crews climb from their planes, and almost before they're out, teams of men (Lia: hello what am I? chopliver.) and Lia..use straps and cranes to hoist the bombers onto flatbed trucks.
Doolittle walks up to Rafe, Danny and myself, watching the baffling operation.
"Want to see where they're going?"
We only shurgged and then he started to tell us.
The Evening (I'm trying to rush all this lol)
Cranes lift the planes from the trucks and hoist them onto the flight decks of the carrier Uss Hornet.
We stand on the pier, watching.
Anthony then said. " I guess that settles it. Somewhere in the Pacific. "
Red then said" With a s-short r-runway."
We all gather around Doolittle as he moves up to us
. "You have rooms at the Biltmore. I suggest a nice meal and a good night's sleep. We leave tomorrow."
Doolittle walks to join a captain.
We get off the bus and carry our duffels into the lobby.
" San Francisco, here we are!: Anthony said shouting
Danny smiled. "I don't reckon we can get hogbrains and grits, but I hear a man can eat good in this town. "
I looked confused. "what are we doing in San Franisco when we're suppose to be preparing for the fucking war damn it!"
Rrafe who perfectly heard me turn tome
" I'm gonna turn in and while I'm at it, I'm going to wash Lia's mouth with soap.come on Lia. Cursing more then ever.very unlady like.come on Lia tot he bathroom "He picked me up and carried me off.
"Rafe you bastard put me down! You act like you never curse"
"yeah but you're 16 pretending to be 18.and I'm 25."
I finished the sentece for him.
"Pretending to be my freaking father! You bitch put me down!"
"that's it soap in the mouth for an hour!"
"RAFE!!!!"
"no.it's hard on you.and I know it.."
Rafe hugged me and I nearly heard him cry. I think I kinda cried too. The tear flowed down. But yes.Rafe was crying.he was hurt. All I can do is.just.I didn't even know what to do either.my heart ached.and all I can do..is show compassion.after all.he was my brother.the only true person who would never let me down.
Then Danny came in. He saw us and just looked down and walked off to the other side while we just sat down hoping for the best..
We finally ended up on a ship. It was many men and I was the only woman. Well actually.girl accroding to Rafe I'll become a "woman" until I'm 21.ugh. well so I was the only girl there.
Many guys kept whistling and making little jokes as I walked past them. One came up to me. Some man with black curly hair. He looked at me up and down.
He whistled real loud. "wow. so what brings you here? As an inspiration to us men.cuz you sure are inspring me girl."
'hey watch it! I aint your little barbie doll. Show me respect."
Rafe was looking from a distance with a (huh! You can imagine.) type of face that is usally seen on a father when you did something real bad. But naw he had the face as if ready to kill the guy next to me.
"respect? Girl with that body.." he got closer to me. I kinda backed away but he forced me up to him. I didn't like this but I only smiled.
"it'll be hard to show you respect so how about a kiss."
"oh yeah." I said sarcastically. "close your eyes baby."
He closed his eyes.
I lift up my knee which hit him in the stomach since he was real close.
"AND KEEP ON DREAMIN'!"
I turned and walked off while the man fell on the floor holding his stomach.
The boys there started to howl.
"oh she got you!"
They started laughing.
I walked up to my brother and he only laughed. "nice one Lia."
"thank you.now come on."
We kept walking when C.Doolittle called us all to stand in the line. When he saw me all he did was wink. I only smiled but Rafe just HAD to make a smart remark.
"Look like Doolittle likes you Lia."
I stepped on foot.
"ahhh!!!" he shouted as if someone just gave him a shot.
I turned to him and deepend my voice as joking on him. "oh yeah a man who can be my father is madly in love with me."
Doolittle noticed and looked at Rafe. "your shoes to small for you son?"
"no." Rafe said holding his foot. "it's just.my sister has learn a lesson from me." Remebering when I stepped on his foot the day I was teasing him about Evelyn.
"oh I see.we'll get you new shoes tommorow." Doolittle said as he walked off.
I snickered and then turned the other way.
****oh yeah and I'm not going to repeat word by word what C.Dolittle said cuz it aint my orginal work.it's just making a book of the movie so please don't be offended if I don't repeat exactly what they said. =)****
"okay first as I see you all standing in line here..I think to myself.how it felt standing here 10 years ago.oh don't think I'm that old gentlemen.and then I see Lia here Ms.McCawley.and she shows that anyone can live up to a dream if they wish."
The boys started to whistle and clap. I think I felt slighly pink but I only smiled.
"but but but I'm not here to talk about that.I'm here to make a confirmation.that means you will be willing at all chance to do this.now.you see the man by your side."
I cleared my throat.
"and Mr.Walker and Mr.McCawley the young lady by your side."
I smiled.
"there is a chance by the next week that you.he.or she.may be dead"
Rafe then whispred. "don't worry Lia. I'll bring flower for you"
I made a face and then smiled. "but Rafe.how will you be able to bring me flowers when you'll be dead as well.."
Doolittle sighed. "now all who is willing to take this risk.please...step forward.."
Everyone stepped forward and no one stood back. I think I hesitated from the inside but not from the out because I was one of the first.
Doolittle looked around satisfied that no one single person backed down.
I want to introduce a couple of people. Doc White is a flight surgeon; he has volunteered for gunnery training so that he can go on the mission, because we can't spare the weight of an extra man and Ross Greening, who will oversee your equipment. Any questions?
I looked around and saw that Danny had stepped up to ask a question.
"Who'll be the first one in, Colonel? I'd like to volunt - "
Rafe elbows his ribs so hard it takes his breath away.
I started to laugh softly.
Doolittle sighedf as if he was repesting this story to a slow minded person.
" I thought I'd made it clear, I'm not just putting this mission together -- I'm leading it myself. "
Rafe then turns to me and says real quick. "Forget the flowers Lia we're all going to die"
I could only laugh.
We then went to the Eglin field. We looked around. I saw some B-25 bombers from all different angles. We all smiled. Obviously we liked what we saw.
Doolittle looked at us. "this is what we'll fly. the B-25"
We all made sounds of agrrement. We liked to hear that.
"the one thing you'll have to be aware of from the very beginning. You see that private?
We all look ahead and from a runaway a few feet away. He smiled and waves at us. I'm the only one who waves back. He winks at me and then starts painting a red line across the runway.
Then I notice the other one who was more close by was painting a green line.
Doolittle then explained. "Green means go. Red means dead"
So we started our training.
We're practicing takeroff's. Which obviosuly half of us fail.half? I mean ALL of us failed. I was Rafe's copilot while Red was Danny's.
(I know that Red was Rafe's and Anthony was Danny's but I gotta but Lia somewhere)
None of us can make it pass the red line.
Doolittle seem disappointed.
Every time we failed Rafe would come up with a smart remark.
"oh come on Lia we'll make it."
"what the infinity time we try it?!" I said at him.
"um.yeah."
"Rafe.shut the fuck up and run that plane before I throw you past the red line."
"damn pushy pushy Lia"
We were brought to a room where I sat down in between Rafe and Danny like always. Bravlio was to Danny's side and Raymond to Rafe's. We were in the lecture room. Try to figure out what Doolittle did there?
Lecture.
"You're having trouble getting airborne in the shorter space because you're not revving the engines enough. You've got to push them to the limit before you ever start to move."
I noticed that Rafe was distracted like he's lost in thought, looking at Danny but turns away when he notices that I'm looking at him or that Danny would have turned and looked at him. Who would have known that one women could break such a great friendship. It angered me in the inside. But I wasn't going to have my mind occupied by that. I was-"
"Lia may you repeat to all of us what I have just said?"
I looked and saw Doolittle there. I jumped up a bit to see him.
"oh would you like to tell us what you're day dreaming about?"
"I'm sorry sir I was."
"well I hope you heard Lia because Ms.McCawley you're up first when we get outside."
I turned slightly pink and got up as everyone else left the room.
We were practicing hard. Good thing I heard what Doolittle said in the beginning.
We all tired hard , revving the engines and taking off hard.
We all cross the red line.
"WHOO!!!!!"
During take off and after takeoff.
Rafe pushes his engine hard and still crosses by twenty feet.
Danny on the other hand push even harder and but miss by ten feet. Damn it!
" We've got to get the weight down." Doolittle says outloud.
Greening who is beside him only nods.
I was peeking and looking at what Greening and Doolittle was up to.
Greening has removed the intensely complex Norden sight from a bomber and put in on a table for Doolittle.
" Okay, forty pounds gone. And in it's place, this." Greening shows Doolittle an aluminum strip on a swivel.
" Weight, 3 ounces. Cost, 20 cents."
Doolittle takes a bite of his doughnuts he had near by. I can only roll my eyes. "is there a time where that man isn't stuffinf his face with doughnuts?" I laugh. "but he's a great guy"
He then asks " Does it work?"
Before I can hear Rafe pulls me back.
"eavesdropping Lil' Lia.come on.."
"hey wait what??"
He picked me up dragging me off while I kicked my feet.
"Rafe !! Rafe!! RAFE!!!"
I sat down as I saw the pilots paint and decorate their planes as well as the bombs that will soon hit Japan's battle bases.
I started to laugh as one pilot was painting something and then came Doolittle who looked at it like if it was some piece of crap or something. I was drinking some drink Rafe got me. Not sure what it is. But if he wants to poison me. it's a good plan cuz as of now. I don't care. Although this stuff is good.
"may I tell you that I have respect for my planes."
The pilot nodded still painting of a picture that looked like a nurse shwoing a lot of skin.
"THAT MEANS I DON'T WANT TO SEE TITS ON IT!"
I bursted out laughing and Doolittle noticed. I sprayed out the drink in my mouth when I did. Causing Raymond next to me to get wet. Doolittle gave a small chuckle and then turned to the pilot. "and if you are don't make them so lump sided."
Raymond got and looked at me. "you're disgusting Lia."
I blushed. "sorry."
"awwww Calm down " Danny said smiling. "it's only root beer."
"that's what this stuff is?" I said looking at it for a moment and then shrugged still drinking it.
Anthony was with a camera.
"hey Lia.you think they just picked us because we're young and dumb."
"well it's better then an old and slow riiiiiiiiiight?"
Red who was paitning stopped. "oh come on. you heard them we're the best."
"once again." I said. "because we're young and dumb and it's better then old and slow."
Danny took his rootbeer and poured it at me.
"OH NOT YOU DIDN'T!!!!"
"Hey we're YOUNG and DUMB right?"
I started to chase him screaming. "DOOLITTLE!!!!"
Rafe stopped Doolittle. "I got her."
"yeah you better because I'll get two farmer boys and the little farmer girl"
I threw the rootbear at Danny. I got perfect aim :D
Rafe came and held me back. "come on Lia."
I started kicking and then started to laugh. "I need a bath."
I walked off.
Next day.
We started to practice today. We were at treetop level as to practice bombing range. Greening used the makeshift sighe and drops a sack of flour as practice right in the middle of the bull's eye target which was drawn out of chalk.
So we're still working on it. As of me and danny. There haven't been no love affairs yet.I was too into this to even remember that.
We're flying again treetop level with Doolittle in the fornt as the lead bomber. I was with Rafe as co-pilot as usual and Danny was with the same person.
Doolittle said over the radio. "Right down the treetops boys."
I took the radio. "um Doolittle."
"oh yeah sorry Lia.and lil miss farmer girl."
Most of the boys laughed.
"ha ha ha you're real funny Doolittle."
Rafe brings down his plane softly.
Then out of no where Danny's plane appears UNDER him.
Rafe jerks his nose up quickly obviously angry. I can only laugh. From the radio danny was laughing too althoughhe had scared the shit out of his crew.
Night time.
I'm outside looking up at the moon. Danny's beside me but we don't say much.He turns to me and smiles. "Hey you know the different stars coordinators?"
"no.not really."
"well you see that's Draco.it's Latin for Dragon.you have to look real carefully.good thing it's a clear night."
"Yeah I said pretending to be looking at the "dragon star" although I couldn't"
Danny is about to take my hand when Rafe appears and sits looking at us.
We both sit up and I smile. "Hey Rafe Fun today huh like old-"
But Rafe interrupts me and pretends I'm not even there when he says quickly.
"Danny, what the hell are you trying to do out there?"
"What do you mean? I'm just doing what we've always done. You know me Lia and you"
"No. You're trying to beat me. "
"We've always tried to beat each other."
I smiled ignoring the fact that he was rude. "Yeah it's nothing new-"
" Bullshit! We've played with each other, pushed each other. This is different. Like you want to prove that you're better than me. Who's that for -- Evelyn?"
I get up as if I really don't want to be here. I start to walk off.
"Lia get your ass over her!"
I swing around. "do I have to?" I said in a voice as if I was a little kid told to go to bed.
Danny's anger flares for a moment. But I sat down and the face I make. (I guess) cheered Danny up a bit.
" Maybe just trying to measure up." He said out of nowhere.
"What's between you and her is between you and her. But here's what's between you and me. Everybody has a hero, Danny. And you're mine."
I looked at Rafe. "for real?"
"When we were growing up, Lia and I had everything. You had nothing. You climbed out of a hole I couldn't even see the bottom of. I think maybe when I went off to England, I was trying to measure up to you. Measuring up's over. Let's just look out for each other. Okay?.all of us like it was before.me you and Lia" We embrace, closer now than ever.
In the morning.
With the planes practicing their short takeoffs, we see Roosevelt in one of his fireside chats, his voice broadcast across America...
"Good evening, America... "
Families all across America are gathered around radios, listening.
" I'm told that 80% of American families are listening to these fireside chats of ours, and I'm happy we can come together, as one great American family. I'd like each of you within the sound of my voice to find a map... "
Families do as told, gathering around encyclopedias, school books, any reference they have, spread on kitchen tables, suburban living room rugs, or farmhouse hearths...
"Look at the Pacific Ocean. It covers half the surface of the earth. And look at the great Atlantic. The oceans both divide and connect us to our enemies, and either they will come to us, or we will go to them.."
We were in San Francisco.Why? Ask Doolittle.
I looked at Rafe. We were still in our planes.
Red looked at us. "N-naval station? What's g-going on?"
I shurrged. "Wish I knew, Red."
The crews climb from their planes, and almost before they're out, teams of men (Lia: hello what am I? chopliver.) and Lia..use straps and cranes to hoist the bombers onto flatbed trucks.
Doolittle walks up to Rafe, Danny and myself, watching the baffling operation.
"Want to see where they're going?"
We only shurgged and then he started to tell us.
The Evening (I'm trying to rush all this lol)
Cranes lift the planes from the trucks and hoist them onto the flight decks of the carrier Uss Hornet.
We stand on the pier, watching.
Anthony then said. " I guess that settles it. Somewhere in the Pacific. "
Red then said" With a s-short r-runway."
We all gather around Doolittle as he moves up to us
. "You have rooms at the Biltmore. I suggest a nice meal and a good night's sleep. We leave tomorrow."
Doolittle walks to join a captain.
We get off the bus and carry our duffels into the lobby.
" San Francisco, here we are!: Anthony said shouting
Danny smiled. "I don't reckon we can get hogbrains and grits, but I hear a man can eat good in this town. "
I looked confused. "what are we doing in San Franisco when we're suppose to be preparing for the fucking war damn it!"
Rrafe who perfectly heard me turn tome
" I'm gonna turn in and while I'm at it, I'm going to wash Lia's mouth with soap.come on Lia. Cursing more then ever.very unlady like.come on Lia tot he bathroom "He picked me up and carried me off.
"Rafe you bastard put me down! You act like you never curse"
"yeah but you're 16 pretending to be 18.and I'm 25."
I finished the sentece for him.
"Pretending to be my freaking father! You bitch put me down!"
"that's it soap in the mouth for an hour!"
"RAFE!!!!"