One day after surgery, I went up to Major Houlihan. We were the only two people in the scrub room, and I figured now would be as good a time as any to talk to her.
"Major?" I asked.
"What is it?"
"I've been kicking myself about reading your letter," I began. "I didn't mean to, I just accidentally knocked it over. I know you're angry, but I wanted to apologize."
"Apology accepted, Captain," Major Houlihan said. "It had been a rough day...I overreacted. And I never really did give you a good welcome to the 4077th. How about if we go to the mess tent and get some coffee?"
"I'd love it." I let out a small sigh of relief.
I went back to my tent after Margaret and I had finished talking. Klinger had brought the mail while I'd been out. I opened the one from my mother first.
Dear Jaclyn,
How I've missed having you at home. The house doesn't have the same light. Clark misses you dearly. He's sub-existing. Your dear friend Trudy Glenn has visited him often. Clark tells me that you haven't written him letters. Dear, you must be more cordial to your fiancee. I'd suggest long, newsy letters about South Korea. He eagerly awaits your letter, darling. Send him one.
Your mother,
Julia
"How DARE she?" I slammed the letter down on my desk. "She thinks she can walk all over me like that! I am going to marry Clark! Not her!"
I grabbed my pen and a piece of stationary.
Mother,
I am going to marry Clark. Not you and not Stockton. ME. So PLEASE let me handle this in the only way I can.
Then I put my pen down. What was I doing? This would give Mother more fuel for her fire.
So, I wrote Clark a three-page letter about MASH, following my mother's advice. It was all so typical of me. Ranting and raving to myself, and then becoming the perfect middle-American girl.