Damn jeep, I thought to myself. I was so close to Linda that I could smell her sweet breath on my face. A little bit closer and I could have finally felt those lips against mine.
"Who is that?" she asked me, gesturing to the man in the jeep. He was a stocky man with tousled black hair and moustache and a kind face.
"That's Sydney Freedman," I replied, getting up off the drum. "He's a psychiatrist who likes to drop in now and again and make sure we're still crazy."
The jeep slowed to a stop right in front of Linda and me. Sydney cut the engine and slowly climbed out.
"How are you doing there, Hawkeye?" Sydney asked. "Read any good papers lately?"
"Only the ones in the latrine," I replied, smiling. "Sydney, this is my good friend Linda Florence. Linda, this is Sydney."
Linda extended her hand. "It's good to meet you, Sydney," she said warmly.
"The pleasure is all mine," Sydney replied in his smooth voice that could calm a crowd and incite a riot at the same time.
"Well, shall we get the game started?" I asked, beginning to walk over to the swamp.
"Let me just run back to my tent and grab my money," Linda said, starting off in the opposite direction. "You boys go ahead without me."
"We'll meet you in there, then," I replied. She waved and walked back to her tent. I followed her with my eyes until she passed around a tent and out of my sight.
Sydney just laughed. "So, how long have you been pursuing this one?"
"She's only been here a day, but she's already high on my list of favorite people ever," I replied.
"That fast, huh?" he asked.
I glared at him. "Don't look at me like that, Sydney," I said. "I knew her in my past life, the one where I was young and carefree in the states. But now she's here and it seems like a little sunlight has just pierced the cloud-cover over my heart."
"That's very poetic," Sydney said, starting to walk slowly towards the swamp. "Have you ever thought of giving up life as a doctor and becoming a professional romantic?"
"The thought had crossed my mind," I replied, walking with him. "There's just something about her, Sydney," I said. "She makes me want to tear myself down completely and build myself up again."
"Well, why don't you?" he asked, stopping outside of the swamp. "Sometimes all of us need a little re-build. You might as well do it now when you don't have eighty other things to do at the same time."
I laughed. "Maybe I should play poker before-"
"Before what?" Linda came from behind a cluster of tents clutching a handful of money.
"Before I try practicing my psychiatry on him," Sydney said. "So you're playing with the guys tonight, Linda?"
"I hear you guys are good, so I only brought money that I have no problem losing."
"That makestwo of us," repliedKlinger, appearing from behind another tentwearing a tight red evening gown and a white fox-fur stole. Radar soon followed.
"Hawkeye," Radar said quietly, tapping me on the shoulder.
"Yes?"
"Major Burns wanted me to tell you that he would take your whole shift as long as you promise not to stick the pages of his bible together with bubble gum like you did last time."
Linda laughed. "You really do know how to party."
"Speaking of party, let's get this one started." I turned to Radar. "I accept Frank's offer. I will not use bubble gum. It'll be surgical tape this time."
The whole group laughed as we threw open the doors of the swamp and hurried in, eager to get started.
