Chapter 2: Caffeinated Carter

Coffee was generally the way the men started the day. Usually. Except for Carter, he usually drank the water or tea that they got with breakfast gruel. Coffee had an unusual affect on him. Due to his natural exuberance, he tried to limit his caffeine intake. This particular morning, he decided a little caffeine couldn't hurt.

He had one cup with breakfast, which raised some eyelids from Newkirk and LeBeau. When he got back to the barracks after roll call, he took the coffee pot off the stove that provided warmth and cooking, and he slurped down another cup like water. Over the next thirty minutes, he fidgeted in his seat while playing cards with Kinch until Kinch told him to find something to do to burn the energy off. He then went down to his lab and cleaned it from top to bottom and side to side. All the glassware was washed, the notes were filed, his pharmacy manual was put on his desk at the right-hand corner, and all the wires were cleaned.

After his lap was set in order, he decided to clean the barracks with the duster. He came back upstairs and started dusting everything in sight. He was like a whirling dervish of energy cleaning the beds and finally came to the table where Newkirk was playing solitaire. He started to dust the table, but before he could do anything, Newkirk said, "Come on. Let's go play that baseball you Yanks are so fond of playing. And if you ever have more than one cup of coffee again, mate, you're done." He grabbed Carter and took him outside.