Here it is, the 23rd chapter of this story!
Now for this chapter, as the title implies, a stray cat ends up in the M*A*S*H 4077 with no official owner, Andrew treats it as a cat of his own, some plans are made to keep the cat from getting hit by a jeep, and Andrew receives some sad news from his mom at home. How will this all go? Find out right now!
DOWN IN THE SWAMP; THE M*A*S*H 4077 - 22:26
It was nighttime in the M*A*S*H 4077. The crickets were chirping, the area was dark, and it looked to be a peaceful night out tonight with the sky being clear and such. No North Korean or Chinese activity was taking place tonight, and that meant there were no wounded being shipped into the compound. Everything seemed at ease for the moment.
But that didn't mean that there wouldn't be any noise taking place.
Down at the Swamp, the four members of the abode were sleeping away, having pleasant dreams, and looking forward to what'll take place the following morning. It seemed that nothing would be able to disturb their slumber.
That was all for naught though, for a simple sound was heard outside of the Swamp.
"Meeeooooooow!"
This was enough to get Charles to wake up and remove his sleeping eye covers from his eyes, as he looked at Hawkeye Pierce with indignation.
"Pierce, I know that you are having fantasies with one of the many nurses, but I should kindly ask you to keep your silly pussycat dreams to yourself! I'm trying to get some sleep!" Charles barked.
"Don't be jealous Charles," Hawkeye sat up and gazed at him. "There's plenty of pussycats to go around. Besides, that wasn't me."
"Then who could it be from, care to tell," Charles asked with annoyance.
"Meeeeow!" That same meow was heard again.
"Yeah Charles. It isn't Hawkeye," BJ sat up. "It's probably one of the nurses trying to get his attention."
"Well, would they kindly save it until morning, when we don't have to get some sleep?" Charles retorted.
"Meow!"
It was Andrew's turn to sit up as he heard the meowing for himself.
"Yeah. I hate to disagree, but that doesn't sound like a nurse," Andrew told him.
"Yeah. If it was, she'd be coming into the Swamp and purring away against me while I kiss her," Hawkeye agreed with a flirtatious grin.
"I wonder who it could be," BJ scratched his head. "Someone should go check it out."
"Count me out Hunnicutt," Charles refused. "I decline from checking to see what the ruckus is about."
"Yeah, I'm gonna wait for my pussycat to come in here for herself," Hawkeye agreed with a smirk. "She'll be charmed by my good looks."
"I'm not doing it either," BJ yawned. "I'm too tired to check it out."
"Meow!"
All eyes fell onto Andrew, as he noticed the stares he was getting. It dawned on him that he'll have to check this out for himself. Letting out a sigh, he got out of bed.
"Fine. I guess I'm gonna have to check this out," Andrew put on his navy blue bathrobe and went for the door. "Essentially because my roommates aren't willing to see for themselves..."
Andrew then opened the door and looked to see who was there. "Hello? Anyone here?"
He looked around the compound to see who was making that noise. But there was no one in sight. This got him confused as he had no idea where that was coming from.
"Meow," Andrew heard that right in front of him, as he then looked down to see the culprit.
The culprit in question turned out to be a feral cat. A cat that was black and fluffy, had a puffy tail and was staring at him with those glowing green eyes.
"Meow," the cat meowed before yawning and licking itself. "Meow!"
"Awww, well lookie here," Andrew said softly as he picked up the cat. "Guys, I found out who was meowing at this time of night. It's an actual cat."
Andrew entered the Swamp with the cat in his hands as his bunkmates saw it for themselves. They were surprised to see that a cat was roaming around the night, let alone having gotten into the 4077 without getting hit by a sniper or a grenade.
"Well, what do you know? Turns out that it was a cat howling and meowing to the light of the moon," Hawkeye commented. "The cat is out of the bag."
"Hey, it is a cat," BJ agreed. "But what's a cat doing here meowing at this hour?"
"I believe a better question is how a cat such as this one was able to get into the 4077 without being struck by enemy attack," Charles huffed.
"I don't know how it got here," Andrew remarked. "But I believe that this cat is a girl."
"Oh come on now. Just what we needed," Charles groaned. "A feral cat staying in the 4077, and Major Peterson is going to treat her like a pet."
"What? I have experience when it comes to cats," Andrew told him casually. "I have a cat back at home in the states."
"Yeah. Try to relax Charles. The cat might grow onto you," Hawkeye teased. "Who knows? She might be able to claw into your heart."
"That is if you're willing to have her," BJ added.
"Well one thing is for sure, I'm not gonna have her roam around the rest of the compound where she'll wake up everyone else and put herself in danger," Andrew placed the cat down in his side of the swamp. "I'm gonna have her sleep in the Swamp for the night. Then tomorrow, I'm gonna find out more about her and see what I should do from the Colonel."
"That is if the Colonel will allow it," Charles snorted. "I don't think he'll take too kindly to a cat staying with us."
"Come on Charles. We have had several dogs stay in our compound," Hawkeye argued. "And they never gave us any problems."
"They're man's best friend," BJ remarked.
"Yeah, especially since some of them could be killed if they were run over by jeeps," Andrew deadpanned. "In any case, I'm not gonna have that happen to this cat right here."
"Can't we find some other sleeping quarters for that feline," Charles complained.
Andrew didn't answer as he saw the cat curl up into a ball in his side of the Swamp, purring while sleeping away, not making any steps.
"I'm afraid that answers your question Charles," Andrew gave him a blank look. "She's staying with us."
"In that case, I better get some sleep," Hawkeye yawned. "Maybe if I'm lucky, a pussycat for a nurse will give me some lovin' in my dream."
"Yeah, I need to get some sleep together," BJ said.
"Very well. Anything to end this pointless debate," Charles put those eye covers back over his eyes and he went back to sleep. "I bid you a goodnight."
"Yeah," Andrew yawned, getting himself comfortable in bed again. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Hawkeye and BJ said as they got into their respective beds and went straight to sleep too.
And thus the four of them fell back asleep with that cat accompanying them for the night. Things were going to be very interesting first thing tomorrow...
THE FOLLOWING MORNING - 8:36
It was a brand new day at the M*A*S*H 4077. The sun was rising, shining beams of light onto the unit, and people were getting ready for the new day.
Andrew, in particular, felt the beams of light hit him in the face. But what got him away was the clawing that he felt on his lap. As soon as he opened his eyes, he came face to face with that cat that he found outside the Swamp last night.
"Meow."
"Well hi there," Andrew said sweetly. "Did you have a goodnight's sleep? I hope so."
"Uhhh, do you have to do that first thing in the morning?" Charles groaned. "I just woke up, and already your coddling to that mysterious cat."
"Don't let it get to you," Hawkeye told him. "At least he's not some crazy cat lady."
"Oh yeah, because I would look so good in a skirt right about now," Andrew said sarcastically.
"So, what do you suppose we do with that cat?" BJ queried.
"I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna need to tell the Colonel about this, and then we can figure out a solution for this cat from here," Andrew informed them.
"Yeah, that'll go over well with him," Charles rolled his eyes.
"By the way Andrew, since you found that cat, don't you think you should give her a name," Hawkeye questioned. "Because I doubt that she has a name, let alone an owner who lives in these parts."
"It's up to you what she should be named," BJ encouraged.
"Hmmm...I know," Andrew came up with a name. "I'm gonna name her Fluffy since she's such a fluffy cat."
"Fluffy? Pfft. Such a childish name," Charles huffed.
"And I suppose you can come up with a better name for her," Andrew queried in annoyance.
"Ahem, you've made your point Major," Charles sighed. "Her name can be Fluffy."
"That works for me too," Hawkeye said.
"Same here," BJ agreed.
"Meow," Fluffy had her mouth pressed against Andrew's finger, as she started licking them.
"I guess Fluffy likes the name too," Andrew giggled before getting serious. "Now if you guys can excuse me, I have to inform the Colonel about this."
Without another word, Andrew left the Swamp with Fluffy in his hands.
"It's only a matter of time before the feline makes the Swamp into her own personal litter box." Charles moaned.
"Don't worry about it Charles," BJ assured him. "I think Andrew has a planned covered out."
"Not to mention he'll find out what the Colonel wants to be done with the cat," Hawkeye remarked. "Maybe she'll be given the purr-fect experience."
"Whatever gentlemen," Charles rolled his eyes in annoyance.
The three of them remained in the Swamp for now. They wondered what Colonel Potter would say about a cat doing in their M*A*S*H unit...
IN COLONEL POTTER'S OFFICE:
"Klinger!? Did you get those morning reports done yet?" Colonel Potter hollered from his office.
"I'm working on them right now sir," Klinger called back. "I'll be finished with them in no time!"
"They'd better be finished and placed on my desk on the double," the Colonel ordered. "Those reports need to be filled out, pronto!"
"I'm on it, Colonel!" Klinger obliged.
"Colonel!? Colonel," Andrew came storming in with Fluffy in his hands. "Colonel Potter, you'll never guess what I found!"
"Andrew? What brings you to my office this time of-" he cut himself off when he saw the cat that Andrew was holding in his arms. "Great trotting horseshoes! Is that a cat that your holding!?"
"Yes sir," Major Peterson confirmed. "I found her in front of the Swamp last night, and I let her stay in the Swamp for the night. I came in here with her to find out from you as to what we should do with her."
"I see," Colonel Potter rubbed his chin. Truth be told, they never had a cat ended up wandering into the 4077 before. So this was something new, even for him.
But before anything else could be said, Klinger came into the colonel's office with the reports he filled out to be put onto the Colonel's desk.
"Here we go, sir. I've got the reports all filled out and taken care-" Klinger stopped in the middle of the sentence when he saw the cat that Andrew was holding. Dropping the reports on the desk, his attention was turned to the cat. "Holy Toledo! Is that a cat!?"
"Yes it is, Klinger," Andrew nodded.
"Well, that's fantastic! I haven't seen a cat in ages," Klinger then asked. "Where did you get it from?"
"I found her right outside the Swamp last night, so I kept her in the Swamp," Andrew's answered was plain and simple.
Klinger was lost in thought, unsure of what he should say about this. They've never seen a feral cat roaming the compound before, so this came as a shocker.
Before Klinger could get a word out about it, Father Mulcahy came into the office, having something that he needed to say to the Colonel.
"Excuse me, Colonel? I was wondering if I could ask you a-" Father Mulcahy cut himself off when his gaze landed right onto the cat Andrew was holding. "By God, it's a cat!"
"Yes, Padre. It is a cat," Andrew confirmed. "I found her outside the Swamp last night, and I had her sleep in the Swamp for the night."
"I see," Father Mulcahy mused. "Pray to tell Major, just how did a cat get into the 4077 in the middle of the night?"
Andrew was about to say how he has no idea how she got here. But before he could say anything, Margaret came into the office to deliver some forms that she filled out.
"Colonel, I had just gotten done filling out these personnel requisition forms for the new nurses, and I want you to know that I-" predictably, she was cut off when she saw what Andrew was holding. "Oh my god! Is that a cat?!"
"Yes Margaret," Andrew nodded. "It's a cat that I found outside the Swamp last night. She was howling, so I let her stay in the Swamp for the night."
"Aw, she looks cute," Margaret remarked, petting the back of her ears. "But what I want to know is how it got here?"
"I'm not sure about that either," Andrew said honestly.
"I think we all want to know about this cat, and where it came from," Colonel Potter proclaimed.
Just then, the other swamp rats came into the office, seeing everyone having gathered to find out about the cat that they found on their doorstep.
"Ah Colonel, I take it that you and the rest of the gang found out about the cat that came outside our doorstep last night, right?" Hawkeye spoke up.
"You could say that Pierce," Potter sighed.
"It seemed obvious since the whole gang is here wondering about it," BJ said.
"Meow."
"And obviously, our new cat companion is wondering how it got into this M*A*S*H unit in the first place," Charles retorted.
"Uh, what I'm worried about is what should we do with her," Andrew queried. "We can't just send her back out into the wild, only for her to get struck by snipers or grenades."
"Yeah," Potter agreed. "To be frank, we never had a cat show up in the compound. So this does come as a surprise. Still, you have a good point."
"And besides, why would we want to throw out a cat that's as adorable as this one," Margaret commented, standing right next to Andrew. "We can't let her get herself killed by snipers, grenades, or even artillery fire."
"Uh Colonel, another concern that I have for this is if this cat has had any shots," Klinger brought up. "Most of us are medical staff members, but I doubt that any of us know about treating animals such as cats."
"I see your point, Klinger," the Colonel stated. "I'm not sure what we should do about it."
"Uh, sir? I know that I'm no Radar O'Reilly or anything," Andrew suggested. "But don't you think that we should get a vet here to give her the shots? Are there any Korean residents here who specialize in veterinary and can give this cat some shots?"
"Hmmm...now that I think of it," it was Father Mulcahy who spoke up. "There was a South Korean that I met some time back at the orphanage. He seems to specialize in animal care, or veterinary as we call it."
"Are you sure about that Father," Andrew had a hopeful look in his eyes. "Do you know where he lives?"
"Why yes I do," the Chaplin said. "He only lives a few blocks away from the 4077. I can go and get him if that'll help things out a little."
"Really? You'll do that?" Andrew looked relieved by this. "Oh bless you, Father! I promise you that you won't regret this!"
"I don't think that I'll regret doing this good deed anyway," the Padre said generously.
"Uh Colonel, aside from that, we have another problem to deal with," BJ brought up. "And it involves the jeeps that come in and out of the compound."
"That's right," Andrew took over. "With all the jeeps coming in and out, we can't risk having this cat get run over by a jeep. And because some drivers are careless, we need to take safety precautions to make sure that the cat doesn't get struck by one."
"I couldn't agree more Andrew," Margaret agreed before sounding forlorn at the end. "We need to enforce discipline to keep jeeps from hitting this cat, just like what we should have done for that little doggy..."
"Oh, you mean that dog that I had been feeding scraps to before," Klinger remembered what she was talking about.
"Yeah. Margaret and I already had that talk previously," Hawkeye threw in her comment.
"I'm not sure what that is about, but Margaret makes a strong point," Andrew got them back on track. "We need to enforce discipline for this cat to be protected from careless jeep drivers. In fact..." Andrew came up with an idea. "I think I know how we can enforce it."
"What do you have in mind, darling," Margaret asked him.
"I'll reveal it to you, dear," Andrew turned to Klinger. "Klinger? How would you like to do some sentry duty again?"
"It seems fine by me. Why do you ask?" Klinger questioned.
"I'll tell you. Your job would be to stand at the entrance, prevent any jeep from entering the compound until they show you their ID. And then you'll have them follow you by drive only at 5 to 10 mph. In other words, very, very slow. And you don't let the drivers bully you or listen to any phony story. You stand your ground and that's that! Is that clear Klinger?!"
"Yes sir," Klinger obliged. "And to be honest, it'll be good to be on sentry duty again after so long."
"Great!" Andrew proclaimed. "And it'll only be temporary until the cat gets a home out of the compound."
"Sounds good to me," Colonel Potter said.
"I love that plan too, honey," Margaret remarked.
"I know dear."
"Another problem that we have is feeding the cat," Hawkeye jumped in. "We don't exactly have cat food in this compound."
"Haha. I don't know about you gents, but I'm gonna help myself to some canned sardines," Winchester gloated before taking out a can and opening it up.
"Seriously Charles? Your eating that stuff at a time like this," BJ complained.
"Yeah. Goodness, that stuff stinks," Colonel Potter agreed.
"Yeah Charles, why don't you throw that stuff in the trash, where it belongs," Hawkeye commented.
"Ha! In your dreams, Pierce," Charles scoffed.
"Meow," Fluffy jumped out of Andrew's arms and went straight for Charles. "Meow."
"Get away from me, you cretin," Charles scowled at the cat who was giving him the baby doll eyes.
"Awww, isn't that nice Charles? She likes you," Hawkeye teased. "She wants to be friends with you."
"Either that or she's more interested in Charles' sardines," BJ took a guess.
"Wait a minute! Why wouldn't she? Cats tend to eat fish," Andrew proclaimed. "Winchester, see if you can give one of your sardines to Fluffy."
"Give one of my sardines to this ridiculous feline? Ha! Surely you jest," Charles was being selfish.
"Surely I'm not," Andrew barked. "That cat is going to need some food, and if I say she needs your sardines, then I say give them to her!"
"And relinquish one of the meals that I fought teeth and bone with getting? I refuse," Charles huffed.
"Knock it off Major Winchester," Margaret backed Andrew up. "Just give up your sardines to feed this sweet adorable cat!"
"Yeah! We have to give her food," Klinger added. "And you're the only one who has the food that she wants at the moment."
"Don't be egocentric. Or should I remind you what happens to those who remain selfish as mentioned in the Bible?" Father Mulcahy spoke up.
"Yeah. Be a good sport and help a cat out," BJ told him.
"It'll do the cat more good than you," Hawkeye threw in his comment.
"Yeah. So stop being such a stubborn mule," Andrew told him.
"Absolutely not," Winchester stood his ground. "My decision is final. I shall not do it."
"Winchester," Potter cleared his throat, about to go C.O on him. "Let me remind you that I'm the Colonel, and I order you to give those sardines to that cat! Or let me make it easier for you; you refuse to give that cat your sardines and you'll be bucking with my horse! Comprende!?"
Charles felt himself being backed to a corner yet again. He had to relent and give in to the order.
"Very well then," he groaned as he gave one of the sardines to Fluffy.
Then as expected, Fluffy ate the sardine without any trouble at all. Charles was forced to give the rest of them to the cat.
"Wow. She's eating them," Andrew commented as Fluffy ate the remaining sardines.
"Well, what do you know? That solves that problem," Hawkeye remarked. "We can just feed the cat all of Charles' sardine and she'll be good with her appetite."
"Actually, I think that cats can eat other fresh scraps of meat, can they?" Klinger wondered.
"They sure can Klinger," Andrew explained. "Cats have very good digestive systems. They can eat most meat without any problems with their appetite, with a few exceptions."
"Great. Then whatever meat that we can't handle in the mess tent can be given to Fluffy," BJ said.
"I don't see anything wrong with it, personally," Colonel Potter shrugged. "Just make sure that things don't go crazy with Fluffy."
"Right. Now there's one more problem that needs to be resolved," Andrew brought up. "Who in South Korea owns this cat? Is there any way of knowing who this cat belongs to? Or is it a feral cat who lost its home due to a calamity strike from the North Koreans?"
"I can't tell for sure Andrew," Colonel Potter admitted. "But I suppose I could look into it, or have I-Corps look into any information regarding this cat and if the owners are even around anymore."
"Yeah, I guess that's our best option," Andrew murmured.
"But what if the cat doesn't have any owners and it really is a feral cat?" Margaret brought up.
"Then we'll have to hear from I-Corps as to what to do in that condition," Colonel Potter said.
"Let's not give up faith too soon," Father Mulcahy spoke. "We must pray that this cat can be given a proper home to stay in, and live her life in peace."
"Gentlemen, I think it'd be best if we take action. The sooner we do that, the better," Charles told them.
"I guess Winchester is right," Andrew sighed. "We better get started. Father Mulcahy, you go ahead and find that South Korean Veterinarian and get him back here so he can give Fluffy all the necessary shots, okay?"
"I'll be delighted to do so, Major," the Padre didn't argue with him as he took his leave.
"Klinger, you go ahead and get ready for sentry duty at the front entrance," Andrew gave the company clerk the command. "And make sure they go 10-15 mph, no exceptions. That goes for higher-ranked personnel too. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir! I won't let you down!" Klinger saluted before storming out to get ready for his assignment.
"Winchester, you just go back to the Swamp and make sure that Fluffy can have at least some of your sardines to satisfy her appetite? Do you read me?!"
"Yes," Charles sighed before heading back to the Swamp.
"And the rest of us will go to the mess tent to see if we can find the right kind of meat for Fluffy to eat," Andrew scooped up the cat as he told Hawkeye, BJ, and Margaret.
"In the meantime, I'll get a hold of I-Corps and look into who owns this cat and if the owner is even around these parts," Colonel Potter said.
"Alright, sir," Andrew turned to face the others. "Come on guys, let's get this done."
"Yeah, let's see what kind of meat that the cat dragged in," Hawkeye proclaimed.
"Make sure that it's the good kind of meat that she can handle," BJ said.
"I'm ready when you are, darling," Margaret obliged.
"Good. Then let's get going," Andrew announced, with Fluffy in his arms.
The four of them left the office and went for the mess tent. Meanwhile, Colonel Potter grabbed the phone and got a hold of Sparky.
"Hello? Sparky? Get me through to I-Corps, on the double! And that's an order," Colonel Potter demanded.
It seems things were going to be quite busy at the 4077, all thanks to a cat that wandered into their compound...
IN THE LAB ROOM; IN OR - 11:28
Quite some time has passed since then, and Father Mulcahy was able to get that South Korean Vet to the compound. Currently, in the lab room, the South Korean vet had finished giving Fluffy all the necessary shots that she needed to be given. Aside from a couple of howls, and minor growls, Fluffy remained cooperative with the procedure, and she was successfully given them all.
"Almost there. Almost there. Perfect," the South Korean vet gave Fluffy the final vaccine required. "There. Now Fluffy here has all the shots she needs."
"So Fluffy here is caught up on what shots are required, right?" Andrew queried, grabbing a hold of Fluffy.
"Yes. That's right," the South Korean vet nodded. "As of now, this cat has been given a vaccine to help against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus and Panleukopenia, Rabies, Chlamydia, Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and Bordetella. So she's all up to date."
"That's good to know," Margaret was standing right next to him. "That's one problem taken care of."
"And Klinger's taking his sentry duty detail seriously, and we have plenty of food to tie the cat over," Andrew proclaimed. "Now we have to wait for the Colonel to let us know what he learned from I-Corps about the cat."
"We'll just have to be patient darling," she told him.
"I know that dear," he agreed, looking at Fluffy. "I just hope we can find this cat a good home so she doesn't have to worry about getting caught in the crossfire and get killed."
"Yeah. We should get going."
"Sure," Andrew let go of Fluffy, who left the building and went outside.
After bidding a farewell and thanks for giving the vaccines to the cat, Andrew and Margaret left the building, as did the South Korean vet. One could imagine what other changes would occur temporarily...
AT THE FRONT OF THE M*A*S*H 4077 ENTRANCE:
Meanwhile, at the front entrance of the 4077, Klinger was standing sentry duty to make sure no speeders don't get by without going through him. He was holding a pointed rifle in his hands, and on his head was a helmet that said 'MP' on the front. It seems that he was taking this seriously, and making sure no one in a jeep gets by without him knowing.
Suddenly, a person riding a jeep had approached the entrance. From the looks of it, this person was not from the 4077 and was stopping here on important matters. Based on the stripes, this driver was clearly a Major. Before the jeep could get by the entrance, Klinger got him to stop.
"HALT! WHO GOES THERE!?" Klinger yelled, pointing that rifle at the vehicle.
The driver was not impressed by this. "I have to get into the 4077. So if you don't mind, I'd like to be allowed in."
"HALT," Klinger shouted again. "I need to see your ID card first."
"My ID card?" The driver snorted. "Why would I need to show you my ID card?"
"I'm just doing my job. Boss' orders," Klinger proclaimed, standing his ground. "So the sooner you show me the ID card, the sooner you'll be allowed in."
The major rolled his eyes. This was ridiculous. He didn't think that he'd need to show his ID card just to be given entry into the 4077. However, seeing that he won't get anywhere unless he does what was given, he decided to go along with it. Digging into his pocket, he got out his wallet and dug out his ID card.
"Here you go," the Major gave Klinger the ID card, as Klinger looked over the card for a minute.
"Hmmm...so your Major Anderson. Major huh? Not bad," Klinger looked closer at the card. "Ah, so you're from I-Corps! You're here to see Colonel Potter on important business, is that right?"
"That's right," Major Anderson nodded.
"Okay, here's your card back," Klinger gave Anderson the card back. "You may enter."
"Great," the major was about to speed in, only for Klinger to stop him once again.
"NOT SO FAST MAJOR!" Klinger declared. "You'll have to follow me in your jeep. And you're only allowed to drive at 10 to 15 mph!"
"10 to 15 mph? What is this, some kind of joke," the major was getting annoyed again. "You expect me to drive this thing at a very slow pace?"
"That's right. Again, boss' orders. I'm only carrying out the orders," Klinger explained. "We are carrying out these regulations to ensure that no one smaller than a kid will get hit and run over by an incoming jeep! So just follow me at a slow speed, and you'll be fine! Understood?"
"Why do I have to put up with all the nuts," the major grumbled.
Nonetheless, he had to go as slow as a turtle while Klinger was trotting in front of him. Due to being at such a ridiculously low speed, this was going to take a while before they reach the Colonel's office. Major Anderson had to wonder if this was a race between a tortoise and a slug. Whoever must've given this order must be a mad man.
"That's right. There we go. Take your time," Klinger encouraged. "Watch out for little pedestrians. They have feelings too you know. Keep it up. You're doing good."
"How I would like to speak to the nutball who gave these orders out," Anderson groaned. "I'll let you know Corporal that I'm a Major, and I outrank you."
"That may be true. But I was also told to not let anyone bully me, especially those of a higher rank than I am. No exceptions," Klinger stated. "And for your information, the person who gave me this order was also a major. Just so you know!"
Major Anderson could only huff in agitation as he continued to drive as slow as a snail. He felt like it was going to take weeks before they get to the Colonel's Office where they need to go.
After a good five to ten minutes of driving slowly, the jeep finally made it to the office that they needed to get to. Klinger finally got him to stop the jeep.
"Alright sir, we're here," he saluted. "This is where the Colonel's office is located!"
"Finally," the major snorted. "I would like to give the major who made this rule a piece of my mind."
"Ahem! Who's going to give which major a piece of your mind," a voice cleared his throat, getting both of them to turn around. They saw it was Andrew Peterson.
"Major Andrew Peterson, reporting to the Colonel's Office as issued sir," Klinger saluted. "I'm just carrying out the orders as you issued sir!"
"Good. Is there a problem that I should know about," Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Was this major giving you any problems, Corporal Klinger?"
"Not at all, sir. I made sure I stood my ground, and I didn't let him bully me," Klinger proclaimed. "I made no exceptions for this major, and I made him drive the jeep at a slow speed so no small animals could be struck by the jeep!"
"Excellent work Klinger. You did a good job," Andrew smiled. "Very well. Carry on you two!"
He saluted them, which caused Klinger to salute in return, as did Major Anderson, who was just confused by this. Before he could get a word out, Andrew turned around and took his leave. Anderson was just lost at what happened. This was the guy who carried out these ridiculous rules. Just what was this about?
Before he could think any further, Klinger got his attention. "Alright, sir! Let's head into Colonel Potter's office as you instructed me!"
"Uhhhh...right," Major Anderson nodded slowly before getting out of the jeep, with a folder of papers in his hands, as he followed Klinger right into the building, as he was about to meet with the Colonel of this compound...
As soon as they stepped foot in the C.O's office, Klinger got Colonel Potter's attention.
"Corporal Klinger reporting as ordered, sir," Klinger declared. "I have here a guest who needs to see you as he commission, Colonel!"
"Ah, okay," Colonel Potter encouraged the Major to step forth.
"Major Anderson reporting to this office as issued sir," the major told him.
"At ease," Sherman Potter got to the point. "Now, what can I do for you Major?"
"Okay, before I talk business, I want to ask you a question," Anderson got out. "Why are you allowing this loon to force jeep drivers to drive at 10 to 15 mph?! This is insane!"
"Now Major, keep your hat on," the Colonel got him to calm down. "This is only temporary until the pet of this compound is given a home outside of the 4077."
"Did I just hear you correctly? A pet," the Major was bewildered. "What kind of pet could be so important that you'd force drivers to ride their jeeps at a very slow pace!?"
"Meow," his question was answered when Fluffy came into the office as was shown licking around her mouth before stopping and scratching her ears with her hind legs.
"Does that answer your question?" Colonel Potter deadpanned.
Major Anderson was in a shock. This all had something to do with a cat? A simple household cat that came into the compound? Was he being serious? This seemed to be outrageous.
"A cat!? Is that what this is about," the Major snapped. "You're telling me that these jeeps are forced to ride slow all because of a stupid cat!?"
"Hold your horses, Major," Potter told him. "This cat is just staying with us until she's given a proper home!"
"Where the hell did this cat come from anyway?!" Major Anderson howled.
"Hey Fluffy," Andrew Peterson came into the office, looking for Fluffy when he found her and picked her up. "There you are! I turned my back on you for one second while you did your business just beyond the compound, and you decide to run off and go into the Colonel's office."
"Meow," the cat licked his fingers once again.
"Alright Fluffy," Andrew giggled at how that tickled his fingers. "It's no issue at all."
"I'd still like to know where that cat came from," Major Anderson moaned.
"I don't know the answer to that," Major Peterson told him. "All I know is that she was found right in front of the Swamp last night, and I allowed her to sleep in the Swamp for the night. We are only doing this until Fluffy is given an actual home."
"Right," Major Anderson rolled his eyes.
"Uh, Major, I believe that you have more than just a debate. You had some business that you had to give to me," Colonel Potter got him back on track. "Now what brings you here to the 4077?"
"Oh right. I was sent from I-Corps to deliver these files to you." The major dropped a folder with papers in it on his desk that said 'DOCUMENTATIONS'. This must have something to do with the cat that is in their possession.
"Ah, so these are the documents that I issued from I-Corps," Colonel Potter opened the folder and looked through the files. "Let me see..."
The Colonel examined the files for a couple of minutes, while Andrew and Klinger were wondering what it said about the cat that is in Andrew's arms, and the major who delivered the files was just minding his own business.
"Is there anything in those files regarding the cat," Major Peterson asked. "Is there any records or history about this cat, or a Korean family that owns this cat?"
"Hmmm...I'm afraid there are no dice here Andrew. No documents are exclaiming where this cat came from or if it belongs to a South Korean family," Colonel Potter shook his head. "And even if it did have a South Korean family, chances are the family cleared out of the area at one point, and left this cat behind."
"Yeah. That would make sense," Andrew sighed and shook his head. "Considering how this cat's family had to clear out of the area due to being in the crossfire of an enemy attack from the North Koreans. They were probably in such a rush that they forgot to bring the cat with them."
"And since there's no information on the family who may have owned this cat, we have no possible way of getting a hold of them and returning this cat to that family," Colonel Potter finished.
"So what does this mean sir," Klinger commented. "Does this mean that this cat won't have a happy home, and will have to spend the rest of her life on the go, likely to be killed by enemy artillery?"
"Now let's not jump the gun too soon Klinger. I'll have I-Corps look into it some more in a bit," Colonel Potter closed up the folder and gave it back to Major Anderson. "In the meantime, you take this back to I-Corps and tell them I said thank you for showing this to me, even though there are no leads for us. Understood?"
"Yes sir," the major saluted.
"Very well. Dismissed," the colonel dismissed him.
After giving him a salute, the major turned around and marched out of the office and back to the jeep.
"Alright Klinger, make sure he gets out of the 4077 the same way that he came in here," Andrew instructed. "And make sure that he exits at 10-15 mph as he did entering. Is that clear?!"
"Yes sir! I'm already on it," Klinger saluted before turning around and followed right behind Major Anderson so he can exit the compound safely.
"So what should we do with Fluffy in the meantime Colonel," Andrew asked, showing the cat to him. "Do you think we should keep her here a little longer?"
"Well, I suppose she can stay here for a little longer. At least until we hear from I-Corps about what we should do with her," Colonel Potter said thoughtfully.
"Alright. Because she's been eating well. She's been enjoying Winchester's sardines. She does her business in the grass outside the compound. She's even been drinking some water from the bowl that I left for her." Andrew said.
"Good. At least your taking care of her," Sherman Potter said. "Back in my day, I preferred to raise horses, instead of cats."
"I can see that sir," Andrew remarked. "Well, I guess I should let her go and allow her to explore the outside part of the compound some more, right?"
"That would be a wise choice son," the colonel nodded.
"Alright," Andrew then put Fluffy down onto the ground. "Here you go Fluffy. Go on outside and explore the place a bit more."
"Meow," the cat walked out of the office and headed back outside to enjoy the scenery.
"Well Colonel, I best be going," Andrew headed towards the door. "Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"
"I'll holler out for you when I need you again," Colonel Potter told him.
"Right," Andrew saluted for a brief second before leaving the office, as the C.O remained alone for the time being.
One could wonder how long this will last and how much time will go with the cat staying in their compound...
Several days had passed since the cat came into the compound. The cat has been feeling very active, has a healthy appetite, is in good health, has been keeping hydrated, has been doing her business properly, and has been in a playful mood too. All on top of not getting hit by any jeeps, thanks to Klinger as commanded by Andrew.
The only issue was regarding what they should do with her. They couldn't just let her go back into the wild. She could get killed by a landmine, or worse. Yes, a cat shouldn't be kept in this M*A*S*H unit, but to Andrew and his comrades, including his girlfriend, it wasn't worth the sacrifice. Something had to be done soon.
Currently, Andrew was sitting right outside of OR, as he was thinking to himself. What could be done about Fluffy? If only there was an orphanage for abandoned pets like cats, then he would have had Father Mulcahy take her there.
Unfortunately, no such place exists, at least in the location of South Korea that they are in. It was becoming vastly complicated to keep things under wraps for the cat. But he wasn't going to give up that easily. He could only hope that the answer would come as quickly as a long-distance phone call.
Just then, Klinger came outside and found Andrew and got his attention.
"Major, thank goodness I found you! Listen, you're wanted in my office," Klinger told him. "A long-distance phone call has come in for you!"
"Huh? A long-distance phone call?" Andrew gave him an incredulous look. "Who could it be from?"
"It's from your mom," Klinger answered. "She says it's something important."
"Well it must be important if she's making a long-distant phone call to South Korea," Andrew got up and followed Klinger to his office. "I better check this out."
"Yeah, right this way," Klinger escorted him.
They then went into his office and then approached the phone speaker as Andrew grabbed it and spoke right into it.
"Hello? Mom? Yes, mom, I'm here! Klinger told me that you have something important to say to me. So what is it," Andrew queried.
The news that his mom was giving him got him to start frowning and fell into a rather forlorn state.
"What? Say that again? You're sure about that? Oh. Oh. I see. It was serious huh," Andrew spoke softly. "Yeah. Yeah, I understand. I guess it couldn't be helped. Sure. I'm okay. I guess. Yeah. Okay. You got it, mom. I'll uhhh...I'll talk with you later. Yeah, I'll speak to you soon. Yes. I love you too. Uh-huh. Bye."
The call was then disconnected as Andrew gently put the phone back into the socket where it goes into. He sported a rather lost look in his eyes as if there was something wrong. Klinger saw this and looked curious by this.
"Is something wrong Andrew," he asked. "What was that call about?"
Andrew took a minute to breathe before speaking. "My mom was calling me about the cat that we have back at home. Her name was Socks."
"Was?" Klinger looked concerned about what he was implying.
"Yup." Andrew nodded before gulping and making the reveal. "Our house cat Socks passed away."
Klinger was in shock at what was mentioned as Andrew turned to face the doorway leading back outside. Andrew remained completely calm when he was told the sad news of his cat's untimely passing.
"Gee Major," Klinger spoke in a soft tone. "I'm sorry for your loss sir. I really am."
"It's...It's alright Klinger," Andrew murmured. "She was going to pass away eventually, so I'll be okay."
Andrew sighed as he stood up and went for the door.
"Wait sir, what are you going to do?" Klinger felt like asking.
Taking another deep breath, Andrew gave him a straight answer. "I'm going to tell the others about this."
Without another word, Andrew stepped outside as he was heading for the mess tent, where the others were currently. Klinger could only think about this, as he had no idea what to do about it. He stood there for a few minutes before he finally decided to go back to filling out the reports...
IN THE MESS TENT - 18:16
As that was going on, the rest of the gang was in the mess tent together. Not much small talk was being made. However, they were discussing the situation regarding Fluffy the cat that's been in the compound for a few days. They had no idea how much longer this could go on for.
"So Colonel? Did you hear anything from I-Corps about the cat?" BJ asked.
"No dice Hunnicutt," Colonel Potter shook his head. "The fact is that there are no records of a family missing that cat, or if the family that did own the cat are still around."
"God. That's truly a shame Colonel," Father Mulcahy said.
"Indeed. Thanks to that treacherous feline, I'm just about out of sardines that were mine," Charles scoffed.
"Better for the cat than for you and the rest of us Charles," Hawkeye retorted.
"Not to mention we have given her all of the scraps of meat from the kitchen tent too," BJ made mention.
"I know that," Colonel Potter sighed. "She's been keeping healthy. She's been drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated. She's even been energetic. Andrew has been taking good care of her despite the situation."
"It's obvious that Andrew must have a cat back at home. He's been treating Fluffy as if she was his own pet," Margaret commented.
"I think you would know," Hawkeye teased. "After all, you are his pussy cat too."
"The question we should be asking is what are we going to do with her?" BJ asked, noticing Margaret giving Hawkeye a stern glare, and wanted to avoid conflict.
"If you may ask me for a suggestion, I think Fluffy should become roomies with Sophie," Charles snorted.
"Oh yeah! Good idea Charles," Hawkeye quirked sarcastically. "Because Fluffy needs a quick way to get a couple of bucks from Sophie and strike gold."
"Just like the Californian Gold Rush," BJ joined in.
"What? They're both animals, and two animals should be kept in a location separated from humans," Charles retorted. "Besides, Sophie could use Fluffy as a roommate."
"Would you like to be Sophie's roommate instead, Winchester?" Colonel Potter threatened.
"Ahem, I see your point Colonel," Charles cleared his throat. "Therefore, I don't think they should be roommates after all."
"I don't know if we should get rid of her," Hawkeye shrugged. "She's getting along well, and she's hardly causing us any problems."
"Aside from the jeep drivers who have to be escorted by that Lebanese-American of a Corporal," Winchester huffed.
"On a lighter note, I've also noticed that the rat infestation in this camp has dropped thanks to having a cat in our compound." Father Mulcahy reminded them.
"Better that than to have the Black Death happen again," Hunnicutt added.
"Well you know what they say; curiosity killed the cat," Pierce got his comment in.
"I know, but damn! A compound is no home for a cat," Colonel Potter shouted. "We have to get rid of her! She needs to leave!"
"Oh, but how will we tell this to Andrew," Margaret questioned with worry. "He'd be devastated if that cat goes back into the wild and gets killed by a sniper or grenade."
"In this time of crisis, I wish that there was an orphanage for pets," Father Mulcahy expressed his sympathy. "Then Fluffy would go there until a family wants to adopt her."
"I'm not any happier about getting rid of her either," Potter moaned. "But we got no choice. There's nothing else that we can do for her. So we'll have to tell Andrew that we need to face the facts."
"I understand sir," Margaret sighed sadly. "It's gonna pain me to see Andrew look upset about having to release Fluffy into the wild again."
"Hey speaking of which," Hawkeye got their attention. "Here he comes now."
They all saw Andrew enter with a lost blank look in his eyes, as he wasn't showing any emotions on his face. This got them confused as Andrew approached the table.
"Major?" Colonel Potter queried. "Why the long face? Is something wrong?"
"Major, is there something bothering you?" Father Mulcahy questioned.
"Andrew," Margaret said. "Did something happen?"
As soon as Andrew took a seat next to his girlfriend, he took a deep breath and spoke. "I just got a long-distant phone call from my mom."
"Your mom? Why on Earth would your mom is reaching out to you in South Korea," Charles questioned.
"Well...it was about the house cat that we had at home, named Socks," Andrew told them.
"Socks?" BJ looked curious.
"Yes. That was her name. She was a girl," Andrew murmured. "Or I guess I should say she was our house cat."
"Was?" Hawkeye was beginning to piece together the sad cryptic news that Andrew was trying to give. "Andrew, are you trying to tell us...?"
"Yes," Andrew bobbed his head before revealing the tragic news. "Our house cat Socks had passed away."
The others gasped at that as Andrew looked down towards the table. They had to figure out what to say to him about it.
"Gee. Sorry to hear that son," Colonel Potter spoke up.
"May her spirit rest in peace," Father Mulcahy muttered a brief sermon while doing that hand gesture that he usually gives to those who die, or are on the verge of dying.
"We're really sorry Andrew," BJ told him.
"That goes for me too," Hawkeye commented.
"Yes. You have my deepest sympathies as well." Charles had to admit.
"Are you going to be okay, darling," Margaret questioned.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll be fine. No need to worry about me," Andrew said modestly. "It's just that my mom is alone back at home, and with Socks dead, there's no one there to keep her company. And she isn't getting any younger. Socks was able to make sure she wouldn't be alone. But now that the cat is gone, I don't know what to do about it."
None of them knew what to say about that. There was no simple answer to it. Before anyone else could say anything, Fluffy came to the table with a slab of meat in her mouth.
"Meow," Fluffy howled as Andrew picked her up.
"Hey!" Igor the cook came in looking for the meat that Fluffy stole. "Hey! That cat stole the meat that I was going to use tonight! Now it has cat germs on it, and it's can't be eaten!"
"Well, it's better for the cat's stomach than for ours," Hawkeye quirked. "It wouldn't have sat well with us anyway."
"I'd have to agree with that," Charles agreed with a huff.
"That's still highly valuable meat," Igor took the meat from the cat and went back to the kitchen tent.
Colonel Potter sighed. He really hated to tell Andrew this, especially after learning about what happened to his cat back at home.
"Andrew, I really don't want to tell you this since you are mourning the loss of your cat back in the states. But...we can't keep this cat here anymore. This is a U.S Army Mobile Hospital unit. Not an animal shelter. Fluffy doesn't belong here," Colonel Potter sighed. "I'm sorry Andrew, but this cat has to go."
"I understand sir," Andrew remained calm when he said that. "It just stinks to see this cat have to go back out there where the war is still taking place."
"I know what you're going through, Major," Father Mulcahy spoke up. "It is truly unholy for one of God's beloved creatures to have to be sent out there in such a treacherous environment, only to be dethroned of her life that she should be living in happiness."
"Those are wise words Padre," Andrew looked at Fluffy who was licking his fingers again. "I just wished that this cat could be like Radar, and be sent to a place where she'll never have to worry about the fears of this war again..."
Suddenly, it hit him. An idea started to form in his head. He knew how to answer all the problems that came up. This could kill two birds with one stone.
"Wait a minute...Wait a minute! I've got an idea," Andrew exclaimed. "And the answer was in front of my face this whole time!"
"What is it, darling?" Margaret questioned.
"It's this dear! Fluffy doesn't have to be sent into the wild here," Andrew answered. "Don't you get it? Why don't we send her back to the U.S. to live with my mom!?"
"Wow, that's not a bad idea," Father Mulcahy admitted.
"Yeah. I like it," BJ then asked the Colonel. "Is it possible to send a cat to the states?"
"Well, I don't see anything saying why it's not possible," Colonel Potter looked thoughtful by this. "What the hay! Anything is possible! We might as well give it a shot!"
"Now isn't this something? Fluffy here is going to be the first cat to soar the great blue sky, and be given a first-class trip from Korea to the United States; also known as the land of the free and the home of the Boston brave!" Hawkeye exclaimed.
"Yes. It would be wiser for Fluffy to be back in the states," Charles admitted.
"That's a wonderful idea, Andrew," Hot Lips complimented. "You always come up with the most clever ideas, darling."
"Well, I appreciate that Hot Lips," Andrew sounded flattered. "But first things first, I need to contact mom, and find out from her if she's alright with getting a cat from South Korea to stay with her at home."
"Well, what are we standing around here for? Let's get that call through right away," Colonel Potter proclaimed.
They were all on board with that idea, as they headed back to the office. They would inform Klinger about the plan too when they get into the office...
IN THE COMPANY CLERK'S OFFICE:
"Okay, guys. Hold on. It's going through," Andrew told the others as the call was reaching its location. "It's going through."
The others could only stand by and wait for the call to go through as the cat was kept in Andrew's lap. In Klinger's case, he was surprised that Andrew came up with the idea, that a cat could be sent back to the United States. Had he known about this before, he would have used that as one of his Section 8 schemes.
After a few moments, the long-distant phone got through and Andrew was able to reach his mom from South Korea.
"Hello? Hello mom? Yes. This is your son Andrew Peterson calling you from the 4077," Andrew got down to business. "Listen, I have a question that I'd like to ask you. How would you like to have a cat that came straight from South Korea to keep you company?"
From Andrew's end, you can tell that his mom was wanting an explanation as to what he was talking about.
"Well you see mom, this stray cat wandered into the 4077 one night, and we have no idea where she came from," Andrew explained to her. "She's been given all the necessary shots that a cat should get, and she's been kept healthy here. The only problem is that we can't keep her here, and there are fears that she might be killed if she's put back into the wild, specifically by enemy attacks. So I decided that maybe she should be sent back to the states to stay with you."
Andrew overheard his mom ask a whole bunch of questions, resulting in her son answering them.
"Fluffy. Her name is Fluffy. Yes. I think she's 7 years old. That's right. And she's been eating well. All her shots have been accounted for." Andrew told her. "So what do you say, mom? Would you like to have her as your pet?"
His mom was giving him a direct answer. And from how Peterson was reacting to it ala facial expression, it seems that it was what he was hoping for.
"Really? You will? You'll do it? You'll take her? That's great!" Andrew took the speaker away from his ears to tell the others what his mom said. "She says that she'll take her."
"Hot diggity! That is outstanding news," Colonel Potter proclaimed.
"That's terrific news, sir," Klinger agreed.
What occurred next was the rest of the gang giving their comments about how this was excellent news for them.
"Okay, guys. Hold on a minute," Andrew spoke into the phone again. "Thanks, mom. Thanks a lot for this. You don't know how much it means to me! Yes. That's right. We'll be sending her out of the 4077 to head to the U.S. as soon as possible. She should be arriving in a couple of days. And you'll be home when she gets there? Yeah? Excellent! That is great to hear! Alright, thanks, mom. Yeah. Sure, the others at the 4077 say 'hello' too. Okay. Alright, thanks again. I love you too. Yeah. Goodbye."
Andrew then put the phone back into its place and had Fluffy in his hands. "Well, looks like Fluffy is going to the U.S."
"In the meantime, I'll notify I-Corps and have them send a jeep here for Fluffy to be transported to Seoul so she can be sent to the U.S," Sherman Potter proclaimed.
"I should also get a crate for Fluffy to stay in," Klinger declared. "I think we have one for this cat to use."
"We better make sure Fluffy has some food for the road too," BJ added. "I can get plenty of scraps from the mess tent. Charles, why don't you give her more of your sardines?"
"Why not? She had already gone through most of them. She might as well take what's left," Charles groaned.
"That's the spirit Charles," Hawkeye encouraged. "When Fluffy gets back home, Mrs. Peterson will be in for a surprise when she lets this cat out of the bag."
"Or crate," Andrew corrected.
"This is a pleasant surprise," Father Mulcahy remarked. "To think that Fluffy will be the first cat shipped out from Korea to the U.S."
"I'm just as surprised as you are Padre," Andrew admitted. "But I'm happy to see Fluffy getting a new home, and my mom is going to have someone to keep her company."
"I'm happy for you, darling," Margaret commented.
"Thanks for that, dear." Andrew flashed her a smile.
"Meow," Fluffy howled in Andrew's arms, snuggling her head against his elbows.
"Yeah Fluffy, you're getting a new home," Andrew told her. "I hope you'll love it in America. It's far better than it is in Korea."
"Hey Andrew, we better make sure that Fluffy has plenty of water to drink too," Margaret reminded him.
"Good thinking Margaret," Andrew agreed. "Let's go make sure she has plenty."
And so everyone split to take care of stuff for Fluffy to get shipped back to the United States and straight to Mrs. Peterson. It seems that Fluffy was getting a happy home after all...
AFTER SOME TIME HAD PASSED - AT THE M*A*S*H 4077:
Quite some time had passed since then. They made sure that Fluffy was packed with plenty of food that she can eat, and water that she could drink. All to send her back to the states. After the Colonel notified I-Corps about this, Fluffy was put into a crate that Klinger found, along with the food and water that she'll need for the trip to America.
And now she was gone. She was no longer in a dangerous location at the risk of getting struck by a sniper and whatnot. Jeeps can come in and out and go at any speed they please without running the risk of hitting a cat. And things were back in balance again.
Andrew did miss having Fluffy around, but he knew he did the right thing by sending her to stay with his mom. Besides, his mom needed her more than he did, and it did him some good to know that Fluffy wouldn't suffer anymore in the territory that the war was going on in.
Yes. There was no problem with it at all.
He was currently at the Officer's Club, sitting at one of the round tables alone, wondering how things were going for Fluffy, and his mom. He has this feeling that his mom is overjoyed with Fluffy moving in with her. After Socks had passed away, it would be smart for her to have another feline companion.
"Hey Andrew," Margaret approached the table. "Are you sitting here alone?"
"Yes. I'm alone Margaret," Andrew told her.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Sure."
Margaret sat down right next to Andrew as if to keep him company for a bit.
"So, you miss that cat, don't you?" She asked him.
"Kinda. I'm just happy that she's in the U.S with my mom," he replied. "And that she's not here to suffer from the side effects of this war."
"That's true."
"But you know, I don't need a cat to stay in our compound anyway," Andrew commented bashfully. "In fact...I think I already have...a pussy cat here."
"I know what you mean," Margaret gave him that flirtatious look.
"Uhhh...Hot Lips," he was being rather shy. "Are you...my pussy cat?"
"Well, only if you want me to." She gave him a sly answer.
"Yes," Andrew said in such a soft voice.
"I'll tell you what, darling," she cooed softly. "Why don't we go to my tent in a bit, and we can play some physical check-up. How does that sound?"
"I...I would love that dear," Andrew had that smile on his face. "That's fine by me."
"Good," she grabbed his face and gave him a loud wet kiss to his mouth. "I love you, honey."
"I love you too, sugar plum." Andrew droned in a low tone.
They shared another mouth-to-mouth kiss for a couple of minutes before taking their leave in the Officer's Club and went to Hot Lips' tent so they could have some fun with playing 'Physical Check-Up' together, alone.
Even with Fluffy gone, Andrew was still satisfied with what he had already. He wondered what else would occur in this compound.
Only time will tell for him...
END OF CHAPTER 23...
Yeah. This is the hardest chapter for me to write, due to needing to come up with stuff to add, as well as trying to make it shorter than the previous chapter. So this chapter might not be as good. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Anyway, for the next chapter, a blistery cold blast hits the 4077 in the winter, the others are trying to do things to keep warm, Andrew gets a couple of things from his mom, he spends time keeping warm and toasty with Margaret, and some other stuff will occur. How will this go? Find out, next time readers!
Now if you want to, you can leave a review for this chapter. Only leave constructive criticism if you'll be polite with it. And as for positive reviews, they are welcome anytime.
Aside from that, there's nothing else for me to say. Until next time, I hope you are enjoying this story! And on that note, thanks again for reading everyone!
