"Hey, Jess! The movie starts in five minutes!" Radar knocked on her door before he entered her tent.

Jessie, sitting cross-legged on her cot, smiled at him as he walked through the door. His heart skipped a beat, and he cleared his throat, struggling for something to say. No matter how often he saw her, she always managed to have the affect on it. It was maddening and fascinating, all at the same time.

He focused on what she was holding in her hands. "Hey, are those records?"

She thumbed through the small stack on her bed. "Yeah, isn't it great? My sister sent them to me, along with this record player." She motioned towards the opened box on the floor. "I just had a moment to go through them. Andrea has this thing for swing music. We took dance lessons when we were younger, and swing was always what she liked." She pulled the record player out and set it on a table in the corner.

"Well, what was your thing?"

"My thing?"

"Yeah, dancing?"

Jessie shrugged. "I wasn't ever all that good at it."

"Me neither."

Jessie wiped the dust off her knees as she struggled up from the floor. "There. Hand me that one there." She pointed to a Glenn Miller record.

Radar handed it to her, and she placed it gingerly on the record player. The first scratchy notes of "In the Mood" filled the tent.

"Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?" she said, tapping her foot to the rhythm. She stood up and took Radar's hand. "C'mon, and I'll show you a few steps."

He balked. "I don't know."

She pulled him off the cot. "It's not that hard. Just try it."

Although he was rather hesitant at first and let her lead, the fast-paced music and their mistakes soon had them giggling. They danced through several songs.

At the end of the fourth number, Radar tried to dip Jessie, and they both fell onto her cot, laughing and out-of-breath. She held on to her side. "That's the most exercise I've gotten since I been here!"

"Yeah, me, too," he puffed.

She punched him in the arm. "You aren't as bad as you said."

He studied his hands. "Well, I used to dance some. With Betty Sue."

Jessie sat up straight. Funny, he's never mentioned her before.

It's almost as if he read her mind. "Oh, just a girl I used to know."

She raised an eyebrow. She knew there was more to the story. "And?"

He was a little embarrassed he had even brought it up. He offered her a hand and helped her stand. The record, still emitting its scratchy music from the corner, had launched into "Moonlight Serenade." Absently, they began slow-dancing. She followed along, waiting for him to continue.

"We were sort of engaged before I left for Korea. But, she married one of the star football players from high school while I was gone. I guess she got tired of waiting." He shrugged. "I haven't thought about her in a long time."

"That's awful!"

"Well, it happens. I guess there's no guarantee I'll even make it home." It was a fear they all shared, but one he generally kept to himself. But, it seemed so natural to let it spill out to her.

She jolted to a stop. The tune kept playing, but she ignored it. "That's not true! Don't say things like that!"

He studied her closely, not expecting her reaction. "How can you be so sure?"

She raised her head defiantly. "You're too nice to die in a crummy place like this. I bet you die an old man in his bed surrounded by lots and lots of family."

He smiled. "That's a nice thought, you know." The record player launched into "Chattanooga Choo-Choo", and they stood awkwardly, still holding onto each other.

"Oh, the movie!" he said, moving away from her.

She was surprised by how disappointed she was and moved to the box at the end of the cot. "Forget the movie. Why don't we see what else my sister sent? She's an excellent cook, you know." Actually, she has an excellent cook on staff. "Ah ha!" She pulled out a tin full of cookies.

The rest of the evening and long into the night, they talked. Family, friends, sports, church, they covered it all. Before they both realized it, it was 3 a.m. They were both sitting on the floor, going through some of her pictures. He had also shown her some of his family photos that were in his wallet.

Reluctantly, he rose from his spot next to her.

"I guess I better get some sleep." He stood with his hands in his pockets, scuffing his boot on the floor. "I had a good time."

She rose rather stiffly from her place on the floor. "Yeah, me, too. Even if we didn't get to see the movie."

She walked with him to the door. They both looked outside into the quiet compound. A shadowy figure obviously wearing an evening gown and sun bonnet marched nearby.

Jessie motioned towards his retreating shadow. "At least you'll be safe going back to your tent. Bridezilla over there is on guard tonight."

"Yeah, he can hit them with his purse!"

They both giggled. Impulsively, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I had a great time."

He returned the hug, breathing in the scent of her hair. "Um, yeah. Me, too."

She kissed him on the cheek. "I hope Colonel Potter won't be mad that I kept you up so late."

He was glad it was dark, so she couldn't see him blush. "Oh, um, he won't mind."

"G'night, Walter."

"Yeah. G'night."

Radar sauntered across camp, whistling at his good fortune.

*******************************

That night was the first time he had the nightmare.

It was vague at first, just shapes and sounds the brain plays for itself after a long day of dealing with war and what it brings.

That's when he saw it. It was almost like a snapshot, so clear he could see the tears on her face and her bright red blood staining the collar of her shirt.

The loud report of a gun made him sit straight up in his cot, breathing unsteadily, the shot echoing in his head. He threw back the blanket and reached for his glasses, convinced someone had fired a pistol in camp.

Peeking out the door, all was quiet. The guards were talking amongst themselves nearby, obviously unconcerned.

Radar softly shut the door. The gun shot was so real! But, it was a dream. Only a dream. There was no gunfire. It was only a dream.

He settled back in his cot. As he fell back asleep, he tried to remember what else aside from the echoing gunshot had him so uneasy.

***********************************

During the slow times, Jessie learned how to play poker - always making sure she ran out of money before anyone else. She never ventured too far from the camp for fear of snipers, landmines and North Koreans, but she did try to keep up her exercising. While in school, she had been a majorette, which actually required more exercise and practice then most people imagined. Jessie had managed to sneak in a couple of batons in her luggage, and she would disappear behind her tent to twirl, if anything for the exercise. Nothing was kept a secret long in camp, and she found herself teaching some of the nurses who were interested to learn. She even was teaching Klinger. Jessie was relieved to know he really wasn't a transvestite, only trying to play one to get a Section 8 from the Army. He thought twirling a baton would come in handy one day.

She also wrote tons of letters. The only one she really told about her new life was her brother, who always seemed to understand. She figured no one else was interested in all the blood, rats and disease.

Dear Johnny,

I was glad to receive your last letter! You just don't know how boring it can get. However, I would take boredom any day to the hours and hours in surgery. The wounds some of these soldiers-most of them boys, really-come in here with boggles the mind. However, the doctors here are top-notch and patch them up enough to send them to Seoul. I really don't think I've told you about anyone yet, so here goes.

The head surgeon is Capt. Benjamin Franklin Pierce, but he goes by Hawkeye. You and he would get along perfectly, or maybe you wouldn't because you would be fighting over the same women! Once he found out I was not interested, he didn't take it personally. He taught me how to play poker, which I am NOT good at. I think that's why he taught me, to win some money! His bunkmate in The Swamp, which is the name of their tent (you can imagine why it has that name), is Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt. No one really knows what the B.J. stands for. Anyway, he's quite the opposite of Hawkeye, with a wife and child back home he adores. The other bunkmate is Charles Emerson Winchester The Third (he never leaves off The Third!) who is worth about as much as Father and about as pompous about it! However, he seems to have taken a shine to me, and I often find myself in his company. He's actually a fairly nice fellow once he forgets to be stuck up!

I know that we're Methodist, but I have really enjoyed the company of the camp priest. Father Mulcahy and I spent hours discussing literature and poetry and music. I could probably discuss these things with Charles, but it's more fun to discuss them with someone who thinks women are allowed to have educated thoughts.

All the nurses here are wonderful! I've been teaching them to twirl, and we've been having a great time giggling and gossiping into the night. There are all strong women, too, to be able to put up with the horrible surgery that goes on here. Oh did I mention that there's a guy here who wears dresses? I'll enclose a picture later of him dressed up like Scarlett O'Hara! You will just die! Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the head honcho around here-Col. Sherman Potter. Apparently, when he arrived, everyone was terrified because he was regular army. The previous CO was the total opposite of regular army, and loved by all. He died on his way home! Can you believe it? But, Col. Potter runs this place efficiently, but not trying to make soldiers out of doctors and nurses that were never meant to be soldiers. He lets us do our job.

You mentioned in your last letter that Mark had asked about me. I know, I know, you think I only became engaged to him because I knew Father wouldn't approve of a country/western singer, and you know me, that was certainly part of it! He was always so exciting, though, and everything seemed so much fun when he was around. Boy, did I learn you can't base a relationship on fun! Glad to hear he has gone to Nashville. You also asked if I had found a replacement for Mark. Well, no, I haven't. Who wants to start a romance with bombs going off, sometimes in camp?(Don't tell anyone that.) Aside from all the proposals from the wounded soldiers I'm caring for, most who have girlfriends and wives back home, there is someone who I literally ran into the first day I was here! Walter-everyone calls him Radar because he knows what is going to happen before it happens-is a farm boy from a little town in Iowa. He is the company clerk and is so sweet, but really shy. However, I have found that I can tell him most anything because he doesn't have a judgmental bone in his body. He's really funny, too, when he's not being shy. Because not much gets past anyone around here (sort of like at home!), there's been talk about us, but so far, we've done nothing but talk. I don't know what to think about that. Frankly, I try not to. I keep telling myself I'm not interested in a relationship, especially in the barf capital of Korea! Part of me wonders if I'm interested because as an officer, we're not supposed to associate with enlisted men, but if at all possible, I would stay away from the wrath of the head nurse. Now, she's an interesting character! Part sex kitten, part hard core soldier and good-lookin' to boot! She was apparently hot and heavy with another doctor that went crazy when she married this Pennobscott fellow, but so far, I've never seen her relax and enjoy herself.

Whew, sorry I've written so much! Tell everyone at home I said hey. Make sure you hug Mattie and Arthur for me!

Your loving sister,

Jessie

As Jessie addressed the envelope, she began to think about what she had left behind. Arthur and Mattie were her father's butler and cook, but after Jessie's mother died and her father withdrew, they were pretty much her surrogate father and mother. Mattie taught her about the birds and the bees when Jessie thought she was dying because she started her period, and Arthur taught her how to drive. She loved to sit in their little house while Mattie sewed and Arthur read the paper. They never had children of their own, so Jessie was basically their daughter, as far as they were concerned.

Arthur had also given her a stuffed pink horse when her mother died. Jessie had dubbed him Reginald and proceeded to take him everywhere she went-even boarding school. She had almost packed him to come to Korea, but didn't want anything to happen to him - she had been advised not to take anything valuable with her, and Reginald was as valuable to her as they had come.

A wave of homesickness threatened to overcome her. She missed her family, and she wished she could put her head in Mattie's lap like she did when she was small while Mattie stroked her hair and hummed hymns. At least if she had brought Reginald, she would have a little bit of home that his worn pink hide could bring.

She curled up on her lumpy cot, clutching her flat pillow to her. She had been at the 4077th for a month and had tried not the think about home. She had volunteered, hadn't she? So, it seemed silly to be homesick. But, sometimes when she was alone, it was hard to help it.

Across the camp, Radar was busily churning out forms in duplicate and triplicate. Without knowing why, he decided to take a break and visit Jessie. He sauntered across the camp, whistling. Before he knocked on her door, he thought he could hear sniffling. Hesitating, he almost turned away. But, he couldn't just leave her alone when she was obviously upset. He straightened his shoulders and knocked.

"Jessie, it's me, Radar!" he called.

"Come in," she said softly and sniffed. When he opened the door, he saw her busy with a letter on her desk.

"Hey," she said refusing to face him.

"Well, I, um, just wanted to stop by and say 'hi,'" he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Say, did you get some bad news from home?"

Jessie shook her head. "No, not at all. In fact, everything seems to be going along fine."

Her sadness filled the tent, and he wasn't quite sure what to do. He wanted to reach out to her, but hesitated. "You know, Jess, everyone gets homesick now and then. At least you just cry instead of pickle your liver like Hawkeye!"

She chuckled a little and sniffed again. Hawkeye certainly was a notorious drinker. She moved to the bed, but still wouldn't look at him.

"Usually, I do a little better than this. But, I got a letter from my brother, and, well, you can see what happened." She finally looked into his understanding eyes.

"Hey, it'll be OK," he said, sitting down next to her. She put her head on his shoulder. Hesitantly, he put his arm around her. Her hair smelt just like flowers that grew wild at home, and he found himself taking deep breaths.

"You know what I was suddenly homesick for?"

"What?" he replied, trying to decide if he had died and gone to heaven.

She sat up, and he tried to hide his disappointment. "Promise not to laugh?"

"Promise," he replied solemnly.

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and told him about Reginald. "Kinda embarrassing, really. I guess I should be missing my family – and I do – but I suddenly missed Reginald."

Radar was quiet, and Jessie thought she had shocked him with her childishness. She glanced over at him, and he was looking at her thoughtfully through his glasses.

"I'll be right back!" he said, jumping up and rushing out the door. She was a little taken aback and peered after him, wondering what he was up to.

She didn't wait long. There was a knock on her door. Before she could reply, Radar rushed into her room with something in a pillow case. He sat it down in her lap.

"I don't think it's childish at all," he said in a hurry. "I thought you might want to borrow this, at least for a little while."

Jessie looked up at him questioningly, and he motioned for her to open the pillow case. She gasped when two beady eyes peered back at her.

"Oh, wow!" She pulled out a stuffed bear that was about as worn as Reginald. She hugged it to her chest and looked up at him as he watched her a little wistfully.

"Hey, are you sure it's OK if I borrow him for a little while?" She had heard he had a bear, but she never brought it up, and he never mentioned it. She knew he was teased about it and knowing that he trusted her was comforting somehow.

"No, I'll be OK," he said, smiling at her crookedly. He turned towards her box that served as a dresser and toyed with a hairbrush, a little embarrassed. "You know, everyone teases me about him, but anything that makes you feel a little better around here is worth it. When you told me about your rabbit, I couldn't keep him for myself when you needed him more. But, just for a little while . . ." He turned and trailed off. Jessie was sound asleep, with the bear peeking out of the crook of her arm.

Radar shook his head. She falls asleep faster than anyone I've ever seen. He covered her with a pink quilt she had managed to talk Klinger out of and watched her even breathing for a moment. He leaned down to tuck the quilt around her shoulders, patted the bear and strolled out the door, whistling.

***********************************

Jessie awoke with the thought she was being watched. She opened her eyes and found that she was looking into three pairs of dark eyes. She almost yelped with surprise as she threw the quilt back, tucking Radar's bear under the blanket. The three Korean children looked at her expectantly.

"You promised," the smaller one said. Jessie realized she must have slept awhile. She smiled at the trio.

"That's right, I did," she said, rummaging in her chest for her batons. She brought out a pair smaller than the ones she used. She had managed to get them on the black market. "These would be just the right size." The three girls broke out in grins and rushed out the door.

Jessie followed them and stopped in her tracks. Outside her tent were six more girls.

"Well, I guess news travels fast doesn't it?" she said, mostly to herself.

"We all learn," one of the children said. "We heard the red-hair lady would teach us."

Jessie, a little befuddled, wondered how she would teach all of them with one set of batons. She twisted her hair into a bun behind her neck and smiled.

"The more the merrier!" she said, taking one of them by the hand.

Before Jessie's training session was over, they had drawn a crowd. She hardly noticed, however, because she was so busy trying to teach a bunch of children who didn't speak English. She figured actions spoke louder than words, and showed each child how to twirl the baton in their fingers, first. After a couple of hours, Jessie and the girls were tiring. One of the older girls shyly handed her back her batons.

"You do," she said in broken English. Jessie smiled at the shy girl to ease her discomfort.

Jessie stepped back from the group, twirled the batons in her hands a moment, then threw one high in the air, spun around several times on one foot and caught it, all while twirling the second baton in her fingers. The Korean children clapped approvingly. The raucous male applause startled her, and she almost lost her balance. She turned and saw the crowd that had been watching her, complete with Hawkeye and B.J. in outdoor lounge chairs, umbrellas and robes.

"Brava, Brava!" they chanted merrily. Jessie stuck out her tongue at them, then gathered the children in a row.

"Remember like I showed you," she said. "And, curtsy!" The entire row of children, including Jessie, completed a rather ragged curtsy for the crowd, which cheered louder. She turned back to the children. "Same time next week?" she asked motioning with her hands. The children smiled, nodded and scampered off.

Jessie knew what she had to do and went immediately back to her tent. She rummaged for a clean sheet of paper, sat Radar's bear on the desk beside her and began to write.