Ch 4: The Corporal's Belongings
It took about a week but Candace's suitcase and rucksack finally arrived. Radar and Igor took it straight to Major Houlihan's tent where she and Margaret were.
Margaret was reading quietly to the child when they heard the knock.
"Come in," Margaret called.
"Major Houlihan ma'am…we have the Corporal's things ma'am," Radar stated entering the room.
"Oh good just put them on the bed there," Margaret stated pointing to Candace's cot. The men did as ordered and quickly left.
"Oh good!!" Candace squealed and jumped off of Margaret's cot rushing to her things.
Margaret watched as the child opened the suitcase and pulled out a phonograph and several records and books. She also took out art supplies and drawings.
"Oh uh…Major Margaret ma'am can I hang some of my pictures in here?" Candace asked.
"Certainly," Margaret smiled.
The major stood and walked over to the cot picking up some of the records. They were mostly classical pieces with a few Broadway tunes.
The major put them back and then picked up a few of the books as the child was putting up her pictures. The books were a mixture of things like Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and such things as The Wizard of Oz.
"You certainly have diverse taste Candy…and some very high brow tastes for a child," Margaret commented.
"I love all sorts of things. Music and books and paintings best," Candace stated hanging her final picture.
The picture was of a tiny family of five playing ball in front of a large Victorian style house.
"Is that your family?" Margaret asked hovering behind the child for a better look.
"No…that's my adoptive family," Candace replied.
"Come again?" Margaret asked looking down at the girl.
"A couple months after dad died I started to think about what it would be like to be adopted. I drew this picture to show what I wanted," Candace explained. Margaret nodded.
Candace finished unpacking her suitcase and out it under her cot before turning to her rucksack. From it she pulled her toiletry bag, a blue and red blanket, and a small pillow, yarn of assorted colors, army fatigues, a lime green bathrobe, and even some civilian clothes.
"I guess you have everything just so then," Margaret stated as she picked up the toiletry bag and looked through it.
"Daddy said I had to have everything ready to leave at a second's notice. I can have all this packed in these two bags in under forty seconds…and most of the clothes won't be wrinkled!" Candace stated proudly.
Margaret stared at her and laughed as there was a knock at the door.
"Who dares trespass?" Candace asked.
"Only your friendly neighborhood Doc come to see his favorite nurse and munchkin!" Hawkeye answered from the other side of the door.
"Captain Hawkeye!" Candace squealed and flung open the door jumping in his arms.
"Hey there," Hawkeye laughed kissing her head before looking up and winking at Margaret.
She smiled brightly at him. Over the last few days she and Hawkeye had mostly stopping being evil at each other and were really getting along.
"I see she's moved in," Hawkeye stated entering the tent and looking around at all the things added.
"Yep, yep I'm all in!" Candace replied.
Hawkeye headed to the little locker like closet Margaret had and found some very cute child dresses hanging in there and it gave him an idea.
"Girls put on something summery and meet me outside post op in twenty," Hawkeye stated.
"Why?" Margaret asked.
"Trust me Major Baby," Hawkeye replied kissing her lips sweetly.
"Okay," Margaret said quietly when he pulled away.
"You trust me Corporal Munchkin?" Hawkeye asked looking at Candace.
"Yes Sir," Candace saluted as he left.
"What are we gonna wear!?" Candace squealed pulling Margaret's hands as she stared at the door with a funny look on her face.
"Where are you going Pierce?" Frank asked looking up from his Bible and seeing the chief surgeon shaving.
"I have a double date with the two prettiest gals in camp," Hawkeye answered.
"I do believe he is smitten," BJ laughed fixing himself a martini, "Little Bradshaw has gotten to the old womanizer hasn't she?"
"Normally I would think of a clever comeback but this time…yes," Hawkeye replied.
BJ just grinned with his cheesy mustache as Frank scowled.
"That Corporal has no business being in the same tent with a Major," Frank stated.
"Oh lay off Burns," BJ replied returning to a letter from his wife.
Hawkeye finished getting reading putting on his favorite Hawaiian shirt and a clean pair of pants before dashing to the kitchens.
Margaret and Candace were standing by Post Op looking beautiful.
Margaret had brushed out her golden hair till it shown and was wearing a simple blue sleeveless dress she'd picked up on her last trip to Seoul.
Candace had her strawberry blonde curls in cute pigtails and was wearing a white halter style dress with blue polka dots. She was holding a book entitled Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
"You think he'll like my dress?" Candace asked.
"I'm sure sweetie," Margaret smiled.
Houlihan registered vaguely that she and Hawkeye were getting to close to this child…they were starting to act like her parents.