Snacks

Inside an old, dimly lit barn, Newkirk checked his watch for the tenth time. Bloody hell. Why was their contact so late? Not that he minded the break– they had been working themselves to the bone lately. But the longer he had to wait, the more anxious he became.

He grunted in frustration and shifted on his belly, trying to get comfortable, but pieces of hay kept poking into him, making the task nearly impossible. His movement made the hayloft creak and Newkirk hoped the structure wouldn't fall out from under him.

Behind him, Carter lounged against a pile of hay, happy as a clam. Probably was thinking about home, and Newkirk considered himself lucky that his companion was keeping his musings to himself. Newkirk already knew enough about Bullfrog, North Dakota to last him a lifetime.

"Say, it's getting pretty late, isn't it?" Carter said as he also checked his watch.

Newkirk grunted and propped himself onto his elbow. "You sure Kinch said Briar Rose was coming tonight?"

"That's what he said," Carter confirmed. "And the Colonel wouldn't have sent us out if he wasn't sure. Do you think something happened?"

"I don't know," Newkirk said. Then he sneezed. "Bloody hay. I say we give him ten more minutes and then we scarper."

"Okay," Carter said with a shrug. "I guess there are a million other things waiting for us to do once we get back."

Newkirk grunted in response. Yes, a million and one things. Each more dangerous than the next. They'd be lucky to survive the week.

He watched Carter reach into his pocket and pull something out. Then he tossed something in the air, leaned his head back, and opened his mouth. "Hey! Got it!" he said triumphantly.

"Shhhh!" Newkirk admonished.

"Right… Sorry."

Newkirk rolled his eyes as he shook his head. He turned his attention back to the barn doors below.

"That's two," Carter said. "Three."

Again, Newkirk rolled his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Eating peanuts," Carter replied. "Want some?"

"Peanuts?" Newkirk repeated. "Where'd you get those?"

"Left over from the last mission. Remember? Goldilocks sent us more than enough. They make for good snacks."

"No thank-you," Newkirk said.

"Okay." They continued on in silence. "Shoot. Okay, let's see… Ha, one."

"Carter," Newkirk said impatiently. He looked back to see Carter sit up, wide-eyed. Then a peanut landed on his head and bounced off. It rolled along the floor until it came to a rest in a patch of hay. Newkirk dug it out and threw it at Carter. Carter dodged his head to the side, opened his mouth and caught it.

"Heh."

"You got lucky," Newkirk said.

"Bet I did it better than you could."

"What are you, eight? This is no time for a blooming competition."

"Yeah, yeah. Okay."

Once more, Newkirk turned his back on his companion and watched the door.

"One. Two. Three. Four. Hey, Newkirk, catch."

Newkirk turned just in time to see a peanut flying towards him. It hit him right between the eyes and fell onto his nose before dropping to the floor. Newkirk picked it up and threw it back at Carter and to his annoyance, Carter once again caught it in his mouth, although this time he had to jump up to his feet to get it.

"Five!"

"Give me those!" Newkirk got onto his knees and shuffled to Carter. He smacked Carter's hand, causing the peanuts to drop.

"Want the bag, too?" Carter pulled a bag from his pocket and held it out. Newkirk grabbed it and then hit Carter on the head with it. "Ow."

Newkirk blew out a breath, causing his lips to vibrate, and then dropped down in the hay beside Carter. He checked his watch. "Five more minutes."

Carter sighed and fell back into the hay. He was quiet for a minute. "You know, I know it's dangerous being outside camp and all, but I love coming here. It just smells like home. And you'd think that would make me feel kind of homesick but–"

"Carter, catch." Newkirk pulled a peanut from the bag and tossed it into the air. Carter gobbled it up. Newkirk tossed another one, a little to the side, causing Carter to dodge to get it.

"Your turn." Carter grabbed a peanut from the floor and threw it to Newkirk who caught it easily.

"Come on, mate, make it a challenge!"

Newkirk lost track of time as the two tossed peanuts at each other, making each catch a little more difficult each time. Newkirk tossed one and Carter went to catch it, only to fall right out of the loft. Newkirk gasped in surprise and scrambled to the edge and looked down. Carter was hanging from the ladder, apparently having caught it on his way down. He looked up and opened his mouth, proudly showing the peanut on his tongue.

Newkirk tried to stifle his laughter, but it came bursting out, carrying with it all the stress the last few days had heaped upon him. Carter laughed too as he climbed up the ladder. When he reached the top, he folded his arms on the hayloft, his legs still on the ladder.

"I think I win!" Carter announced.

"I could have done that, easy," Newkirk boasted.

"What are you two doing?"

Carter nearly fell off the ladder, but Newkirk grabbed his arm and steadied him. Newkirk looked over the edge and Carter turned his head to see who had joined them.

Olsen stood near the barn door, arms crossed over his chest, his foot tapping. "I swear I heard you two giggling from a mile away. Do you want to get shot?"

Carter scrambled down the ladder and Newkirk quickly followed him. "We were just having a little fun, mate. What are you doing here, anyway?"

Olsen sighed and rubbed his arm. It was then that Newkirk noticed just how tired the outside man was. As difficult and dangerous as Newkirk had it, Olsen had it much worse.

"Briar Rose got captured by the Gestapo. Don't worry, he won't talk. I…" Olsen's voice trailed off. Then he took a breath. "Just what were you two lunatics doing anyway?"

"Catching peanuts," Carter explained. He dug into his other pocket and pulled out a different bag. "Here." He tossed one to Olsen, but it bounced off his forehead.

"Ow." Olsen rubbed his forehead.

"Pathetic, mate," Newkirk said. "Try again." He dug into his own bag and tossed a peanut at Olsen.

"Hey, stop it."

"Come on, you gotta do better than that!" Carter tossed him another peanut, while Newkirk did the same.

"You two are idiots," Olsen said, but his voice had softened. "Gimme those." He grabbed Carter's bag and pulled out a handful of peanuts. Then he tossed them into the air and put his head back. The peanuts scattered everywhere, but Olsen lifted his head and showed off his prize- a single peanut. "The key is volume."

Newkirk grabbed Olsen's hand and raised it up. "I declare you the winner! And that's the end of the peanuts anyway."

Olsen grinned. "All right, come on, you guys. We're lucky we haven't picked up every patrol in the area. You get back to camp. Tell the colonel I'll be back in a few days."

Newkirk nodded and blew out the single lantern that lit the barn. They left the barn and then Newkirk and Carter parted ways with Olsen.

As Newkirk walked back, he thought of all the tasks they still had to do. And, yet, for the moment, he felt a lot lighter.


Trek is actually the next prompt. And then there are a few more before Snacks. But I'm waiting for a guest author to do Trek and I decided to post the prompts I've already completed. They don't have to be in order, after all (says me). So, enjoy!