...
Before Nora knew it, it was Saturday – meaning, she had been with Easy Company for one entire week. During those seven days, Nora found herself settling into a routine. Training went fine for Nora now and she only showed some signs of struggling during lectures. So, to help Nora better understand lectures, Winters gave her extra homework. He wasn't being cruel; Winters wanted to help Nora and give her the best opportunities to learn more. Nora had asked Winters about going to the pub that night and he'd let her go, providing Nora finished the homework she had started after lunch. The bedroom was kept quiet, as Nora hunched over a book at the desk, and took notes about weapons and field manoeuvres. Winters sat on his bed, quietly writing a letter to DeEtta. Nora worked hard to ensure she didn't fall behind and Winters appreciated how hard she worked. Nora didn't know it, but Winters was always going to let the girl go to the pub with the enlisted because she worked so hard, and Nora deserved to have fun…
"Oh, it's getting late…". Winters mentioned.
Nora drew out a tiny sigh. She wasn't quite finished. "It is, Lieutenant Winters?"
"It'll be supper soon". He said, "Do the men plan on having supper at the Blue Boar?"
"I think so, sir". She confirmed. Nora heard Winters's bed creak as he got up. His footsteps soon sounded as Winters moved toward her. Nora took in a breath, looked over her shoulder and sent Winters a slightly anxious stare. "I don't think I'll be done before supper, sir".
Standing at her side, Winters stared down at Nora's notes. Despite having not quite finished the exercise, she had written down a lot of good notes. Winters casually told her, "Well, you could always finish tomorrow, huh?"
Nora stared up at Winters and a smile tugged on her mouth. "I could, sir".
Winters looked down at Nora and smiled. "Don't be too late, okay?"
"I won't, sir". Nora promised.
"Have someone walk you back here".
"I will, sir". Nora once again, promised the Lieutenant.
Winters placed a hand on Nora's shoulder. "Don't feel pressured to drink, okay? And if you do drink, please be careful. The legal age for drinking is eighteen here but I'll make an exception providing you don't drink a lot". Winters told her once more, "Just be careful, alright?"
"Yes, sir". Nora sent him a small smile. She said, "Thank you, sir".
Winters squeezed her shoulder before letting go. "Wear your Class A's, please. You're an Officer and you have to make a good impression…".
…Dressed in her Class A uniform, Nora stepped into the Blue Boar with Joe by her side. They found the old pub to be filled with mainly Paratroopers, only a few locals and a handful of young women were in the mix of Americans. Young British women liked being around the Paratroopers because the Americans were paid more than the British Paratroopers. And it came as no shock to Nora, that a lot of women inside the pub had their eyes on Joe Lesniewski. He was a handsome man, who resembled a movie star back in the States.
Nora was pushed to the side while Joe was soon the centre of attention. Taking a step back, she almost bumped into an occupied table. Thankfully, Luz was sitting at the table. Rising to his feet, Luz rounded the table and stood next to Nora. After casting her a smile, Luz took notice of Joe and all the women around him…
"Christ". Luz let out a whistle. "He's 'gonna be a busy fella tonight, huh?"
Nora said, "If you befriended Joe, he could give you tips".
Luz grinned and chuckled. He decided not to make a comment on his own techniques of picking up girls. Rubbing his hands together first, Luz asked Nora, "You want a drink? We've got a bucket at our table…take a glass and help yourself".
Looking over her shoulder, Nora noticed a few curious eyes staring back at her. But then she saw the bucket of warm beer in the centre of the table. Fully turning around, Nora picked up a glass and dunked it into the bucket. She scooped herself a pint of frothy beer…
"It tastes like shit, Lieutenant". One man warned her.
"It's Nora". She corrected him before taking a sip. Nora wasn't a stranger to warm beer, having trained in England longer than the Americans. After taking one sip, the men sat around the table soon looked on at Nora surprised, as she downed the entire pint of beer in one breath. When the glass was empty, Nora set it down and rubbed her chest.
"How's that?" Luz asked while grinning at Nora.
She bobbed her head and replied, "Bad".
The man who had warned Nora about the beer was soon standing on his feet and extending his hand toward her. "I'm Joe Toye, 2nd Platoon Sergeant". He smirked. "And that was impressive".
Taking Toye's hand, Nora shook it. "My last unit drank a lot". She explained.
"Yeah?" Toye ended the handshake. "You smoke?" He brought out his carton of cigarettes and asked, "You want a smoke, Nora?"
Luz cast him a smirk. "Winters will kill you if you get her smoking".
"Right, yeah…". Toye only brought out one cigarette. "Sorry, Nora".
Grabbing the back of a chair, Nora pulled it out and sat down at the table. She picked up the glass she had used and scooped herself another pint of beer. Joe was still chatting up the few women who had crowded him, so, Nora decided to have another drink. Toye introduced her to Sergeant Lipton, Guarnere and Johnny Martin. To start off, they spoke mostly about training and Captain Sobel. Each had their own story to tell about Sobel. But one thing was clear, they all equally hated their Captain…
"He's a damn fool". Toye grumbled.
Guarnere added, "The idiots 'gonna get us all killed out there!"
Lipton drew out a sigh and sent Nora a sad smile. "I'm sorry you're stuck with a Captain like Sobel, Nora. We're not exactly singing his praises and giving you much hope".
Nora assured the Sergeant, "Don't worry, Lipton. There is plenty of hope to go around still".
Guarnere looked around him and asked, "Where?"
Nora didn't down her second pint of beer; she took her time. After taking a small sip, she answered Guarnere's question. "America joined the war…it's the best thing that's happened to us since our occupation".
"I guess…". Luz then joked, "But knowing Sobel, he'll get us lost and we'll end up in fucking China or something".
Toye snorted. "I wouldn't put it past him to get us lost".
Guarnere sent Nora a wink and a smirk. "So, we're like your superheroes, huh?"
"Jesus, Bill…". Toye said with a sigh. "Don't be all high and mighty, huh? We ain't exactly rushing to their rescue on fucking horses".
"Nah, we got better". Luz said, "We've got planes".
Guarnere added, "And parachutes".
Luz faced Nora and smiled. "So, we're 'gonna rescue your people with parachutes".
"My people?" Nora questioned.
"Yeah…". Luz gave a shrug. "Cause you're Jewish, right?"
Eyebrow softly raising, Nora shook her head. "No". She said, "I'm not Jewish, George".
Luz faced Guarnere. "You told me she was Jewish, you asshole!"
Guarnere explained, "That's what I heard from Ranney…who heard it from Malarkey. Who heard it from Salty, who heard it from…".
"Jesus Christ…". Toye cut him off. "You're a bunch of gossiping old ladies. Keep your fat nose out of shit, Bill".
A tiny smile tugged on the corners of Nora's mouth. Eyes casting down toward her pint, she continued to smile small. They were funny. And easy to be around. Nora liked the Sergeants from Easy Company. Noticing her small smile, Lipton sent Nora a smile of his own. He then gave her side a gentle nudge and she looked up at him.
"How are you settling in, Nora?" Lipton asked.
"Fine, Lipton". She replied. "Lieutenant Winters is making sure of it".
Lipton smiled again and said, "Lieutenant Winters is a great man, Nora. We're lucky to have him".
"He is". Nora agreed. Smiling small, she took another sip of beer. Winters truly was one of a kind, Nora only had good things to say about their Lieutenant. Nora asked Lipton, "Where do you live, Lipton? Where is your home?"
"Huntington, West Virginia". Lipton replied. "My mom runs a decorating business there".
"She has her own business?" Nora smiled small. "That's very impressive, Lipton".
"Well, my dad was a part of the business too, but he unfortunately passed away when I was ten".
A tiny frown met Nora's face. "God, I'm so sorry".
Lipton told Nora with a small smile, "You know, they once decorated the Govern's mansion in Charleston. I'm proud to tell folks that one".
Nora smiled small and said, "Yeah, that's really brilliant".
Sharing her smile for a moment, Lipton eventually asked Nora, "Where'd you grow up, Nora?"
"Amsterdam". Nora answered with a ghost of a smile. "I'm proud of my city. Even in its defeat".
Lipton gave her side a gentle nudge again and reminded the girl, "I hear the city is fighting back. Now, that doesn't sound like defeat to me, Nora".
Nora spoke quietly, "Sometimes…it feels like we'll lose".
Lipton's eyebrows gently furrowed. And he watched Nora carefully, as she snorted out a faint laugh and cast him a tiny grin…
"I'm speaking badly…it must be the beer". Nora said, "Very sorry, Sergeant Lipton".
"It's okay, Nora". Lipton assured the girl with a kind smile. "You know, the good thing about hope is, it'll always come back when we lose it".
Nora gave a faint nod. Lipton was right, hope gave out many chances to those who had lost it. And she just hoped, Europe would be free again. Nora rubbed her lips together while her index finger ran soft circles along the top of her glass. She thought about Lipton losing his father, and how hard that must have been on the family. The grief alone was enough to deal with, but having to earn money and look after a family - it must have been tough. Nora asked, "Does it get easier?"
Lipton appeared mildly confused by Nora's question. "Does what get easier, Nora?"
Nora said, "Losing someone". And after, she took a drink of beer.
"Uh…". Lipton stalled for a moment. He was just a boy when his father died. "It was harder on my mom". He eventually told Nora. "My dad was a great man, and my mom struggled to cope with the loss of her first and only love".
Nora's eyes closed for a moment. She drew out a quiet sigh and said, "Your mother sounds like a very strong woman, Lipton. She carried on the business".
"She did". Lipton said softly with a faint smile. "And she is strong". He could only assume Nora had lost someone because she asked if it got easier. "Time heals all wounds, Nora". Lipton told her. "Even something as deep as grief".
To rid the sombre mood, they drank more alcohol. With bellies full of warm beer and meat pies, Nora and the men soon felt rather merry. Another bucket of beer was ordered but Johnny Martin got greedy and kept it mostly to himself. Nora had another few pints of beer and stumbled into a clearing where couples danced to the music blaring from a jukebox. Nora had never been a good dancer – in fact, she was a terrible dancer who had no rhythm. But she was also drunk, and Nora wanted to dance…
Meeting Nora in the clearing, Joe cast her a smile. "You had enough to drink? Johnny's out with Guarnere, puking his guts up".
Arms spreading out to the side, Nora spun around. "I can't dance, Joe".
Joe chuckled. "I know, you're terrible".
She stopped spinning and stared up at Joe. "Did you make friends, Joe?"
Joe gave a casual shrug. He said, "I'm cool with the Sergeant's. Lipton's a decent fella".
"Nora!" A familiar voice called.
Both Joe and Nora soon spotted Nixon standing near the entrance of the pub. Once eye contact was made between them, Nixon waved the girl over. Joe gave Nora a little push forward and she clumsily made her way toward the Lieutenant. Nixon snorted with amusement at the little drunk shuffles Nora made as she walked…
"Oh, boy…". Nixon said once Nora was standing in front of him. "How drunk are we tonight?"
Nora gave a faint shrug. "I am okay, Lieutenant Nixon".
"Listen, I'm here to take you home". Nixon said, "Dick sent me. I don't mind cutting my night early to make sure you get back safe, kid".
A tiny, drunken smile met Nora's lips. "Thanks, sir…thanks so much, sir".
"Yeah, yeah…". Nixon waved off her gratitude with a grin. "You got everything?"
Nora gave her jacket a pat down and nodded. "I do, sir".
"Then let's go, kid". Nixon opened the door and Nora stepped under his arm. Outside, Martin was still vomiting with Guarnere nearby, making sure his friend didn't fall over. Nixon brought out a cigarette and handed it to Guarnere. "For your troubles, huh?"
Guarnere snorted out a laugh. "Thanks, sir". He then gave Nora a nod. "See you around, Nora".
"So long, Bill". Nora said with a smile. "Tonight was fun…let's do it again".
"You've got it". Guarnere gave her a friendly wink. "Sleep tight".
"Goodnight". Nora then gave Martin a wave. "Goodnight, Johnny!" She didn't get a response from the Sergeant…
Nixon chuckled quietly and set his hand on Nora's shoulder, guiding her away from the pub and the sounds of Martin puking. "So, you had a good night?"
"Yes, sir". Nora said with a hiccup at the end. "The best, sir".
Nixon chuckled again. "Well, it sounds like you had a good night, kid". He said, "I'll bet you won't even feel that rough tomorrow. I remember hardly feeling hungover at seventeen…God, you're so lucky".
Nora agreed. "I am lucky, sir". She said, "I escaped…not a lot of people can escape, sir".
Nixon tried to act casual. "Oh, yeah? Where'd you escape from, kid?" He didn't want to sound too eager at Nora sharing something. It was very rare that she'd share anything about home…
Nora said, "There was a big bang, sir…an explosion…and it punctured a hole under the fence. I got out. And so did eight others, sir".
Nixon asked, "How come they fenced you in?"
"I'm not pure…". Nora explained. "I'm evil, sir".
Nixon huffed out a faint laugh. "Evil? Nah…you're harmless, kid. Who called you evil?"
Nora said with a tired sigh, "The Nazis, sir". Her eyes were starting to feel heavy, and Nora could feel sleep trying to pull her under.
"They're a strange bunch, aren't they?" Nixon commented, keeping his voice light and casual still. He said, "I'll bet if they looked really hard into a mirror, they'd know what true evil looks like".
Nora sighed again. Staring straight ahead, she could make out the cobbled road they were currently following. Behind the curtains on the windows of houses, Nora couldn't see any light or signs of life. Aldbourne was fast asleep. She rubbed her heavy eyes and let out a yawn…
"Tired?" Nixon asked with a tiny smirk. "Beer does that…it's why I stay clear of it. It makes me feel full and exhausted".
Nora smiled sleepily and gave a nod. "I will sleep well tonight, sir".
Nixon clapped her shoulder. "I'm sure you will, kid". He said, "Hopefully right through until the morning, huh?"
Nora let out a small groan and complained, "Lieutenant Winters told you?"
Nixon shrugged and let go of her shoulder. "He did but I already knew".
"You knew?" Nora questioned. "How did you know?"
"I saw you rummaging through the storage closet one night". Nixon cast her a smile. "Don't worry, alright? It'll pass". Nixon added, "I work in intelligence, kid. Nothing gets past me".
Nora sighed and said, "I used to think that…way back".
"Oh, when you were younger than me?" Nixon joked.
She said, "People carry secrets, sir. And then one day, they surprise you and act upon strong and evil impulses". Nora mumbled, "I thought I knew my neighbours, my family, and school friends. But it turned out, I didn't really know anybody…at all…".