...
Kneeling in the damp sand, Nora washed Everett's blood off her hands. The sea was cold, and the saltwater stung small cuts on her hands. When the Battalion of Germans were cleared, the firing stopped, and the men were told to rest. The sun was beginning to rise, Nora hadn't slept a wink that night. Even when the fighting ended, she didn't want to sleep – Nora wanted to wash the blood off her hands. However, she had been kneeling in damp sand for almost an hour, her hands were no longer covered in Everett's blood. Nora's legs felt numb, pins and needles began to irritate her feet, but she didn't move…
Footsteps approached Nora but she didn't turn around to see who it was. But Nora soon found out, when Hoober sat beside her. Hoobler shifted on the wet sand, trying to find a comfortable spot. Eventually, he gave up. Lighting a cigarette, Hoobler watched the small waves gently crash against the sand…
"He was right there…". Nora whispered. "I couldn't see him…but he was there".
"The German?" Hoobler asked.
"Yeah".
Putting the cigarette between his lips, Hoobler gently took Nora's wrists and brought her hands out of the water. "If you couldn't see him, you can't shoot him". He said. Placing Nora's hands onto her lap, Hoobler reached into her pack and brought out a towel. "You'd just be shooting nothing, Nora". He wrapped the towel around Nora's wet and frozen hands.
"So…what do I do, Hoobs?" Nora quietly asked.
"You forget about it, pal". Hoobler replied. "It doesn't matter anymore, it's behind us. We've 'gotta keep moving forward now, no matter what".
Nora stared down at her lap, her eyes focused on the towel wrapped around her hands. She couldn't feel her hands, they had grown numb due to them being submerged in cold water for almost an hour. Nora raised her eyes and stared up at Hoobler. "Thanks".
"Anytime". Hoobler said with a small smile. He told her, "Dad's looking for you. He's pretty worried".
"Suppose I should get up". Nora said, "I don't want to worry Lieutenant Winters".
"You slept?"
Nora shook her head and asked, "Have you?"
Hoobler snorted. "Nope. I was on watch when the fighting started". Hoobler stood up and reached down for Nora's hand. "Come on, let's get you back".
Hands leaving the towel, Nora grabbed a hold of Hoobler's waiting hand and was soon standing. She stumbled a little, as her legs and feet felt numb with pins and needles….
"You okay?" Hoobler asked with a slight frown, as his other hand supported Nora's back. But she assured him with a nod and Hoobler's hand left her back. "Let's go".
Letting go of Hoobler's hand, Nora dusted the wet sand off her trousers and followed him up the grassy verge and to the row of houses. The fire that once lit up the darkness in the field, was put out once most of the animal corpses had been burnt to the bone. Shrugging her pack off, Nora rolled up her towel and placed it inside before putting the pack over her shoulders again…
Suddenly, something hit the side of Nora's arm. While rubbing her arm, she heard a familiar chuckle. Nora faced Hoobler, spying a football/soccer ball, rolling toward him. "Where did you find that?" She asked.
Hoobler shrugged. "In someone's garden".
"You shouldn't steal, Hoobs".
"Shut up". Hoobler smirked and kicked the ball toward Nora, who stopped it with her foot. "Kick it back then".
"I'm actually kind of tired…". Nora regrettably told him.
"Kick it back". Hoobler insisted.
She sighed. "Fine". Nora kicked the football to Hoobler, who stopped it.
"Come take it off me". Hoobler said.
"No". She declined. "I don't want to play football, Hoobs".
"You'll never learn if you just stand there and watch…". Hoobler reminded her with a smile.
Nora watched Hoobler move the ball back and forth using the end of his right foot. She was beginning to wonder if he actually wanted to play, or if he just wanted to make Nora feel better. Whatever the reason, Nora was dead set on not playing. However, after watching Hoobler for a few moments, she caved in. Rushing toward her friend and prepared to tackle, Nora had every confidence she'd easily take the ball off Hoobler. Very sharply, Hoobler moved to the left and had Nora kicking air instead of the football…
"Too slow!" Hoobler teased.
"Come on…". Nora began to complain.
"You'll never learn if I go easy on you, pal". Hoobler grinned.
Because of Hoobler's shit-eating grin, a smile reached Nora's face, and a laugh burst out between her lips. "Asshole". She pointed at him. "You…you're an asshole, my friend".
"Ha!" Hoobler barked, "You said a bad word!"
Hands on her hips, Nora smiled down at the ground. It was nice, to forget about it all even if it was only for a short while. Drawing out a sigh, she raised her head and looked at Hoobler. Nora said, "Hope is everything".
"Yeah". Hoobler picked up the football and faced the edge of the grassy verge. "I'll bet I can kick this into the sea".
Nora faced the shoreline. "You probably can". She said, "I'm not betting you".
Hoobler chuckled quietly. "You're so smart, pal". Setting the ball onto the grass, Hoobler pulled back his leg and kicked the ball hard. It soared over the verge, across the sand and into the sea, where it was carried away by gentle waves. "I'll bet we'll see that back in England".
Nora hummed out a faint laugh. She continued to stare out to sea, watching the ball bob against the water. Then, she began to wonder if she'd ever see England again...
…
Later on in the afternoon, more familiar Easy Company faces turned up. Friends greeted each other with handshakes and swapped their D-Day stories. Winters greeted Talbert, who arrived with Smokey, Bill Keihn, Albert Blithe, and Shifty Powers. Soon remembering her promise to Popeye, Nora pushed through the crowds of men to locate Shifty. But the man had vanished into thin air it seemed, because she had lost sight of him. Walking toward Sergeant Taylor from third Platoon, Nora tapped him on the back…
"Sergeant Taylor?" She asked.
Taylor turned and stared down at the girl with a small smile. "Nora…good to see you. How can I help?"
"I'm looking for Shifty, Sergeant". Nora replied. "I promised Popeye I'd speak with him…".
"You spoke to Wynn?" Taylor eagerly asked.
"Yes, Sergeant". Nora said, "He's going to be fine".
"Oh…". Taylor drew out a sigh of relief and smiled. "That's good news, Nora. As for Shifty, I saw him heading into that cottage over there".
"Thank you, Sergeant".
Nora followed Taylor's gesture toward a badly beaten-up white cottage, near the church. Stepping into a tiny front garden, with overgrown grass and wildflowers, she walked under an open archway where a front door once was and entered the house. To her left, there was a small room with a mouldy couch pressed up against a wall with peeling wallpaper. Shifty sat on that couch, head in his head and helmet on the floor. A frown met Nora's face at the sight of the young man, who was clearly upset. Taking off her helmet, she tucked it under her arm and quietly crossed the room toward Shifty. Her boots squeaked against the uneven floor and soon, Shifty sharply raised his head, startled by the sound. Probably thinking Nora was the enemy at first, his shoulders sagged at the sight of the girl. But his eyes were red, wet, and Shifty quickly bowed his head again and began scrubbing the tears off his face…
"Nora". Shifty greeted quietly.
"Hey, Shifty". Nora greeted back softly. Without saying another word, she sat down next to him on the mouldy couch. Nora gave the air a sniff. It didn't smell nice inside the room. It smelt very damp, and it stunk of rotten food. Nora didn't ask why Shifty was crying. They were in combat, there was a lot to cry about. She asked, "Do you want me to find you a tissue?"
Shifty sniffed and let out a wet chuckle. "Oh, that's mighty kind of you, really…but I'll be alright, Nora".
Nora said, "Popeye wanted me to tell you…".
"You spoke to Popeye?" Shifty cut her off, head promptly snapping up to look at her. "Is he okay?"
"Yeah". Nora replied. "I mean…he got shot in the ass but…yeah, he'll be fine".
Shifty exhaled, a long breath of relief. A tiny smile met his lips, while a few tears rolled down his cheeks after pooling in his eyes. "Thank you, Nora". Shifty's voice still sounded brittle, but he was smiling and looked less upset than before. "For telling me…thank you".
"He said…". Nora continued to inform Shifty. "That he'd see you back in England".
Shifty wetly sniffed and ran his sleeve under his dripping nose. "Oh, that sure is great. That's mighty fine news, Nora". He said, "I owe you".
"No, you don't". Nora told him with a shake of her head. She tried to joke, "Just don't get shot in the ass…".
Shifty choked out a small laugh, smiling at Nora. He said, "Do you know how me and Popeye met, Nora?"
She nodded. "Vocation school in Virgina".
"That's right". Shifty said, "You know, he's…well, he's an odd one, that's for sure". He smiled again. "But he's my best friend, that's for certain".
Nora thought about Hoobler and how close they had grown over the months. "Yeah. You can't always pick your best friend…you're just drawn to each other, like magnets".
Shifty said, "Guess that's what falling in love is like too".
Nora sighed, "Oh, bother…". She mumbled. "I'm never good at these types of talks, Shifty".
He chuckled and apologised, "My apologies, Nora".
A tiny smile met Nora's lips at the sound of Shifty laughing. She turned to face the young man from Virginia and began to imagine what it was like growing up in the mountains. Nora began to imagine Shifty as a young boy, hiking through the forest and hunting for food. She could imagine him fishing by a lake with his friends and going back home to a warm hearth and a mother who had cooked up something tasty for supper. Nora decided to ask Shifty, "What did your mama make for dinner?"
Shifty smiled at the question. "Boy, she'd cook up a real good squirrel stew".
"Squirrel?"
"Yup". Shifty gave a nod. He said, "Easy game, plenty of them going around". He admitted, "We was never rich in the way of money…but we sure lucked out with family".
Nora sniffed the air and noted, "It doesn't smell nice in here".
"No, it does not". Shifty agreed with a smile. He said, "I suppose we should go, huh?"
"Shifty…". Nora was facing him again. "I know all of this is…strange…combat and seeing people get hurt all the time". She said, "But you're allowed to find a…". Nora's eyes danced across the room before saying, "A mouldy little cottage to think and…". She shrugged. "Just not be a soldier for a moment". Nora added, "But if you don't want to be inside a cottage alone, you can always ask me…I'll come…or maybe Kiehn, McClung, Popeye…they'll come too".
Shifty smiled softly at Nora. "I'll remember that…thank you, Nora".
Leaving the cottage, Shifty made his way back to Sergeant Taylor and third Platoon. Nora watched him go, making sure he was okay. And once satisfied that Shifty's mood seemed a lot brighter than before, Nora turned and walked away. She wasn't sure what their next move was, but a few higher-ranking Officers seemed flustered and bothered about something. Nora saw Winters standing with Strayer and Nixon, and she decided to join them…
"We're leaving for Carentan". Strayer was telling the two men. "An attack started a few days ago but the Germans blew up all the bridges. We'll go along Nationale 13 toward the town, then swing right across the fields to Nationale 83, which enters Carentan to the west. Our objective is an intersection leading out of town". He said, "We take it, and we can cut off the German retreat. They'll be forced through this swampy, flooded area or they'll be trapped. We'll know more once we get closer to town. For now, we've got a long night ahead of us. Division wants us attacking first thing tomorrow".
"Yes, sir".
With a quick salute, Strayer left to inform the rest of his Companies. Nora took his spot in the small circle and stared up at Winters and Nixon…
"Long night indeed". Said Nixon.
"The men are 'gonna be exhausted". Winters said, "We'll be slowed down by the flooded fields".
"Intelligence suggests we're up against von der Heydte's Paratroopers again". Nixon informed Winters while he lit himself a cigarette. "Which I know for a fact is true because General Taylor asked for Heydte's surrender".
Winters snorted and asked, "How did that go?"
Nixon smirked. "As well as you'd expect…would you give up the town so easily?"
Nora asked, "Why is Carentan important, sir?"
"It's a transportation hub, kid". Nixon replied. "If we take this town, it'll clear the way for a linkup between our troops at Utah and Omaha".
"So, it'll be well fortified?" She asked.
"Yeah, probably". Nixon said, "But we're not sure on a number". He added, "However, they've been pretty quiet and haven't given away their position in the town".
Nora mumbled, "Looks like they don't have a bunch of French people starting fires…".
Nixon and Winters shared an amused smile with each other at Nora's comment. However, their smiles faltered, when remembering that fire cost them a man's life, Everett Gray. Winters's eyes frowned when staring down at Nora…
"Nix, can you give us a minute?"
"Yeah, I was leaving anyway". Nixon said, "I 'gotta speak with Strayer…see you around".
When Nixon left, Winters took a step closer to Nora and asked, "Where were you this morning, Nora? I was worried".
"Uh…at the beach, sir". Nora replied quietly. She sighed and briefly met the Lieutenant's eyes before staring back down at the ground. "I was just doing some thinking and stuff, sir".
"Feel better for it?" He asked gently.
Nora gave a nod. "Hoobs found me". She said, "And then he found a ball…".
Winters raised an eyebrow. "A ball? Whatever for?"
Nora looked back up at Winters, a tiny smile forming on her lips. "He wanted to have some fun, sir".
Winters soon came to realise why Hoobler found that ball, and he told Nora softly, "I suspect to cheer you up".
"It worked". Nora admitted softly.