...
Anything could be enjoyable, provided the company was good and the alcohol was plenty. The nightlife in London felt underground, bohemian and fast-paced. The young adults were tired of war, they wanted to drink, dance, and have a good time. Tucked somewhere in the West End, was a sweaty club, with loud music and generous customers. Drugs were waved back and forth freely between customers. Cannabis, mostly. The men wouldn't admit to smoking a reefer or two while out in London, but it was clear they were high on life. Guarnere was adamant he didn't touch the stuff, he only stuck to whiskey and beer that night. Sergeant 'Chuck' Grant was with them too, he was much too busy with young women to care about cannabis. However, Hoobler and Nora were not about to turn down the opportunity to enhance their night. On the sweaty dancefloor, Nora's head bobbed, her legs moved from side to side, and she danced like nobody was watching. Hoobler was dancing somewhere behind her, moving just as badly as Nora. It was clear they didn't have much rhythm…
Nora had overheard the club had been raided by the police a lot, due to 'criminal' activity. She assumed it was mostly raided on account of the cannabis. And the cocaine. And possibly the very 'lewd' activity between patrons. Despite being wasted, Hoobler did his best to shield Nora from all the sexual activity going on in the club. Hoobler stuck by Nora like glue and didn't let her out of his sight. They danced together and drank together. It was so freeing, dancing with a friend, acting as if the world wasn't so broken and messed up. Inside that sweaty club, the only thing that mattered was having a good time. Working women charged up to one pound for a promised night of fun activities. The women usually stood in doorways, flashing penlights toward hopeful customers, however, this particular club allowed them to come inside and work. Everyone was welcome in the club. Everyone. The best bohemian club in the West End of London.
Just one hour before the club closed its doors for the night, a shrill whistle sounded, and a voice yelled that the police were there. The band stopped playing, drinks were thrown to the side as people began scrambling for the back exit to avoid police arrest. It's not how Nora saw the night going. Eyes as wide as plates, she grabbed hold of Hoobler's hand as they backed away from the dancefloor, bumping into Guarnere and Grant. With batons in the air, the police stormed into the sweaty club and Nora witnessed one Officer hit a couple with his baton, forcing them apart. It was brutal. And it reminded Nora of the Gestapo…
"Let's go! Come on!" Guarnere urged his friends, "To the back! Hoob's, don't let go of Nora!"
Another innocent man was hit by a baton and Nora tried to free herself from Hoobler's hand, she wanted to stop it from escalating. The last time Nora watched brutality unfold, people died. Nora didn't want to make the same mistake again. However, Hoobler's grip was strong, he wasn't about to let Nora go. A helpless look reached Nora's face, as she watched several men being beaten and dragged out of the club, where they'd get arrested. Heading for the bathrooms, Grant picked Nora up and forced her out of the window. Outside, she fell onto the wet ground…
"You good?" Guarnere asked, helping her up.
"Fine". Nora quietly replied.
"Jesus!" Hoobler exclaimed after falling out of the window. "That was fucking close".
"Too close". Grant agreed once he was safely outside with his friends.
"Let's grab some food and head back to the hotel". Guarnere said, "We've 'gotta catch the early bus".
Nora asked, "What will happen to those men? They will be put in prison?"
"Probably". Guarnere shrugged, "They broke the law".
Nora huffed, "Right".
"What?" Hoobler asked, "You don't like it?"
"They were beating them". Nora stressed, "Did you not see?"
Nora was met by silence and blank stares. They didn't care or maybe they just didn't get it.
She said, "Fine. It doesn't matter".
"Shit's different here, kid". Guarnere shrugged, "Just 'gotta move forward…and find some food". His hand gestured along the dark street…
"You move, we'll follow". Hoobler words sounded slightly slurred.
Moving out from an enclosed alleyway, the Paratroopers made it onto the main street, where they followed the smell of hot chips. Walking down concrete steps, they opened the doors into what looked like a cellar, but it was actually a chip shop. Tucked safely underground and away from any incoming raids, the chip shop operated smoothly because everybody needed a bag of chips at some point during the night. The chip shop was run by a family and the two daughters did the nightshift. It didn't cost a lot of money for a bag of chips, but they charged a little extra for salt, vinegar and brown sauce…
"I lost the skirts during the damn raid". Guarnere complained to Grant. "Maybe we'll find a couple on the way to the hotel".
"Probably, yeah". Grant said, "I've saved one pound, just in case".
Guarnere chuckled, "If 'ya don't pay 'em, they slap 'ya. I found out the hard way".
"The ones from Picadilly all have the clap". One of the daughters said, "I'd avoid that spot like the plague".
"Thanks for the heads up". Guarnere said with a wink and then asked, "What're you doing after this shift, huh?"
The woman snorted, "Going back to my kids".
Guarnere raised his hands, "Sorry".
When Hoobler started to feel sick, Nora led him outside. They sat on the empty and dark street, where they could still smell the stench of deep-fried food and grease. However, Hoobler felt a cool breeze and it made him feel slightly less ill. As he was about to light up a cigarette, Nora took hold of his wrist and lowered the cigarette away from his mouth…
"That won't do you good right now, Hoobs". She warned him.
"Fair enough". Hoobler put his cigarettes away. He asked, "Did you have a good night?"
A smile met Nora's face, "Dancing was fun…we're so bad at it".
Hoobler snorted, "You're bad at it…I'm good".
"No…". Nora disagreed. "You're terrible. Just like me".
With a smile, Hoobler chuckled quietly and wrapped his arm around Nora's shoulders. She leaned into his side, head falling by his chest…
"Hoob?"
"Yeah?"
Nora asked, "What's 'the clap'?"
Hoobler sighed and answered, "A sexually transmitted disease…also known as Gonorrhoea".
She pulled a face, "Why is Bill named after that?"
"I have no idea…". Hoobler said, "I never asked".
"Very strange…".
"Yeah…".
The night ended in a comfy hotel bed with a belly full of hot chips. Nora had been sceptical about going out at first, but she was glad Hoobler pushed her to go out for the evening, it was a lot of fun. However, despite the comfy hotel bed, Nora missed her bed at the Barnes's…
…
They got lucky with the replacements, according to Winters, the replacements were well-trained and eager for combat. But there was still a large chunk of them who were finding it hard to fit in with the Easy veterans – it wasn't their fault, some of the veterans didn't want to get to know them. Nora didn't mind the replacements at all, she knew how they felt. After all, Nora and Joe Lesniewski were the first replacements to ever join Easy Company…
"Morning, Janovec, Web…". Nora greeted the two members from 1st Platoon, before ducking inside the stable block. It was very early; they had ten minutes before PT started. Nora liked physical training; it kept her mind busy. Things at the Barnes's weren't going well, Mr Barnes was very poorly – it was his heart, and the doctors didn't think Mr Barnes had much longer…
"Ah, Clopper". Lieutenant Peacock greeted Nora when she entered the stable block. "I was just on my way to inform Winters of an incident that occurred this morning".
"What happened?" Nora asked with a small frown.
"Sergeants, London Road". Peacock said, with a stern expression. "Honestly, I don't know why they go against orders…simple orders, mind you…".
Nora inwardly groaned. "What did they do, sir?"
"They had a very productive night, we'll leave it at that".
She asked, "It has something to do with women, sir?"
Peacock's cheeks blushed. He cleared his throat, awkwardly. "Yes. Something along those lines, Clopper. Safe to say, Captain Winters won't be impressed". With a sniff, Peacock turned his back to Nora and left the stable block.
Nora drew out a sigh. The Sergeant's involved weren't going to get off lightly. Winters took his job very seriously. He was fair but still firm when it came to most orders. Especially if it involved alcohol and women. Nora only had to ask Buck what was happening with the Sergeants for her to be fully filled in…
"The house was a mess, Nora". Buck sighed, "Bottles everywhere…and when I got in, I saw two girls in the living room".
"Oh…". Nora sighed. She asked, "Did they leave?"
"Yeah, eventually". Buck said, "Bill stuck them in the attic but one of the girls' legs went through the ceiling…right above Peacock…".
Nora snorted out a tiny laugh, which she tried to stifle. "That's terrible". She said, failing to keep the amused grin off her face.
Buck broke eye contact with Nora for a moment, to stop the smile spreading across his face. He nodded and agreed, "Yeah…it's terrible".
Taking a moment to compose herself, Nora faced Buck again. "Well, Peacock is telling Captain Winters now".
Buck cringed, "How'd you think he'll take the news?"
"Oh, he'll punish them". Nora said, confidently. "Don't tell anyone…". Her voice lowered.
Buck frowned, "Scouts honour". He promised.
Nora sighed and admitted, "Mr Barnes isn't well…it's sad…Captain Winters is probably feeling a bit stressed with it all, Buck". She added, "Also, Captain Winters has terrible toothache".
"He should see the dentist".
"He did". Nora said, "He saw Shifty the dentist…".
Buck's eyes widened slightly, "Oh, God…why the hell did he see that idiot?"
"Well, Captain Winters regrets it now". Nora said, "But he had to make a quick appointment. It was just after that cancelled jump into France". She added, "Well, Captain Samual 'Shifty' Feiler just drilled holes in Captain Winters's teeth and slapped a filling in them".
Buck sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. He said, "He's a terrible dentist".
"So…the problem is, our teeth are hurting due to lack of vitamin C". Nora said, "We need oranges".
"Well…if you find 'em, feel free to hand them around".
It was shortly after their nine-mile run led by Welsh, when Winters emerged from the Barnes's to find Sergeant Guarnere. When the Company dispersed, Hoobler and Nora hid around the large barn to listen in…
"Goddammit Bill, how could you do that?!" Winters demanded, his face reddening. "How could you deliberately go against my direct order and bring those chippies here? What in the hell were you thinking?!"
"No excuse, sir". Guarnere said, rigidly at attention.
"You've abused your rank and the privilege that comes with it and as of right now, Bill, you're a Private. I'm busting you…".
Both Nora and Hoobler felt their jaws hit the ground in shock…
Winters continued, "And furthermore, since you're so good at giving close order drills, you are to report to Company HQ and give close order drill as loud and clear as you can to an imaginary Company until I tell you to stop".
"Sir, yes, sir!"
Without saying another word, Winters turned around and stormed away. Nora drew out a long sigh and faced Hoobler, about to express her sympathy toward Guarnere, however, she found her friend was grinning…
"Yikes". Hoobler chuckled. "That's embarrassing". He asked, "What's going on with dad these days? He's getting more serious, don't you think?"
Nora shrugged. "Maybe…I mean, he is Captain now".
"Feel different now, huh?"
Nora faced him, "What do you mean?"
Hoobler said, "Shits more serious after France…we know what's out there. I mean, I look forward to shooting Krauts again. I keep score, you know? I've got it all written down. I'm hoping to beat my record from France".
Nora stared at him in silence for a moment. "You're mental". She said eventually. "But yeah, it is different now, Hoobs". Nora gestured around her, "It can't be like this forever. We have to go back, we just don't know when that will be".
It was a very tense and embarrassing morning for Guarnere and eventually, he confessed to Captain Winters that he couldn't stand the punishment, he found it very hard to give out orders to no one. Winters had time to cool down, he wasn't as angry as before and he decided Guarnere was a much-needed NCO in Easy Company…
"But I'm cutting your pay for the next three months". Winters told the Sergeant. "Don't make the same mistake twice, son".
"Thank you, sir". Guarnere said, "I won't, sir".
At the end of another long training day, Nora headed back to the Barnes's for supper and bed. But she hesitated at the front door, because it was hard being around Mr Barnes, he was slowly deteriorating, and Nora hated herself for finding it difficult to watch. Behind her, footsteps began to approach. Winters sighed, while standing behind Nora and he placed his hand on her shoulder…
"Come on, Nora…supper will be getting cold".
Nora quietly asked, "Is he going to die?"
There was a small spell of silence, where they could only hear the chirping of birds and the sound of milk bottles being left outside of someone's doorstep…
"Not yet". Winters replied.
Nora turned around and stared up at Winters. "How's your tooth, sir?"
He huffed, "Hurts. Worse than the bullet, believe it or not".
"Oh, I believe you, sir". Nora said, "Toothache is the worst pain. Will you see another dentist?"
"I'm going tomorrow". Winters said, "It'll be another restless night for me".
Nora suggested, "We could always play cards?"
"You're not staying up with me again, Nora. You need your sleep".
"I can live off a few hours, sir". Nora insisted. "You shouldn't suffer alone, sir".
Winters smiled fondly at the girl. "You're a good kid, Nora. You've got a kind heart. Very Christian of you, even if you're not a Christian".
Huffing out a small laugh, Nora opened the door and entered the Barnes's home.