From Here to Eternity (95 page)

to the Purple Heart ribbon. "Oh, I didnt do anything," he said hastily, "except get blown up by a bomb concussion that I couldnt have avoided anyway. But I took it anyway," he added. "I suppose I shouldnt have." He looked at her boyishly searchingly. "I dont see why not," Karen said. "Well, there were so many guys who should have got one but didnt," he said. "Your refusing yours wouldnt have helped them." "Thats true," he said, relievedly. "Thats what I told myself." He leaned his elbows on the rail and crossed his ankles. "And so you're from Baltimore," he said pleasedly. "I cant get over it. Its sure a small world." "It certainly is," Karen smiled, "and getting smaller." Now it will come, she thought, now he will ask me if he can drop out and see me sometime when he gets lonesome in Washington. But he didnt. "What table are you at, at dinner?" he said, instead. "Table Eleven," Karen said. "What one are you?" "Table Eleven," the young Lt/Col grinned, "Isnt that coincidence for you?" He took his elbows off the railing. "Well, see you at dinner, hey? I have things to do." "All right," Karen smiled. "I ought to do some unpacking myself." She watched him walk off. But after he had gone a few steps, he turned and came back. "I'm not really at Table Eleven," he said. "I'm at Table Nine. I lied to you. But Pm going to be at Table Eleven by dinner time. Thats one of the things I have to do." "You mustnt wear yourself out," Karen smiled, "doing it." "No." He grinned engagingly. "You wont mind?" "Why should I mind?" Karen smiled. "I appreciate your telling me, though." "Well," he said, "I thought I ought to." He looked at her, carefully but politely, and then he smiled. "Well, see you at dinner then." "We'll be there," Karen smiled, and looked over to see how Junior was making out at the shuffleboards. They were still playing the game, and there were five of them now. The young Air Corps Lt/Col looked over at them, too, and then nodded at her and grinned, and Karen turned back to the rail. They had passed Diamond Head quite a while ago. They were almost past Koko Head now. To the east of the big hump that always made her think of a whale's head she could see the drop and depression that was the parking lot at the top of the cliff above Hanauma Bay. From this far out, if you did not already know it was there you couldnt have seen it. Behind her, the five boys had swelled to seven and had given up being shuffleboards and taken to shooting at each other with cocked thumbs and explosive "Bohww!"s from behind corners and stanchions. She took the six flower leis off over her head and dropped them over the side. This was as good a place to drop them over as any. Diamond Head, Koko Head, Makapuu Head. Perhaps Koko Head was the best place, really. The six leis fell together and the wind blew them back against the side of the ship and out of sight and she did not see them light on the water. "Mother," her son said from behind her. "I'm hungry. When do we eat on this old boat?" "Pretty soon now," she said. "Mother, do you think the war will last long enough so I can graduate from the Point and be in it? Jerry Wilcox said it wouldnt." "No," she said, "I dont think it'll last that long." "Well, gee whiz, mother," her son said, "I want to be in it." "Well, cheer up," Karen said, "and dont let it worry you. You may miss this one, but you'll be just the right age for the next one." "You really think so, mother?" her son said anxiously.

THE RE-ENLISTMENT BLUES Got paid out on Monday Not a dog soljer no more They gimme all that money So much my pockets is sore More dough than I can use. Re-enlistment Blues. Took my ghelt to town on Tuesday Got a room and a big double bed Find a job tomorrow Tonight you may be dead Aint no time to lose. Re-enlistment Blues. Hit the bars on Wednesday My friends put me up on a throne Found a hapa-Chinee baby Swore she never would leave me alone Did I give her a bruise? Re-enlistment Blues Woke up sick on Thursday Feelin like my head took a dare Looked down at my trousers All my pockets was bare That gal had blown my fuse. Re-enlistment Blues. Went back around on Friday Asked for a free glass of beer My friends had disappeared Barman say, "Take off, you queer!" What I done then aint news. Re-enlistment Blues. That jail was cold all Sa'day Standin' up on a bench lookin down Through them bars I watched the people All happy and out on the town Looked like time for me to choose, them Re-enlistment Blues. Slep in the park that Sunday Seen all the folks goin to church Your belly feels so empty When you're left in the lurch Dog soljers dont own pews. Re-enlistment Blues. So I re-upped on Monday A little sad and sick at my heart All my fine plans was with my money In the poke of a scheming tart Guy always seems to lose. Re-enlistment Blues. So you short-timers, let me tell you Dont get yourself throwed in the can You might as well be dead Or a Thirty-Year-Man Recruitin crews give me the blues, Old Re-enlistment Blues.