traveled on business. Guess it’s a hard habit to break.” Andrew paused, groping for something to add, but he came up empty. He closed the hatch, leaving Hudson alone in the dark.
G RADY strolled into the wardroom carrying a handful of letters and a package.
“Mister Mitchell, Suh, you gots a letter and a box.”
“Anything for me?” Ensign Fisher asked.
“Yes, Suh. Five letters, and one don’t have no stamp.”
Fisher smiled as he took his letters. The one on top had only his name written on the envelope. He held the envelope under his nose.
“Yes, Suh. It smells real pretty. Like this girl I know’d back home.”
“Perhaps you’d like to read it to me as well,” Fisher said.
Grady flashed his white teeth. “If that’s what you want, Suh. I can read. I been educated.”
“That will do, Washington,” the captain said, snatching his two letters.
Mitchell stuffed his letter in his breast pocket and studied his battered, oblong package. He recognized the swirling handwriting, ripped the brown paper, and opened the box. It held a note, a Bible, and a book of poems by e.e. cummings. The note read:
Darling,
Here’s the poetry you asked for. I was lucky to find it in a used bookstore on Third Street, marked down to $0.75. I’ve included the Bible that Reverend Thorn gave me last Sunday. I know you don’t believe, but please read a little each day. You may find comfort in it, as I surely do.
I found a wedding dress in the catalog last week that I think you will like. It’s not too expensive but it is lovely. I want you to be proud of me. I know you can’t tell me where you are, but please give me some indication of when I will see you again.
Until then, all my love,
Your Kate
Mitchell heard paper tearing. He glanced up to see Fisher ripping a letter in half without opening it. The ensign checked the return address on another letter and ripped that one too. Mitchell watched while he ripped four letters in half, and finally opened the last one, the one without a stamp.
“Let me guess,” Mitchell said. “The ones you didn’t read are no doubt the last batch of ladies you left standing at the pier as we sailed from Pearl. But what about the one you opened? No stamp means it’s some charming little thing waiting for you here in Papeete. Someone connected with the Navy, because she was able to drop that letter in the mail pouch without sending it through the post.”
Fisher nodded, grinning.
“How do you do it?” Mitchell asked. “How do you get so many women to fall for you? No offense, but you’re no Clark Gable, and I’ve seen you in the head with your morning woody, which is not terribly impressive. So what is it?”
Fisher’s grin spread into a smile. “I love women—short or tall, fat or slim, brunette or blonde, slant-eyed or round, single or married—it makes no difference. I love every woman I meet because I have the ability to see past her skin and social situation to the jewel of her spirit. Of course it helps to come from a wealthy family that schooled me in country-club charm.”
Mitchell scoffed. “So who’s the little bird waiting in port?”
Fisher held the letter under his nose. “Admiral Gleason’s wife. Seems the admiral is out on maneuvers, so she’s asked me to tea. It must be lonely out here for an officer’s wife.”
Mitchell let out a low-pitched whistle.
“Nathan,” the captain said. “Pass that Bible over to our young Romeo here. He needs some examples on moral behavior. Let me remind you that your conduct ashore reflects on this ship. Dabbling in the admiral’s business will have serious consequences.”
Not wanting to get caught in a moral debate with Bitton, Mitchell excused himself and hurried to his cabin. He pulled the letter from his pocket, ripped open the envelope and unfolded the scented paper.
Dearest,
I’m going mad in this backwater town. People have noticed that I’m with child and everybody has turned vicious. Even
G RADY strolled into the wardroom carrying a handful of letters and a package.
“Mister Mitchell, Suh, you gots a letter and a box.”
“Anything for me?” Ensign Fisher asked.
“Yes, Suh. Five letters, and one don’t have no stamp.”
Fisher smiled as he took his letters. The one on top had only his name written on the envelope. He held the envelope under his nose.
“Yes, Suh. It smells real pretty. Like this girl I know’d back home.”
“Perhaps you’d like to read it to me as well,” Fisher said.
Grady flashed his white teeth. “If that’s what you want, Suh. I can read. I been educated.”
“That will do, Washington,” the captain said, snatching his two letters.
Mitchell stuffed his letter in his breast pocket and studied his battered, oblong package. He recognized the swirling handwriting, ripped the brown paper, and opened the box. It held a note, a Bible, and a book of poems by e.e. cummings. The note read:
Darling,
Here’s the poetry you asked for. I was lucky to find it in a used bookstore on Third Street, marked down to $0.75. I’ve included the Bible that Reverend Thorn gave me last Sunday. I know you don’t believe, but please read a little each day. You may find comfort in it, as I surely do.
I found a wedding dress in the catalog last week that I think you will like. It’s not too expensive but it is lovely. I want you to be proud of me. I know you can’t tell me where you are, but please give me some indication of when I will see you again.
Until then, all my love,
Your Kate
Mitchell heard paper tearing. He glanced up to see Fisher ripping a letter in half without opening it. The ensign checked the return address on another letter and ripped that one too. Mitchell watched while he ripped four letters in half, and finally opened the last one, the one without a stamp.
“Let me guess,” Mitchell said. “The ones you didn’t read are no doubt the last batch of ladies you left standing at the pier as we sailed from Pearl. But what about the one you opened? No stamp means it’s some charming little thing waiting for you here in Papeete. Someone connected with the Navy, because she was able to drop that letter in the mail pouch without sending it through the post.”
Fisher nodded, grinning.
“How do you do it?” Mitchell asked. “How do you get so many women to fall for you? No offense, but you’re no Clark Gable, and I’ve seen you in the head with your morning woody, which is not terribly impressive. So what is it?”
Fisher’s grin spread into a smile. “I love women—short or tall, fat or slim, brunette or blonde, slant-eyed or round, single or married—it makes no difference. I love every woman I meet because I have the ability to see past her skin and social situation to the jewel of her spirit. Of course it helps to come from a wealthy family that schooled me in country-club charm.”
Mitchell scoffed. “So who’s the little bird waiting in port?”
Fisher held the letter under his nose. “Admiral Gleason’s wife. Seems the admiral is out on maneuvers, so she’s asked me to tea. It must be lonely out here for an officer’s wife.”
Mitchell let out a low-pitched whistle.
“Nathan,” the captain said. “Pass that Bible over to our young Romeo here. He needs some examples on moral behavior. Let me remind you that your conduct ashore reflects on this ship. Dabbling in the admiral’s business will have serious consequences.”
Not wanting to get caught in a moral debate with Bitton, Mitchell excused himself and hurried to his cabin. He pulled the letter from his pocket, ripped open the envelope and unfolded the scented paper.
Dearest,
I’m going mad in this backwater town. People have noticed that I’m with child and everybody has turned vicious. Even
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