trainees was a Hollywood stunt pilot,” Calli informed.
“Who?” Marina asked.
“Jenna Law, that curly topped beauty who was in the rec hall,” said Calli. “Word’s that she’s the hottest wings here.”
Joy Lynn added, “But of course they haven’t seen me up yet.”
“You can have Hollywood. A career in the Army is what I want, getting to fly the newest, hottest planes. And can you imagine being an officer?” Louise dreamed aloud.
“A captain,” Marina chimed in.
“A major,” said Louise.
“Generals run in my family.” Joy Lynn stood at attention and saluted.
The trainees got acquainted as they unpacked and dressed for their checkrides. Liddy fastened the strap of her new aviator watch onto her wrist and slipped Jack’s into her pocket.
Joy Lynn grabbed her hand and whistled. “Now that’s a beauty.”
“Thanks,” said Liddy and she tucked it under the cuff of her sleeve.
Liddy, Louise and Joy Lynn had the height to fill out most of the length of their suits, but the other three women had to cinch and roll to try and achieve some kind of fit.
Bet looked herself up and down. “My mother would be so proud,” she said. And then she jerked and jived around the room. She bounced up and down, twisting her toes in a little pivot on the floor, taking little steps in between. Her shoulders shook like a geyser was about to escape from the top of her head, which sent her red curls shooting up and down like they were trying to lift off as she twirled herself about. Then she’d do it all over again, exactly the same way. “Think the zoot-suited Harlem crowd would be impressed?”
“I think the zoot-suited crowd would think you were having convulsions,” said Marina. “What are you doing?”
“The Lindy Hop, it’s a Jitter Bug,” answered Bet.
“Yeah, I know the Lindy Hop, and that’s no Lindy Hop,” Marina took the floor and tried to show Bet the steps. But Bet was insistent that she had it right. Soon she had all of the baymates on their feet doing the funny little Bet dance until they heard the call outside the barracks to line up. Marina was the last one in the room and she took one last look in the mirror and straightened her pearls.
The class marched to the mess hall and dug in to some of the finest home cooking in Texas. Rationing wasn’t part of Army life apparently. At the table, Liddy watched Bet pick at her food and leaned to her and asked, “You feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I don’t eat much before I fly. When I go up, so does the food, if you know what I mean.”
Liddy smiled. “You’re gonna be skipping a lot of meals, little Betsy.”
“I’ll make up for it.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Chapter Nine
Military life wasn’t something most little girls had laid in bed dreaming about during the first half of the twentieth century. It was as far from their thinking as building a barn or fighting a duel. Their brother’s playtime was charging the hill, and taking the enemy. Girls, on the other hand, had their dolls, dress-up and notions of being mommies and wives. But when flying got hold of a woman, her world opened up long before the lot of her generation. It opened up in a way that let all kinds of possibilities line up on the doorstep of her mind.
Liddy’s world had always been open, so she was not hemmed in by convention. Still, the restraints and rigors of the Army way were not familiar to the free wander of her spirit. Down the line, looking military was a stretch for the new class. They gave it their all though. Assembled in ranks before the base command, their backs were straight and their knees were tight; they were to be military pilots.
Liddy’s pulse raced when she saw that Major Reid Trent was among the officers. He wasn’t the same man she remembered from the train, but still her mind raced with her pulse. What did this mean? Even if he had walked away from her because of his position at Avenger, the way he walked away still burned her. Or was it
“Who?” Marina asked.
“Jenna Law, that curly topped beauty who was in the rec hall,” said Calli. “Word’s that she’s the hottest wings here.”
Joy Lynn added, “But of course they haven’t seen me up yet.”
“You can have Hollywood. A career in the Army is what I want, getting to fly the newest, hottest planes. And can you imagine being an officer?” Louise dreamed aloud.
“A captain,” Marina chimed in.
“A major,” said Louise.
“Generals run in my family.” Joy Lynn stood at attention and saluted.
The trainees got acquainted as they unpacked and dressed for their checkrides. Liddy fastened the strap of her new aviator watch onto her wrist and slipped Jack’s into her pocket.
Joy Lynn grabbed her hand and whistled. “Now that’s a beauty.”
“Thanks,” said Liddy and she tucked it under the cuff of her sleeve.
Liddy, Louise and Joy Lynn had the height to fill out most of the length of their suits, but the other three women had to cinch and roll to try and achieve some kind of fit.
Bet looked herself up and down. “My mother would be so proud,” she said. And then she jerked and jived around the room. She bounced up and down, twisting her toes in a little pivot on the floor, taking little steps in between. Her shoulders shook like a geyser was about to escape from the top of her head, which sent her red curls shooting up and down like they were trying to lift off as she twirled herself about. Then she’d do it all over again, exactly the same way. “Think the zoot-suited Harlem crowd would be impressed?”
“I think the zoot-suited crowd would think you were having convulsions,” said Marina. “What are you doing?”
“The Lindy Hop, it’s a Jitter Bug,” answered Bet.
“Yeah, I know the Lindy Hop, and that’s no Lindy Hop,” Marina took the floor and tried to show Bet the steps. But Bet was insistent that she had it right. Soon she had all of the baymates on their feet doing the funny little Bet dance until they heard the call outside the barracks to line up. Marina was the last one in the room and she took one last look in the mirror and straightened her pearls.
The class marched to the mess hall and dug in to some of the finest home cooking in Texas. Rationing wasn’t part of Army life apparently. At the table, Liddy watched Bet pick at her food and leaned to her and asked, “You feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I don’t eat much before I fly. When I go up, so does the food, if you know what I mean.”
Liddy smiled. “You’re gonna be skipping a lot of meals, little Betsy.”
“I’ll make up for it.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Chapter Nine
Military life wasn’t something most little girls had laid in bed dreaming about during the first half of the twentieth century. It was as far from their thinking as building a barn or fighting a duel. Their brother’s playtime was charging the hill, and taking the enemy. Girls, on the other hand, had their dolls, dress-up and notions of being mommies and wives. But when flying got hold of a woman, her world opened up long before the lot of her generation. It opened up in a way that let all kinds of possibilities line up on the doorstep of her mind.
Liddy’s world had always been open, so she was not hemmed in by convention. Still, the restraints and rigors of the Army way were not familiar to the free wander of her spirit. Down the line, looking military was a stretch for the new class. They gave it their all though. Assembled in ranks before the base command, their backs were straight and their knees were tight; they were to be military pilots.
Liddy’s pulse raced when she saw that Major Reid Trent was among the officers. He wasn’t the same man she remembered from the train, but still her mind raced with her pulse. What did this mean? Even if he had walked away from her because of his position at Avenger, the way he walked away still burned her. Or was it
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