Post by melinda on Apr 1, 2013 19:21:22 GMT -6
One day, Sherman Potter decided to go for a stroll. It was an unusual place, but familiar somehow. It felt almost as good as it did when he woke up next to Mildred for the past few years. He'd retired from the army, but today it was as if he'd transferred back to Korea. What in monkey's money was going on?
The first place he wound up going to was his office, his once home away from home. He'd spent some of the most, if not necessarily nice, but important years of his life there, and it felt good to be amongst friends again. The only thing was, the lights were off, was this a surprise party of sorts?
He turned on the light, his failing eyesight slowly adjusting to the surroundings. Much to his surprise there was someone sitting at his desk! How dare they...was this Klinger's idea of an April Fool's joke?
"Howdy," smiled the stranger. Potter knew he'd like him already. It seemed to him as if he knew this fellow- or at least that he should have.
"Howdy," was all the dumbstruck Colonel (retired, of course) could manage to spit out. The two stared awkwardly at each other for a moment before Potter found the guts to speak up.
"I don't want to sound rude...hasty yes, ill-tempered, on occasion, but rudeness has never been one of my weaknesses, but forgive me for asking...who on blue blaze's are you?"
The stranger smiled. "You don't know me? You mean Hawk and Trapper never spoke of me?"
"Son, I'm afraid to tell you this, but Trapper hasn't been in Korea for some time. Neither have I, or so I thought. So I believe formal introductions are in order. I'm Sherman T. Potter, colonel of the U.S. Army. Once commander of the 4077."
Another smile appeared on the stranger's face. "I'll be d**ned...am I allowed to say that here?" he laughed.
"What is this, a hallucination? Did I suffer some ailment that requires me," Potter took off his glasses then put them back on again. "Losing my cotton blasted mind?"
Putting his hand in the air, the stranger spoke again. "I'm sorry. I guess you don't know..."
"Know what? Will somebody for the love of Doris Day tell me what is going on?"
"I'm a colonel too. A Lieutenant Colonel, but a colonel nonetheless. I'm surprised the gang didn't tell you about me. I'm Henry Blake." He tripped when standing up to shake Potter's hand.
"Henry Blake? I know all about you. You're a legend in these parts."
"A legend? I wouldn't go that far."
"Trapper from what I heard named his only son after you, if that carries any weight."
Henry grinned from ear to ear. "I'll be. That little son of a..."
"Watch it. I'm not quite sure of where I'm at and I wouldn't want to fall in the Big Guy's bad graces if you know what I mean."
"Oh you're fine. Word is it you're somewhat of a man among men around these parts."
Now it was Potter's turn to break into a smile, all things considering. "Well well, Henry. So if we're ...we're both...you know, why on earth would be be transported back to Korea of all places? Not exactly my idea of heaven if you follow me."
"I guess this is where old colonels go to when they retire."
"I'll be. I'll be."
"So tell me about my boys. Did they make me proud?"
"They sure did, Henry. They sure did. I grew kind of fond of them myself to tell you the truth."
"Care for a drink?" Henry opened up a bottle of scotch from his once well used liquor cabinet.
"They allow that here?"
"Relax. This is only temporary. But for now why don't you sit down and enjoy the ride. It's going to be a hell of a ride, pardon my french."
So the two men toasted to the men they once knew and both loved, and to whatever might lie ahead for the both of them. This truly was the place where old colonels went to retire.
The end
The first place he wound up going to was his office, his once home away from home. He'd spent some of the most, if not necessarily nice, but important years of his life there, and it felt good to be amongst friends again. The only thing was, the lights were off, was this a surprise party of sorts?
He turned on the light, his failing eyesight slowly adjusting to the surroundings. Much to his surprise there was someone sitting at his desk! How dare they...was this Klinger's idea of an April Fool's joke?
"Howdy," smiled the stranger. Potter knew he'd like him already. It seemed to him as if he knew this fellow- or at least that he should have.
"Howdy," was all the dumbstruck Colonel (retired, of course) could manage to spit out. The two stared awkwardly at each other for a moment before Potter found the guts to speak up.
"I don't want to sound rude...hasty yes, ill-tempered, on occasion, but rudeness has never been one of my weaknesses, but forgive me for asking...who on blue blaze's are you?"
The stranger smiled. "You don't know me? You mean Hawk and Trapper never spoke of me?"
"Son, I'm afraid to tell you this, but Trapper hasn't been in Korea for some time. Neither have I, or so I thought. So I believe formal introductions are in order. I'm Sherman T. Potter, colonel of the U.S. Army. Once commander of the 4077."
Another smile appeared on the stranger's face. "I'll be d**ned...am I allowed to say that here?" he laughed.
"What is this, a hallucination? Did I suffer some ailment that requires me," Potter took off his glasses then put them back on again. "Losing my cotton blasted mind?"
Putting his hand in the air, the stranger spoke again. "I'm sorry. I guess you don't know..."
"Know what? Will somebody for the love of Doris Day tell me what is going on?"
"I'm a colonel too. A Lieutenant Colonel, but a colonel nonetheless. I'm surprised the gang didn't tell you about me. I'm Henry Blake." He tripped when standing up to shake Potter's hand.
"Henry Blake? I know all about you. You're a legend in these parts."
"A legend? I wouldn't go that far."
"Trapper from what I heard named his only son after you, if that carries any weight."
Henry grinned from ear to ear. "I'll be. That little son of a..."
"Watch it. I'm not quite sure of where I'm at and I wouldn't want to fall in the Big Guy's bad graces if you know what I mean."
"Oh you're fine. Word is it you're somewhat of a man among men around these parts."
Now it was Potter's turn to break into a smile, all things considering. "Well well, Henry. So if we're ...we're both...you know, why on earth would be be transported back to Korea of all places? Not exactly my idea of heaven if you follow me."
"I guess this is where old colonels go to when they retire."
"I'll be. I'll be."
"So tell me about my boys. Did they make me proud?"
"They sure did, Henry. They sure did. I grew kind of fond of them myself to tell you the truth."
"Care for a drink?" Henry opened up a bottle of scotch from his once well used liquor cabinet.
"They allow that here?"
"Relax. This is only temporary. But for now why don't you sit down and enjoy the ride. It's going to be a hell of a ride, pardon my french."
So the two men toasted to the men they once knew and both loved, and to whatever might lie ahead for the both of them. This truly was the place where old colonels went to retire.
The end
