Post by melindajo2000 on Dec 17, 2011 14:04:14 GMT -6
Trapper was home. He couldn’t believe it. He never thought he would see America again, let alone Boston. The first thing he did when he stepped off the plane and unto the airport ground was throw himself down and kiss the floor. People looked at him like he was nuts, but he didn’t care. When had he ever cared about what people thought about him? It wouldn’t be the first crazy thing he did, nor would it be the last. And this was for the best reason of all- it was in the name of freedom. That was the word he had thought about night and day for the longest time, but had begun to think was impossible. War was all he had known for quite some time now, and he had started to think he would never make it back.
Especially after Henry. He had never said it aloud, but his death had shaken him, even more than what he had let on. True, he and Hawkeye had gotten drunk and told some stories and shared some laughs in honor of their lost friend, but Trapper had had nightmares after Henry’s death. Even though he didn’t always act like it, Trapper did believe in God, and somewhere even he wondered if he was being punished for all of the rotten things he had done in Korea. And there were plenty to choose from.
He liked to think that he was a nice guy- he was quick to lend a hand to his neighbor- most of the time. And he was one heck of a physician. He and Hawkeye had made the best team in Korea, Trapper was sure of it. There was nothing they wouldn’t have done to save a patient, even if it looked unorthodox or crazy. He’d risked his reputation many times, but he was proud to be part of a team with a low casualty rate, and in that environment, that was nothing to sneeze at. He was a good friend- he wasn’t the heart to heart kind of guy; he never did wear his heart on his sleeve. But he was there for you in a pinch, and Hawkeye had known that he could count on him no matter what.
Hawkeye. What could Trapper say about him? That he was the most swell friend a guy could have? That he wouldn’t have made it throughout the war if it weren’t for the surgeon from Crabapple Cove? There was no question about that. There were a few times Trapper thought that he might lose his mind, and Hawkeye was right there to pick him up when he needed someone the most. There were only so much homemade swill and a lady of the week could do, and Hawkeye knew that. He was home when home was a million miles away. There would never be any way to repay him for what he had done for Trapper during the war, and in a way, he was grateful that he didn’t have to face him to say goodbye. He never was good with the mushy stuff.
And there was Louise. He was coming home a whole new man, and whether or not she would even like him was a question that had bothered him but somehow he had blocked it to the back of his mind during the war. He knew that she had deep suspicions about his flings- she had all but outright asked him several times- and each time he had changed the subject. But whether or not she would confront him was yet to be seen. How would he answer-how could he explain that he, Trapper John, had been a lying, cheating, good for nothing husband who deserved to be handing his walking papers? There was no denying that his wife could do better than him. She could have done better than him in high school. She was one of the popular kids, ready to go to college, when they had a close call and her father forced them to get married. No wonder her father hated him. He would probably hate him too. Having all girls, Trapper would move a thousand miles away if any of them brought home a boy like himself. Knowing his luck, that’s how God would punish him for his misadventures during the war, and he would end up in the funny farm. Klinger would be proud.
Finally the bus stopped, just a few blocks from his house, and Trapper remembered the old saying- be careful what you ask for.
to be continued
Especially after Henry. He had never said it aloud, but his death had shaken him, even more than what he had let on. True, he and Hawkeye had gotten drunk and told some stories and shared some laughs in honor of their lost friend, but Trapper had had nightmares after Henry’s death. Even though he didn’t always act like it, Trapper did believe in God, and somewhere even he wondered if he was being punished for all of the rotten things he had done in Korea. And there were plenty to choose from.
He liked to think that he was a nice guy- he was quick to lend a hand to his neighbor- most of the time. And he was one heck of a physician. He and Hawkeye had made the best team in Korea, Trapper was sure of it. There was nothing they wouldn’t have done to save a patient, even if it looked unorthodox or crazy. He’d risked his reputation many times, but he was proud to be part of a team with a low casualty rate, and in that environment, that was nothing to sneeze at. He was a good friend- he wasn’t the heart to heart kind of guy; he never did wear his heart on his sleeve. But he was there for you in a pinch, and Hawkeye had known that he could count on him no matter what.
Hawkeye. What could Trapper say about him? That he was the most swell friend a guy could have? That he wouldn’t have made it throughout the war if it weren’t for the surgeon from Crabapple Cove? There was no question about that. There were a few times Trapper thought that he might lose his mind, and Hawkeye was right there to pick him up when he needed someone the most. There were only so much homemade swill and a lady of the week could do, and Hawkeye knew that. He was home when home was a million miles away. There would never be any way to repay him for what he had done for Trapper during the war, and in a way, he was grateful that he didn’t have to face him to say goodbye. He never was good with the mushy stuff.
And there was Louise. He was coming home a whole new man, and whether or not she would even like him was a question that had bothered him but somehow he had blocked it to the back of his mind during the war. He knew that she had deep suspicions about his flings- she had all but outright asked him several times- and each time he had changed the subject. But whether or not she would confront him was yet to be seen. How would he answer-how could he explain that he, Trapper John, had been a lying, cheating, good for nothing husband who deserved to be handing his walking papers? There was no denying that his wife could do better than him. She could have done better than him in high school. She was one of the popular kids, ready to go to college, when they had a close call and her father forced them to get married. No wonder her father hated him. He would probably hate him too. Having all girls, Trapper would move a thousand miles away if any of them brought home a boy like himself. Knowing his luck, that’s how God would punish him for his misadventures during the war, and he would end up in the funny farm. Klinger would be proud.
Finally the bus stopped, just a few blocks from his house, and Trapper remembered the old saying- be careful what you ask for.
to be continued
