The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-07-31

ing Marcia. They had both said too much this morning in her room. What about Marcia's mother? She'd think 1t odd. Inexcusable. To have come 2000 miles to attend this wedding, and then to turn around the next day and start back. It was sheer madness without an ironclad excuse.
 A little wind ruffled her hair as they drove along, but did nothing to dispel the uncomfortable warmth of her face and the way her eyes were stinging.
 Marcia touched her hand. Look at the field, Linda. Just getting close to 1t does things to me. It's thrill every time I drive in, and know I've driven in thousands of times. Isn't 1t beautiful?" Her eyes said. plainly, that even one who disapproved must admit its beauty. -.
 Yes, 1t was lovely. White build ings under the sun. White, well kept handkerchiefs of fields. The blue bay dimpling out there. But 1t wasn't beautiful if you remem- bered that from here boys grad- uated to battlefelds.
 They passed the sentry, and now Linda saw that there were hun dreds and hundreds of planes lined up this morning. Wing tip to wing tip, Veritable army of ships. At the sea wall, huge crane was lift ing an amphibian out of the water. Linda remembered then that some Naval vessels were seagoing flying fields. They could steam far out into the ocean release their planes It meant that Naval flyer had to be more than just flyer. Jimmy must be tops in his line.
 "The ones in khaki are the cadets" Marcia told her. Those sailors are enlisted men. They're mechanics and 50 on. No use tell- ing you all the ratings"
 T wouldn't remember" Linda said absently. At the other end of the field, column of marching men was drilling.
 Marcia grinned. That's the new lot of cadets. All burned up because they weren't let loose lin plane first thing. Most of them can't see what good 1t does to learn to forward march first"
 Jimmy said, "See that ship out there? The one that just came down?"
 Linda watched as 1t taxied across the bay. That looks aw- fully difficult" she said. Some- thing more was expected of her, so she added, "Is that a student flying it?"
 One student, plus one instruc- tor. He gets in a jam, and we're supposed to pull him out"
 "Oh."
 They always do, too. Some of the dumbest ones have put the in- structor in pretty tight spots, can tell you. Once Jimmy had a kid who froze to the stick. Tell her about 1t. Jimmy" Marcias atten- tion was suddenly distracted by a tall boy striding across the field. Look, Jimmy, there's that Brooks boy. l meant to ask you, did he pass the checkoff." '''' "-'
 He hasn't had 1t yet" Jimmy answered. T see you're worried Go on, little mother of the fleet, go over and hand out some of your softest soap, He's getting cockier and harder to handle every day. If he doesn't change pretty quick, it'll be thumbs down..
 You're too hard on him! He was a good flyer before he ever came here. He told me how he transformed with fairs and things. Really, Jimmy"
 You know better than that. We tell them to unlearn anything they learned before. Flying at a car nival isn't exactly flying for the Navy"
 Marcia made a face at him. She waved to the boy and with a quick Excuse me- to Linda, she was running toward him.
 Jimmy explained to Linda, Some times the kids get the idea that the instructors don't like him. Con- Spiracy against 'em because, be-