Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-19

him by the neck so ne almost come over tiie
seat, and then I swung him around and was
just ready to bust him one before I come to
and knowed what was doing And OF course
it was too late by that time, and felt like
a dog mighty quick, too. ! hadn't hit him.
but had scared him good bit there for a
minute and felt pretty low about it.
And he got pretty mad about it when he
seen warnt going to hit him, and I didn't
blame him at all. He cussed me right through
his teeth with is eyes squenched up and when
he got through cussing me every way ne could
think of, he drawed back and give me another
good kick IN the shins had it coming too
reached down and rubbed it and said, I'm
sorry. Irwin. guess I didn't know what
was doing or something" and humbled myself
a good bit that way.
And after that. ! set out under tree wait
ing for us to go wherever we was going and
didn't nobody say nothing to me for good
while. They was all kidding around and max
ing on over Irwin for the way he tied into me.
and was kind of glad to see it too. ! felt so
low treating him the way had that was
glad to see any good he could get out OF 1t.
All could do was cuss myself and wonder II
could ever get things Strengthened out again
after the way had started off. and get along
in the draft, and not have no trouble. and
just get along with everybody from then on.
The Bottom Bunk
Anyhow, they finally took us down to this
place that had lot of hunks in 1t, and went
down to the end to get away from the rest OF
them and set down on the bottom bunk and
rolled me a cigarette and was just getting
ready to light it when this scrawny little fell
low with big glasses on walked right up to
where was setting and stood there looking
at me- He didn't say nothing, just stood
there and when looked up to see who it was.
I seen it warnt none Of the bunch that had
come up with me. He was real little and he
had on this uniform that was so new 1t still
had the sideways creaSes in 1t, and he had on
one of them little half that are supposed
to set on the side of your head, only his set
all the way down on his head and come almost
to his eyes. And the pants he had on was
mighty near long enough for me-he had
them rolled up about foot off the floor-and
he had on this coat with brass buttons that
looked too big for him to even be toting. And
besides that he had this bag over his shoulder
that you could have put four of him in, and
he stood there looking at me with the sweat
rolling down the side Of his face. looking right
miserable. so knowed right Of hadn't seen
him before: and the first thing I wanted to
do was to jump up and help him with it all.
But he kept standing there looking at me.
and then he tried to grin. only he couldn't
manage it so good because the bag pulled him
so hard on one side that 1t seemed to pull his
mouth sideways too. but anyhow he tried, so
I set up little bit and said. "Howdy."
He still kept looking at me, and then said.
How are you?"
Just fine You well. hope"
And he said, Yeah, I'm okay," and kept
standing there looking at me until I said.
Right hot. amt it?" because he looked like
he had fell in a creek or something with all
those wool clothes on the way he was sweat
ing: but then he said, WAS you going to take
that bottom bunk?"
WAS this yourn?"
And he said. well. not exactly. But
usually in the Army. it's first come. first
served and was here :"
"Sho." I said "Sho. You go right ahead
and take it. didn't know you
Il should have left something on it to
show it." he said. That's what should
have done. But didn't do It, It serves me
right. guess. should have knowed better"
you can have IT," told him. II was
Just setting here
But he shook his head and said. NO
you go ahead and take it. / should have
left something 1t was my mistake"
I'D just as soon :"
But he kept shaking his head. mo, II
was all my mistake and should have left
something and don't deserve it for not know
ing better"
So he had me kind OF bothered about It
then and I tried to argue him into taking
the bottom one anyhow but he kept shaking
his head and wouldn't hear nothing of it. So
then told big lie about how couldn't stand
sleeping next to the floor nohow and how at
home always heisted my bed up about five
feet off the floor with brickbats under 1t and
had to use chair TO crawl up in it. but he
Just kept shaking his head saying. mo, any
body In the Army ought to have sense enough
to leave something to show what was his"
and acted like he didn't care to talk about 1t
no more.
And then he started trying to chunk his
bag UP on the top bunk but he couldn't get
1t up much higher than his shoulder, grllnt-
ing and putting with his face turning red. /
wanted to help him. but being little and
scrawny the way he was. knowed he would
want to do it all by himself so Just stood
back and let him heave at it a while until
seen ne warnt likely to. make it. and then
I said. "Looka here now, I'd ruther have
that top one. ard mean it,"
But ne shook his head and heayed again
and said I'm gonna take it,"
mo, you amt" said II said I wanted
1t and I do, and I amt gonna take no for
an answer"
But he kept on trying to hoist his bag
UP there. so l give that up and finally edged
around the side and got .one hand on the
bag to give him lift without him knowing
It,; but about that time Irwin come bounding
across the room saying, Get your hands off
that bag Stockdale. Let the man alone.
stood just about as much as I'm going to
out Of you"
Co. -