Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-20
By MAC LYMAN
coDyright 1854 by Mac LYMAN
CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII
So took my hand off it right quick and
it was too much for the little fellow. The
bag fell and mighty near knocked him over
so had to catch him to keep him from going
down. And then some Of the others started
crowding around to see what was going on,
and said Irwin, just but then he
started lighting into me again. And it looked
like he got rougher every time with it too:
and this time he got started on me saying
thought ! was so tough and yet didn't do
nothing but pick on fellows half my size.
Cant you find anybody your own size to
pick on?" he said.
Look, irwin, didn't mean nothing. I. !"
But then the little fellow got into it
himself He snatched himself up real straight
and looked Irwin right in the face and said
You watch your mouth" And it kind of
got Irwin second too. He looked at the little
fellow and started to say something else, but
then the little one pulled himself up straighter
and said, why don't you mind your own
business anyhow"
Il was just trying to do you a favor,
fellow" Irwin said. This fellow tries to {. ;"
That's between him and me-" the little
one said, Nobody asked you to butt in"
Nov, look, was just trying to help you
out, Shorty. I was just -"
And that one really set the little one OF.
who are you calling Shortly" he yelled out
who asked you anything anyhow"
All right. if that's the way you feel about
, 1t. If that's the way you want to be. you be
that way"
well, that's the way" the little one said.
Gust keep out of things that don't concern
you"
1t really got Twins goat too, having him
talk at him that way He looked kind Of
puzzled and started to say something else.
but couldn't think of anything to say so
finally all he done was turn around at me
again and squench up his eyes and say. IF
have any more trouble out of you, I'm going
to let you know about it, fellow" and turn and
go stomping off to his bunk on the other side
of the room.
The little one was hopping mad, though.
He kept mumbling to himself and pushing
around at the bag and everything and felt
pretty good about the way it come out.
knowed should have tipped him off somehow
about Irwin but didn't have the chance and
to tell you the truth, didn't care much any
how. ! set down on the bunk and watched
him until he finally got the bag on the top
one and then stepped back trying to breathe
easy so 1t would look like it warnt nothing
for him to do to be tossing the bag up that
way. said. you want cigarette?" butyhe
shook his head and started to say something.
but then had to wait until he got his breath
back, so looked the other way like I didn't
notice It, and then he said, Il don't smoke.
1t takes your wind away to smoke. Thanks
Just the same though"
And then said kind of low so nobody could
hear, I said, Il guess should have told you
before but didn't have no chance-Irvin has
had ROTC didn't figger you knowed it.
heered 1t myself Just before we left home"
THAT don't make any difference" he said
Well, he must have had 1t pretty bad"
said. THE way they talked :"
Ben Has it Figured
What do you mean, pretty bad? 1t don't
make any difference how much he had of it
II he didn't finish the course and then 90
ahead and take the Army course afterwards
he don't rank any higher than anybody else.
AS far as that goes he Amt even been swore in
yet and even when he does, he wont be no
higher than the rest of us because they don't
give out any rank in ROTC until you finish
the course. He might act like he has all the
rank there is, but know better guess I
know how ROTC works all right I've read
Tour or flve OF them ROTC manuals and I
know what it amounts to :"
listened to him talking about the ROTC
ana ne had to keep going for a good while
before 1t ever come clear to me, but course I
wouldn't let on none about it then lust kept
my mouth shut and let him run on about it.
and got to feeling dumber and dumber and
tnen l begun to feel right good about it too.
l looked over to where Irwin was setting on
his bunk talking to Lucky and some of the
Others and in minute was feeling right
nappy about it too. And don't guess / could
nave picked better one to tell me about it
tnan the little one because he seemed to know
more about 1t than the ROTC themselves. He
knoWed how it started and when it started
ana all IKE that, and he said he had cousin
mat mad Cavalry ROTC at the University of
he Lrn
mao infantry at Dahlonega and then he
started telling me the difference between the
Two ana how he like the Infantry better be-
cause tney was the real soldiers and the
otners Warnt nothing but helpers, and all like
tnat He was down on the others a good hit
100 IT seemed like, especially the Navy, He
didn't like them at all You just think about
II, ne SAID. Little old white uniforms and
walking around on boats and things ali the
Time You Just think about it."
Yeah that's what l always thought
SAID. The Infantry is the best one"
lnere Just amt any comparison" he
SAID Listen, what about the War between
the states? What about that?"
Yeah" said. That's what I always
thought too. What about that?'
mats what always say" he said.
1ou see what / mean?" Then he looked
over 10 where Irwin was setting and said. "I1l
III. III
tnat much. And it was probably Cavalry or
Field Artillery or something like that bet
1t was Field Artillery"
Well. it don't do him no good here"
said
That's right He amt no more than we
are"
That's right" said, "He sho amt. He
amt no different from nobody else"
And the more I thought about it, the
better felt. There I was feeling like a dog
for grabbing at him the way I done and
there warnt nothing wrong with him at all.
l mean it made me feel good knowing It too.
All He Wants Is Peace
So thought on it while, and it was
almost enough to make me mad, so I cut
out thinking that way soon enough. 1t didn't
do any good to go around fussing with folks
nohow. All l wanted to do was pust get along
with everybody and not have no trouble and