Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-01

CHAPTER XVII

70 KIM OF duck Lne1r neaQS. pElSSeQ along
that way and Sergeant King said, That's
mighty good, Stockdale, but 1t amt necessary
to throw your knees up no higher than your
neck" but kept on with 1t; was feeling
right sparky myself.
And we had right good time at supper
too with everybody Joking and going on. They
started kidding me lot too; and when this
same colored lieutenant that me and Ben had
talked to come in the mess hail. one Of them
tried to joke me about that He had this
band on his arm that said Cd, which meant
that he was Officer Of the Day and had to eat
in our mess hall, and he came in and got his
tray and went to sit over at the table where
the Cd usually sits; and most of them were
watching him, but didn't pay no attention
at all. Anyhow, the fellow setting across from
me leaned over and said. Hey, win, what
would Georgia boy think of a colored Of
hcev?" trying to joke some more with me.
50 come back with: II wouldn't think
nothing Of it because / amt ever seen one"
well, look right over there and you can
see one right now" he said.
30 looked around and they was all wait
ing to see what I would say, but looked
right on past where the Cd was setting, and
then went back to eating again, shaking my
head.
Then this fellow said, 'Dont you see that
one right over there?"
mo, I don't" said
Setting over there at the table by his
self" this fellow said. Look .. :"
Just Can't See Him
So looked around at the Cd again and
kind Of strained my eyes and then I shook
my head again. II see the Lieutenant all
right" said. But don't see no colored
man"
whats the matter, you blind? You mean
to sit there and say you don't see that
colored man."
So looked real hard again like I was
trying to make him out, and then shook
my head and said, Nope, don't think SO.
But course, don't usually notice the color Of
things nohow.' And then I went back to
eating, only about that time I heered all
these funny things from Sergeant King and
looked up at him. and he looked right peculiar
He had mouth full of food that he looked
like he was getting choked on, and his eyes
was bullying out and his face red, and he was
trying to say something and swallow all at
the same time. And finally he leaned over at,
me and said in voice that didn't even sound
like his. he said, "Will you didn't see no
Negro?" ,s =.
mo" ~
you see the Lieutenant?" His voice was
mighty funny too. like he couldn't get the
words out almost and his face was so pale,
you would think he was sick. 5.
Il seen him." said. But didn't notice
no colored man.
will ?"
"Yeah?"
will, do you think it might be that you're
color blind or don't see so good, or something
like that?"
WELL I don't know about that" said
1.-THE only thing know is what I Just got
through telling you What's the matter, don't
you feel good or something's"
But he never answered me. He just got up
and took his tray and his face was the sad
dest-looking thing ever seen In my life. He
stood there and said. TITS possible Yes
guess it's possible, all right" and then he just
turned away and started walking of real
SLOW like he didn't feel too good
Then one of them said, ''You knwo, don't
like him too much, but that's just going too
far. I feel almost sorry for the old fellow"
YEAH" said. II just hope it amt nothing
serious. Maybe It's just something he ct. I'll
try to get tonic or something down him
when we get back to the barracks, and then
he'll probably feel whole lot better"
But they all just stared at me; warnt too
much worried myself. though. 7 figgered with
a good tonic or something, he would be all
right In no time.
Worrying Again
Anyhow, Sergeant King was all right the
next day. but then he had took to worrying
about everything again. He said to me, will,
you might not get to be gunner being as
you don't see too good, but that don't mean
you're going to have to stay here in my
barracks all the time Now what we'll do,
III talk some fe,~ow from another barracks
into putting in an official request for you,
and then you can go see the Captain about
moving, and maybe we can work 1t out that
tHA~A L. -
"You got it wrong" said. II see all
right. ;"
But he was thinking so hard he didn't
half hear; he said, well, just that you don't
see too good then . I mean, you amt got
q chance Of passing that eye exam as far
as I'm concerned, but maybe we can get you
transferred to some place where you can
maybe get ahead and :"
II don't care nothing about getting ahead"
said. If don't get to be gunner, I had
just as soon stay here. But I'm still planning
on being a gunner and :"
But he said "Oh, no." right quick. He
said, mo. you don't get the outlook, see? The
thing Is, there wouldn't be no room for ad-
vancement If you stayed here with me. And
you've got to think Of getting ahead, VIII.
And I mean I'm going to see that you get
In another barracks If it's the last thing I
ever do"
So for the next day or two, Sergeant
King went around from barracks to barracks,
but things didn't work out the way he had
planned 1t, guess. because didn't nobody
ever make no official request for me, so he
got all down in the dumps again.
Well, anyhow all that week some Of the
boys in the barracks had been talking to me
about going into town one night for party,
saying how they were going to show me how
to shoot smoker. All week long they talked
to me about playing smoker and how it costs
% much to play and all. I had thirty-four
dollars and they asked me about it nearly
every day. They would come in and say.
"Will, you still got that thirty-four dollars?"
And I'd say, "Yeach. but that seems a
awful lot to pay to play a game. I :. :"
We'll, It's q real expensive game, will"
they'd aay Fact In it's n kind Of rambling