Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-22
THE COMPLETE BEST SELLER
No Time for Sergeants


body else and they might have already told.
because there was q whole barracks full OF
them that know it by now. There amt nothing
that you can do and there amt nothing can
do. Well just have to wait and see."
"Well, don't think they will. wouldn't
worry about 1t none"
It's a Worrls0me Thing
..Well. I just want you to know one thing.
amt blaming you for 1t because was In 1t
just as much as you was. But 1t does look
like to me -. " and he kind Of turned his
head away. "It does look like with me having
bad eyes and all that they would take me.
don't it2 I mean. 1t does look like they
wouldn't hold little something like that
against you. don't It, when you got bad eyes
and things. Just like they want In the
"sho," said. II don't see how they could
do that to YOU"
"Wen. wen just have to wait and see."
he said.
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it none"
81 aint," he said, "I1l just wait and see"
but he set there studying his fingernails and
picking at q string hanging down from his
sleeve. and knowed he was going to worry
because he was real stubborn that way when
he got set on something. and was going to
worry no matter what anybody said.
So we laid around in the barracks doing
nothing for the next two days. and it was
the hardest waiting ever done in my life.
Ben got worse and worse about It as time
passed and waited pretty hard myself, but
would forget and ease up every once in
while and get to talking to somebody or
playing cards, because we was getting along
fine with the others by then. and not even
think about it until turned around and
saw Ben laying there on the bunk. But then
II 10
and 1t got to be pretty wearing. They kept
posting assignments on the bulletin board
outside the orderly room. and every once In
while somebody would come in and say
There's another list up and everybody
would run out to look at 1t. Then sometimes
they would come back and one Of them
would be grinning because he got In the
Coast Guard or something. and there might
be another one in the Air Force, and he'd
whoop and holler. and then we would sit
around some more. waiting for the lists.
Tiresome Waiting
And waited as hard as / could. but
sometimes would get out my harp and play
a few tunes on 1t, though usually tried not
to play nothing lively. only once in while
] forgot and did. ! usually done Mother Amt
Dead. She's Only Sleeping" and those like
that. which were quiet enough. only would
sometimes get to sparkling 1t up some when
! warnt thinking: and the second afternoon
this fellow come in whooping and hollering
because his name had been posted on q list
for the navy. and played Tennessee Shufne
Dance" for him while he done a right good
buck dance, and think could have enjoyed
1t i'm it hadn't of been for Ben. laying there
staring at the ceiling that way. But later
we went down to see the list and Twins and
Pete's names was on it for the Air Force
and they banged each other on the back for
q while, and then Ben began feeling some
better about things because they still hadn't
posted one for the Infantry, and there
warnt many Of US left. He looked at the
list and give sigh, so give one back at
him; and then we went back to the barracks
and waited for another one to 20 I'D. There
really warnt much sense in everybody going
down except that somebody might think you
couldn't read If you didn't. but we all went
down because everybody was getting right
anxious by that time. And then they posted
two more Air Force lists, and it got 10 be
night fun with everybody whoopins and hoi-
iering and going on. just like . party or
something.
So We hung around the barracks all that
afternoon and In little while it was nearly
four O'Clock and they still hadn't posted an
Infantry list, and Ben began TO perk up a
good bit. He begun pacing around some and
az iour-tnTty we went outside to watch them
close down the offiee for the day; and then
Ben looked at me and kind Of shook his head.
grlnning little bit. So / whopped him a
good one on the back and he whopped at
me TOO. and we went back inside where
everybody was talking about where they were
going. They hadn't knowed each other moren
nve DAYS some OF them, but they got each
others addresses and said how they would
write and all like that. and 1t was good being
amongst them, even though by that time me
and Ben fingered we'd never see none of them
no more because we would be in the Infantry
And everybody was feeling mighty good BY
tnat Time SO when we fell out in front to 20
Gown 10 supper just as We was getting lined
up. ! said. Why don't you march us down.
Benz" and some of the others chined in on
it too - va
But Ben turned red in the face and shook
his head, and said. Jaw, we cant march vet
Sho we can If you march u.s." said, and
tnen irwin said, Go ahead, Ben," and even
though he kept shaking his head sideways,
we showed him out front and got in line there
waiting for him
Lucky said Come on and tell us to do
something and Irwin said. yeah. YOU lust
call EN- and we'll follow EN-" and eyerybody
else started calling out too because thew was
so full OF spark and everything. and wanted
10 Try some real marching this time because
all we usually done was just line up and start
walking. - "-'A '''''
Tomorrow: It's the Air Force for Will and Ban.