Battle Cry - Leon Uris [91]
“Hello, Danny,” I whispered.
“Hi, Mac.”
“Have a good furlough?”
“Yes.”
“Hey, you guys knock off the crap. Can’t a guy get no sleep around this joint?”
“Come on to the head and let’s bat the breeze. I can’t sleep.” I was lying. I wanted to talk.
I led Danny into the toilet room and slapped him across the shoulders. “Twenty miles tomorrow and you’ll be good as new.”
“Yeah…sure.”
“Everything all right?”
“Sure, sure. Did the guys get the money back?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry I put you to so much trouble, Mac.”
“Hell, it wasn’t any trouble.”
“Mac, I got married.”
“The little blonde?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be go to hell, that’s great.”
“Sure, sure.”
“Don’t go feeling sorry for yourself, Danny.”
“I’ll be O.K., Mac. Don’t worry about me. I just don’t feel like going to sleep right now.”
“Hell, I almost forgot. I got a letter here for you.”
“A letter? That’s funny, I just left last night.”
“It came a couple days ago.” I handed him the special delivery air mail envelope. A grim look came over him.
“Her father. Looks like trouble…he’s got me over a barrel now.”
He ripped the envelope open. Danny was too nervous to read, so I read it to him.
Dear Danny,
I hardly know what to say or where to start. I wanted this letter to reach camp before you got back, because I know how uneasy you must feel.
First of all, I’m not going to apologize for my actions on the morning you brought Kathleen home. I doubt whether you would have acted differently under the same circumstances. You see, Kathy is an only child and I suppose we’ve been overprotective with her. We’ve tried to give her everything in our power, including guidance. It was a shock, to say the least. Too much of a shock to realize that in the last seven months she changed from adolescence to womanhood. I should have seen it and helped her in her problem, but none of us knew what would happen when you came home.
I am not so bullheaded as to not be able to sit down in the light of a new day and try to reason a problem out. Sybil and I have talked of this a great deal. There is only one reality to face now. My daughter loves you; and her happiness is still the foremost thing in my mind.
Danny, when the war broke out I was pretty smug about it. I was damned complacent. I had no sons to go off to fight and I knew I’d never live to see the day that Baltimore would be laid open by enemy bombs. It was bonds and the blood bank for me, a superficial aid at best. Yes, I was happy that the war wouldn’t reach me. How foolish I was. There is no escaping war, for any of us. And I’m in it, just as my daughter is. You kids have your own life and must make your own decisions. I humbly admit I can’t wear your uniform.
You and Kathleen have a tough row to hoe. I suppose you know that. But I feel that you both have the stuff to see it through. I was always fond of you and I do not disapprove of my son-in-law. Only his methods.
You have a lot on your mind. You’ve got a war to fight for the old bastards like me. The least I can do is give you the peace of mind of knowing that your wife is safe and that we are with you, all the way.
Sybil is planning a shopping spree with Kathleen for a bunch of silly junk that women look for. Sort of a delayed wedding present.
I hope you talk her out of this idea of quitting school. I know you feel the same as I do about it. College is another thing. We’ll come to that next year. I don’t want to influence your marriage in any way, but perhaps you can write to her about this one thing. She’s very hardheaded, you know. Takes after her mother.
Well, son, I’d like to hear from you once in a while. You know, just personal between us. If you run short of money (I understand how those things are in the service) feel free to put the bite on me anytime.
“I’ll be damned,” Danny said. “Think I’ll hit the sack, Mac. Better grab an hour before reveille.”