U.S.A_ - John Dos Passos [249]
-163-damn it, he wanted a little love now. Maybe they'd have a kid.
Things sure were different in Norfolk. Everybody in new uniforms, twominute speakers at the corner of Main and Granby, liberty loan posters, bands playing. He hardly knew the town walking up from the ferry. He'd written Del that he was coming but he was worried about seeing her, hadn't had any letters lately. He stil had a latch key to the apartment but he knocked before open-ing the door. There was nobody there. He'd always pictured her running to the door to meet him. Stil it was only four o'clock, she must be at her work. Must have another girl with her, don't keep the house so tidy. . . . Underwear hung to dry on a line, bits of clothing on al the chairs, a box of candy with half-eaten pieces in it on the table. . . . Jez, they must have had a party last night. There was a half a cake, glasses that had had liquor in them, a plate ful of cigarette butts and even a cigar butt. Oh, wel , she'd probably had some friends in. He went to the bathroom and shaved and cleaned up a little. Sure Del was always popular, she probably had a lot of friends in al the time, playing cards and that. In the bathroom there was a pot of rouge and lipsticks, and facepowder spilt over the faucets. It made Joe feel funny shaving among al these women's things.
He heard her voice laughing on the stairs and a man's voice; the key clicked in the lock. Joe closed his suitcase and stood up. Del had bobbed her hair. She flew up to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Why, I declare it's my hubby." Joe could taste rouge on her lips. "My, you look thin, Joe. Poor Boy, you musta been awful sick. . . . If I'd had any money at al I'd have jumped on a boat and come on down. . . . This is Wilmer Tay-loe . . . I mean Lieutenant Tayloe, he just got his com-mission yesterday."
-164-Joe hesitated a moment and then held out his hand. The other fel ow had red hair clipped close and a freckled face. He was al dressed up in a whipcord uniform, shiny Sam Browne belt and puttees. He had a silver bar on each shoulder and spurs on his feet.
"He's just going overseas tomorrow. He was coming by to take me out to dinner. Oh, Joe, I've got so much to tel you, honey."
Joe and Lieutenant Tayloe stood around eyeing each
other uncomfortably while Del bustled around tidying the place up, talking to Joe al the time. "It's terrible I never get any chance to do anything and neither does Hilda . . . You remember Hilda Thompson, Joe? Wel , she's been livin' with me to help make up the rent but we're both of us doin' war work down at the Red Cross canteen every evening and then I sel Liberty bonds. . . . Don't you hate the huns, Joe. Oh, I just hate them, and so does Hilda. . . . She's thinking of changing her name on account of its being German. I promised to cal her Gloria but I always forget. . . . You know, Wilmer, Joe's been torpedoed twice."
"Wel , I suppose the first six times is the hardest," stammered Lieutenant Tayloe. Joe grunted.
Del disappeared into the bathroom and closed the
door. "You boys make yourselves comfortable. I'l be dressed in a minute." Neither of them said anything. Lieutenant Tayloe's
shoes creaked as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. At last he pul ed a flask out of his hip pocket.
"Have a drink," he said. "Ma outfit's goin' overseas any time after midnight.""I guess I'd better," said Joe, without smiling. When Del a came out of the bathroom al dressed up she certainly looked snappy. She was much prettier than last time Joe had seen her. He was al the time wondering if he ought to go up and hit that damn
-165-shavetail until at last he