20I hope all my American readers had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!
Please enjoy and leave suggestions and feedback!
Star Dust
"Upsy daisy, Smokey," LaVern rocked his drowsy body. He defensively shielded his eyes, mumbling nonsense about the weather and food. Still in the doghouse, he was sprawled upon a thick and scratchy olive drab wool blanket. "Breakfast downstairs, can't keep our little fan waiting!"
"Five… more… minutes…" Gordon begged, embracing his pillow tighter.
Vern tapped his side with the toe of her boot, "Nah-uh. Up, now." She clapped her hands together, "Don't make me bugle…"
He made some inaudible gurgles and sat up, digging his fists into two bloodshot eyes. "I slept like shit, thanks to you."
LaVern scoffed, "One thing you'll learn in time… watch your mouth around me."
"You and Luz will get along perfectly, then," he retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
She shyly tucked a curl behind her ear, "That's the short 'un, right?"
"Yea, so is Perco… that little Italian." He smirked.
"It's gonna take me awhile to remember all these goddamn names, Smoke."
He pulled on a fresh uniform and looked over at her as he tightened the belt, "Breakfast?"
"Breakfast."
Sure enough, Burl was racing around the kitchen table, anxiously waiting for his role models.
"'Morning, Burl," Smokey's dry morning voice crooned as he ruffled Burl's hair. "I can't stay long this morning, I've got field training."
They all sat down at the humble eating table.
"You do?" LaVern raised her eyebrows as she unfolded the napkin onto her lap.
"Can I come with you?!" Burl asked, bouncing in his chair.
Smokey smirked, "I don't think your mother would exactly approve. Maybe some other time, bud."
His sulked as his mother slopped oatmeal mash into his bowl, "Oh, stop it, Burl."
"But I wanna GO!"
LaVern leaned towards him, desperate to sooth the ruffled feathers. "Would you like to come into town with me? I've got to practice, and I'd love to take you with me!"
"Will there be soldiers?" He widened his bright, blue eyes.
She laughed, "Probably."
"You men are everywhere. On the streets, in town at the shops… I'm getting rather tired of this war." Mrs. Popplewell sat down after serving everybody.
"Can he tag along with me, ma'am? I think it'd be good for him."
She looked from Smokey to Burl to Vern, "Promise me you'll stay out of trouble, and listen to Miss Claiborne?"
"Yes, mama!" He beamed, swirling around his hot cereal around in excitement.
Smokey glanced down at his wristwatch as he spooned oatmeal into his mouth, "I gotta head out. Thank you for breakfast, Mrs. Popplewell. I'll be back this evening." He stood and slapped LaVern's back before heading out.
Her heart sunk, eyeing the amount of uneaten food in her bowl, and feeling Popplewell's cat-like eyes on her.
"Can we go now?" Burl asked, irritably.
"Finish up your food."
He grumbled and shook more cinnamon on it. "Easy now! That cost a lot of ration stamps!"
They were on stamps here just like back at home. I guess that's why it's called a world war, Vern thought to herself, everybody is affected.
Minutes of awkward silence later, the two younger people had finished eating. "I'll go get my bugle, then we can head out. Alright?"
"Okay!" he beamed from ear to ear.
B.o.B.
"Take my hand while we cross the street."
He groaned, "But my chaps are over there! It'll be embarrassing!"
They paused at the corner, and Vern looked down at him with bright eyes, "Honestly, you are a silly boy. Imagine how green with envy they will be when they see you with a grown woman in an American uniform. C'mon now, Burl." She sealed the offer with a wink.
He clucked his tongue and pointed an agreeing finger up at her, "You're right. Just look like you're in love with me… make 'em believe it." LaVern struggled to keep in her laughter at the overly—confident boy who swaggered at her side.
Burl's fellow classmate's stopped their rowdy game of basketball and watched them with wide eyes. LaVern could practically feel him glowing as he strolled with his head held high.
The pair of friends walked down the sidewalk that was littered in crisp autumn leaves. LaVern knew the boys were already at the local tavern, and she intended to play for them. It would give her a chance to prove herself and truly mingle with her new comrades.
"And, we're here."
"A tavern?" Burl spat out, squeezing her hand in surprise. "Mum would kill me!"
"Relax! You're with me and the rest of my company is in here, I figured you'd like to meet them."
"Are you sure it's okay?"
She slipped her silver bugle from its corduroy sleeve, "Let's go!"
She busted through the door with a bright smile painted on her lips. It had been ages since she'd taken in the low lighting, heavy smell and lively-ness of a bar. Back home, LaVern had spent a lot of time in bars. Dancing mostly. Swinging, jiving and hopping with whoever's hands grasped her's.
She beamed as she caught the sight of Penkala's round face. "Heya, boys!"
"Look who it is- our little bugler girl," Malarkey crooned, elbowing Muck who was leaning against the bar.
Skip gestured his bottle of beer towards the horn in her hand, "Come to play us something?"
"Who's the boy?" Mama Carwood Lipton asked abruptly. "He shouldn't be here."
"I'm boarding with his family, Lip. His mother knows he's with me."
He sipped his beer, "Then by all means, play us something!"
"What'll it be? I can play most anything," Vern flashed her most brilliant smile to the room of men, yearning for their acceptance.
George Luz managed to pull away from his game of darts, "Stardust." He said plainly.
Burl tugged eagerly at her hand, "I love that song, Vernie. Please play it?"
She kneeled down to his level, "Do you know the words?"
"Of course! Please?"
Dousing down her grin, LaVern pressed the cold metal of the bugle to her pursed lips. Burl's undeveloped child's voice sang high with her smooth notes.
And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me we're apart.
Luz grasped the boy's shoulders and gave his voice a whirl at the next verse:
You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust of yesterday
The music of years gone by
LaVern was impressed by the richness of the short man's voice, and closed her small eyes shut to give the song more emotion. Her bugle was smooth and did not blast. In the company of the men, she performed better than she ever had back in Chicago.
With her eyes closed, Vern did not take notice of the stealing glances Luz was shooting her direction. The remainder of the men, and even the young boy all sang the chorus:
Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights dreaming of a song
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you
When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
But that was long ago
And now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song
They all clapped wildly, and shouted as she let down the shining bugle. "Wow boys, I'm impressed!" She whispered down at Burl, "Especially you, Burl. You were the best."
His face grew bright red as he eyed the broad shouldered heroes.
"Just promise us you'll play 'Sunrise Serenade' every morning, eh?" Talbert smiled at her, a glass of beer in his hand.
She chuckled lightly, "It's got some tough notes in it, Tabby… but I'll see what I can do."
Liebgott elbowed Bull, "Hey, I like this girl. I say we keep her."
"I'll agree with that," Bull grinned, speaking with a roaring voice Vern would never be able to get used to.
"Oh, thank you so much for your blessings, boys." She sarcastically spoke as she emptied the spit valves of her bugle.
"Holy shit! That's nasty!" Muck hollered, backing dramatically away.
"Calm your tits, Skip. It's just condensation."
Luz piped in for his shot at a joke, "Hey! Watch your language around the boy!"
LaVern responded by poking George in the chest, "Shuddyap, Georgie."
"What's a 'tits'?" Burl looked up at them all with huge, innocent doe eyes.
The entire bar proceeded to roar in laughter. The boy was a bigger morale booster than she was… and it was her job. She simply ruffled his hair and tried to contain her laughter. Oh, to be naïve again…
So short- I know! I've been studying for finals like a mad woman, so don't expect any constant updates for another three weeks. I'm so sorry… trust me, I'd rather update than study! :p