THE HAPPY HAT by Peter Glassman Read Free Book Online Page B

“Anything wrong here?”
    “Oh I forgot, Corpsman Kaplan, for some reason, has orders to document Boomer’s continuum of care–as far as Boomer's hospital course goes.” Zettler looked in Sparrow’s direction.
    “Oh well, there's always something new with managing these patients coming back from Nam. I'm used to it.” Sparrow gave Kaplan a smile with her arms still folded beneath her bosom and she swayed a little from one leg-to-the other.
    Kaplan returned the smile without taking his eyes from Sparrow's chest. “I overheard something about Boomer's cast. He's due to have a cast change as soon as possible–after the neurologist and the orthopod give us clearance.”
    “Sounds good to me.” Sparrow went back to the Nurses Station with Zettler just as the phone rang. Sparrow handed the receiver to Zettler.
    “How about dinner before we get the rest of the air-evacs settled in for the night?”
    Zettler hung the phone up. “That was Dr. Norman. It's time for chow. He sounded both eager and tired.”
    “I don't see how you two find time for romance with all the work we have.”
    Zettler smiled a lecherous smile. “Well, we do.” Zettler left the ward looking over her shoulder back at Kaplan. Kaplan had been staring at her and their eyes locked.
    LT Dina Sparrow nudged Kaplan's left shoulder. “Two things Kaplan. First, Minnie Zettler is spoken for and is engaged to LT Norman. And second, she's an officer and you’re enlisted.” Her gaze softened as Kaplan turned toward her. “Kaplan you’re older than the average corpsman that comes back from Vietnam. You seem more educated and more sophisticated. How old are you may I ask?”
    “Ma'am, I don't have any designs on LT Zettler. How long has she been here at Queens Naval?”
    “Going on three years–ever since she graduated nursing school. C’mon Kaplan you didn't answer my question.”
    “Ma'am, Lieutenant Sparrow, I just turned twenty-six.” Kaplan saw her staring at his college ring. He reached out for her hand and looked at her ring. “I don't believe it. We're both Boston University class of ‘67.”
    “I have a Bachelor’s in nursing. Your ring says CLA. What was your liberal arts major?”
    “Criminology and pre-law. I got drafted before I got accepted to law school, ma'am.”
    “People get drafted into the Army Kaplan. You’re Navy.”
    “Before I ever opened my draft notice envelope, I ran to the Navy recruiter to see what kind of options I could get that would help pay for my law school education in the future. The Navy was hungry for hospital corpsmen, which took precedence over an Army infantryman.”
    “With a college degree you could be an officer at any branch of the service.” Sparrow raised her eyebrows. “What's the real story Kaplan?”
    “To get the real story ma'am, we have to talk in private. Do you dare cross the enlisted–officer barrier?”
    “This war is essentially over but it’ll take another year to get all the casualties back to stateside hospitals Kaplan. I'm a realist. With the war ending the Navy will look the other way from these ancient ridiculous social barriers.” She looked into his eyes. “Anyway I live off base–alone and away from prying eyes.” She broke eye contact and wrote something on a blank prescription form. “It's time to get back to work. Boomer isn't your only patient on this ward. You have eight more patients assigned to you if you’re going to work here. I suggest you get acquainted with them right away.” She pressed the folded paper into his hands and went back to the Nurses Station.
    ‡
    Kaplan watched Sparrow walk away. She was an attractive woman, about his age and for some reason she was strongly attracted to him. It was probably hormonal. He walked to the foot of Boomer’s bed and looked down at Sparrow's note. It was a phone number.
    “Hey Doc they serious about giving me a bath in this mummy cast?” Boomer's voice had a peculiar quality to it. The total body cast