TDTLBU Chapter Forty-Two

October, 1943.  The Fighting First had been pulled at long last out of heavy fighting all the way across Sicily. Wearily, they awaited transportation to England for much-needed rest and then... More training and back into combat again, if need be. They had pulled out of North Africa in the middle of the summer and most of the fall had been spent in Italy. Some divisions had lost half their men. Reinforcements from America were on their way to join them in England. And what then? 

Nobody knew.

The last day they were in camp before packing up to march to the ship that would convey them back to England, several bags of much-delayed mail came through. The entire day was spent in reading and re-reading letters, sharing news from home, tearing eagerly into packages, and writing letters to send back. 

But Ronnie was silent. No one could get him to say a word… and no one could understand what was wrong. In answer to questions, he just grit his teeth and shook his head. Josh tried everything he could think of and then some, but never once had he gotten a reaction. By the time they gathered around the campfire for supper, Josh had changed his tactics. He was starting to look worried. Mac told him let it go, but he wouldn’t listen.

“He’s going through something, man. Leave him alone.” Mac rolled his eyes.

“But he’s never acted like this before,” Josh repeated for the dozenth time. “I mean, yeah, he’s quiet… but he’s never this quiet…” And so saying, he strode right over to the circle where Ronnie was sitting, staring into the fire, his ration box on his knees and still unopened. 

“Hey… buddy…” Josh clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. Without looking back, Ronnie reached up and gripped Josh’s wrist with one hand, then twisting sideways with a sudden movement, flipped him over his shoulder. Josh hit the ground at Ronnie’s feet, staring up at him in shock. 

“What was that for? Trying t’ throw me in the fire or what?”

“Maybe,” Ronnie shrugged calmly and bent to pick up his rations, by now squashed half-flat in the dust.

“Well, now, look who’s talking!” Josh cried indignantly as he scrambled to his feet, brushing clods of dirt from his coat. “What’s up with you, anyway? Someone steal your P-38?”

“Had a bad day.”

“I’ll say,” Sam grinned, looking up from his coffee. “He’s right. What’s up?”

“Can’t anyone get any privacy around here?” Ronnie raised one eyebrow, looking askance at the group around the fire.

“Nope, pal, welcome to the army.” Dan laughed. But his expression quickly changed to sympathy. “Honestly, if something’s bothering you… you can share. Don’t feel like y’have to hide it.”

“S’nothing,” Ronnie muttered. “Just… got bad news… s’all.”

“Everything okay at home?” Sandy pressed, leaning forward. 

“Okay, you all wanna know that bad?” Ronnie rose abruptly, again knocking his forgotten rations to the ground. “My girl’s getting married to some other guy while I’m off shooting Krauts in the mountains. And not just any guy. A cripple, okay? Because he can't go off to war. Happy now?” Turning heel, he stalked off without another word. 

“Case in point,” Mac glared at Josh who was rubbing his wrist and grimacing. “When people are upset… leave them alone.”

✯✯✯

Accomodations in England were considerably better than camping across Africa and Italy. And at last the men were able to eat hot meals. The first few days back, they simply gorged themselves on army food as if they couldn't get enough of it, forgetting that this was the same stuff they had complained about while in training.

Training was rough... more than it had ever been. They were told that they were preparing to invade Europe, but they were never given any more details than that. But a lot of information was gleaned simply from the training they were given... Such as amphibious landings and climbing cliffs. While they didn't know the exact location or date of invasion, they were beginning to understand what such an undertaking would involve.

In spite of the ramped-up training, the men were still given plenty of free time and many went off to explore England and meet the local girls. War weddings were becoming a very common occurrence. Sandy lost his heart to an English girl and pined away every moment they were in camp. Ralph was among those who got married... to an Army nurse... an American girl.

As the time for invasion drew closer, the training seemed to die down. Restless, anxious, unsure of what was coming, the men whiled the time away... Waiting... Waiting... The waiting was dreadful.

✯✯✯

Josh lay on his stomach on the top bunk, peering over the edge at the gambling crowd below. They were a noisy lot, apt to wrestle each other for the money just as soon as roll a dice for it. Josh had learned the hard way about gambling. He had lost three months of wages a year back in North Africa. Chaos had ensued when he tried to get it back and Ronnie had to drag him out of the mob while Mac created a diversion. Josh hadn't been the only one that night who ended up with a black eye and split lip. 

And now here he was, asking for it again. Although now he had found an alternative method.

"Whatcha doing?" Mac stood beside the bunks, crossing his arms and resting his chin on the top one.

"Planting," Josh answered absently without looking back.

"Whaddya mean? Planting what?"

"I'm sowing seeds of contention," Josh used what he privately called an "Emmaism". 

"Huh?"

"Behold." Josh opened his hand, revealing a fistful of dice. "These are my seeds. And down there," he hung a little farther over the edge. "Down there is the soil. Very fertile soil indeed."

"What's he doing now?" Ronnie walked up, glancing warily at Josh.

"Don't ask. And don't interrupt him. I think this one is gonna be good."

"It is, huh? Do you mean good as in the time he filled cartridges with coffee grounds or good as in the time he put a chipmunk in the lieutenant's bunk?"

"And watch as the contention blooms," Josh whispered dramatically as he dropped the dice into the center of the game all at once, just before they could check the dice that had just been rolled.

This time, Mac and Ronnie mutually and silently agreed to let him fend for himself.