Our Duty

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Lordy, it’s hot! I didn’t think I’d ever get finished trying to make patients a little comfortable,” Polly sighed while shedding clothes. She joined several young women in swimsuits lying on the roof of the student nurses’ dorm. “At least there’s a breeze up here. How long have you all been escaping the heat like this?”

Dismissing the question, a long-legged blonde, yawned, “We had about given up on you.” She opened her eyes and gasped, “Pauline Garrity, where’s your swimsuit?” Six pairs of eyes popped open, and some girls sat up, gawking open-mouthed.

“Lord, Mildred, shut up. No one would have noticed if you didn’t have such a big mouth.”

“Well, what are you doing? We know you have an hour-glass figure, but we don’t want to see all of it,” said Stella Zedrich.

“Then just close your eyes, Miss Priss!” Polly retorted.

“Boy someone’s in a nasty mood,” Mildred observed.

“Oh, I’m just so hot! It was unmerciful on the wards, and every one of my patients wanted alcohol rubs to cool off,” Polly explained as she spread her towel. “Really, I don’t know how they survive lying in those beds. Even the luxury of fans only moves hot air!”

“You should’ve just told ‘em you were off duty at 3:00,” Stella advised, closing her eyes.

Polly looked at her in disbelief, ready to spew her frustration when Mildred shook her head and said, “Well that explains your mood, but not the birthday suit.”

“I don’t have a swimsuit, and my underpants are worn so ragged; they’re a hell of lot uglier than my birthday suit.” Polly lay down placing her bra across her kinky pubic hair.

“There; I’m decent. It’s not like we don’t see people naked all

the time!”

“Polly, you’re a hoot!” Eileen Hay, one of Polly’s best friends laughed with the others.

“But, they aren’t naked for no good reason!” Stella huffed.

“Oh shut up, please, and let me rest.” Polly’s voice drifted as she relaxed in the warm rays.

Soon, a low droning rose from the west. “Here they come, right on schedule,” Mildred lazily observed.

“Here comes who?” Stella sat straight up.

“The fly boys. New pilots on training maneuvers from the air base across town. They always fly over about the same time and tell us hi.” Mildred stood and stretched.

“Sister Gregory will kill us. We gotta go!” Stella grabbed her towel and headed for the door to lower floors.

“Go on and miss the fun, Miss Priss!” Eileen called as the worry-wart disappeared. “Lord her name sure fits! Who invited goody two shoes up here anyway?” Reaching over, she snatched the bra barely covering

Polly’s privates.

Polly squealed, jumped up and tried to grab the bra. Eileen scurried out of reach then stole the towel Polly had been lying on.

“You b***h, give me that towel,” Polly yelled as she grabbed for her friend. “I’ll be damned if I’ll share any shoe stamps if you don’t give it

to me.”

Laughing, Eileen jumped out of reach.

“Ladies, you’re making a spectacle and gonna miss the men!”

Mildred sang as she waved to the PT 17s skirting the Wichita skyline.

“Oh s**t!” Polly gasped. Then in defiant surrender to Eileen she grinned, bent her rear to the sky, and shook it like a peacock displaying his glory. Even above the roar of engines, the girls could hear shrill

whistles while the planes’ wings tilted.

As the aircraft disappeared, Mildred interrupted the others’ laughter with, “Thank God Miss Priss left, Polly, or she’d report you for sure!”

“For what? Doing my patriotic duty? I was just entertainin’ the troops a little. Giving ‘em something sweet to think about when they’re in a God-forsaken jungle or fox hole.” Polly stood at attention and

saluted her friends, which fueled more cackling.

She picked up her clothes and snapped the end of her towel at

Eileen, who squealed. “Stella will probably report me anyway,” Polly muttered as she began to dress.

“What for?” Mildred asked. “She was up here sunbathing, so she’s not innocent.”

“But, Miss Stella Zedrich saw the Carsons give me some shoe stamps as thanks for my help with their new baby. Stella was delighted to remind me, ‘Accepting gifts from patients is against rules.’ ”

Eileen glanced up from pulling on her shorts. “Is that why you were so upset that you almost knocked Mrs. Alexander and her baby out of her wheelchair as you stormed into the hospital earlier this afternoon?”

“Yeah, Miss Zedrich’s such a prude; she’s probably telling old Gorgon about the stamps right now.”

Mildred quipped, “You better watch calling Sister Gregory such names. She’d eat you alive if she heard.”

Eileen added, laughing, “She sure will. GRRRRR!! However, I can’t wait to tell Aggie about the fun she missed on the roof this afternoon. Where is she anyway?”

As they walked toward the door, Polly answered “I think there was an emergency surgery Gorgon wanted her to observe.” Looking directly at Eileen, she added, “And you don’t need to be a blabber mouth

Eileen, The more people who hear about this the better chance of

Gorgon learning about it too. Then there’d be hell for all of us to pay, and no more sun bathing even if we live!”