Orman and Bill West entered the cook tent after supper. "We're going to
do the dishes, Rhonda," said the director. "We're so short-handed now
we got to take the K.K.'s off and give 'em to Pat for guard duty. Jimmy
and Shorty will stay on cooking and help with the other work."
Rhonda demurred with a shake of her head. "You boys have had a tough
day. All we've done is sit in an automobile. Sit down here and smoke
and talk to us--we need cheering up. The four of us can take care of
the dishes. Isn't that right?" She turned toward Jimmy, Shorty, and
Naomi.
"Sure!" said Jimmy and Shorty in unison.
Naomi nodded. "I've washed dishes till after midnight for a lot of Main
Street bums many a time. I guess I can wash 'em for you bums, too," she
added with a laugh. "But for the love o' Mike, do as Rhonda said--sit
down and talk to us, and _say something funny_. I'm nearly nuts."
There was a moment's awkward silence. They could have been only a
little more surprised had they seen Queen Mary turn handsprings across
Trafalgar Square.
Then Tom Orman laughed and slapped Naomi on the back. "Atta girl!" he
exclaimed.
Here was a new Madison; they were all sure that they were going to like
her better than the old.
"I don't mind sitting down," admitted West. "And I don't mind talking,
but I'm damned if I can be funny--I can't forget Clarence and Jerrold
and the rest of them."
"Poor Stanley," said Rhonda. "He won't even get a decent burial."
"He don't deserve one," growled Jimmy, who had served with the Marines;
"he deserted under fire."
"Let's not be too hard on him," begged Rhonda. "No one is a coward
because he wants to be. It's something one can't help. We ought to pity
him." Jimmy grumbled in dissent.