The Falling Man

Chapter 6

Tommy POV

Walking away from Ethel I am conflicted and caught off guard once again. She says she wants to get to know me which surely means she's interested; I somewhat already knew this fact but figured it would be meaningless flirting sessions not her getting to know me. If I was still the man I was over a year ago, before the war had begun, I wouldn't mind at all; a pretty girl getting to know me. But I've changed a lot in the past year and am still changing with each passing day and not at all in positive ways. So, the idea of a pretty nurse wanting to "get to know me" makes me uneasy.

I've been struggling mentally this past year but who hasn't. This has made it extremely hard for me to sleep, eat, function. I used to laugh a lot. I still find myself letting go of an occasional chuckle but I can't remember the last time I fully let out a laugh. I'm debating in my head, as I walk over to my brothers and comrades, whether or not I let Ethel in or not. Surely, I will never see her again after I leave this camp, so it wouldn't really matter if she knew everything about me or vice versa nothing at all.

"Tommy! How ya doin lad? Feelin healed?" Johnny Dogs asks me as I arrive at the group with a pat on my shoulder. "I'm feeling better. Thank you Johnny. Right let's get this meeting over with."

We were initially supposed to be at this camp for 10 days before we headed off to dig another tunnel but we got word that we have been assigned a new mission that would be leaving..well we don't know when but sooner than 10 days. Me or Arthur probably won't be fully healed by the time it comes around but the bastards that send us on these missions couldn't care less.

As the group of us walk to the hut where the meeting will take place we pass by medical hut 5. I can't help myself but to look for Ethel in the hut as we pass by. I see her sitting on a man's bed, quite close to him, and holding his hand. Seems quite strange behavior; I think to myself. As we pass by the hut I wonder if she knows the man and feel a slight burn in my body. I bet many soldiers try to woo her, she looks like a film star and every man wants a film star. I push the thoughts to the back of mind as it's ridiculous to feel jealous over a nurse, I've talked to twice, talking to one of her patients.

We continue walking and Arthur changes his position to walk next to me. "How ya feelin brother?" He says to me with a hand on my shoulder. "Fine. You?" I reply. "Good. Good. Arms and head still fucked but.." He trails off. He's smiling at me weirdly I notice. "I saw you talkin to that pretty little nurse." He says to me in a low voice. "That's what nurses do with patients Arthur. They talk to them." I reply. "No no no Tommy you see..I'm talking about over outside the lunch hut." Arthur states in his deep gravely voice. I don't reply instead pull out a cigarette and light it. Arthur starts laughing "Ohh..Myy...Days...Tommy Shelby fancies a nurse oh..my..goodness John! John! You have to come back here and hear this." "I don't fancy her Arthur. She was inquiring about my wounds." I knew this was coming eventually. "Looked to be standing quite close together to be talking about wounds." Arthur replies. John has now arrived to Arthur's other side which just means this conversation will just get more annoying. "What's goin on?" John asks Arthur. "John now you know our Tommy.." "Arthur shut up.." I say to him, he continues anyway. "very picky with women, he is, very picky our brother" I just look over at them while continuing walking. "He's found himself a little birdie John..A little birdie he wants to stick his cock into." John bursts out laughing, meanwhile I just blow out smoke and roll my eyes. On the inside I can't help but be slightly amused by the way my brother is wording this. "Atta boy Tommy!! Who's the unfortunate lady?" John asks. After I don't reply Arthur continues, "You see John..It's that nurse that you had your arm around yesterday. You remember?" "OoOooOoOo" John lets out while reaching past Arthur to push me in the chest. "Both of yous.." I point to them with a slight smirk on my face "stop it." "Tommy you haven't got your rod licked in ages! Go on son! Have you fucked her Tommy?" John asks. "No John I have not." I reply. "Are ya going to?" John asks. "Oh he's goin.." I interrupt Arthur. "She is a nurse.." John interupts me this time. "A sexy one at that!" "She is a nurse", I start again with a slightly raised voice, "I was her patient. That is the only way I see her." I tell my brothers to hopefully put an end to this conversation quickly. "So your telling me Tommy..you wouldn't accept an invitation from the little birdie into the nursing ward?" John asks with his classic smirk on his face. I dont reply instead throw my burned through cigarette to the ground and grab another out of my pocket. The two start laughing at me. "I was supposed to meet her and her friend for lunch today Tommy. You could join us, I can sing your praises! Make up a couple yairns about how good of a brother you are! Aye!" While hitting me in the chest again. "Tommy already met her for her lunch today." Arthur tells John. John pulls a humorous shocked face, but before he can say anything I interrupt him with, "Once again..she was asking about my injuries." If I told them what we were actually talking about the teasing would never stop. Thankfully, we have just arrived to where we were told our meeting would be so the conversation comes to a close. "Little fucking birdie." I say quietly to myself.