The Cold Recesses of our Minds

3

The cold winter air tears at my arms and legs. I walk around attempting to heat my body up. It's so silent on this side. The silence is broken when I hear someone hitting something. It's a metallic sound. I look around and see Captain Winters sitting on a tree or something near his foxhole. In his hand is a thing of shaving cream. I walk away for one second before I hear Winters yelling something. I whirl around and see a german soldier with his hands up.

Winters holds up his gun to him, shaving cream on his face. I almost giggle at his face, Winters looks so riduculous. I watch the german soldier follow the gun back up to camp. I walk back to my fox hole. That was the first exciting thing that has happened today. I can't imagine what kind of hells are in store for us the rest of the day. I crawl into my fox hole and sit for a bit.

Doc Roe will probably come yell at me to get up in a few seconds. I lean against the dirt wall of the hole my gun leaning against my right shoulder. I tip my helmet back. I just want to sleep..but not for six hours....forever.

I've seen enough in just Bastonge alone. I sigh as I hear Roe asking around for a pair of scissors. I search throught my things. No scissors. I get up and stand in my hole. Roe walks around the camp completely avoiding me.

I'm beginning to think people don't like me. No one talks to me except for Liebgott and Lipton. And once everyday, Winters, when I'm doing something wrong.

I climb out of the hole. Ever since we got here I've had the need to dance...maybe it's the cold messing with my mind.

I smile but a gentle breeze stops the smile and causes me to shiver. I walk over to Malarkey, maybe he will want to talk. I cross my arms as I walk.

I wish the sun would shine again. I just want to feel the heat on my face again. The fog really makes you disoriented. I see Malarkey talking to a group of men. I walk up to them.

"Lieutenant Richardson," Malarkey nods coldly to me.

"How's it going fellas," I smile. They all look at me.

"Where the hell have you been?" Lipton asks. I look at him confused.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Haven't seen you since you made the snowman two weeks ago," Lipton shrugs. I nod.

"I've been around, I guess I haven't been exactly social," I shrug.

"Well welcome back," Muck smiles and pats on the back.

"You know what I miss most about home?" Malarkey says.

"Blankets, soup and other human beings," I mutter.

"And women," Muck winks. I nod with a smile. I guess I'm pretty okay with a group of men surrounding me all the time.

"Christmas parties," Malarkey nods. We all sigh.

"I would kill to have some Christmas presents," I smile.

"Maybe the Germans have some," Muck shrugs with a grin.

"Maybe they'll just drop some presents off for us, I mean even some new boots," Lipton hold up his boot. It's barely together. I shake my heads. I took some boots of a soldier before he left Bastogne.

"Mr. New Boots doesn't need any," Malarkey snorts as he looks down at my boots.

"It's Lieutenant New Boots, sergeant," I say seriously. Malarkey cracks a smile.

"More like, Lieutenant What Are You Doing," Muck says and nods to Winters.

"He's always asking you that," Lipton nods.

"I don't know why either, it's like he wants me to do something wrong," I sigh and look at Winters. He looks over at us.

"Where's Liebgott?" Malarkey asks. I shrug still staring at Winters. I finally look away and stare at the ground. The snow is a dry snow now. I hear the men shift their feet as I hear Winters walk over to us.

"Lieutenant Richardson, may I have a word with you?" Winters asks.

"Yes sir," I nod to him. I turn away but look back and nod to the three men.

Winters goes outside of the camp and stops. I stop behind him.

"Colonel Sink thinks we've been doing well up here, especially you," he sighs and looks around to face me.

"Well consider what we have I would say we are doing pretty well," I say. Winters nods.

"You've been promoted Lieutenant," Winters throws a small package to me. I don't even look at it.

"Does this mean I'll be transferred elsewhere?" I ask. Winters looks away.

"Yes Captain," he nods. I purse my lips together. I hand him back the package.

"Sorry sir, but I'd like to stay with Easy," I nod. He looks at the small package that would have made me the same rank as him.

"Alright, I'll tell Sink, but are you sure?" He asks.

"Very sure, I'm unworthy of Captain anyway, maybe another time," I joke. Winters shadow smile comes across his face. He nods and walks away.

I stand there and feel small snowflakes fall. I sigh.

"Richardson, you're an idiot," I roll my eyes at myself.

I could have left this hell hole and been off somewhere else.

I walk slowly back to camp.

I couldn't leave the only friends I ever had. Not Lipton or Liebgott or Malarkey even if we've become somewhat distant.

Hell, I couldn't even leave Winters. I'd miss his nagging too much. I smile to myself. Maybe things we change after this.

I walk back to my foxhole and climb in. Maybe I'll die in here. Maybe a mortar will blow me up. Maybe I'll die a hero.

Or maybe I'll die a woman.