A Soldier of No Importance [ Band of Brothers ] 1

FORTY

Alice joined them for breakfast the next morning, relishing the chance to enjoy fresh eggs and a few links of sausage. Meals in the army weren't exactly something to look forward to. Billeting alone clearly had its advantages beyond not having to interact with the other officers and enlisted men.

Once she'd finished her meal and hung around the house awhile, Alice decided to take a walk with Millie and Percy while Madeleine had school. The good Colonel Sink had agreed to let Alice take advantage of being out of the United States and allow her to be out of uniform whenever she wasn't training. In his opinion, it would be easier to hide her existence as a soldier that way. So with a light grey dress featuring large black buttons down the side in an asymmetrical line, she wandered through the early morning of Aldbourne. The curler Millie lent her had done wonders for her hair, and she added her beret as well. It felt incredibly empowering to be able to put herself together.

"So, ya' like the boys you've got 'round ya'?" Millie asked.

Alice stiffened a bit. She had told Millie mostly about her job, and nothing about the others. But she couldn't blame the woman for being curious. "They're good at their jobs." Her thoughts drifted to Nixon briefly.

"Good at their jobs? Well that's good, love. Would hate for you t' have to waste your time on men who can't fight this war properly." Millie watched Percy pick a rock up off the sidewalk. "Perce, don't put that in your mouth!"

With a small grin, Alice shook her head. Millie hurried forward to where Percy just continued kicking rocks down the sidewalk. The little boy had quite a mouth when he wanted to, but he just seemed content to quietly resist his mother's authority.

"Did you want to go out for drinks tonight?" Millie chuckled when Alice glanced at her in surprise. "Oh come off it. I may be a mother but I'm only a bit older than you I'd guess. I still enjoy a night out. And your boys don't start their training for a few days yet, right?"

Alice smiled. With a nod, she turned to her. "I'd love that, actually. I've been surrounded by men for so long that I need some female company."

"Good!"

Millie and Percy led the way towards the center of town. The toddler started rambling on about wanting to find "Edgar." Eventually, she realized Edgar was a puppy owned by a local shop owner.

"Percy, if ya' stop whinging, we'll find him, love, ok?" She turned to Alice beside her. "I swear, he listens to me less and less every day."

Alice laughed out loud. Thinking of her own younger sister, she just nodded. "My sister Bernadette was the same way, Millie. Of course we were only about six years apart, so it wasn't my job to keep her in line!"

"True, true. My sister Maggie lives in London these days, working as a secretary for the war office. She's your age."

"Mum! Edgar!"

"Alright, hun, alright!"

Millie laughed and hurried after her son. The shop where Edgar made his home soon came into view around the corner. Alice giggled, losing control of herself as a massive, shaggy dark brown dog bounded out the door and started licking Percy in the face. Edgar's fur partially obscured his eyes but his enthusiasm more than made up for it.

"Good morning, Ms. Millie," an old man said. He grinned as he exited the shop, looking down at Edgar attacking Percy. His thin white hair had been mostly covered by a small hat. "And you are?"

"Alice Klein." She smiled at the old man, catching a whiff of his tweed vest. It smelled of rich cigars.

"Pleasure, Miss Klein."