“Your first class today is navigation you will be lined up outside the mess hall ready to go to Ground School in thirty minutes, remember to clean your trays away.”
***
“It’s eight forty five an' ma head is thumping!” Adele groaned as they returned to the bay to change out of their zoot suits and into civilian clothing for their trip into town.
“Navigation class at seven thirty in the morning will do that to you,” Lucy commiserated, pulling her arms from her overalls.
Marjorie pulled her suitcase out from under her bed. “I'm not sure I know which way is up or down anymore,” she shrugged, opening the latches to select something to wear. “I'm driving into town if anyone wants a lift,” she added absently as she rummaged through her suitcase.
Adrienne's head shot up. “Oh God yes,” she replied. “My ass still hasn't recovered from the ride here,” she moaned as she slipped on her blouse.
“Me too!” Adele added waving a hand in the air.
“That would be lovely,” Lily smiled gratefully, buttoning up the small buttons on her floral print dress.
Helen sat on the edge of her cot as she pulled on a pair of blue pants, “Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to take my motorcycle.”
“It was you!” Adrienne exclaimed. “You passed us yesterday like a... Adele, how did you describe it?” she asked turning to the smaller woman.
“Like a bat out of hell with a rattlesnake up her ass,” Adele grinned.
Blushing slightly as she fastened the button on her trousers Helen smiled, “That would be me.”
As the others returned their attention to getting ready, Lily perched on her bed. With her hands tucked under her thighs and her shoulders nearly touching her ears, she quietly asked a question of Helen. “What does it feel like?”
Helen grinned, “As close to flying without leaving the ground, I'll take you out on it sometime.” She nodded encouragingly towards Lily, whose eyes widened in excitement.
“I'd like that.”
“We all set ladies?” Marjorie asked slipping her shoes on. “We have shopping to do.”
***
They wandered slowly around the small general store assessing the range of goods on offer that could be of use for their 'informal' uniform.
“Anything we don't got, we can order fer ye,” the owner drawled in a smooth Texan tone before smiling at the throng of young women edging round his small shop.
“Aren't you going to get a spare shirt?” Marjorie asked Adele as they picked up the white shirts that formed part of the uniform. “Otherwise you're going to be constantly doing laundry,” she remarked, lifting another shirt in her size.
Adele's cheeks flushed as she ducked her head slightly towards Marjorie, “I just plain can't afford it,” she admitted. “I'm gonna have hands like an ol' woman by the time we graduate.”
She laughed as they walked to collect their whipcord slacks. Adrienne moved into the space they created and checked the sizes of the shirts before tucking five of them under her arm. Aware of being behind the others she moved briskly to catch up with them in selecting her pants.
The store was throbbing with activity as what seemed like the whole of their intake shopped for clothing essentials. Lily had selected her items and was now standing at the desk with them neatly piled. As the assistant rang up the purchases of the other women, she was trying to not take it personally, that despite standing patiently, she hadn't been served when Helen bounced up, her arms full of her soon to be bought clothing.
“Did you get everything?” she asked.
“Yeah I think so, you?” Lily asked, still trying to attract the shopkeeper’s attention.
“Well what I don't have, I'll just have to live without,” Helen grinned. “How come you've not been served?” she asked. Helen was aware that Lily has been waiting for some time as her eyes would often, subconsciously be drawn to her, almost tracking her movements.
“I've no…” Lily was interrupted as
***
“It’s eight forty five an' ma head is thumping!” Adele groaned as they returned to the bay to change out of their zoot suits and into civilian clothing for their trip into town.
“Navigation class at seven thirty in the morning will do that to you,” Lucy commiserated, pulling her arms from her overalls.
Marjorie pulled her suitcase out from under her bed. “I'm not sure I know which way is up or down anymore,” she shrugged, opening the latches to select something to wear. “I'm driving into town if anyone wants a lift,” she added absently as she rummaged through her suitcase.
Adrienne's head shot up. “Oh God yes,” she replied. “My ass still hasn't recovered from the ride here,” she moaned as she slipped on her blouse.
“Me too!” Adele added waving a hand in the air.
“That would be lovely,” Lily smiled gratefully, buttoning up the small buttons on her floral print dress.
Helen sat on the edge of her cot as she pulled on a pair of blue pants, “Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to take my motorcycle.”
“It was you!” Adrienne exclaimed. “You passed us yesterday like a... Adele, how did you describe it?” she asked turning to the smaller woman.
“Like a bat out of hell with a rattlesnake up her ass,” Adele grinned.
Blushing slightly as she fastened the button on her trousers Helen smiled, “That would be me.”
As the others returned their attention to getting ready, Lily perched on her bed. With her hands tucked under her thighs and her shoulders nearly touching her ears, she quietly asked a question of Helen. “What does it feel like?”
Helen grinned, “As close to flying without leaving the ground, I'll take you out on it sometime.” She nodded encouragingly towards Lily, whose eyes widened in excitement.
“I'd like that.”
“We all set ladies?” Marjorie asked slipping her shoes on. “We have shopping to do.”
***
They wandered slowly around the small general store assessing the range of goods on offer that could be of use for their 'informal' uniform.
“Anything we don't got, we can order fer ye,” the owner drawled in a smooth Texan tone before smiling at the throng of young women edging round his small shop.
“Aren't you going to get a spare shirt?” Marjorie asked Adele as they picked up the white shirts that formed part of the uniform. “Otherwise you're going to be constantly doing laundry,” she remarked, lifting another shirt in her size.
Adele's cheeks flushed as she ducked her head slightly towards Marjorie, “I just plain can't afford it,” she admitted. “I'm gonna have hands like an ol' woman by the time we graduate.”
She laughed as they walked to collect their whipcord slacks. Adrienne moved into the space they created and checked the sizes of the shirts before tucking five of them under her arm. Aware of being behind the others she moved briskly to catch up with them in selecting her pants.
The store was throbbing with activity as what seemed like the whole of their intake shopped for clothing essentials. Lily had selected her items and was now standing at the desk with them neatly piled. As the assistant rang up the purchases of the other women, she was trying to not take it personally, that despite standing patiently, she hadn't been served when Helen bounced up, her arms full of her soon to be bought clothing.
“Did you get everything?” she asked.
“Yeah I think so, you?” Lily asked, still trying to attract the shopkeeper’s attention.
“Well what I don't have, I'll just have to live without,” Helen grinned. “How come you've not been served?” she asked. Helen was aware that Lily has been waiting for some time as her eyes would often, subconsciously be drawn to her, almost tracking her movements.
“I've no…” Lily was interrupted as
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