Звездный десант

           ItwassomewhatdimmedbythefactthatwehadeachheardaboutCarl—killedwhentheBugssmashedourresearchstationonPluto--butonlysomewhat,aswehadeachlearnedtolivewithsuchthings.

           Onethingdidstartleme.Carmenrelaxedandtookoffherhatwhilewewereeating,andherblue-blackhairwasallgone.IknewthatalotoftheNavygirlsshavedtheirheads--afterall,it’snotpracticaltotakecareoflonghairinawarshipand,mostespecially,apilotcan’triskhavingherhairfloatingaround,gettingintheway,inanyfree-fallmaneuvers.Shucks,Ishavedmyownscalp,justforconvenienceandcleanliness.ButmymentalpictureoflittleCarmenincludedthismaneofthick,wavyhair.

           But,doyouknow,onceyougetusedtoit,it’srathercute.Imean,ifagirllooksallrighttostartwith,shestilllooksallrightwithherheadsmooth.AnditdoesservetosetaNavygirlapartfromcivilianchicks--sortofalodgepin,likethegoldskullsforcombatdrops.ItmadeCarmenlookdistinguished,gaveherdignity,andforthefirsttimeIfullyrealizedthatshereallywasanofficerandafightingman—aswellasaveryprettygirl.

           Igotbacktobarrackswithstarsinmyeyesandwhiffingslightlyofperfume.Carmenhadkissedmegood-by.

           TheonlyO.C.S.classroomcoursethecontentofwhichI’mevengoingtomentionwas:HistoryandMoralPhilosophy.

           Iwassurprisedtofinditinthecurriculum.H.&M.P.