Marlow Mercer's Reading
This is an excerpt from Bobby's Memoir, if you would like to read her entire memoir, I would be more than happy to send you the pdf file. Email me at; marlow.mercer@gmail.com
One evening shortly after I arrived at the Army Training Base in Grand Island Nebraska, a fellow nurse, Lt. Garfinkle, walked into my room and said: "I missed dinner, do you want to walk over to the officers club with me and get a sandwich? Sure, why not. It was my first chance to see the club. We ordered sandwiches from the cook and walked into the large empty dining room.
Two officers were eating at one table, chatting, so I walked over to the next table, sat down and Garfinkel followed. One of the officers was brown haired and my heart did a flip flop when I turned and looked at the other handsome, black-haired lad. Little did I know that one day one of them would be my husband. The one with the brown hair put down his half-eaten sandwich and pushed his plate away. Loud enough for them to hear, I told my nurse friend: " A willful waste is a woeful want."
The man with the brown-hair turned to me and said: "what kind of evangelist are you?" We started to talk, the usual stuff to get acquainted, but I noticed the attractive other officer didn't partake much or seem very interested.
The brown-haired guy was loquacious and seemed very interested but I didn't care much for him. He was good looking with large hazel eyes, a straight nose and beautiful small white teeth, but I didn't like his attitude. He oozed self confidence and had a sharp wit but he kept a constant smile on his face which might mean friendliness but I felt he was mocking me and being supercilious. I asked Garfinkle if she was ready to leave and as we started to go- the brown-hair chap said "My name is Lyle Mercer, wait a minute and I'll walk you back to your barracks." It isn't really necessary," I replied. "I'm officer of the day" he replied- "and I must see that you get to your barracks safely."
As we walked along he said to me "So you're a nurse; I know some nurses and they're pretty hot stuff. -"Well," I said huffily, I'll have you to know that I'm 22 years old and have as much modesty as any other girl my age, even if I am a nurse!" He talked on but I didn't say much and when we got to the barracks Garfinkle walked inside. The Lt. grabbed my hand and said, "Why not stay outside and talk a while? My response was- " Lt., you are the most sarcastic man I've ever met and if I ever meet you again - and I hope I don't - I will call you Sarky. Goodnight! His mouth closed, he looked at me in astonishment, and then his eyes opened wide and he started to laugh. I went in the the building and shut the door. Garfinkle said: "Say, I think that guy likes you." "Well, I don't like him." was my response.
And the rest was history.