Cherry Ames Boxed Set 1-4

by Helen Wells

  “Are you excited about going into the Army Nurse Corps?”

  Cherry threw back her black curls and laughed. “Thrilled—and chilled!” Dr. Joe looked puzzled. “A little frightened,” she explained.

  “Of what?”

  As usual with Dr. Joe, Cherry had to think about essentials. “I’m not frightened of bullets or maybe going hungry or… or any physical danger. I’m frightened about something that’s in myself—or perhaps isn’t in me.”

  Dr. Joe nodded. “You are putting yourself to the great test. It’s a healthy sign that you’re frightened—you realize the seriousness of what you are facing. It won’t be easy. It will call on every resource you possess, and perhaps more maturity than you have at present.” Cherry listened humbly. “But a nurse is a soldier, even in peacetime. And you always were a determined little monkey.” He patted her glowing cheek.

  Cherry grinned. “If you mean I can’t and won’t stay put, yes! Monkeys are pretty restless and inquisitive creatures, you know.”

  The rest of that week, Cherry felt restless indeed. Now that the unit was really forming, she could hardly wait to launch on the great adventure. She competently raced through her daily work on the ward, and then fretted until time to go off, when she scampered about the hospital for news. September fifteenth was a great day. Cherry received another of those official-looking envelopes. The Army was pleased to notify her that she had passed her first physical examination. Cherry virtually danced about the ward that day.

  Some more excitement was going on at Spencer. New student nurses were pouring in, and some of the older students were returning from their month’s vacation. Cherry noticed, in growing numbers, a certain stunning red-trimmed gray uniform, worn with a dashing gray beret. Most of the new girls sported it. Cherry half envied them. She knew what it was: the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. Those lucky girls were getting their nursing training free, with their rooms at Spencer and their meals and uniforms and pocket money provided for them, too. When there was a knock on Cherry’s door in the senior-and-graduate Residence Hall Monday evening, Cherry was not surprised to see Mildred Burnham, her “probie adoptee.” But when Mildred smiled back at her from under a gray beret and drew forward another young girl in jaunty gray, Cherry frankly whistled.

  “How’d you get it? And who’s this?” she demanded, as the two girls came into her gay little chintz-and-maple room. “Sit down and tell me all!” She brought out a box of candy, half-full, and the girls settled themselves.

  Mildred smiled confidently. Cherry had never seen her head held so high. “I received it by applying and qualifying. I’m a junior now, you know, Cherry, but I was able to transfer to the Cadets in midstream. And this is my cousin, Nurse Cadet Louise Woods. She’s a probie—she’s just started her training.”

  Louise was a small pretty girl who could not have been a minute over seventeen. She smiled shyly at Cherry, awed by a graduate nurse.

  “We finish our training in two and a half years instead of three,” Mildred announced, “and then we can spend the last six months in Army or Navy hospitals, or public health nursing, or civilian hospitals, depending on what we want to do.” She told Cherry that, because of the shortage of nurses, she already had offers of positions even before graduation.

  Louise said shyly, “Everyone warned me nursing was awful. But you know nursing is fun! Even with all the terrific mistakes I make! Why, I never had such a good time in my life!”

  Cherry and Mildred laughed, remembering their own probie days. “I know,” Cherry said sympathetically, “I discovered that too.”

  While the two older girls discussed their careers, Louise concentrated on Cherry’s chocolates.

  When they were leaving, Louise—who was obviously proud of her smart gray uniform—asked Cherry if a Cadet were required to salute a Lieutenant.

  “No, but you can if you want to!” Cherry laughed. “But as a matter of fact, I ought to salute you for the work you are doing.”

  “My work?” said the astonished probationer. Mildred, too, looked puzzled. “I wish I were going to save soldiers’ lives like you. But no, I have to stick around here doing little jobs, like folding bandages and taking temperatures and making the patients swallow their medicine.”

  “Little things!” Cherry shook her head. “Those are big things. And you are helping to save soldiers’ and sailors’ lives! For every new girl who starts her nursing training, a graduate nurse can be released to the Army. If you and Mildred weren’t on the job here, I’d have to stay and do your work.”

  Cherry saluted little Louise, who visibly expanded with pride. She called good night to Mildred, and watched their trim gray figures disappear down the hall. Louise was cute, even if she had eaten up all her chocolates.

  The next morning, on her way to breakfast, Cherry found another of those official envelopes waiting for her. Cherry Ames, R.N., Spencer Hospital, was ordered to report in person to the Commanding Officer at Fort Herold, New Jersey, for duty, on September twenty-first. This was the nineteenth! Cherry raced through the rest of the form letter. Her serial number was given, the letter N and a long string of numbers. She’d have to memorize that. It was her identification and the key to her Army records. There were orders about her equipment, pay, expenses, travel allowances. Cherry read the orders but she was so excited, the information did not register. She could only think dazedly, “We’re actually starting!” She hurried off to find the other girls. They all were in the nurses’ dining room, in a state between joy and panic. Josie Franklin was taking her own temperature. No one ate any breakfast, but cups and cups of black coffee were consumed.

  Later that morning ward phones rang all over the hospital; nurses going with the Spencer unit were summoned off the wards, their Spencer duty was permanently canceled, and they were directed to go to the auditorium directly after noon dinner. Cherry bolted a sandwich with the others and hurried to the auditorium. She was startled to find a soldier at the door, checking off their names and admitting them one by one.

  A murmur of crackling white uniforms and subdued voices filled the room. They did not have long to wait. Dr. Wylie, stern, gray-haired, stocky, and in uniform, and Miss Reamer, the gracious Superintendent of Nurses, came in with two Army officers. The four people mounted the empty stage.

  Dr. Wylie, now Lieutenant-Colonel Wylie, stomped forward to the speaker’s stand. “I wish to salute you young women who are about to become Army nurses! You will take the first steps today. And we leave for Fort Herold tomorrow afternoon.” From there on, Colonel Wylie glowered and scolded, as if doubting that they had the minds of gnats. But he gave them every bit of information they needed.

  The two Army officers were introduced and each spoke briefly. Major Roberts, a middle-aged doctor from the Medical Corps, instructed them on the immediate steps of entering the Army Nurse Corps. Their chief nurse—the Army equivalent of head nurse—would be assigned to them at Post. Captain Endicott, a young man, was not a doctor but an officer from the regular Army. He instructed them about transportation, orders, pay and allowances. Both officers were terse, clear, quick, concerned for the best welfare of these soldiers-to-be.

  Then Miss Reamer rose. She was almost as thrilled as the girls themselves. “Will you form a single line and come up here on the platform, one by one?”

  They lined up, Cherry between Gwen and Ann. Major Roberts and Lieutenant-Colonel Wylie were talking earnestly together. Captain Endicott sat at a table with the girls’ records, and talked briefly to each nurse as she came up. Cherry noticed Lex enter the auditorium, mount the stage, and speak to Dr. Wylie.

  Captain Endicott was, Cherry saw at closer view, a strikingly handsome and sleek young officer. He had regular features, clear gray eyes, wavy blond hair, and fine, well-kept hands. He undeniably had charm, and he knew it.

  “Your name, please?” he asked.

  “Cherry Ames.”

  He pulled out her cards and asked, “Are you prepared to travel very soon?”

&nbs
p; “Yes, sir, I’m ready to go anywhere in the world! I’ve even,” she added humorously, “bought seasick remedy.”

  Captain Endicott looked at her quizzically. “Will you need seasick remedy in New Jersey?”

  “New Jersey?” Cherry scoffed. “That’s only the jumping-off spot to a long boat ride.”

  “The long boat ride,” Captain Endicott chuckled, “comes after you complete your training. I merely meant to ask, are you ready to travel immediately?”

  “Yes, sir, I’m prepared to be off at the drop of a military hat,” Cherry twinkled back at him.

  Cherry finished answering the rest of Captain Endicott’s questions. She started to turn away, when the handsome Captain called to her:

  “Oh, Miss Ames. Don’t forget your water wings!”

  “No, sir, nor my paddle,” was the swift repartee. They both burst out laughing. As she walked away, still smiling, she was suddenly aware that Lex was taking in the whole interview, his dark brows knitted in a frown.

  Cherry finished and went down the platform steps. There was Lex waiting for her. Still frowning, he drew her to one side.

  “You seem to find the handsome captain amusing!” Lex said in that brusque way of his.

  “Don’t be silly, Lex,” Cherry said, with some irritation. She knew by now that she should not let Lex’s impulsive, highhanded manner arouse her own quick temper. But somehow it always did.

  Lex said trenchantly, “Do you suppose anything else about him measures up to his looks?”

  Cherry took another quick look at Endicott. He was smiling, almost preening. Instantly she saw what Lex meant. Lex, who had lightning insight into character, who despised sham, was absolutely right.

  “He seems to turn on the charm for all the girls,” Cherry agreed. “But you don’t have to be so snappish about it.”

  “Just look at him,” Lex retorted. Cherry saw Captain Endicott, very businesslike of course, smile his nicest at Ann Evans. Ann remained unimpressed.

  Vivian Warren went up to his table next. Cherry watched her with particular affection and a feeling of protectiveness. Three years ago, when all the girls were just entering nurses’ training, Vivian had been a cold, embittered girl, without friends. But Cherry had discovered that Vivian, behind her defiant front, was hiding a life of poverty and unhappiness, and was really frightened and starved for affection. Now the coldness, the harsh make-up, the fear, were gone. It was Cherry who had helped Vivian blossom out into the sweet-faced girl who stood now, slight and rather nervous, before Captain Endicott’s table. There was something a little wistful, a little pathetic, in Vivian’s pretty face.

  Captain Endicott spoke to Vivian as he went through her cards. Cherry could not hear what they were saying. But she saw Vivian smile and stand up a little straighter, eager to please and to be liked. And Captain Endicott promptly noticed Vivian’s unusual responsiveness. He made his smile even brighter.

  Cherry turned to Lex. “There, you see! You needn’t warn me. I’d better warn Vivian!”

  Cherry could understand that Vivian might be dazzled by this suave young captain. And Cherry suspected that Captain Endicott, with his obvious vanity, would encourage Vivian’s admiration.

  Vivian finished and came over to Cherry and Lex. Her soft hazel eyes were glowing, a faint pink flushed the fine, pale skin of her sensitive face. “Isn’t Captain Endicott nice!” she exclaimed.

  Lex snorted and abruptly walked away.

  “I think Captain Endicott is awfully nice looking and pleasant-mannered,” Cherry said carefully.

  Vivian caught the doubt in her voice at once. She looked at Cherry disappointedly. “You mean perhaps he isn’t as nice as I think?”

  “It’s just,” Cherry said in a light tone, “that going away with the unit is more thrilling just now than any young man! Don’t you feel that way?”

  Vivian said softly, “He’s going to be at our camp, too, you know.”

  Cherry laughed. “Here, here, keep your pretty head! There are going to be lots of nice young men at camp, Vivian. Perhaps some even nicer than this one. Why don’t you reserve judgment—and anyhow, we have to pack.”

  Vivian smiled and went out of the auditorium with Cherry.

  The rest of that day, the nurses hastily packed and hurried through last-minute errands and shopping. Cherry was so excited that everything seemed faintly unreal to her. The Superintendent of Nurses had asked them to be in the big lounge at three. With their bags bulging and strapped, they all went over to Spencer Hall for what they supposed was one more official meeting. But at the threshold they were surprised to find the long table before the fireplace laid for tea, brilliant autumn leaves everywhere, and Miss Reamer entertaining a distinguished-looking man. Miss Reamer was sending them off in style with a farewell reception!

  The visitor had come from the Red Cross to honor Cherry’s class for signing up unanimously in the Army Nurse Corps. After a brief speech, he presented them with a citation.

  Just as the speaker finished, Cherry saw Dr. Joe softly come in. He was wearing the uniform of an Army Major and looked very happy. He beckoned to Cherry. Under cover of the applause, she slipped over to him.

  “I’m going with your unit after all!” Dr. Joe told her in a whisper.

  Cherry was so delighted she could have hugged him then and there. “What—and where—?” she started.

  “I’ll have to tell you some other time,” Dr. Joe promised. He moved off to meet other staff doctors who were coming in to celebrate Spencer’s first unit.

  On the surface, the party was gay, with everyone talking and circulating and laughing a great deal. But Cherry caught a glimpse of Miss Reamer’s face, off guard: it was sober and deeply moved. Cherry realized that was how they all were really feeling. Here was a little band of them, going out to spread Spencer’s long tradition of service and devotion. Every doctor and nurse in this room loved Spencer Hospital, and every-one’s heart went with this unit, venturing out into war in Spencer’s name.

  Miss Reamer spoke to them. “There isn’t much I can say,” she began. “I have known every one of you young women since you came here as probationers, and I’ve known you well all through your student years. Now, to see you set forth is like seeing my own daughters go.” She smiled at them, one by one, a little shakily. Her eyes met Cherry’s, and Cherry felt very tangibly the love this older teacher and guide had for them all. “But I’m nearly forgetting your gift!” Miss Reamer turned for a moment to get something from the table. “Spencer School of Nursing presents this flag to Spencer Hospital. It will hang in the rotunda, in your honor, as long as this hospital stands!”

  She unfurled a great gleaming white service flag, bordered in dark blue. The school’s name and the year of Cherry’s class were sewn on it. A murmur of delight went up from the young nurses. Cherry swallowed a lump in her throat. Instead of sixty stars, for the sixty girls in service, the flag bore sixty miniature nurse’s caps!

  CHAPTER III

  Lovey

  FORT HEROLD STRETCHED OUT FOR MILES, AN ORDERLY blueprint in the low, wandering, eastern hills. The warm afternoon sun beat down on its miles of white-painted buildings. Cherry bounced along on the bus, with Gwen falling in her lap, and hung out the open window to see three other busses full of Spencer nurses roaring along behind. They had boarded the train yesterday right after Miss Reamer’s tea, and now they were finally here.

  Down the road they thundered. The blueprint grew bigger and nearer. Cherry could see khaki figures moving, and a far-off burst of gunfire, followed by lingering smoke.

  “This is it!” called Captain Endicott from the front of her bus. They swerved into the gate, halted momentarily for the guard, then drove slowly and smoothly into camp. Cherry stared. She had never seen a place so beautiful!

  Fort Herold, long-established and one of the Army’s proudest posts, looked like a beautiful green park when you first rode down its curving, tree-lined drives. Here stood simple, stately, red-brick, white-pillared A
dministration buildings, in typical American style. Their bus followed the road along the long parade ground, richly bordered on either side by trees and by red-brick homes with beautifully kept lawns. Officers’ Row, Captain Endicott explained. Far away, facing the end of the parade ground, and heading Officers’ Row, was the Colonel’s house, surrounded by gardens. Captain Endicott identified the buildings which dotted the paved walks and the green sweep of park: Officers’ Club, the Guest House for soldiers’ visitors, the restaurant, the gay-looking cafeteria, the Post Exchange store. Cherry looked and looked.

  What surprised Cherry, however, was that there were so few people about. She had expected a great bustle of soldiers and jeeps and tanks. But only single soldiers walked briskly on any of the paths, exchanging salutes with officers as they passed, only a few cars and jeeps drove quietly by; some children played before Officers’ Row.

  “Where is everybody?” she asked.

  Captain Endicott smiled his winning smile. “Do you see those woods way off to the northeast end of Post?” They all stared, first over the low roofs of miles of long, one-story, white-painted, wooden barracks, then to the woods. “Some of the men are out there, doing radio work. Some of the others—listen!” Cherry waited, then heard a faint rattle of gunfire. The sunny air moved in waves. “They’re shooting on the rifle range—that’s a good safe distance away. Now look over there,” he said, as the bus swerved. “Look hard.”

  Cherry scowled toward the distant road. She saw nothing but trees and blowing autumn leaves. Captain Endicott grinned. She stared again, watching as hard as she could. The whole road seemed to be moving!

  “Have I gone crazy?” Vivian demanded, seeing it too.

  The young captain laughed as if Vivian had said something particularly delightful. “That’s a company going out on maneuvers for the night. They’re wearing field camouflage suits, that’s why you have a hard time seeing them. There are a hundred and eighty men moving along that road.” He signaled two soldiers at the back of the bus to collect the girls’ luggage, and added casually, “There are forty thousand men training on this Post.”