Amazed - Chapter 7

0814 local
Saturday December 14th 2002
Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs

May and Val are packing for Christmas leave. Both are very excited. They haven't seen their families for a long time.

Val - So you'll meet everybody?

May - Yeah. And it makes me a bit anxious. On the phone, they all seemed very nice, but...

Val - Feeling intimidated?

May - A lot! What if they don't like me? Well, you see...

Val - I think you have nothing to fear. Didn't you tell me they were crying on the phone?

May - I don't know anymore... I'm so nervous!

Val - Don't worry, everything will be all right.

Val hugs May.

May - Thanks, Val! You're an excellent friend!

They take their bags and leave their room.

********************

1047 local
same day
Washington National Airport

The families waiting are amused to see a young AF cadet jumping at the neck of a Navy officer. Hopefully they hear her say 'Daddy!'! When they leave the airport, all is covered with snow. They reach the car.

Harm - How was your flight?

May - Perfect! Except I was dying to be in the pilot's seat. My neighbor must have wondered what I was doing with my hands!

Harm - That's the same for me when I'm on a commercial flight.

May - That's the only way to fly as you want!

Harm - You got it! So by what monument do you want to start your Washington tour?

May - I don't know. There is so much to see! One thing for sure, I keep my visit to the Wall for Christmas eve. To go with you.

Harm - It will be nice to go there with you.

May - But for today, I thought I could go and find a little hotel to have a good night sleep. Those last weeks have been horrible, as if the teachers wanted to make us regret this leave! And then, on Monday, I would like to visit the JAG to say hello to everybody. There are some of your colleagues I didn't met last time.

Harm - Are you sure you don't want to stay with me?

May - Dad, I'm staying almost a month. I don't want to break my back on your sofa! If you've had a spare room, I would have been delighted, but now...

Harm - Listen, Mac does have a spare room. Maybe we could ask her if she could have you over. What do you think?

May - Why not?

Harm - I'll call her.

Harm takes his mobile phone and dials a number.

Mac - Colonel McKenzie.

Harm - Hi, it's Harm.

Mac - Harm! What can I do for you?

Harm - Can we drop by, May is with me.

Mac – Sure!

Harm - We're on the way.

Mac - I'll be waiting for you.

Harm hangs up and leaves the car park.

********************

1112 local
same day
Mac's apartment
Georgetown

Jingo bounces when Harm knocks at the door. Mac opens and greets May and Harm. Jingo jumps at their knees barking happily.

Harm - Hi Mac. Down, Jingo, down. Good dog! This is my daughter, May. May, this is Jingo.

May - Hi Jingo! Oh, you're a beautiful dog!

May scratches him behind the ears and Jingo's barks become moanings of pleasure. May gets up and extends her hand to Mac.

May - Hello, Colonel.

Mac - Please, call me Mac. You're arriving from the Academy?

May - Yeah, my plane got in DC about an hour ago.

Harm - Tell me, Mac, you have a spare room.

Mac - Yeah, why?

Harm – Well...

May - In fact, I don't want to stay at his apartment. He only has a sofa and I would prefer to take a hotel room.

Harm - And then I recalled you had a spare room.

May - The problem is I'm gonna be in Washington for about a month.

Mac - If you can cook, there's no problem. I welcome you with pleasure.

May - You're sure?

Mac - Sure! And you'll be able to walk Jingo. He'll become so spoiled when you leave that I will have to come back to walk him in the middle of the day!

May - So I'll make sure no to spoil him! Thank you very much, Mac. It's really nice of you to welcome me.

Mac - It's okay. What wouldn't I do for friends?

Harm - I'll get you bags in the car, May.

And Harm leaves the apartment.

Mac - You're coming from the airport?

May - Yeah. I was saying I wanted to find a hotel room when he talked about your spare room, so, here we are!

Mac - What do you want to do this afternoon?

May - Well, I thought about making a little nap, and then I'll have to rent a car.

Mac - It sure will be more practical than taking the bus or subway.

Harm comes back with May's bags and put them in the spare room.

Harm - Here you are. Ladies, can I invite you for lunch?

Mac and May look at each other.

Mac - Sure! I take my coat and I follow you.

They all leave the apartment.

********************

2134 local
same day
Mac's apartment
Georgetown

Mac and May are collapsed on the sofa, looking at a rerun of « Sargent York ». May sighs.

May - That's a handsome man!

Mac - Isn't he a bit old?

May - He's mostly a bit dead! Nevertheless, he was still gorgeous at around forty!

Mac - And do you like some of the actual actors?

May - Of course! Wesley Snipes, Cary Elwes, Matthew Modine, Tom Cruise, Paul Johansson, and also Michael T Weiss, Jamie Denton, Ethan Hawke...

Mac - All cute guys!

May - Hey, it's the first thing you notice!

They smile at each other.

*******************

The following day, May and Harm find themselves at the Air and Space Museum. No need to say they don't stop, even to grab a lunch. The nose on the planes, they spend their day exploring all the corners of the museum. In the evening, they go out exhausted. They take Harm's car and go back to Mac's.

May - That was a great day, dad.

Harm - I like to go there. But I can't find anyone who wants to go with me. Mac went twice, Bud three times, and I haven't been able to convince Sturgis. So now you're here, I'll make the most of it!

May - I also take advantage of it! As you know everybody, we can go everywhere. And it's great!

Harm - So it's all right to come back?

May - When you want!

Harm - Tomorrow, you come with me to JAG?

May - Sure! I'd like to say hello to everybody.

Harm - You'll come with Mac?

May - No, I'll take my car. I'm on leave and I don't want to wake up as early as her!

Harm - You like to sleep late?

May - I'm a night bird. At the Academy, it's really hard to wake up at 0530, and I'm not really awoken before 1000. On the other hand, I'm the best at night!

Harm - So I guess you prefer leave for the farm the 24th after our visit at the Wall than wake up early on Christmas morning.

May - Absolutely! I'm even ready to take the wheel.

Harm - But I'm not ready to leave it to you!

Harm drops May in front of Mac's building.

May - You don't come up with me?

Harm - No, I'm beginning to be tired and I have to get up early.

May - So, good night, dad.

Harm - Good night, May. See you tomorrow. I'll tell the admiral you'll come.

May - Okay! Bye!

May goes to Mac's apartment.

May - Hello again, Mac!

Mac - How was the day?