Check Up - Ben -

[Stephen Colly]

No gun shots. Nothing.

”Excuse me.” a soft voice of a 20 year old soldier stood at the reception desk. He had hazel clothed hair; his dark brown eyes stared at the lady who was sitting behind the desk, typing on a type-writer that was in front of her, her hand moving swiftly across the letters.

The woman looked up sharply, Stephen could now see the name tag that was on her chest – Sally Jenkins – she looked mid-twenties or so. Her eyes quickly looked him over, ”Yes sir.” she said, her voice suddenly very kind even though her eyes looked like they would burn a hole through the boy.

”I came for a check up, got a letter last week from a doctor.” Stephen glanced at her as she started to look through files, ”The name is Stephen Colly.” he quickly added, that would help if the woman knew his name.

She took a few minutes to look through the files and then finally pulled out one; she scanned it and then handed it to Stephen. ”Take that in with you; you are seeing Doctor O’Riley, ward 12 in about 20 minutes.” she gave him a small smile and went back to her typing.

Stephen gave her a soft smile also and turned towards the door off to the left where the waiting room was. He pushed it open; there were a few men inside. Two were just sitting there, staring at their hands; another was reading a book that looked dreadfully dull from where Stephen was standing.
He had never liked reading; he hadn’t really had the time when he was younger. He had spent most of his time riding, not staring at letters. Stephen sat down on a chair and stared into space, remembering the time when his teacher at his Secondary school had told them all to read the act in where Lady Macbeth goes mad in Shakespeare’s Macbeth play. Stephen hadn’t obviously done it so had no idea what the other members of the class where talking about and when it had been his turn to say what the words meant, he had had no idea and had got a beating for it, six strokes of the belt…awful times, his school hadn’t been the nicest there was.

Stephen jolted back into reality when a loud noise was heard, someone had banged a door…no one else had jumped, it had just been him. Were his nerves really going to hold out for the next few years?

[Ben Shirley]

The room looked so blurry as the seconds slowly went by, as a man almost feel asleep waiting for his turn to come. He was in the hospital waiting for one of the existing customers who was waiting longer than him, finish talking with one of the women that work at the counter. A few more hours went by until finally, his name was called.

"Benny Shirley! Come to the counter please! Repeat! Benny Shirley! Come to the counter please!" said the lady as she spoke into a microphone that sounded through the whole facility. This bothered a man who had a few problems with hearing, and he seemed dizzy from such a high pitched sound.

Ben listened to his name, and got up from the bench and walked up towards the counter as the fan that was over-head start making loud noises, trying to make the place more cooler and comfortable.

"I am here to see Doctor O’Riley. He took care of one of my soldiers, George. He had a arm injury and Doctor O'Riley remembers me well," said Ben as he took out a written note of consent and also a letter describing the authorization of Ben's arrival. They had a man in the front of the building and every black person needed one. They were fairly easy to get so Ben had no problem.

"Ah, I see. Very well, go to ward 12 in about 10 minutes he will see you. Someone just entered there, and you might be able to get a conversation up so you don't get bored," said the lady as she continued to look through the files and folders. Ben looked at the women for a little bit longer, noticing her name tag that said - Sally Jenkins - and then, Ben set off towards ward 12.

He walked down the white walled corridors as he came to a door of a color of brown. He slightly turned the knob, and then pushed the door forward gently as his body entered into the waiting room.

Ben looked around as he saw about 3 men sat down. He minded his own business and sat down onto a chair about half across from where the 3 men were sat down. Ben looked around the place, before licking his lips in a circular motion and then looking at one of the men(Stephen).

"Never seen him before. I guess I might meet him later if we both get out of the hospital around the same time," thought Ben as he continued to mind his own business, almost falling asleep once again.

[Stephen Colly]

Stephen had been sitting by himself for the good part of 10 minutes or so when the door opened and a black person came in…hang on…had Stephen’s eyes been correct in seeing that this man was black? Well, yes of course he had seen a black person before but never in the army…where they allowed in the army?

He glanced over at the man a few times, it seemed like a few minutes or so before he (Stephen) actually decided to talk to this man, the other two men in the waiting room didn’t really seem up to talking to anyone, and this man didn’t seem to have any physical injuries so far that Stephen could see.

Biting his lip, and running a hand through his brownish hair, Stephen stood up and came towards the black man, his eyes staring mostly at the floor but when he neared the seat that was free next to the man, his eyes then looked into the dark eyes of the man that he had become so interested about.

”H-Hello.” he stuttered slightly, he didn’t know what had come over him all of a sudden. He sat down gingerly on to the chair next to the man and watched him, hoping that this man would want to talk for if he didn’t then Stephen would look like a right fool in front of the four men…

”I’m Stephen Colly, I thought you looked…well, I just wanted to come and say hello.” he lowered his voice slightly so the other three men could not hear, ”Those lot over there…” he jerked his head over to the little group, ”Aren’t really friendly and you looked friendly so…” he trailed off and lent away from the older man, ”I can go if you want, I didn’t want to disturb you or anything…” he bit his lip and glanced away, feeling like a real fool…why couldn’t he just be normal? Or was being normal now too hard for him…?

[Ben Shirley]

Ben noticed a man was walking toward him, a white man. Ben hadn't met any other black men ever since he was enlisted into the army and he was quite used to it. The noise of foot steps were made across the room as the seemingly young white man with what it seems orange hair walked up to Ben. The man looked like another soldier of the army and Ben just remembered that he saw the man a few times around the 3ID division base.

First, the man said his name which was Stephen Colly, a regular name that was not uncommon, not to Ben. He then stated the reason to even give notice to Ben which was to get away from the group of men that seemed unfriendly, the gestured who he was talking about by jerking his head at the two men when they didn't notice. The man took a breath before continuing, saying that they weren't friendly but he was which was quite true. After this, he then kind of had a way of words that meant he was ready to leave if Ben would want it. Ben was really bored at the moment, so he would be intrigued if the man would stay and sit down on the chair that was on the right side of his body.

"No, don't worry. I don't mind so please, sit down on this chair beside me," said Ben before he continued, "What brings you here to this hospital?"

Ben thought it would be good to start off with a basic question that was easy to answer and not hard to understand. Asking for what was the reason for arriving at the hospital was simple, and straight to the point.

[Stephen Colly]

Stephen didn’t know how to react to what the black person said. He was rather scared of him to be honest, he hadn’t spoken to someone of this colour before but he was sure he would be the same as any other sort of person.

He twirled his fingers in and out of the gaps between each finger as he listened to what the man said, he listened carefully. Even the man’s voice was different, yeah of course everyone’s voices were different but he, Stephen, couldn’t put a name to the accent this man held. His voice was sort of husky, sort of nice.

Stephen did sit down next to the man and stared up at him, the man began to talk and make conversation and Stephen nodded, ”Oh, just a check up, I’ve been in France and they wanted a look at how I was baring up, what about you?” he asked, leaning in slightly to the man then thought better and leant away and looked around the room at the other three men who were still not saying anything or even doing anything by the look of things.

Basic questions were always good to start off with, it made people have time to think up what to say next or to take off on a funny line, commenting on something random and boring.

[Ben Shirley]

OOC: Sorry to keep holding this up. Didn't know that you posted

IC:

The inside part of the building was very refreshing with the A/C on and the calm stillness in the air. Ben was not much interested in the conversation, but it was a great to kill time as well as make a few friends along the way.

"I am here because of a suspicion I had for a rare disease that is in Africa, I was saved by Andrew Ryans and it looked like I was very disoriented even though I had taken no damage from the previous firefight that we had retreated from. I was quite concerned as well, so here I am," responded Ben to Stephen's question with quick wit, surprised that it was way past 20 minutes and the doctor still hadn't shown. He must have been late, but being late is a bad record on his "professional reputation". Or so to speak.

The other three men soon left, and so it was only Ben and Stephen in the waiting room. The other group left probably because they aren't patient enough but as always, patience is a virtue. A few minutes after the men left, the Doctor came in with his glasses and white trench coat that suited his dressing style. He wasn't any doctor, he was Doctor O’Riley, one of the most respected men that Ben had known. He had helped Ben with his scrapes and injuries as well as patch up the bullet wound that George had after the battling in Africa near a farmhouse. Ben was here to get a eye check up and mainly his immune system.

[Stephen Colly]

OOC – Did they have A/C around that time?

The room was cool but Stephen didn’t feel cool and calm at all. He felt sweat start to form on the back of his neck and run down his back. What was going on with his body? Was he going mad?

Ben started to talk and Stephen only half listened, a rare disease? Jesus poor guy. ”Hope you are alright.” Stephen said suddenly, his eyes darting to Ben and then back to the floor.

”I won’t catch this disease will I?” He suddenly said, his eyes shooting up to the black man’s, widened with horror, ”You don’t still have it do you?” he wasn’t trying to be rude, he had seen many people in the army be rude to coloured men like this person here and he was not meaning to offend the man in any way he just didn’t want to get a disease that could kill him.

”Just cause I want to live or if I did die, I’d want to die on the battlefield not lying in a hospital bed…” he shook his head in slight horror at the thought of wasting his life away in a bed so helpless. He’d die on the battlefield, a clean shot through the helmet into the head…

[Ben Shirley]

The cool air that was coming in the room was very pleasant and soothed the heat that Ben had had all day and it was irritating him to some extent. His lips were getting dry like always, but decided to ignore them for a while. The man that was talking to Ben asked a few questions and it made Ben feel weird. The questions didn't scare Ben in anyway or make him feel uncomfortable, but it just made Ben feel weird that a boy who didn't even look old enough to be called a man was asking such questions as to if he was going to die from such a disease.

"Why is someone so young, so young that they can't be called a man, worrying about death so much? He looks like a Private so I think it would be normal. But why..." Ben stopped thinking once he noticed that he was spacing out for awhile. It still bothered him quite a bit, but he had to shrug it off and answer the boys question before he noticed that Ben was thinking about something that could offend him.

"Stop being so panicky, you look like your going to pee on yourself. Calm yourself down before your embarrass yourself man," whispered Ben so he wouldn't embarrass the boy infront of everyone especially the doctor that was preparing himself to check his clients.

"Anyway, Its just an assumption that I have an disease. Actually, I don't even classify the dang thing a Disease. Its basically a sickness you get from being in the sun too much, makes you deillusional and you feel very hot. You can't die from it as far as I know. Does that answer all of your questions?"

Ben was trying to speak as calmly and as firmly as possible so he wouldn't sound mad, but it seemed like a task that needed his utmost attention and pushed his efforts to the limit. He didn't like -Nanny Boys- as much as Davies.

[Stephen Colly]

Silence filled the room and Stephen felt that it was he who had made the silence so tried to find the words to break the silence but to no avail, no words came out of his mouth. The boy’s eyes quickly sharpened on the black man as the silence grew longer…what was the man thinking?

"Stop being so panicky, you look like your going to pee on yourself. Calm yourself down before your embarrass yourself man,"

The man whispered and Stephen looked away down at the floor, feeling extremely humiliated. He must have sounded like a right idiot.

Well done…really mucked it up. a voice floated into his head.

A doctor had entered, Stephen could tell by the sudden mummer of voices around them, Ben continued explaining calmly and straight-forwardly that he most likely would not die of the disease and that it was just a thing that you get when you were out in the sun a lot.

”Yeah, yeah it does. Thanks.” Stephen muttered, still feeling like a right prick and a loser.

Something in Ben’s voice made the boy uneasy, it seemed like he was forcing the words out and trying to make them calm but didn’t have the full emotion behind them to make them sound naturally calm.

”What is Africa like?” the boy suddenly asked, he was genially very interested in the place as he had never been to and would never go to unless he won £100 or something ridiculously expensive…or he would be drafted out there, again Stephen doubted that very much.

[Ben Shirley]

Ben was relieved that the boy understood what he was getting himself into, and Ben just sat more low in his chair and looked like he had sweat going down from the left side of his forehead. Ben had just noticed for a while why he has been so tense lately: He is scared to death by one common enemy. Needles. Ever since he was a little boy, Ben was always scared shit-less by needles during doctor checkups when they were required. But most of the time, they were required. Once the boy looked around and noticed the doctor had came around, he looked eager to change the subject so he wouldn't look anymore embarrass.

"Whats Africa like you say? It was genuine hell. The minute you start sweating, it gets evaporated a second later and you don't even notice the damn thing. You can lose body fluids extremely quickly. Worst of all, the heat is unbearable. A single wasteful step could cost you your life. It was brutal over there, fighting the damn Germans...."

Ben was thinking to himself for a few seconds before he looked at the boy who probably noticed that Ben was phasing out, "Oh, Sorry. I was thinking about something."

Ben was quiet for a few until he just noticed the Insignia of the Corporal rank looked a bit British, but Ben wouldn't have had made a wrong idea since he was in the British Army before he went to the 3ID. So Ben thought a bit more and asked, "You have the British Insignia for a Corporal, how long have you been in the British army including Africa?"

[Stephen Colly]

So Stephen would not be making a trip to Africa any time soon then. ”Oh, I don’t think I want to go there then.” he lapsed into silence and then the black man started to apologise for holding the silence out for a little too long.

Again the room filled with silence and Stephen just stared down at his hands, watching each finger twirl around the other on his left hand. Ben spoke up a bit and Stephen glanced up, and then looked at the symbol on his jacket.

”Oh, about a year and a few months already, I just got promoted a few weeks back to Corporal.” he shrugged, ”Never been to Africa, always been sent out to France, was in Italy once.” he shrugged again and looked down at his hands, remembering the battle in Italy where Ed had nearly killed him.

[Ben Shirley]

"Why not go there? Your probably going to be sent their anyway if the British are going to need the extra firepower. Its only a matter of time anyway," said Ben after licking his lips in a circular motion and sighing for a bit. Although the conversation was interesting, the damn doctor took too long to get ready. The waiting was unbearable, especially for Ben who was tight on time because he was going to go meet the men under his command near a night club. They finally found a club that allowed black people, so Ben could join in on the fun. His brothers were of his blood, but were tan and so were allowed in the white only clubs. He didn't really mind until they suggested it.

Ben started tapping his feet against the cold tile floor since his legs were getting restless and so was he. He checked his watch from time to time, but not enough so people wouldn't notice. The little lack stick inside his watch made small movements so that you knew it was seconds going by and the noise it made was somewhat disturbing if it was heard over and over again.

The Doc had glasses with a kind of brown rim around them, and he had a white trench coat that seemed to have many pockets in various places located around the trench coat. He had a white mustache that proved his oldness, as well as white hair. He did not seem like a very old man, probably in his early 50's or late 40's. The Doctor turned from his working place and looked at both of the men, Stephen and Ben. He raised one eyebrow that was semi white with a little hint of brown in it.

Then in a deep voice that sounded strangely perky, he requested, "Stephen Colly I believe? Please come so I can check you out."

[Stephen Colly]

Stephen bit his lip and so sat in silence, staring at the floor as he thought of Africa. The heat…it was hot in Europe, really hot and it would be even hotter in Africa…Jesus, he didn’t want that at all…

Ben had lapsed into silence next to him, tapping his feet against the tiled floor. He looked restless. Stephen glanced down at his watch, watching the hand move slowly around…

The doctor was making his way towards the two; finally he looked up at the unlikely pair and smiled, raising an eyebrow. Stephen glanced over at him and kept his face expressionless.

”Stephen Colly I believe? Please come so I can check you out.”

”Yes sir.” Stephen stood up and turned to Ben, ”It was nice to meet you Ben; I hope to meet you again soon.” he smiled softly and stuck out his hand for the other to shake.

[Ben Shirley]

Ben looked at Stephen Colly one more time. Just one more time to save it as a memory. To have the memory of a boy who didn't even look like a man yet, that would probably go to Africa and not even get shot. He would just die from dehydration before even getting to see the damned German's faces and not even get a shot at them. That was the fate of the lucky ones, the ones that wouldn't have to die with the burden of having taken a human life. War is terrible like that, in reality and in Heaven. It changed you completely, basically everything about changes. The way you eat, the way you breath, the way you look at people, and possibly the way you trust people.

Once he noticed that Stephen was leaving, Ben knew it was time to say their goodbyes and the next time they meet would probably be on the battlefield. On the battlefield hoping to survive, hoping that they don't die a horrible death. When Ben thought about it, he would want to die fast. The searing pain of dying slowly would be too much, too much for any human being in fact. It was a task that took a being to their up most limits, limits that were thought unreachable by man. Probably Stephen had a girl waiting for him, but it was all the same. He might be one of the lucky ones, getting through the war without killing a single soul and bringing sorrow to a family and possibly there millions of relatives.

"Yeah, See you soon. On the battlefield that is," said Ben cheerfully before laughing and then shaking Stephens hand. He walked towards a second booth, and they said that another doctor was available. Ben was tight on time, so he took the deal. It was all good. For the meantime, that is.

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Colly - 11CP

Shirley - 11CP

-JT