“Parrish! Homer Parrish!” yells the ATC Sergeant.<\/p>\n
“Here!” yells Homer, the sailor who didn’t get up to move the landing gear crate. Fred and Homer bolt toward the desk.<\/p>\n
“You Derry?” asks the sergeant.<\/p>\n
“Yeah,” says Fred.<\/p>\n
“Parrish?” asks the sergeant.<\/p>\n
“Yeah,” says Homer.<\/p>\n
“Just got a call from Base OPs,” says the sergeant. “There’s a B-17 taking off for Boone City. Probably have a long ride ’cause she’s making a lot of stops, but you get there tomorrow afternoon. Suit ya?”<\/p>\n
“Sure, that’s swell,” says Fred.<\/p>\n
“Okay, sign here,” says the sergeant, handing Fred a travel manifest. Fred signs the paper.<\/p>\n
“Boy, it sure is great to be going home!” says Fred. He turns to Homer. “Here ya go, sailor!” says Fred, passing his pencil.<\/p>\n
“Sign on the dotted…” begins the sergeant, but trails off. Both Fred and the Sergeant notice Homer has a metal hook for right hand. “I’ll do it for ya,” says the sergeant, reaching for the pencil.<\/p>\n
“Whatsa matter?” says Homer. “Think I can’t spell my own name?” Homer begins to sign the paper.<\/p>\n
“No, I –” stammers the sergeant. He doesn’t know what to say. “I just thought – -”<\/p>\n
“I know, Sarge,” says Homer, pulling his other hand out to steady the paper form. It’s also a metal hook. Fred and the sargeant look at each other, but say nothing.<\/p>\n
“Hey, Joe!” says the sergeant to another airman, “You’d better hurry up out there, ’cause she’s taking off soon.”<\/p>\n
“Right, thanks,” says Derry, turning to Homer. “Come on, sailor.”<\/p>\n
“Where’s your stuff?” asks Fred.<\/p>\n
“Right here,” says Homer, pointing at his sea bag.<\/p>\n
“Excuse us, corporal,” says Derry to a sleeping soldier. Homer grabs his sea bag. “Boone City your home, sailor?” asks Fred.<\/p>\n
“Yes, sir, Captain,” says Homer.<\/p>\n
“Forget the rank, chum,” says Fred, “I’m out.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An awkward moment at the ATC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":335,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"http:\/\/www.thebestminutes.com\/cm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/b46005.mp3","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"35:20","filesize":"48.75M","date_recorded":"08-01-2021","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"5","itunes_title":"Minute 005: Think I Can't Spell My Own Name?","itunes_season_number":"1","itunes_episode_type":"full","filesize_raw":"51117610"},"tags":[],"series":[3],"episode_featured_image":"http:\/\/www.thebestminutes.com\/cm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/r46005.jpg","episode_player_image":"http:\/\/www.thebestminutes.com\/cm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/b46000-mp3-image.jpg","download_link":"http:\/\/www.thebestminutes.com\/cm\/podcast-download\/127\/minute-005-think-i-cant-spell-my-own-name.mp3","player_link":"http:\/\/www.thebestminutes.com\/cm\/podcast-player\/127\/minute-005-think-i-cant-spell-my-own-name.mp3","audio_player":"\n