ficlet- M*A*S*H gen - Changes
I'm having fun on the cooment_fic comm. For the prompt, MASH (TV): Frank Burns+anyone; 30 years later, an old acquaintance from Korea is surprised, or not, by the older Frank he meets. Inspired by this http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-objective-reasons-ronald-reagan-was-our-worst-president/
Walter never really felt comfortable in airports. He hadn't been called “Radar” in almost 30 years, but he still felt that spike of adrenaline when he saw a plane coming in, that gut feeling that blood and pain was coming. Knowing that all the air traffic controllers got fired, and their replacements got thrown in with no training didn't exactly calm him down, either. So his first thought when his saw a guy across the airport bar that looked a lot like Frank Burns was that he was having flashbacks or something, and kept his head down and focused on the drink in his hand.
But a few minutes later, he came ambling up, and sure enough, it was Frank.
Frank clapped him on the shoulder as he approached. “Radar, how the hell are you, man!”
Walter tried to keep the shock out of his voice as he exchanged pleasantries. Frank was so relaxed and friendly, not at all the guy he remembered. Frank even cooed at Walter's latest grandson, which was enough for Walter to forgive anything that happened 30 years ago.
But then conversation turned to why they were there.
“You going to Hawkeye's release party too, huh? It will be good to catch up with the gang, the only one I ever hear from is Margaret,” Frank said.
Walter repllied, “I don't know that I'd exactly call it a party. I mean, I'm glad to see Hawkeye getting home, but his family is all gone and I don't know who's going to get him to take his meds. You haven't seen him since, right? He's pretty good now, with the meds and all, but you know Hawkeye. He doesn't exactly like to follow direction.”
Frank didn't seem bothered, pointing out that they wouldn't release Hawkeye if they thought he was dangerous.
“That's the thing, though. Reagan took away all the money for the hospital, they're all closing down. He doesn't have anywhere to go. I offered to have him come stay with me, and so did B.J. and Peg, but he really wants to go back to Crabapple Cove. And I don't think he really understands what it's like to live alone, after 30 years in that place.”
Frank rolled his eyes. “Reagan is an amazing man, and a truly great president. You should be ashamed of yourself! If they let Hawkeye out, it's because he's ready to go home. Now stop your moping and drink up, we've got a party to go to.”
Walter sipped his drink. Maybe Frank hadn't changed that much after all.
Walter never really felt comfortable in airports. He hadn't been called “Radar” in almost 30 years, but he still felt that spike of adrenaline when he saw a plane coming in, that gut feeling that blood and pain was coming. Knowing that all the air traffic controllers got fired, and their replacements got thrown in with no training didn't exactly calm him down, either. So his first thought when his saw a guy across the airport bar that looked a lot like Frank Burns was that he was having flashbacks or something, and kept his head down and focused on the drink in his hand.
But a few minutes later, he came ambling up, and sure enough, it was Frank.
Frank clapped him on the shoulder as he approached. “Radar, how the hell are you, man!”
Walter tried to keep the shock out of his voice as he exchanged pleasantries. Frank was so relaxed and friendly, not at all the guy he remembered. Frank even cooed at Walter's latest grandson, which was enough for Walter to forgive anything that happened 30 years ago.
But then conversation turned to why they were there.
“You going to Hawkeye's release party too, huh? It will be good to catch up with the gang, the only one I ever hear from is Margaret,” Frank said.
Walter repllied, “I don't know that I'd exactly call it a party. I mean, I'm glad to see Hawkeye getting home, but his family is all gone and I don't know who's going to get him to take his meds. You haven't seen him since, right? He's pretty good now, with the meds and all, but you know Hawkeye. He doesn't exactly like to follow direction.”
Frank didn't seem bothered, pointing out that they wouldn't release Hawkeye if they thought he was dangerous.
“That's the thing, though. Reagan took away all the money for the hospital, they're all closing down. He doesn't have anywhere to go. I offered to have him come stay with me, and so did B.J. and Peg, but he really wants to go back to Crabapple Cove. And I don't think he really understands what it's like to live alone, after 30 years in that place.”
Frank rolled his eyes. “Reagan is an amazing man, and a truly great president. You should be ashamed of yourself! If they let Hawkeye out, it's because he's ready to go home. Now stop your moping and drink up, we've got a party to go to.”
Walter sipped his drink. Maybe Frank hadn't changed that much after all.