When Liddy and Louise entered their room that day, Bet, Marina and Joy Lynn were tearing through their clothes.

“Get dressed, we’re goin’ out,” Joy Lynn instructed.

“Out where?” Louise asked.

“Marina and Carla have made plans to get us a ride to the Lake Sweetwater Inn. We’re being picked up at the gates at seven.”

Marina couldn’t find anything to wear and she was visibly frustrated. “Men, I didn’t keep my men clothes. They’re all in storage.”

“I didn’t bring men clothes,” said Bet.

“Me neither, it wasn’t in the brochures,” Joy Lynn said sarcastically as she flipped through her choice of outfits. “We heard those Air Force Pilots that force landed, are RONin’,” she announced to Liddy and Louise.

“Resting Over Night,” Bet translated.

“Thanks for clearing that one up.” Liddy looked at Bet and rolled her eyes.

“The boys have checked out a couple jeeps. They’re going to the Inn to meet some trainees.” Marina looked down at the clothes on the bed and shook her head.

“Wait a minute, socializing with military personnel is off limits remember,” Louise reminded the trio.

“Hasn’t stopped Jenna Law,” said Joy Lynn.

Louise glanced at Liddy who had turned to the window. “And didn’t I just hear you say they’re meeting some other trainees, not any of you?” Louise tried to clarify.

“In case you haven’t noticed, Parker, there’s a serious man shortage around this place. The one who gets the man, gets the man, if you know what I mean,” said Marina. “Besides, they’ll be lots of people there, not just military men. But…” Marina grinned. “If we happen to bump into one of them, oh, well.”

“And as for the rules, the rule makers are here, and we will be there. See how that works?” Joy Lynn tempted.

“And they’re not personnel from this base, right? Joy Lynn said that makes a difference. Right, Joy Lynn?” Bet asked.

Liddy decided to cheer up. She grabbed a chair, spun it around, straddled it and sat down. “Did she? Well if Joy Lynn said it’s okay, then it must be. Don’t you think, Louie?” Liddy flashed Louise her crooked smile. “Looks like there’s no stopping them.”

“Yup, they’ve obviously made up their minds.” Louise was happy to see Liddy bounce back. “So you know what we have to do?”

They waited on each other to speak and did in unison, “Chaperone!”

Louise set her hands on her hips. “For the good of the WASP.”

“We can wear our traveling clothes,” suggested Bet.

“Hey, Uptown, what do ya’ think?” Joy Lynn jokingly held up a pair of general’s pants and a white blouse in front of her.

These clothes had been issued early on in the program when some high ranking government officials, including an influential General, were scheduled to visit Avenger and check out the WASP. Not wanting the trainees to look like a bunch of rag tags in their baggy zoot suits, tan pants and white shirts were issued. The trousers from then on were referred to as general’s pants and were worn to ground school, graduations and any other time the higher-ups didn’t want the WASP program to look like it was breeding hobos.

“I’m wearing my zoot suit,” said Liddy.

“Me too,” agreed Louise.

“Over my dead body,” said Marina.

“We don’t have a lot of options here.” Joy Lynn dug in the bottom of her locker. “Let’s just wear our traveling clothes, like Bet said.”

Louise drummed her fingers on her chin. “Or maybe, my birthday suit.”

“Very funny.” Marina sat down on the bed, discouraged. “I didn’t even keep out my traveling clothes. It’s all such a blur. I know I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time.” Then a light bulb appeared over her head. “Oh, yes, yes, yes.”

“Yes, now you’re thinking, Miss George,” Joy Lynn praised.

In a split second, the Calbert and George brain trusts had converged, and it had to be good.

“What?” Bet asked.

Joy Lynn and Marina grinned mischievously at one another.

“What?” Bet asked again.


The hangar was dark. The baymates had gathered outside the locked storage room where the excess luggage, including Marina’s, was held captive. While Joy Lynn picked at the lock with a bent-open hair pin, Marina aimed a flashlight at the knob of the door. Bet huddled behind the burglars, and Liddy and Louise stood to the side.

“I don’t think we should be doing this,” Bet whispered nervously.

“Oh, we definitely shouldn’t be doing this,” said Liddy.

“Georgia, what makes you think you can pick a lock?” Louise asked.

“I was pickin’ the lock of my Granddaddy’s liquor cabinet by the time I was twelve. My Uncle Johnnie taught me.”

“Would that be Uncle Pastel Puffy?” Marina giggled and the light bounced above and below the knob.

“Uncle Geoffrey, you kiddin’ me? Never, he’s a straight n’ narrow.” Joy Lynn’s tongue rubbed the corner of her mouth as her ears waited to hear the release. When she heard the tink, she turned the knob and opened the door. Then stood back, bowed and waved Marina in. “Entre’, Mademoiselle.”

Inside the storage room, Marina directed the light beam up, down and over. A shadow caught her eye and Marina jumped back and screamed as she pushed the girls away from the entrance and slammed the door. Bet screamed too, and Liddy held the cup of her hand over Bet’s mouth.

“What is it?” Liddy asked with some irritation.

“I saw someone, I think a man.” Marina cowered behind Joy Lynn.

“You saw someone, a man?” Louise asked with skepticism.

“I saw something,” said Marina.

“Well, let’s think about this. Before the door was opened it was completely dark in there. What might someone, a man, be doing in a completely dark and locked storage room?” Liddy asked.

“Also looking for something to wear?” Joy Lynn chuckled.

“Uncle Pastel Puffy,” suggested Bet.

The women giggled uncontrollably.

Liddy grabbed the flashlight from Marina. “Give me that.”

“Someone should go with you,” whispered Bet.

“Okay, let’s go, Bailey.”

Bet stood hunched over behind Louise and didn’t move.

“I don’t need anyone to go with me, but thanks anyway, brave Betsy.”

Liddy opened the door and followed the beam of light into the room and scanned the perimeter. She saw Marina’s attacker and shook her head. When Liddy came out of the room, she was holding a man’s Army dress uniform hung on a hanger. “Does this look familiar, Marina dear?”

“Definitely not Uncle Geoffrey,” Joy Lynn cracked.


Discrete moonlight lit the path to the waiting car, and Marina walked briskly as she clipped on earrings. She was being followed by a parade of women in differing stages of dressing themselves. Joy Lynn’s arms plunged into a little jacket of Marina’s that was too small for her, and Bet and Louise buttoned, tucked and cinched as they all trotted along.

Marina had taken great care to put together something fashionable for all her friends. Jewelry, wraps, belts and safety pins dressed-up and altered what was available. She was good, but not quick and now they were late. Carla was waiting with the two men from town who would be their ride. Marina put on the breaks and gracefully walked the last few feet to the car.

“Hello, gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Marina George.”

She set her hand in the air and both men took turns shaking it like they were working it loose.

Carla opened up the door and Marina murmured to her, “Classy.” The two ladies giggled, while they moved to the middle of the front seat, and the two men sandwiched in on either side of them and shut the doors.

Bet stopped at the back door. “Where’s Liddy?”

“She said she’d be right behind us,” answered Louise.

Joy Lynn opened the door and she, Louise and Bet slid in.

Liddy’s fly pals had talked her into wearing a strapless number that Marina said was lucky. Liddy was taller than Marina, and Marina had a shape that never failed to catch and turn a man’s head—pure boy bait, so the fit was not custom for sure. She tugged and pulled at the bodice, while muttering to herself, “What am I doing?”

In addition to the clothes, Bet and Marina had painted her up more than Liddy would have liked. She only let them do it at all to shut them up and was now wishing she had held her ground.

Liddy had decided she would go to the cars but send the gals on their way without her. All she wanted was to head back to the bays and climb into her own skin. As she rounded the corner of the building, Liddy slammed into someone and staggered back. A strong grasp clutched her upper arms and pulled her erect and steady.

“Are you all right?” Major Trent’s voice startled Liddy more than the collision. She looked up at Trent who still had his hands on her bare arms. “Hall?” He tightened his gaze. “I didn’t recognize you.” Sheer amusement danced on his face as he surveyed the get-up. “Are you all right?” His grin tightened and with a low chuckle he asked, “What are you doing?”

Liddy’s face heated-up, and then she frosted it over and said coolly, “I’m fine. Thank you.” She pulled away from his hold and took a step back. “It’s my understanding that I can do what I want on the weekends, as long as it’s not illegal and I don’t do it with any ‘Military’ personnel.” Liddy locked into Trent’s eyes and glared. “Excuse me?”

Trent rocked his head back slightly and widened his eyes. Amusement was gone and a hurt look took its place. He turned to the side to let her pass.

The way Liddy had spoken to Major Trent made her feel ugly. But it was a reaction, and she didn’t know what to do about it now. It wasn’t in her at that moment to be cordial to Jenna Law’s assumed fiancé. The weariness that filled her anytime she thought of him had worn her thin. Liddy brushed by him and walked hurriedly to the waiting car in the distance. Going back in the direction where Trent was still watching wasn’t an option, so she piled in with the party and headed to the Inn.