Finding The 4077th

Another Kid

“I've got a five-year-old back home,” Trapper responded sadly.

“Well, don't send her to camp in Korea,” Hawkeye said.

He felt terrible, his son was in Korea at this very moment! But he couldn't do anything about it.

He looked at the small boy on his operation table and sighed. This poor kid!

His heart broke for the little one. He was just a boy, just five years old and they had already taken his parents away from him.  A young child shouldn’t have to experience this. It wasn’t fair!

This boy had sort of a similar experience to Christopher had, and it hit close to home.

They had over 30 hours off surgery. And of course, Chris got out during the night, but this time he was not looking for Hawkeye, apparently because an enlisted man told the doctor that Chris was following Radar around the compound. The clerk was doing his job and was so busy he didn't notice the boy hidden in the shadows.

Hawkeye felt irritated, that was not what his kid should be doing. He behaved a bit like a stalker, and Hawkeye really needed to explain this to his son. If the boy grew up thinking this was okay, he would turn into a very unhealthy adult.

And why did it take so long for him to know his kid was loose. He should have known the moment Chris got out of the tent. So unless Chris got lucky sneaking out, or he got a whole different way to get out instead of using the front door.

His nurse took the patient over, Hawkeye had just finished him, so she only needed to close him up. Hawkeye pulled off his gloves and went outside.

He asked some people about the whereabouts of Radar, Hawkeye knew his son had to be close.

Entering Radar's office he found the clerk filing away some charts.

Hawkeye looked around and saw Chris hiding next to the other door in the shadows. Even in the dark, he saw the shocked and guilty expression of his son.

'Ohh boy! Dad just walked in! Maybe he won't see me. No! He saw me!' Chris felt his heart drop, as their eyes met, and quickly looked at the floor trying not to make any noise, obviously knowing he was caught.

“You can come out now.” He said sternly. Radar looked up from his work to the man with confusion.
“What?”

Chris didn’t move from where he was standing.

"Christopher! I don't have time for this, you come out now! Or I will put you over my knee right here! "

His son came out quickly from the shadows and stood next to his father. His face was bright red as he looked into his father's eyes. Chris was fidgeting with his pajama shirt nervously.

"I-I-I’m sorry.” He whispered. It sounded like it was taking everything he had not to break down crying.

When Radar saw the boy he got a bit sad and said.

“Sir, he’s a kid. You don’t have to…”
His voice trailed off when he saw how serious Hawkeye looked.

“I know. And YES I do! But that doesn’t mean I like it either.” he looked at the big sad eyes of his son and sighed.

”You got some explaining to do! Young man! Now, you know the drill, go to bed.“ Hawkeye said gentle but firm.

It seemed impossible but Chris' face burned even more after that, he quickly turned and scampered off to the Swamp, Hawkeye walking behind him.

Chris's mind was racing. 'NO! Why had he been caught! It was all his fault. He’d been looking around for a place to hide but wasn't fast enough. Now he was in trouble and he hated it. At least he didn't get punished with Radar present, he would DIE from embarrassment!