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The Captain stalked into the briefing room. Ellis, Campbell and Wright slammed to attention.
“At ease.”
He stood in front of the prepared blackboard and pointed with his drill stick.
“Right, here’s the plan. Ellis, duty 1800 to 2100, Campbell 2100 to 2330, Wright, you’ll take the night shift. You will not leave your post at the desk. Any incoming telephone calls will be kept to less than 60 seconds. There will be no outgoing telephone calls. If there is any news you will interrupt me regardless of whether I am engaged in ablutions, in the mess or asleep. It is of the utmost importance that I am notified IMMEDIATELY!” He struck the board with each emphasised syllable. “Are there any questions?”
“Sir, no sir!” the men responded in unison.
“Good. I am trusting you with this, very hush hush of course.” He tucked his stick under his arm.
“Dismissed.”
The three men saluted and left the room. The Captain watched them leave before he huffed out hard through his nose and rubbed his hand down his face. It had already been 12 hours. The wait seemed endless. He felt exhausted but his mind would not stop whirring. If a resolution was not communicated to him soon, he didn’t know what he would do.
He squared his shoulders and straightened up. There was paperwork to see to, the running of the base must go on, no good could come of letting his fears and emotions take over. He took a deep breath and set off for his office.
At 2030, after three hours of burying himself deep in budgets, there was a knock at the door. He leapt to his feet, shaking with adrenaline.
“Er, er, er,” he shook his head and stood up straight. “Come.”
A nervous looking Ellis poked just his head around the door.
“Sir, you haven’t eaten.”
“What?” The Captain frowned at his soldier, confused by the unexpected statement.
“You should eat, you haven’t stopped for dinner.”
The Captain huffed in frustration.
“I’m fine. Why aren’t you at your desk? Who is manning the phone?”
“I can hear it from here, I just thought you should…”
“Ellis!”
“Ok, ok, sorry, sir.” Ellis slunk back out, closing the door behind him.
The Captain slumped back into his chair. He looked at the ceiling and waited for his heart rate to return to normal. He picked up his pen when there was another nervous knock at the door. This time he barely raised his head.
“Come in.” he mumbled.
“Sir” Ellis entered the room fully. “Sir”
The Captain looked up at Ellis’ wide eyes. It took a couple more seconds before his brain caught up and made him scramble to his feet.
“Now?”
“Now” Ellis confirmed. He held the door open for his superior who rushed passed him to the desk and grabbed the telephone.
“Havers?”
“Captain.” Havers sounded out of breath.
“Well come on, man.”
“It’s a boy, Captain, it’s a beautiful, healthy boy.”
The Captain felt a little light-headed and turned to rest back against the desk. Ellis was almost dancing from foot to foot in front of him. The Captain nodded and smiled in reassurance.
“Betty is doing very well. She’s so grateful that you could allow me to have leave, Captain. With Tom away at the front, it’s been so difficult.”
“Your sister is very welcome. She has been very brave. Please send her and the baby the best wishes of everyone at Button House.”
There was a distant baby’s cry and the Captain felt a lump in his throat.
“Congratulations to you all.”