Wednesday, June 25, 2008

'I Had to Go Absent'

A Julian Maclaren-Ross story from 1943:


Everyone said, What the hell are you worrying about? You’re cushy.

Then suddenly the battalion moved and I was posted to another depot. At last, I thought, a more important job.

On the contrary. It was a job in the orderly room, much the same, with slightly longer hours. I was told it was permanent.

I said, what about a trade test?

They said at first, NBG. [No bloody good: one of numerous acronyms popular in wartime Britain.]



* * *

Tomorrow: EP reads in Brooklyn — 7 p.m. at the Court St. B&N.

No comments: