"GYRE AND GIMBLE IN THE WABE"

by

PAUL CHERRY

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

(Jabberwocky-Lewis Carrol)

Curt sat in the only modern chair in the listening room of Camp Pickett's library. The chair was in a corner where the light was very poor but Curt was pleased with its location since whenever he came in, it was always vacant. While getting absorbed in the poetry of Eliot, he noticed the faint odor of a strong cologne. Glancing around he saw a young man of about eighteen sitting in a near-by chair writing a letter. His short blond hair and unusually large brown eyes gave him a fairly attractive appearance. The khaki uniform seemed to blend well with his coloring. In all, it was pleasant looking at him.

"Do you usually stare at strangers?" The young man had become aware of the attention being paid him.

"No, Sir," Curt answered returning to his reading. He sensed blood rushing to his face and tried concentrating his attention on the page.

"Do you approve of young men joining the service?" The young man had put down his pen and was addressing Curt.

"Sir, it doesn't matter what I approve of or not." The answer seemed adequate and he hoped the young man wouldn't be offended.

"I bet you think all R.A.'s are maladjusted." The corners of his lips curled, displaying his well-formed teeth.

"I don't believe anyone who joins the army has a stable personality." The reply sounded too direct; Curt felt ashamed of his presumption.

"I detest the idea of a stable personality. It's so much more pleasant trying to be many people and to dream oneself into many situations."

Curt smiled, not knowing what to say.

"What are you reading?"

"Eliot." His tone was more patronizing than before.

"Do you measure your life in coffee spoons? I do. Once I tried being a Prufrock and once even the funny philosopher from Candide, but couldn't convince myself that this is the best of all possible worlds." Curt was amazed. The young man's whole appearance was so new and so fresh and so unlike anyone he had met before.

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