The Key - Dear John Letter

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: The Key – Dear John Letter
Release Date: June 18, 2026

This episode of The Key is titled "Dear John Letter," a classic radio drama featuring themes of war, love, loss, redemption, and forgiveness. Centered around Sergeant Brad Carswell and Corporal Slim Heavyweather during the Korean War, the story explores how deeply personal battles—especially those of the heart—intersect with the intensity of combat. Through confrontations with both the enemy and their own regrets, the men are forced to confront the healing power of forgiveness and the significance of emotional honesty.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mail Call and the Heart of the Matter

• The episode begins with a mail call, often the emotional lifeline for soldiers.
• Slim receives an affectionate letter from his wife Annabelle, while Sergeant Brad Carswell is clearly avoiding his own mail.

Notable Quote

• Annabelle's letter (read by narrator, 01:23):

  "Dear, this letter is the hardest I ever had to write...I'm afraid I've been untrue to you since you went back to Korea."

Insight: The "Dear John" letter motif introduces themes of betrayal, heartbreak, and unresolved emotional wounds among soldiers.

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2. Tensions on Patrol (02:48-04:32)

• Brad, under pressure and showing signs of recklessness, leads his patrol through danger despite fellow soldiers’ misgivings.
• Enemy soldiers taunt Brad about his wife, exploiting his emotional wounds to destabilize him.

Notable Quote

• Enemy Soldier (04:03):

  "Hey, Yank. Your girlfriend got another guy. How you like that, Yank?"

Insight: Enemy psychological tactics expose Brad's vulnerability, fueling both self-doubt and tension within the squad.

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3. Consequences of Command (05:04-05:36)

• Brad’s rash decision leads to heavy losses. The lieutenant rebukes him but, due to necessity, allows him to retain his rank.

Notable Quote

• Lieutenant (05:11):

  "If I wasn't so short of sergeants, I'd have one of your stripes right now. So consider yourself lucky. But next time, I'll break you to the ranks, so help me."

Insight: Leadership under duress is examined, with Brad’s state of mind affecting the entire squad.

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4. The Chaplain’s Counsel (05:36-09:36)

• The chaplain attempts to connect with Brad, noting his withdrawal and uncharacteristic behavior.
• The Chaplain gently probes Brad's isolation and the unopened letters, trying to offer spiritual and emotional support.

Notable Quotes

• Chaplain (06:39):

  "Man gets beat up after too long a stretch out here. And sometimes the top brass gets forgetful of that."

• Chaplain (08:24):

  "The peace of a man's soul is my business, Brad."

• Chaplain (09:03):

  "There's no special way to pray, Brad...You've got to feel you want help. Then the words will come."

Insight: Emotional denial and pride serve as barriers to healing; the importance of spiritual and psychological support in wartime is highlighted.

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5. A Turn in Battle and Acts of Bravery (09:36-11:07)

• Brad redeems himself by bravely attacking a machine gun nest, saving his men despite being severely wounded.

Notable Quotes

• Lieutenant (09:48):

  "Funny, I had him figured for a guy that was going to pieces. But he sure did a job this time."

• Corporal Slim (10:18):

  "He went out there with two grenades and worked his way right around to the back of them enemy men till he was right on top of them..."

Insight: Acts of courage can come from those in the depths of personal turmoil; valor and personal pain are often intertwined.

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6. A Soldier’s Prayer (11:41-13:08)

• Slim recounts how, while unconscious, Brad kept repeating "Please help me," believing it to be a desperate prayer rather than a cry to another human.

Notable Quote

• Corporal Slim (12:06):

  "He was saying, please help me. Please help me...Only he wasn't saying it like I said it then. He was saying it like he was real desperate...You know what I reckon? I reckon that man was praying."

Insight: Faith and vulnerability emerge in moments of crisis, even when not consciously acknowledged.

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7. Letters from Home and Reflections on Forgiveness (15:00-24:00)

• Back at the hospital, Slim and the nurse share stories about Slim's wife and her son Jeff, revealing a past marked by misunderstanding, pride, and redemption through forgiveness.
• Slim explains Annabelle's painful history and the preacher whose fire-and-brimstone sermon saved him from committing violence out of jealousy.

Notable Quotes

• Corporal Slim (20:35):

  "He preached me on the sixth Commandment till that gun just fell out of my hand. ... He bawled out at me. Not that kind of charity, he said. He meant the charity of forgiveness."

• Nurse (22:04):

  "Quite a story, Slim."

Insight: True reconciliation requires both granting forgiveness and seeking it, along with honest communication about love and pain.

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8. Brad’s Epiphany and the Power of Words (24:00-26:54)

• Moved by Slim’s honesty, Brad finally seeks out and reads the letters he had been avoiding. He receives a heartfelt letter from his love, Annabelle, in which she expresses her remorse, forgiveness, and enduring love.

Notable Quotes

• Annabelle’s letter (25:20):

  "My darling, I can hardly write. My hand is trembling so...If you can indeed forgive and forget the past, you will never need to doubt me in the future...my heart is bound to yours till the end of time. Hurry back to me, my man, my man, my man."

• Sergeant Brad (26:26):

  "Thank God."

• Corporal Slim (26:29):

  "Thank you."

Insight: The episode’s emotional apex argues that the “key” to healing is forgiveness and honest expression. Reading Annabelle’s letter releases Brad's pain and brings him peace.

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9. Theme & Episode Close (26:54-27:12)

• The Chaplain closes the episode with a reflective bridge, promising another tale behind another door.

Notable Quote

• Chaplain (26:54):

  "A closing door finishes a story...Next week, another key will open another door to another story."

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Notable Quotes — Quick Reference

• "Every door has a key." – Chaplain/Padre, [00:52]
• "Behind every unopened door, there is a mystery." – Chaplain/Padre, [00:59]
• "Your girlfriend got another guy. How you like that, Yank?" – Enemy soldier, [04:13]
• "If I wasn't so short of sergeants, I'd have one of your stripes right now." – Lieutenant, [05:11]
• "The peace of a man's soul is my business, Brad." – Chaplain/Padre, [08:24]
• "He was saying, please help me...You know what I reckon? I reckon that man was praying." – Slim, [12:06]
• "He preached me on the sixth Commandment till that gun just fell out of my hand...He meant the charity of forgiveness." – Slim, [20:35]
• "If you can indeed forgive and forget the past...my heart is bound to yours till the end of time." – Annabelle, [25:20]
• "Thank God." – Brad, [26:26]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|------------| | Episode Introduction/Opening Theme | 00:52-01:09| | Mail Call & Dear John Letter | 01:09-02:48| | Night Patrol Tension | 02:48-04:32| | Aftermath with Lieutenant | 05:04-05:36| | Chaplain’s Visit & Counsel | 05:36-09:36| | Brad’s Act of Bravery | 09:36-11:07| | Slim's Account of Brad’s Prayer | 11:41-13:08| | Hospital — Letters & Forgiveness Story | 15:00-24:00| | Brad Reads Annabelle’s Letter | 25:05-26:54| | Closing Reflection | 26:54-27:12|

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Memorable Moments

• Slim’s story about the preacher preventing a shooting out of love wounded by pride — a deeply personal, redemptive narrative [20:00-22:04].
• Brad’s emotional catharsis upon finally reading his “Dear John” letter and finding love, not abandonment, within [25:20-26:26].
• The Chaplain’s role as a gentle challenger, not just a comforter, highlighting the crucial distinction between whining and praying [08:53-09:18].

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Tone and Style

The episode blends heartfelt Southern drawl, soldierly camaraderie, and thoughtful exploration of themes with vintage radio drama affect. Character banter ranges from gruff and witty to vulnerable and searching, capturing the earnestness and homespun wisdom of mid-century America under stress.

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Summary

"The Key – Dear John Letter" uses the microcosm of a war-time platoon to explore universal struggles: facing hurt, granting (and seeking) forgiveness, and letting go of pride in favor of real connection. Through Corporal Slim’s wisdom and Brad’s emotional journey, listeners are drawn into a moving narrative where every door—literal and figurative—can be unlocked by compassion, honesty, and faith.

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Transcript

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[Chaplain/Padre]

Every door has a key.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

There's a key to every situation.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Behind every unopened door, there is a mystery. And the opening of this door introduces us to another in the series.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

The key.

[Lieutenant]

Okay, Corporal, sound mail call.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yes, sir.

[Annabelle (Slim's wife)]

Brad Dear this letter is the hardest I ever had to write. And I guess it's not one you're gonna like. If I weren't such a coward, I suppose I'd wait till you come home more funeral. But maybe this is the best way after all. I know how you hate scenes and I don't know how I could tender this to your face without creating some kind of a scene. However, I've always felt that we would never get married. That you really wanted some kind of out from me. Well, you could say I'm giving you out, dad. Because I'm afraid I've been untrue to you since you went back to Korea. I know this will hurt you. I really don't know what else to say except please forgive me.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

You're out there right enough, Serge.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

How many?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

I don't know. A dozen, I guess.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Well, doesn't we can take past the word.

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

Are you crazy? In the pitch dark, they'll mow us down.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

We're supposed to get back to HQ tonight, remember?

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

Yeah, we're supposed to get there. That's just it. We rush that bunch out there, nobody's gonna get back to hq.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

What's the matter, Corporal? Lost your nerve? Looking for an out on section eight?

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

What? Why, you. Yeah, you stink. When we get back, Corporal. If we get back. You mean if we get back. I'll be only too happy to settle with you, Sergeant, that we're a lousy thing to say. Okay, we're square. Let's forget. I don't figure you lately. You act like a heel. Always breaking your neck to take risks. You know as well as I do there's no sense in jumping those Reds out there. If we wait, they'll most likely move on. I Hate sitting around. Yeah. Seems to me you just hate to stay alive.

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

Oh, Yank. Hey, Yank.

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

What now?

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

Hey, Yank. Your wife, pretty girl. I. I love your wife, Yank.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Those dirty ladies.

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

Take it easy. Take it easy. You know that old gang. All they want is for one of us to show they'll straddle his whole position.

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

Hey, Yank, your girlfriend got another guy. How you like that, Yank?

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

All right, all right. Shout yourself to death.

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

What about your wife, Yank?

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

Give me the bar. Wait. Take it easy there. Hey, Yank, you don't have a wife anyway.

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

I love your girlfriend, Yank.

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

Come on, give it to me. Come on, you.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Let's leave it be. Crazy, you know.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Got a belly full of sitting. You whistling of it?

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

Why don't you answer, eh? Here's your answer, you yellow swine.

[Lieutenant]

That was a mighty poor effort, Sergeant. I guess you know that.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I did what seemed best at the time, sir.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yes, well, your best was to lose

[Lieutenant]

six men, including Corporal Harvey. We're short of men here and shorter of non coms. I can't afford to let you make too many showings like that.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Yes, sir.

[Lieutenant]

If I wasn't so short of sergeants, I'd have one of your stripes right now. So consider yourself lucky. But next time, I'll break you to the ranks, so help me. Now get on the ball, Sergeant. And stay there.

[Chaplain/Padre]

May I come in, Sergeant?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Right. Oh, Padre.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Yeah, sure.

[Chaplain/Padre]

I didn't wake you, did I? I wouldn't want to break up a man's rest.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

No, no, I wasn't sleeping. Fair enough. Sleep without trying it in the daytime.

[Chaplain/Padre]

But you've been on night patrols lately. You wouldn't get to sleep at night anyway.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I'm not on night patrol anymore.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Oh, yes, I. I heard about the trouble you ran into a week back. Must have been pretty rough.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Yeah. Yeah, it was rough.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Mind if I sit a while?

[Lieutenant]

Sure.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Copy.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Sub.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Thanks. Smoke?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Nice.

[Chaplain/Padre]

You know, I was thinking, Brad. It's quite a time since you had a furlough. Man gets beat up after too long a stretch out here. And sometimes the top brass gets forgetful of that.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

There's a war on, Padre. A man can't expect to take a rain check on combat duty when he feels like it.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Like me to have a word with the CO Sometimes he'll take notice of me. Not often, but sometime.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

No, thanks.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I'm okay.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

You want to help out?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

There are plenty of guys who need it.

[Chaplain/Padre]

You need it, Brad.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Look, lay off, will you, Padre?

[Chaplain/Padre]

Just because I goofed that patrol, it

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

doesn't mean I'm beat. I Made a mistake. Show me the sergeant who hasn't.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Yeah, it's true enough. But remember, it's battle fatigue. Makes a man prone to errors of judgment. You know that, Brad.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I'm okay. Well,

[Chaplain/Padre]

anyway, wouldn't you like to get home and see your folks for a spell?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I don't have any folks. There's nobody I want to see.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Brad, I haven't seen you around at mail call for quite a while. Tommy Pulaski told me that when he handed you a couple of letters that had been lying in the office for three days, you tore him up without reading him.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Pulaski's got a big mouth. He has no right to discuss my business with anyone.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Well, he meant well. I know you're not married, Brad. Were those letters from a girl?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

If you don't mind, Padre, I guess I am a little sleepy after all. Guess I'll take a nap.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Okay.

[Chaplain/Padre]

But I can tell you right now, Brad, if you're trying to forget something that really matters, something that goes deep,

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

you're talking about, I don't have anything to forget.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Yet you destroyed those letters without reading them. On the night of that patrol, it was the enemy taunts about girlfriends that got you mad. It doesn't figure.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Padre, I don't like to be rude, but why don't you mind your own business?

[Chaplain/Padre]

The peace of a man's soul is my business, Brad.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Yeah, well, I'm okay, thanks. Look, just leave me alone, will you?

[Chaplain/Padre]

I guess maybe you're not much of what they used to call a praying man, Brad. I don't get to see much of

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

you at church parade.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Man's got a things out for himself. Whining for somebody's help is in the way.

[Chaplain/Padre]

I wasn't talking about whining. I was talking about praying. There's a difference, though. Maybe. Maybe you're not smart enough to know that.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I didn't mean any offense. Look, praying. I wouldn't even know how to start. I'd have to feel it.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Well, the words were, there's no special way to pray, Brad.

[Lieutenant]

But you're right.

[Chaplain/Padre]

You've got to feel you want help. Then the words will come.

[Lieutenant]

Padre.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Yes, Lieutenant. Padre, you better get over to the hospital.

[Lieutenant]

A patrol just come in. Some of the men are in a bad way.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Oh, I'll come right away.

[Lieutenant]

They struck real trouble over toward Bruno's Hill. If it hadn't been for Carswell.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Carswell?

[Chaplain/Padre]

Brad Carswell. The sergeant Carswell? Yes.

[Lieutenant]

Bombed a machine gun position from the rear. They had the section pinned down. If it hadn't been for him, none of the men would have made it back here. Funny, I had him figured for a guy that was going to pieces. But he sure did a job this time.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yeah, sure enough, padre, that's the way it was. Them reds had us sitting there just waiting for them to take us anytime they wanted to. Was nothing we could have done. No, man, I tell you, I had the w. Excuse me, Padre. But anyways, that's just how it was.

[Chaplain/Padre]

What about the sergeant?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Him? Why, he up and turned the tables on them reds, that's what. He went out there with two grenades and worked his way right around to the back of them enemy men till he was right on top of them. Yes, sir. I ny on, bust out laughing. Just see the way he done it.

[Chaplain/Padre]

You bombed him out, huh?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

He sure enough did. The way he was setting it would have been like shooting fish in a barrel if it hadn't been for that Red. Seeing him up there and letting him have it with them automatic pistols. Man, I don't know how he's alive. I mean, that's a fact.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Yes, he's badly shot up. One bullet struck his helmet, gave him pretty bad concussion.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yeah, well, they didn't shoot him up bad enough or quick enough because he just dropped them two grenades right in their laps and wham. No. You saying I ain't glad it was amnant in that hole and not me? I'd be lying elsewise. I sure am sure I'm real obliged to that sergeant.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Well, I think you all are. The whole party.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yeah, sure enough. He's quite a man, that sergeant. Hey, padre. Though, funny thing about him.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Yeah, what's that?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Well, I reckon you wouldn't have any chawing to back here on you, would you, padre?

[Chaplain/Padre]

No, not right now. But I'll see what I can do about it.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Thanks. I sure could you, son. Well, as I was saying about the sergeant, when we was bringing him in, he was kind of, well, unconscious, you know. Yeah, but kind of dreaming or something like he was asleep, you know.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Well, how do you know he was dreaming?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Well, he was kind of moving his mouth around, you know. I reckon he was trying to say something.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Did he actually say anything?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

No, no, not much.

[Chaplain/Padre]

But he.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

He sure looked like he was trying for fair. But all he could get out was the one thing and that you couldn't quite hear. And only after you got real close. And he kept on saying this one thing again and again.

[Chaplain/Padre]

What was it, slim?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Well, now, I reckon it's the kind of thing that you ought to know about you being a chaplain and all. I wouldn't tell them other men, but I reckon you ought to know. Yes, perhaps I should. Yeah. Well, you know what he was saying? He was saying, please help me. Please help me, Help me. Kept on all the time, only. Only he wasn't saying it like I said it then. He was saying it like he was real desperate. And he wasn't speaking to no man neither. You know what I reckon? I reckon that man was praying. Yeah, he was praying like he needed something real.

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[Nurse]

Good morning, boys. Mail call. Now, take it easy. I'll get around you all at Cena.

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

Sergeant.

[Nurse]

Brother Carswell. Oh. Three for you, Sergeant. Nice feminine hand, too. Anywha, Private First Class C.H. heatherweather. Two for you.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Oh, man. Oh, man. Thank you, ma'.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Am.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

They're from my wife, I reckon.

[Nurse]

How lucky you. Oh. Can you manage?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

I sure can. I can open them all right enough. But I reckon I might have to get you to answer them for me on account I can't write with this little old arm of mine.

[Nurse]

Sure. I'll be back in A little while. Private First Class RM Ridgeway. Now two for you. You are.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Man, am I glad to hear my little old Annabelle. That's my wife's name. Annabelle. See now what you say? My own dear Slim. Boy, that's sure nice to read. My own dear Slim. Yeah, you ain't. Hey, sarge. Hey. Hey, listen to this. This will make you laugh.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Fit to kill, she said.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Hey, Sarge. Hey, you ain't reading your letters. What?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Oh, yeah, I'll read them later.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Well, if you wait the. I can hardly wait to get my letters from home. Don't you want to read them?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I said I'll get to them later.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Read your own mail.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Never mind about mine.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yeah, all right. Just don't seem right to me, though, that's all.

[Nurse]

I'll be free in about half an hour, soldier. Would you like me to take your letter then?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Thank you, ma'.

[Chaplain/Padre]

Am.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

That'll suit me just fine.

[Nurse]

Good. Well, what's the matter, Sergeant? Not reading your mail?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Crying out loud.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Why does everybody have to ask me a lot of silly questions? I don't want to read them. Take them away.

[Enemy Soldier/Voice]

Why?

[Nurse]

Look, I'll open them.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Take them away, do you hear? Take them away. I sure hope the crop is real good like you say, Annabelle. Cause. Because I wouldn't want you to fool me none and say things was going fine if. And they weren't. You got that nurse and say things

[Nurse]

were going fine if they weren't. Yep.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Now, what else can I say? You got any ideas?

[Nurse]

Well, I don't know. What does she say in her letters? Isn't there something else you can comment on?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yeah, let's see. There's. I can't recall. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I reckon I better say something about young Jeff.

[Nurse]

Jeff? Your son?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yeah. Well, leastways, he ain't exactly my son, as you might say. But I look on him as my own. He's fine boy, too. Gonna be quite a man someday. Fifteen.

[Nurse]

Is he? Well, he must be growing up fast, I suppose.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Oh, sure enough. But I ain't set eyes on him for more than years. The fine boy, though. Fine boy.

[Nurse]

Well, what would you like to say about Jeff, then? Or how about send him a message specially for himself?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Hey, that's an idea, though. Yeah. Put this here down. Let's see. Tell Jeff I'm glad to hear he's so growed up now. And I'm mighty proud of my boy. And tell him if he uses my gun to go after them possums and forgets to clean it, I'm going to belt the daylights out of him when I get back.

[Nurse]

Are you sure you want to say that? About? About belting him, I mean.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Oh, oh, sure, sure. He'll understand. I ain't never belted him yet, but I talk like that to him all the time. Oh, shucks, I wouldn't lay a finger on that boy. Yeah, I reckon Annabelle just about killed me if I never did. He's the apple of her eye, that boy is. Oh, yeah, I reckon it's natural, him being her own flesh and blood and all.

[Nurse]

Oh, she's his son by another marriage.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Another marriage? Well, no, Annabelle ain't really been married but once to me. No, no, you see, it was this the way she met this piece of powhite trash. And they was married all right. Only it turned out the ceremony wasn't a real one. And then, well, he just up and left her. I got so mad I was going to kill him. And that's a fact. I got out my gun and I was going to blow that man to kill kingdom come. You see, I'd knowed Annabelle since we was just babies and, well, I reckoned I was going to marry her someday. But she was always kind of difficult, you know, acting like I wasn't good enough for her. Well, I didn't know she was just putting it on to make me chase after her.

[Nurse]

The oldest chick in the world, Slim.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Oh, sure enough, I know that now. But I was proud. And I was a mighty good looking fellow then. You can laugh now, but that's true. And the way I reckoned it was. Well, Evan, she wanted to act difficult, that was all right with me. And I could get me plenty other gals.

[Nurse]

So she went with this other man.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Yeah, and I reckon I pushed things a bit further. She got to think that I was serious about some other gal who just didn't care no more for her. And I reckon she must have been mighty unhappy at that. I know now, but I didn't know then. Anyways, I was all set to kill this man, but she.

[Nurse]

You didn't shoot him, did you?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Oh, no, no, ma', am, I didn't. The preacher done stopped me.

[Annabelle (Slim's wife)]

The preacher?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Oh, yeah, ma', am, you know, we had the all firedest, preachingest man in the town you ever did see. He preached fire and brimstone like he was the angel of the Lord his self. And he come up to me while I was walking down Main street with my gun. And he said, slim Heavyweather. He said, slim, you got a killing look in your eye. And I said, sure enough. And he said, slim, you ain't gonna kill no man. And I said, preacher, you're about the wrongest man I know. And you know, ma', am, I got to laugh now, but. Oh, it sure twan't funny then.

[Nurse]

I suppose not. What happened?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Well, he set to right then and there, right in the middle of the main street. And he preached me right out of that killing mine first. He preached me on the sixth Commandment till that gun just fell from my hand. And I stood there mighty scared and I was hoping he was gonna let me go home. But he just went right on a preaching Slim. He says, you're in love with Annabelle and you know it. I said, sure enough, he said, and she's in love with you. And you'd know that too if you weren't blinded by your sinful pride. And he said, well, I forget the words, but it's in the Bible about faith and hope and charity. And the greatest of them all is charity, you know.

[Nurse]

Yes, I know.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Well, that preacher said I didn't have no charity in my soul. Well, I allow this.

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

How?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

I put money in the pull box whenever I could, thinking to please him. But man alive, he went all red in the face and he bawled out at me. Not that kind of charity, he said. He meant the charity of forgiveness, he said. You understand that, ma'?

[Annabelle (Slim's wife)]

Am? Of course.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Well, I didn't before, but I sure enough did after that sermon. And I realized that he was right. I had been proud and sinful. Me thinking I was too good for Annabelle because she'd been with that other man when maybe. Anyways, it was all my fault in the first place. So being fair minded and all, I went right on out to Annabelle's place and I said, Annabelle, I love you. You love me and I'm going to marry you. So it ain't no good of you putting me off no longer.

[Annabelle (Slim's wife)]

Well, let's go.

[Nurse]

Quite a story, Slim.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

I'm sorry I run on so, nurse, but. Well, I. I ain't told that story to nobody. I. I reckon I must be homesick a piece.

[Nurse]

Well, you should have a furlough coming when you get out of here. So you'll be getting back to see your wife pretty soon. And now let's finish your.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Hey, you asleep, Sarge? Oh, no, I didn't reckon you was. You've been tossing and turning around over there. Hey, do you think you could reach my jaw in the back here? I hit it in my drawer when the nurse was around and now I can't reach it with. I see a little old arm of mine.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Sure should be able to.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Hey, where'd you.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

All right, I got it here coming over.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Be careful now.

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

Thanks.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Boy, I sure need that. Man, that sure tastes good.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Say, Slim, I couldn't help overhearing what you were telling the nurse today about your wife. Mm. Say, mind if I ask you a question? Personal one?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Sure, you go ahead.

[Private/Corporal (Squad member)]

Are you.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

You happy with your wife?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

I mean, knowing about the other man?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Man, when I'm home with my Annabelle, I don't reckon there's a man happier in the whole world than me. Sure is a fine gal. And she loves me. And she's knowed that I love her too. All this time that we've been together and ain't nobody gonna come between us again. What that old preacher man told me

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

was true enough about the charity of forgiveness.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Not only that, he said it wasn't only for me to forgive her, but for me to ask her forgiveness for making her feel so bad, so lonely, that she. He could fall for another man. Hey, Sergeant. You mind if I ask you a personal question? Well, I reckon you'd be a mighty proud man yourself, Sergeant. I got you figured that way anyway. And pardon me, but I noticed you got letters from a gal and you ain't even got to read them yet. So I'd say, you got woman trouble, man. Oh, but here's my question, Sarge. Did you ever bother yourself to tell your gal that you're so in love with her that it hurts? Or did you always just reckon she'd be around after you felt like marrying her someday? Hey. Hey, what are you doing there? What are you looking for?

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Letters. Where'd she put em?

[Lieutenant]

Die.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Say, can I borrow your flashlight?

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Sure enough. Go ahead. Yeah, sure enough.

[Annabelle (Slim's wife)]

My darling, I can hardly write. My hand is trembling so. And if the neck is blotted with tears, I'm sorry, but I can't help it. I just can't. Oh, my dearest, of course. Of course I marry you. There never could be anyone else for me anyway. I love you. Love you. I can't think how I was ever stupid enough to imagine any other man could take your place. Nothing I have done could ease this desperate longing I've always had for you, Brad. And I know that what I did was a senseless and cruel thing to you and to myself. If you can indeed forgive and forget the past, you will never need to doubt me in the future. For as long as I know I have your love, I am completely yours and my heart is bound to yours till the end of time Hurry back to me My man, my man,

[Nurse]

my man.

[Sergeant Brad Carswell]

Thank God.

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

Thank you.

[Chaplain/Padre]

A closing door finishes a story Next week, another key will open another door to another story. Mystery, romance or adventure all start when a door is unlocked by

[Corporal Slim Heavyweather]

the key.

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