Adventures with Frank Part 2

Well, you asked for it and I hope you are ready for it.  
Here is the latest installment from Frank and co!

Hello Stephanie!

So, it’s been a few weeks since I last wrote to you about Frank. I can tell you, Frank is turning out to be quite the handful.

We’ve had our first real argument the other day, it was such a big deal he ran away (if a LB can runaway that is…). It took me a few days to find him again, and coax him back.

Before I go into what lead to our argument, I need to explain that since I have been here, I have had very little down time which is fine, we all know to expect that. The whole crew here in my job have been working between 12-18hrs each day, sometimes split shifts. We are currently undermanned, and doing more with less as they say. Nobody is complaining, we are all just appreciative of the little downtime we get.

Suffice to say, when I do make it back to my room, the last thing I want to do is take Frank around Camp Baird. But, as he is stuck in the room all day, he looks forward to me coming ‘home’.  He keeps nagging me to go for walks around the camp etc (and take him of course).

Anyway, I came back after a particularly long day at work and found him trying on my DPCU shirt…

“What are you doing Frank?”

“Getting dressed”

“Pardon?”

“It’s Halloween, thought I might dress up as an Army dude!”

“Frank, the shirt clearly states Air Force”.

<silence>

“Then I will dress up as a Pilot!”

“No, you can not be a Pilot.”

“Why not?”

“You’re a laundry bag for one, and secondly, pilots don’t wear DPCUs, they wear flight suits”.

“But I want to be a pilot!”

“You can’t.”

“But why not?”

“Because you are a LAUNDRY BAG”

<Silence again>

“You’re a bag”

“Pardon?”

“I saaaaid: You’re a bag”

“No Frank, you are the bag. I am a human. It’s how things are. Your sole purpose is to hold and carry dirty and clean laundry. That’s it. You can’t fly, you can’t drive and you can’t play dress ups!”

Now, admittedly, I was tired and cranky, so probably was a little harsh on the poor LB. I mean, all he wanted to do was dress up for Halloween, and I shot him down.

Anyway, he turned around and showed me Star Trek(see note!)  for the rest of the day. I felt bad, but had to go back to work. When I came back, he wasn’t there.

I checked the laundry, then the other laundry, and asked a few people. One said I think I saw him with the loadies (loadmasters). I asked their Operations Clerk, yep, they had Frank. So, I thought, ok, at least I know where he is. I’ll let him cool down.

A few days later I went and picked up Frank. He had tried to get on a flight, but the aircrew were too busy to take him. I sat down and told him, "I am due to fly soon, so when I go, I will take you with me ok?"  That made him happy.

I also apologised for being short with him, and to make it up to him, I took him to Bingo that night and we also played some table tennis.

It’s hard to find time to relax, and then when you need to share that time it makes it a little harder. Frank has been out and about a few times now at the camp, we stopped in at Bean around the MEAO, 

and he even went for a walk with one of my friends ‘M’. They had a great time.

I think, as long as I watch how I talk to him and as long as I spend some time with him he is ok. Who would’ve thought you need to be careful of the tone you use with a Laundry Bag?

Hopefully sometime this month I will be able to take him to the mall. That should calm him down for a while!

Well, unfortunately I have to keep it short this time, pretty busy at the moment. It may be a while before I have time to write again.  

As long as you know, Frank is doing well.

 Until the next time,

J.

Frank catching some Z's .  Check out the plain white doona.  Booooooring!  Maybe he needs a quilt to keep him company!  Hmmmm I reckon we can do something about that!

Note, for those who don't know Frank has a Star Trek themed back-side!  A little weird but what can I say?   He is that kind of guy!

Till next time...................keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Jan-Maree xx