Chapter 2

           Itscaredmeso,Ihookeditoff,

           NorstoppedasIremember,

           NorturnedabouttillIgothome,

           Lockedupinmother’schamber.

           YankeeDoodle,keepitup,

           YankeeDoodledandy,

           Mindthemusicandthestep,

           Andwiththegirlsbehandy.

           Ineverreallyintendedtojoinup.

           Andcertainlynottheinfantry!Why,IwouldratherhavetakentenlashesinthepublicsquareandhavemyfathertellmethatIwasadisgracetoaproudname.

           Oh,Ihadmentionedtomyfather,lateinmysenioryearinhighschool,thatIwasthinkingovertheideaofvolunteeringforFederalService.Isupposeeverykiddoes,whenhiseighteenthbirthdayheavesintosight—andminewasduetheweekIgraduated.Ofcoursemostofthemjustthinkaboutit,toywiththeideaalittle,thengodosomethingelse—gotocollege,orgetajob,orsomething.Isupposeitwouldhavebeenthatwaywithme...ifmybestchumhadnot,withdeadseriousness,plannedtojoinup.

           CarlandIhaddoneeverythingtogetherinhighschool—eyedthegirlstogether,double-datedtogether,beenonthedebateteamtogether,pushedelectronstogetherinhishomelab.Iwasn’tmuchonelectronictheorymyself,butI’maneathandwithasolderinggun;CarlsuppliedtheskullsweatandIcarriedouthisinstructions.Itwasfun;anythingwedidtogetherwasfun.Carl’sfolksdidn’thaveanythinglikethemoneythatmyfatherhad,butitdidn’tmatterbetweenus.WhenmyfatherboughtmeaRollscopterformyfourteenthbirthday,itwasCarl’sasmuchasitwasmine;contrariwise,hisbasementlabwasmine.