Звездный десант

           Amanmightlieaboutitandgetawaywithit(Idid,acoupleoftimes)butatleastoneinourcompanywhopulledthatdodgeinthefaceofconvincingevidencethathewasnotrecentlybathedgotscrubbedwithstiffbrushesandfloorsoapbyhissquadmateswhileacorporal-instructorchaperonedandmadehelpfulsuggestions.

           Butifyoudidn’thavemoreurgentthingstodoaftersupper,youcouldwritealetter,loaf,gossip,discussthemyriadmentalandmoralshortcomingsofsergeantsand,dearestofall,talkaboutthefemaleofthespecies(webecameconvincedthattherewerenosuchcreatures,justmythologycreatedbyinflamedimaginationsoneboyinourcompanyclaimedtohaveseenagirl,overatregimentalheadquarters;hewasunanimouslyjudgedaliarandabraggart).Oryoucouldplaycards.Ilearned,thehardway,nottodrawtoaninsidestraightandI’veneverdoneitsince.InfactIhaven’tplayedcardssince.

           Or,ifyouactuallydidhavetwentyminutesofyourveryown,youcouldsleep.Thiswasachoiceveryhighlythoughtof;wewerealwaysseveralweeksminusonsleep.

           Imayhavegiventheimpressionthatbootcampwasmadeharderthannecessary.Thisisnotcorrect.

           Itwasmadeashardaspossibleandonpurpose.

           Itwasthefirmopinionofeveryrecruitthatthiswassheermeanness,calculatedsadism,fiendishdelightofwitlessmoronsinmakingotherpeoplesuffer.

           Itwasnot.