had received since he arrived here. He reached out and took the burly hand. Suddenly he was caught in a vise. He hadn’t felt anything that strong since his car had fallen off the jack onto his hand. Setting his jaw he applied a gorilla grip of his own. The primeval struggle had begun.
Braydon could see the expectation in all their eyes, knowing that Braydon was going to break and they would have a good laugh at his expense. They would have to wait longer because he was not going to give in. They could not understand what a 6 ‘4” bag of bones was doing here in the first place and they all knew that cannon ball was going to make him wish her weren’t
Muscle verses sinew and neither one was going to say enough. After ten minutes of continual jackhammering, the man looked up at Braydon and said. “You’re in. My name is Fredrick but everyone just calls me.”
Braydon interrupted, “I know, Fred.”
“No! That’s what it should have been, but they call me Rick. Don’t ask me why.”
“I’m Braydon. You can call me Butch. Braydon sounds like a donkey braying and in school they would bray rather than use my name. Now you know the terrible truth” they all burst out laughing.
“Ok Butch, you are a few days behind and have a lot of catching up to do. Which means that even tomorrow will be a bad day, you will ache so badly. Let me introduce the rest of this ragged bunch of misfits.”
“This is Zeto Appolo. He thinks he is the “Don” of this group, but he can’t even blow his nose.” Zeto was every bit Italian, dark hair, dark eyes and everyone laughed again. Like Rick, he was well built and looked like a bull. The only thing missing were the horns. His grip was not as strong as Rick’s but strong enough.
“That one on the end bunk is Trevor Torgerson. We haven’t got a nick name for him yet, but something will come to us. Maybe TNT” Trevor waved. Again he looked like a stud,” about average height, green eyes and red hair, he could have been Irish. “He’s from Washington and has webbed feet.”
”That other redhead on the bunk next to Trevor is Paul Cajun. We call his Lucy. Can’t guess way can you why?” Paul was a lot like Trevor, not of excessive build but showing strength. He had been working out. His green eyes were darker that Trevor’s and he just flipped Rick the bird.
“Across from him is Albert Finch. Yes, we do call him Al. He would probably kill us if we use another name.” Albert was bigger than Rick and taller than Braydon.” His broad smile flashed through his dark skin reflecting in his brown eyes and his short black hair looked like cut off bristle brush.
“Howdy” he said. Braydon waved at him.
”If you can’t tell, he’s from Georgia.” His grin permeated the room.
“Teddy,” waved at him from across the room, “he’s our hero, broke the record on the obstacle course. He’s from Hawaii. I can’t say his name.” He had a partial Polynesian build, but trimmer and panther muscles, dark hair what little there was of it. Being a little of six foot tall and another powerful build. Braydon had never seen a bald Polynesian.
“Over here we have Jenkins. That’s his last name cuz he won’t tell us his surname. I think its Alice.” He flipped Rick the bird. “Needless to say he has no couth.” Jenkins was as tall at Braydon but had muscles on top of muscles. Hercules had nothing on him and his short blond hair only lent to his strong features.
“This poor excuse for a human being is Wally. He’s from Green bay and I hate the Parkers.” Wally followed suit with Jenkins. “Another un-couth Bastard. His real name is Wilbur Willingham. Now you see why the Wally.” Average height and a strong build, he and Trevor could have been twins accept Wally was white blond and Trevor was black with no hair.
“A few clues and advice about how we do things here. While you’re training you don’t say a word to any DI or you get us all in trouble. Do exactly what your told and don’t ask questions. If you’re dying just die and get it over with. And finally, if you hear stern words and the DI cusses you out, don’t cry.” Everyone burst out laughing. “We will do what we can to help you but we hardly survive, especially since you’re getting a late start.”
“I really appreciate it. You have been great. Now, just as soon as the bones in my hand meld I will be able to shake hands again.” Another burst of laughter.
“Mess call, “ Wally yelled and they all ran to the mess hall. It was a short line and the food was splashed into their trays. It wasn’t good, but it was feeling.
They finished and headed back to the bunkhouse. “Turn in because bugles are early and you can’t sleep in.” Lights out was thirty minutes later.
Bugles blasted the morning to awaken. Braydon jerked flopped out of bed. As if he had been able to sleep. 0500 is the devils time and no one should have to get up at this hour. The squad was already moving, dressed and ready to be tormented again today. Braydon had to move faster than this hour. His mind did want to cooperate, but all the others were dressed a ready to go.
“Rush it Butch or you’ll miss chow. This is better chow then last night since you get year old eggs and bacon that was dug up the turn of the century. It usually tastes ok if you don’t mind the sandy grit in your mouth and the runs.” They all laughed willingly as Rick led the way.
It was a jog to the mess hall and the lines had already formed. There was little chatter as each rookie filed into their place in line dirt eaters and the babies. He noticed an attractive redhead Sargent standing at the head of the line directing traffic. He could only stare at her. Who would have thought that such a beauty was in the military or where ever it was that they were.
He moved closer and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Wally tapped him, “don’t stare too hard. She’s a DI and mean as hell. If she notices you noticing her, you might as well go now and get a casket, you’ll be dead after chow!”
Before he could turn away the daggers arrived. Braydon knew he was found out, covered his tracks by looking forward to the chow bar. He was only ten men from her and he could feel the approach of death.
Death arrived, “What are you looking at soldier?”
“Well Staff Sargent, I’ve never seen that many strips on a blouse before. I couldn’t take my eyes off them.”
“Well soldier, I wouldn’t stare if I were you, you’ll being seeing more of these stripes and a few stars as you muck though the mud and face the hell of the obstacle course. Now move it!” the name tag showed Mary Taggart.
Braydon couldn’t believe such a harsh, terrifying voice from this petite read head. All he could think of was his world was going the wrong direction and it was straight down.
‘You lucky bastard.” Wally pronounced.
“Lucky. How do you figure that? I now have an angel with horns going to bury me.”
“You’ll probably die or get sent home. Of course it will be in a box but that’s at least a place to rest, but what a way to go.” Wally whispered.
No one laughed because Sargent Angle/Devil was watching.
“The last time that happened, she had the rookie yanked from line and put on the