Chicken, Adam and Tears
We end up being led into a cafeteria or “chow hall” if you will, hustled through the line where the biggest chicken breast in the world lands on my tray. ” You have exactly 3 minutes from the moment you sit you tray down to be done.” WHAT? So I sit down and prepare to dig…” where’s your juice?” I look up to the red head Drill Sergeant staring at me. “I…” :Are you addressing me sitting down?” F*ck “No Drill Sergeant” ” It certainly seemed like you were. Anyway where is your juice? go get in line!” I look over and maybe it was because I was nervous and slightly freaking out, but that line looked like the Great Wall of China. Shit I’m not gonna gave any time to eat! Ok strategy time. So all I really need is protein so I’ll just eat the chicken! So after what seems like an eternity I finally get my juice and I practically sprint back to my seat. ” This table has 1 minute left” I don’t think I chewed any of the chicken. I was just swallowing it. ” Get up throw your trays away and wait in the hall. I grab my army green duffle that’s loaded down with underwear, pt clothes and a huge coat and wait in the hallway. Now by this point I just want to sleep. I look back at the clock, 0145. So we’re led through the newly melted ice to our sleeping place. So while we were still filling out paper work we were each assigned a number and we were told that if asked what our number was that is what we would give them and when we went anywhere were supposed to be in number order. “Get to know the person in front of you and behind you because you will depend on each other while you’re here.” 151 was my number and my line mates, Ronk and Perry seemed cool enough. So they lead us into this room where we get 4 of the roughest freaking towels, a pillow, 2 sheets and a scratchy green blanket. We are then led into this dark room that from the glow of the exit signs, you can faintly make out the shape of over 100 bunk beds. ” Alright males(because all the females were on the floor below us) this is where you’ll be sleeping and these are the guys pulling fireguard they’ll help you get sorted and show you where your bunks are.” So this guy, in what I know to be the infamous army BCGs( birth control glasses, which got their name because the glasses are so dorky and huge that no one will want to sleep with you), Steps forward ” Alright look it’s late as hell I’m tired you’re tired so let’s make this quick. I’m Atmore and thats Brody, We got fireguard for this hour so yeah. Here are the latrines, not bathrooms because those don’t exist anymore so don’t call it that. Alright so when I call your name and bunk number go find your bunk, go change into your PT’s, make your bunk and then go to sleep. It’s already 0200 so you won’t have very much time to sleep and tomorrow’s a long day!” I’m so exhausted by this point I don’t care I just want to sleep. “Thornton bunk 11 Za…Za… Whoever the f*ck this is with a Z you’re 12” I expected my bunkmate to one of my linemates but I guessed wrong. Surprise there. So I scan the mass of sleep deprived guys for my bunkmate hoping for some kickass Hooah spawn that’ll help me out! Instead this slightly out of shape white guy with what looked to be his own personal BCGs comes over. “Hey man I’m Adam.” “I’m Quinn. Nice to meet you.” ” Nice to meet you too! I’m so nervous man these people freak me out!” “Trust me I’m right there with you!” Adam is still rambling as I’m making my bunk. He tells me that he’s from Minnesota and he’s been working to lose weight to come here. “Well I’m gonna go change so I can at least get some sleep. “I say interrupting his reverie. I think the reality of the situation hit me as I strip down in the latrine to my bright blue American Eagle boxer briefs that SCREAM gay gay gay. So I brush my teeth and get in my bunk. As I lay there, I start to think about my family, my friends and the fact that I never got to say bye to my little brothers. For the first time in a long time I went to sleep with tears soaking into my pillow case with the ever present threat of a new day steadily approaching…