Ch. 4 | Combat Boots

Riley

I spent the entire day, reading magazines and doing some mini workouts in the alleyway outback.

Who knew push-ups would be so hard?

I'm going to get my ass handed to me in basic training. I sighed and leaned against the brick building.

My lower back began to throb and so did my left leg. I didn't even put my strain on them. God damn this privileged body.

I looked up at the pretty orange sky. I'd appreciate it more if I didn't have anxiety eating away at me like a fat kid donuts.

If the sky was orange, that meant sunset.

Sunset usually happens around 7:30 every night.

I only had 2 hours left until my inevitable doom.

I was dreading it. I was tempted to go back home. Crawl into the safety of my bed. Enjoy the warmth of chai tea and the comfort of french toast.

I was not looking forward to the same meatloaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes everyday. But, maybe it'd make me stronger.

Or fatter. Who knows?

"Miss Earnigst?" A voice called from the other end of the alleyway and my head flipped towards it.

It was the station owner, "Hey, what's up?" I asked with a smile and stood up fully, the action winding me.

"A bus for the US Army has just arrived. You going or not?" He asked, his voice irritates me a little.

"What time is it?" I asked and looked back up at the now dark sky.

When did that happen?

The old man looked down at his wristwatch, "9:53."

How had the time passed?

I quickly grabbed my stuff and ran into the building. A group of men dressed in everyday outfits were huddled in the corner.

I slowly made my way to the group and slid into the back of it.

"Excuse me, Miss?" One of the men looked down at me and I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Yes,Sir?" I asked and shifted the now heavy bags on my shoulders. Why had they always seemed so light until now?

I must've been exhausted.

"I think you're in the wrong group. The midwives bussing is over there." He pointed towards a large group of women wearing bonnets.

"Thank you for that very useful information." I replied sarcastically.

"I think he was hinting to you going over to join them." Another man, shorter then the first, spoke this time.

"Why would I do that when I'm enlisted here?" I asked them in a condescending tone. I had a bad habit of treating people like they were stupid when they said stupid things.

"A chick? Enlisted? You blitzed?" The first man laughed and so did the rest.

"Too bad they don't have separate bussing for sexist pigs." I sighed and dropped my bag to the floor, sitting next to it.

My body felt sore and it was getting hard to breathe. My anxiety was tearing away at me.

"What was that sweetheart?" Another one from the group stepped up. Was I really being bullied by grown ass men?

I watched as black combat boots came into my side view.

I slowly turned my head upwards to see Sergeant asswipe from the booth in the sporting goods store.

Oh great. Tell me he's my staff sergeant. This would be fun.

"You usually stand to greet your sergeant, maybe even give them a quick salute?" He prompted for me to Stand up and I quickly did. Lightheaded-ness hitting me like a ton of bricks.

But I quickly saluted him along with everyone else anyway.

"Good. You guys are all on time, which is the first. So you're all off to a good start." He nodded his head at us and we just stood still.

"For those of you who haven't met me, I'm Sergeant Perish. You may only refer to me as Sergeant Perish." He waited for us to respond but we stood still once more.

"Yes sir?" Sergeant Perish assumably waited for us to repeat that but no one did.

"Yes sir." I stood straight and looked him in the eyes. I could hear my heart racing in my chest. Almost like a drum in my ears.

"Who are you?" He asked and stood directly infront of me.

"Riley Earningst,Sir." I didn't move or flinch.

"Rule one of the army, Dont be a brown-nose." He said through gritted and stepped back.

A few of the men snickered and that earned them a glare from Sergeant asswipe.

"When I say something, I expect a reply from everyone. Not just Earningst over there." He pointed towards me.

"Excuse, Sergeant Perish?" The first man from earlier stuttered as he called out to Perish.

"Did I give you permission to speak?" Perish was now nose to nose with him. He shook his head and Perish took a step back.

"Rule number 2, Don't speak unless spoken to." He clasped his hands behind his back and looked at the wall on the clock.

It was now 10:12 pm.

"Talk about being on time. We're now late. Get your shit, and get on the bus." Perish glared at each and every one of us and then left the building.

I'm so not looking forward to the next 3 months.