David


"Wake up Barrack 12! On your feet men!" Lieutenant Kirshner busted into the tent.

I kicked the covers off of me in a frenzy. Micky jumped down beside me. Nesmith and Tork stood across from me.

Each of us at attention. The others and I were dazed and a bit confused. The sun was still far from up and we were caught off guard.

"Are you boys aware that your light was left on late last night?" The Lieutenant asked already knowing the answer.

Micky fidgeted beside me. He and Nesmith exchanged a glance.

"Yes sir!" Nesmith said loudly.

"You should know that it is against army regulations to leave your light on after nine O'clock." The Lieutenant spat. "If the enemy flies over and sees any one light, they may decide to attack. We cannot risk it. Now who decided to leave the light burning?"

Micky switched his footing. His breathing had quickened as he opened his mouth to speak. Weakly, he said, "I uh, Sir."

The Lieutenant stepped into Micky's face.

"Speak up private!" He screamed.

"It was I, sir!" Nesmith yelled.

Lt. Kirshner turned around to Mike. "Why!?" He yelled.

"I'm afraid of the dark!" Mike said back.

"Well you better man up Nesmith, your light is mine. You best learn to sleep in the dark!" The man yelled and snatched up the lantern. "I am letting you off with a warning for now, but if you do it again, the punishment will be more severe." The Lieutenant pivoted and marched out of the tent.

We slummed out of attention and Micky reached out to Nesmith.

"Mike, why did you take the blame?" Micky whispered.

"No! No. It's alright really." Nesmith pushed him away with a smile.

"Oh thank you!" Micky said with true sincerity.

"It's no problem." Nesmith said as he pulled on his jacket.

Micky turned to me and smiled.

"I guess I'll have to man up." He joked as he sat down beside me.

"I don't really like that guy." Tork observed.

"Yeah he's a real so and so it seems." I added.

Nesmith and Micky nodded.

"Hey Dolenz, what's wrong?" Nesmith asked.

"Oh I uh, It's just, the light." Micky said as he laid his head on the railing of the bunk. He looked as if he hadn't slept. I wondered if he had stayed awake all night. Micky closed his eyes and began to breath heavy.

"Micky?" I nudged him.

The poor man slipped off the railing and hit the floor with a 'thunk.' He jumped awake and pushed himself to his knees. Nesmith, Tork, and I laughed at the boy.

"I'm sorry." Micky apologized repeatedly as he pulled himself to his feet.

"Are you okay?" Tork laughed.

"No. I didn't sleep at all last night." Micky said embarrassed.

"It's okay man. You wanna talk about it?" Nesmith asked.

"NO." Micky snapped and the conversation was dropped.

The day was spent drilling and eating and running and drilling. Every minute I had to myself I stole away in the tent and thought of home. I had just started getting used to America when my father called. He was set on me enlisting for the army.

"Your new country needs you son." He said in his authoritative voice. How could I deny him and shame him? I couldn't!

And so I enlisted. For my father's sake. I told the others that I was drafted because of Peter's reaction to Micky's enlistment. I didn't want him to hate me.

The tears I had shed every night for the past six weeks refused to come. I couldn't cry one tear! My eyes were totally dry. I missed home. I missed my family. So I laid on my bunk and felt sorry for myself.

Sorry guys for such a terrible filler chapter.

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