The shelling continued throughout the night. There was one particular blast that awoke Jenkins from his slumber. So much for getting some sleep. He sat up in his cot and looked down at his rifle. He knew how many mistakes he had made but he felt irresponsible sleeping on his first night. He decided to go back outside and finish his shift, but he thought it best to avoid anyone he possibly could, especially Klinger, Hawk, and Radar, as he felt he was just a let down to them.
As Jenkins walked out of his tent he shivered in the night, sensing the further drop in temperature. He hoisted his gun against his chest and began to march forward into the dark. He barely had time to recover himself as an excessively loud bomb blew off in the distance, rattling the camp. He stumbled forward as he noticed two figures racing toward him. Here it goes. Don't screw it up... again. As the two were within a arm's distance, Jenkins collected himself and spoke with an uncertain confidence. "Halt, who goes there!?" With that Jenkins heard a startled yelp; from Radar. "It's the Colonel!" Radar Shouted back. Jenkins felt a lump in his throat and he felt his heart beat a little faster. Oh dear... "Oh... sorry" Jenkins lowered his rifle and took a step backwards. "Go ahead, sir" Colonel Potter stepped closer to the young Private while Radar stayed close behind. Jenkins felt his heart jump as the Colonel now stood face to face with him. "Don't you want to know the password?" The Colonel asked, his voice stern and raspy as usual. "I already know it sir" Colonel Potter stepped a little closer. "You're trembling son." Jenkins tried to stay still, as he didn't realize until now that he was shaking. "Are you scared?!" Jenkins, surprised and intimidated by the Colonel's question, tried to appear a confident, and as brave as possible. "Oh, no sir! I'm just a little cold." At the Private's response the Colonel raised an eyebrow and slowly began to walk ahead of Jenkins. "If you had any brains you'd be scared." And with that the Colonel walked ahead, Radar following behind, with a slight scowl on his face.
Jenkins took in the Colonel's words. And it all began to finally sink in.
