Paradise Lost Chapter 6
Apologies in advance for how long it took to update the book. I have more time to update now.
30th January 1917 – Private Daniel Murillo's point of view
Today marks two weeks since we started training and we can now send letters to our families. Also, I am going to be assessed by the nurse to see if I am physically fit enough to be able to exercise with the rest of them. I am the first one up since I have had another nightmare. Rigo is the second one up and he sees me. "Are you okay Danny?" he asks me, and I nod. I don't want to worry my big brother more than he has been by me lately. "Yeah, just had a nightmare is all," I tell him. He sits on the edge of the bed and frowns at me, he doesn't like it when I have nightmare even though it's not my fault. "Poor bear, do you want to have another rest day?" he asks me, the two weeks can go on for longer if I need it too.
"I'm not sure yet, let's see how the medical evaluation goes first," I tell him. The nurse might tell me that I do need another day or two off and then I will have no say in the matter. I will make sure if they let me do it that I will not overdo it. "Okay Danny, just as long as you know that you can rest if you need to," he tells me. I don't think we have to get up right this moment. I could fall back to sleep because the others are not awake. "Can I go back to sleep?" I ask Rigo, I am still not sure what the schedule is yet. My older brother knows the schedule like the back of his hand he has been living here for so long. "Yeah sure, I'll wake you up when it is breakfast time," he tells me. That's good, I trust him with my life. "Can you stay with me tonight? I don't want to be alone," I tell him.
"Sure thing Danny, I can stay with you," he tells me. I budge up in the bed so that Rigo has more room to lay down with me. I snuggle up with him and I close my eyes so I can fall back to sleep soon. Rigo starts rubbing my back just below where the cuts used to be and just healed. "I missed this Rigo," I tell him. When we were both at home we would often lay in his room and cuddle up like this to get away from father. It helps that there is a ten-year age gap between us. When I was very little I used to cry a lot because I was terrified and Rigo would cuddle up to me like that in the furthest room he could get me in, and I would eventually fall asleep. It quickly became the only way you could get me to sleep as a kid.
"Me too Dan. At least now we can both naturally feel relaxed without worrying about anything," he tells me. Like I mentioned before, all of our brotherly time usually had the motive of getting away from our father because we were scared. For some reason when we were hidden like that he didn't really bother us, but he would wait until the second one of us will leave the room to harm either whoever is still in the room or whoever left. Basically he was an opportunistic bastard and it is not hard to see why my family and anyone who hears about how he treats his children hates his guts. I'm still transitioning I feel. It is hard to really comprehend that I am free from him for now. Like I am still expecting him to show up and to ruin things like he always does. This is a nice change though; I like the peace.
"I have got to say that the last month or so has been really weird. It has been a good kinda weird though," I tell him. Then I yawn, I was surprised I didn't wake anyone up. I make sure I am still snuggled up with him. This time I am laying my head on his chest. "Yep, I never thought that my little brother would be in the army. Here you are in the same military camp as me and it is the best decision you have ever made. I did have my doubts initially about whether or not it was time for you to be here, but I do think you are better off here," he tells me. He's right, I am safer right here in the army than I would be if I was still at home with our father. "Yeah, long may the happiness continue," I tell him, just as I fall asleep.
I was expecting Rigo to still be angry about me being here if I was being honest. I know that he was not happy with the state my health was in when I first got here and then I almost died already and that was all because of one man. It wasn't like oh I got attacked for being his brother or anything like that. Although I know for a fact that if something like that were to happen then Rigo would start a riot because he is a super protective big brother and would probably murder someone to protect me. If it ever boiled down to it I am pretty sure that he would murder father if it came to it and they got into a fight with each other. It does scare me sometimes that it could become kill or be killed, especially when it is Rigo and father because they are equally as strong in my opinion.
~ a few hours later~
"Breakfast time little bear," Rigo tells me, just as I wake up. I must have woken up super early before. It feels like I have slept a longer time than I did the first time around. Jorel is sitting on the edge of the bed and smiles at me when our eyes met. "Morning," I tell them both. I sit up and put my boots on because we probably need to get going soon. "Good morning Danny," Jorel tells me. I hope the nurse tell me that I can start slowly getting back into physical training from today. I walk with them over to the mess hall for breakfast. I am used to being the last man awake in our billet, it just naturally happens because they all want me to get as much rest as possible. However, I am not the last one up in the entire camp. That guy seems to be doomed to do laps every morning while we are being trained here.
"Morning Danny, how are you?" Matt asks me when we reach the table. I sit down in between Rigo and Jorel like usual. "I'm feeling good, how are you?" I ask him. I didn't think that it was weird that we sometimes start our conversations like we have either just met or that we have not seen each other in a while. "That's good Dan," Matt replies. I am not the only one who is anxious about today. They are all anxiously waiting for my nurse evaluation. They can't wait for me to join in the physical training sessions with them. Jordon says there is a guy who would brag about his abilities and he needs taking down a peg or two. I am more than willing to help with that. I am so ready to help use my knowledge to make things more interesting.
"I bet Brody is going to brag again this morning. I am surprised that he has not run out of things to brag about," Jordon tells me. They have one hour of PT every morning and I am missing the morning session because of the evaluation. "Brody is going to get knocked down a peg or two real soon," Jorel says, then he looks at me. Physically I am very fit and active, so I could probably beat Brody no issue. I smile at him. "Yeah, I think I can knock this Brody guy down a peg or two," I tell Jordon. This guy seems like he'd be my definition of first-class douchebag if I am being totally honest with you. Jordon seems so happy that I have offered my help to knock some sense into Brody. I think Jordon might have some self-confidence issues which Brody isn't helping with.
"Everyone is quite interested to see how you do tonight if you are allowed to do the evening session. You are probably the shortest yet fittest recruit," Rigo says. He has to make a reference to how short I am whenever possible. The instructors were incredibly impressed by how easily I handled the rifle during the training sessions I have had so far. I did have some experience with the rifle prior to arriving at the camp, but it wasn't much or even worth noting. Rigo has the most experience with them out of everything. "Yeah I can't wait to get out there and show them what I can do," I tell him. I feel fine now. I don't feel as bad as I did when I first arrived and dealt with the infection. It feels like everything is going right for me right now.
I nudged Rigo in the ribs for calling me short again. Yeah that's a fact that I am the shortest in our friend group and probably the entire camp, but he doesn't need to bring it up as frequently as he does. He just shook his head at me and nudged me back. We have to be careful with what we do though because we are under the watchful eye of the more senior officers. They will tell us off if we are being too rough with each other because they all want us to get along and not fight with each other. That's the theory behind it anyway. I guess guys like Brody make it a little more difficult for those who just want to get along with army training. Not everyone has the amount of free hours apparently Brody had from what I just heard to put into physical exercise. Some of us have got to work hard jobs to get money for our families.
The guys who go off to do their morning run while I go to the nurse. I am still on extra rations until the nurse tells me that I am a healthy enough weight where those extra rations are no longer required. I walk over to the infirmary tent. I have found walking a lot easier now that my back is pretty much completely healed. There is still a little bit of healing left, but not much. "Hello Private Murillo, take a seat," the nurse tells me as I walk in. I sit down on the bed like she told me to do. I take my shirt off so she could have a good look at my back. I also haven't been mixed up with Rigo which is a plus. "How have you been feeling?" she asks me. All she knows about what happened is that I got into a fight with someone before I came to the camp and training began, she's not allowed to know much more than that.
"I've been feeling a lot better thank you," I tell her, and I was being honest. She smiles at me. It didn't hurt once when she was touching my back. She also gives me a full head to toe check-up while I'm here. "Your back looks a lot better," she tells me, it has almost completely scarred over now. She asks me a few more questions on my health and well-being. I didn't find the nightmares were at this point worth mentioning. They are not that bad and manageable right now. "I don't see how you won't be able to start slowly getting back into physical activity as long as you stay within your limits and rest when you need to," she tells me. I couldn't help but cheer when she said that, it means I can run tonight, and I don't have to be in bed all the time I am not in the lesson. I can be me again.
"I will look after myself. Big brother Rigo will make sure of it," I tell her, and she smiles again. She knows Rigo is my brother and she knows him well. He has worked here for well over a year at this point. "Of course Sergeant Major Murillo will keep an eye on you while you are both here. You make sure he knows though," she tells me. Rigo is going to ask me when he sees me next anyway. Even if I don't tell him he will find out. "He will know, don't worry," I tell her, and she chuckles. She's the nicest nurse I have ever met. She let me leave not too long after that, since there is nothing else she can do while I am healthy. I can't join this late into this morning's session of running, so I have to wait until the next session which is before bedtime regardless.
"Hey Danny, what's the verdict?" Rigo asks me when he sees me. Just like I had predicted he would. "All clear to start as long as I stay within my limits and rest when I need to," I tell him. Then I tell him everything that the nurse and I discussed. I hug him and he hugs me back. "That's good Danny. I will make sure you take your rest when you need it," he tells me, and I smile at him. He is so protective of me. It is a good thing; he often took hits for Kyle and I when he thought that our father had beaten us enough. I can't wait until this evening when I can run for the first time in three weeks. It is like everything is finally falling into place. Now all I need is to reunite with Kyle, survive the war and get back to our mother and sister then everything will truly be perfect.
I think we have another practical type lesson today. It was announced this morning that we are being tested from today onwards and when we pass all the test we can go up a level and get a promotion if we are worthy of one. They did mention they were looking to see who could possibly be worth promoting twice just to help us get through the training quickly because they are really preparing for war. With Germany becoming a bigger threat we have to be prepared for anything that might happen. We haven't really faced anything like this that I have known at least. I tended to not pay much attention to the military news because I heard enough complaining from my father. As soon as we heard about the war going on in Europe my father started complaining while he beat us every day.
Jorel hugged me tightly when he saw me. "Brody won't know what hit him tonight," Rigo tells him, and Jorel grins. That was my way of telling them I had be cleared for physical training. "That's great Danny," Jay tells me. He knows how much I have been wanting to join in and do all of the training with them. "Yeah, I finally get to feel fully involved with the training now," I tell him. During our free time we are going to be writing our letters home so that they can be sent today. Mine is going to be hidden in Rigo's letter so father can't find it. I don't want him to find it if I was being honest. Next lesson is on the firing range.
"Are we being tested today?" Dylan asks me. Like I mentioned before we are starting to get tested now so we can progress onto our next stage and they can bring in new recruits. "I think so, but you don't need to be worried about it. You're great at this," I tell him as we walk to the firing range with the others. Jorel was walking a little bit behind me but he smiled when I looked at him. Then he walked a little faster so that he was in line and right next to me. I am starting to get a little panicky. My anxiety keeps making me think my father is around, but I know right at this moment he isn't, and he doesn't even know I am here. "Don't worry Danny," Jorel whispers to me. Then he wraps his arm around my waist like he does sometimes. I take a deep breath through my nose. Fuck panic attacks, I hate them so much.
"You two take a minute or two out here," George tells Jorel and I when we get to the firing range. Even he knew I was having a panic attack right now. The safety brief that we are going to get from the instructor I can recite from the top of my head and so can Jorel, so we are okay to miss that. I sit with Jorel outside of the indoor range while I try my best to calm down. "Do you know Danny, I hate that guy who hurt you?" he says, deliberately being vague because someone is probably trying to eavesdrop. His hatred for my father is probably as strong as mine at this point. "Yeah, I hate him too," I reply. I'm still taking deep breaths and slowly getting myself back into a calm state so we could get on with testing. "Are you okay now Danny?" George asks us. We are still both outside, so there was no real need for formalities right now. "Yeah, I feel a lot better now," I tell him.
"That's good, now go and ace that test," he tells me. I mock salute him and he gently shoves me. I walk with Jorel into the firing range just as the safety brief we both knew was ending. I am going to ace this test. I saw Brody and walked straight past him to join the others. Wes sit and listen to the last bit of the thing and answer some questions to prove we understand what the safety rules. The instructor noticed I was in the room now. "Private Murillo, why don't you show them how it's done?" the instructor asks. As he knows I know a lot from what Rigo has been teaching me when he can. I am also good at using the weapons already, so this should be good. Brody is going to probably haste me by the end of this.
I go through all the steps like I was born to do this. When I fired the rifle I manage to hit it right in the centre of the target evert single time. When I had finished my test I saw so many people's jaws had dropped. "A definite pass Private Murillo," the instructor tells me. I was relieved, and I high fived Jorel when I sat back down. I felt better that I was the first one to do the test. I have slight anxiety over these sorts of things, so in my mind it was better for me to get it over and done with. I was also the demonstration, so I was the only one who went. Now they are going in groups of four so that we can get all of the testing done in time and to deal with any problems that may occur like the gun jamming. Now the instructor tells everyone else which groups they will be in. I am going to enjoy just watching this go on because for the rest of the lesson I can just chill out.
"Knew you could do it," Jorel whispers. I smiled and looked like I was paying attention as someone asked for a repetition of the what to do if you fire the gun, but it misfires. The instructor sighed but did proceed to give another full brief to us. He was going to have me come up and show what to do, but he was ready to get our class over and done with because even he could tell some of the recruits were not the sharpest tools in the shed so to speak. Brody was definitely one who was a brawn over brains kinda guy. He wasn't paying much attention until he got shouted at. I sniggered because I was finding this whole situation funny. I can see why Rigo says that he is entertained by people watching while he trains recruits.
Brody looked very miffed at my skill, because of my injuries I have been hiding my true potential from him. Also I guess it does pay to have an older sibling or two in the army. Jorel, Dylan, Jordon and Matt were up next. They also all passed with flying colours since they never missed their targets, but I have to say it wasn't as good as mine. Brody was in one of the last groups to go. The ego he has is already being deflated as he was the only guy who missed pretty much all of his targets. I was clearly the best at shooting which was amazing. I am good at something for once in my life. "You should have seen the look on Brody's face. That was classic," Jordon says when we left the firing range. We do get a short break now.
Now we can write home to our families or friends. I have also done two drawings for every guy in the billet. They are sending one of them home to their families. "Still going to hide your letter in mine Danny. Hopefully it won't be seen by father," Rigo tells me. The guys do know what is going on at home to some degree. As far as father is aware, I am dead right now. Well, that is what we want him to believe and are hoping he believes. "At least your mother will feel happy knowing that you are safe right?" Matt asks. She will be worrying about me for sure. "Yeah, she'll be worrying about me. She'll worry less when she gets my letter and Rigo's to confirm I am safe and healthy," I tell him. She can let Lisa read it as well. Our sister worries about the three of us just as much as mother does sometimes.
"What I still don't get is how a father gets joy out of hurting three of his children," Jordon says. It is a fair point to make, anyone new to our situation would not understand it as much. Not even we know ourselves how he gets so much pleasure out of it. It is really hard to wrap your head around it. "Yeah, I have been wondering that myself for the last thirty years at least. I guess all of us being too poor to move out doesn't help us," Rigo says. I don't mention it, but it also doesn't help having a controlling father who takes any money you earn, so he can spend it on booze. Not in the running for father of the year that much I can say. "After the war and when we all go home you can both come and live with me. Then we'll get your sister, brother and mother free," Dylan tells us. I smile at him. That's a pretty nice thing to offer someone you've known for like three weeks.
"That's such a nice offer Dylan, we appreciate it," Rigo says. I am probably going to accept that offer. That's if we make it out alive. There is a huge risk of dying from going on the frontlines for all of us or another way for Rigo and I when we get home. Father would most likely kill me if he sees me again, and Rigo might pass him in rank which would make him angry. "Yeah, that is amazing Dylan. When we get back to Los Angeles, I will take you up on that," I tell him. Dylan smiles at me, he's been desperate to do something since he took me to Jake when I got beaten up. "Okay Danny, when we get home there will definitely be a room for you," he tells me. I know his family is rich, so they will have a big house with loads of spare rooms, better than our three-bedroom home we are squashed into. Maybe if I do live with Dylan I can keep all of my wages when I go back to work in the café. I can't wait to see my mother happy again, she loved my café job.
For us it was a way to escape our real life. You don't have to focus on what troubles you when you can sit in the corner and knit teddy bears and blankets like my mother used to do. Then she got permission from Jake to have them sold and he'd keep all her supplies and money here so that it was away from the clutches of her husband who would even go as far as to steal money from his wife and children to fuel his alcohol addiction. I don't know anyone whose father does that to their families. Then again I am not confident in sharing my story to many people so I wouldn't know if anyone would sympathise with me and my siblings. I wouldn't even know if this sort of thing happens to anyone else in the level it does to us.
"Hey Dylan, I don't mean to be rude but if your family is so rich then why are you here?" Jorel asks. I am about halfway through writing my letter to my mother, but I was still listening to the conversations going on around me. "It's okay Jorel. My parents have always taught me to be grateful for what I have, so I have the chance to fight for my country and I will do so," Dylan says. That is very admirable to be fair, he could have easily used his rich privileges to stay at home and be a spoiled brat. "Fair enough Dylan, we are glad to have you here," Jordon says, and I am sure everyone else agrees. He is right as well; Dylan is a good friend and very good company to have. I appreciate how non-judgemental everyone is. Everyone is so diverse it is amazing.
"He's right, you could have stayed at home. You are a good friend," I say, looking up from my paper. I was one of few people who is literate. My father sent us to the best school and spend so much money to make sure we could have the best education possible. That was the only good thing he has done. "I do not know why I am writing this, my parents are barely literate," Matthew says. I am sure he has mentioned that he has a sister back at home. "Can your sister read and write?" I ask him. I have a plan for Matthew if I get the answer I need. "Yeah I was taught to read and write by her," he tells me, and I smile at him. "That means your sister could read the letter to your parents," I tell him, which makes him smile at me.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I will add a letter to my sister, so she knows to read the other one to our parents," Matt tells us. That will be good then, I am sure that Matthew's parents will be very happy to receive an update on their son. "There we go, Danny solves another problem for his friends," Jorel says, and I gently shove him. We truly act like brothers most of the time. We even have little squabbles like brothers do. George smirks at Jorel and I messing around with each other. When I had finished writing my letter, Jorel decided it was the best time to start wrestling with me. We stayed on the bed, so that we do not injure each other while George laughed at us. It is weird how much we can get up to when we are not under the strict supervision of the other officers.
"Come on you two, it is lunch time now," Rigo says, he is cautious when we start wrestling with each other. He gets so worried about ether of us hurting each other while we are wrestling each other because we can get rough at times. Jorel lets me go and we both get up. I was so glad that I do not have to take medication on a daily basis anymore. I sometimes struggled with the medication and the taste was not the best. I can't believe I am an adult, but I can't take the medications sometimes because they get stuck in the back of your throat. That's when it tastes the worst and I am begging for something sweet to take the nasty taste away. Kind of makes me feel like I want to take them while we eat dinner or whenever it is mealtime, but I don't want people to think I am choking on the medication.
"Are you okay Danny?" Rigo asks me, as we walk to the mess hall. He wraps his arm around my shoulder. "I guess so, I think writing home is making me miss mother and sister more than I did already," I tell him. This is the first time I have been away from home for any long period of time. Rigo and George have been away for longer than I have. He hugs me tightly and I hug him back. "I know Danny, it is going be hard at first. It will get easier in time, you are doing really well though," Rigo tells me. I hope he is right on this one as he has been right with a lot of things before. A lot of soldiers have home sickness at the moment. I am not alone in this which is not that bad really when you think about it. We will all get through this eventually. For a lot of us it will be our first time ever away from our families and that is a lot to get used to which is why I am thankful that the army life does get so busy.
Brody looks really pissed off when he saw me walk into the mess hall. I think he is going to be one of the few who hates me, but he hates my brother as well. He is so easily jealous, and a lot of people think that I get special treatment because of my brother. "Hey Murillo, good job on the range today," one of Rigo's friends tells me. I thank him and smile. The nurse said it would be the best thing for me is to keep eating double rations for at least another four weeks with regular weigh ins. She thinks that I will lose weight now that I am back doing exercise and my metabolism is quite fast. "Still on double servings?" George asks me, and I nod. "She thinks I am going to lose weight now I can do physical training," I tell him. Dylan spoons in some of his pudding into mine when he thinks I am not looking, and I look to the ceiling.
"Mysterious God of food," I tell them, and Dylan chuckles. He still doesn't like the milk biscuit pudding and we keep getting it because there are a limit amount of choices even the army can afford during this war. We get at least two servings of it a day. "Luckily for you Danny likes it so much," Jorel says. I laugh at Dylan who tries to give me even more of the pudding. I push his spork away with mine. I will be full by the time I finish my own servings that I have been given let alone any further extras. "I'll have it if you don't want it Dylan," Matt tells him. I guess he likes milk biscuit pudding as much as I do. Dylan spoons half of his pudding onto Matt's tray. Matt eats the rest of the pudding straight away and we chuckle at him. We can be so silly sometimes and I love it.
"We have our fieldcraft test after lunch, don't forget the aim is that I don't find you," Rigo says. He is doing the test and he has to treat me like I am not his brother and I am just another cadet. We have to blend in with our surroundings and see if Rigo can find us or not. This was to test all that he has been teaching us. I hope that everyone in our little friendship group passes the test. I have been helping them as much as I can with revision. "I hope you ace it Dan. You're the best at hide and seek," Jorel tells me. It is true, when we were little we used to go out and play hide and seek all the time. We would stay out till late at night and he would find me eventually. It was fun trying to challenge him without worrying him too much.
"Yeah I remember spending all day in a tree hiding from you," I tell him. He found me when we got called for bed and I climbed out of the tree. Mother knew I was there because she gave me lunch and dinner while I was up there. "No climbing trees this time Danny. The enemy can't be shot from above and you'd be seen quicker," Rigo tells me. That does make sense and it would probably result in a straight up fail. I hope he tells everyone that before the test. He might have some problems with that otherwise. "I will stay out of the trees Rigo," I tell him and pretend to sulk a little bit. He does know that I will keep my promise though and stay away from trees. I itch my eyebrow and then stack my trays on top of the others. "I have never seen someone itch their eyebrow before," Jordon says. "It just gets itchy sometimes," I tell him, resisting the urge to scratch it again.
I have had many cuts on my eyebrows over the years so much, so I have a chunk just permanently missing from my eyebrow now on the right side. The cuts have made it itchy from time to time. I smile at Jorel who itches his own eyebrow when I winked at him. He's a very weird friend but I am so glad to have him. We have a few moments spare to walk back to the billet to put our personal cutlery and mugs away in our room like we do after every mealtime. It is something that I don't think people remember when it comes to what you need in the army. It's nice to have a mug with Private Daniel Murillo written on it in the way that it has been engraved into the mug. It is hard to keep track of hundreds of recruits and their personal belongings, so our names or initials were engraved into our mugs and cutlery. That way no one can complain someone else has their mug because they should have their own.
I love having lessons with Rigo. In my mind in a strange way it's like my childhood but with more people and less angry father telling us off for any mistakes we made because we made a few when we were learning. I am starting to think that I have a rather odd way of looking at things because I doubt someone Jorel or Rigo would think the same way I would. I like to think outside the box sometimes. Rigo had left before we had, and he was standing there like he had just ran there. He probably did some laps to pass the time before the recruits arrived. It was something Kyle used to complain about a lot when they were being taught how to teach new recruits, so they had something to do while they were not on the frontlines.
"Right, this test is all about how well you can stay hidden from the enemy. I only have a few rules. Firstly, no cheating. Secondly, no hiding in trees, and thirdly, try your best," Rigo says, once everyone arrived on the field. I hate the cam cream you have to put on your face the most out of fieldcraft. It takes forever to get it off your face after you have put it on your face, and we don't have access to a lot of hot water unless you make a fire or something. It does work really well though when you put the right amount on. I looked at Brody who already finished putting his camo cream on. He put too much on, I could tell that right away. Rigo is going to find Brody so easily when it is time to find everyone. "Right I am not going to look so go and hide," Rigo commands. We all go running in different directions.
I find the best hiding spot basically under Rigo's nose. This is going to be so much fun I can tell. Jorel was quite close to me. I decided to roll over just as Rigo said he was going to start looking for us and if he calls our names we are out. I hold back a giggle because I didn't want to reveal myself. The last thing I need is to fail this test. I am doing so well with all my tests so far. I know physical training will be the last thing I need to pass to pass basic training overall. Since I am only starting physical training tonight after dinner I don't think I will be tested straight away. it might be a few lessons before I get tested, but we will see how it goes. They don't think I am going to be that far if at all far behind the rest of the new recruits who arrived at the same time as me. My back is fine now and I know that Rigo has helped me a lot.
Unsurprisingly Brody was one of the first five people who got found. Matt owes me $2 after dinner. "Private Morgan is a perfect example of someone with too much camouflage cream on his face," Rigo tells me. The one who had too little camouflage cream on his face was found first. They all failed the test, if you get caught by Rigo then you fail the test and have to do it again. I thought Rigo would have found me by now honestly. He knows my habits and I would be easiest to recognise in the crowd. I think it is getting close to the end of the test no. I notice less names are being called out. Luckily mine, Jorel, Jordon, Matt and Dylan's names have not been called out yet. I keep seeing Jorel wiggling his fingers at me, trying to make me laugh out loud.
"Well done to those I have not found. You have all passed," Rigo says, and we all get up from our hiding spots. We of course wouldn't do this if we were on the battlefield. Jorel high fived me and we walked over to Rigo. I was ignoring all of the looks because of my brother being the one who passed me. We have one more theory lesson before dinner since this was technically two lessons. "I can't wait to get this stuff off my face," Jordon says, when we walk over to our next lesson. We will have a chance to clean our faces before dinner time. "Yeah me too, it's starting to get uncomfortable," I tell him. It does feel really gross on my face now that I have started to sweat a little bit. I was so glad this was a short lesson. I can't wait to go and get this cream off my face.
The lesson is a short recap on the first aid skills we have been going through before we get tested on them in two days' time. I can't wait to get all of the tests done and pass basic training with everyone. I don't want my injuries to hold me back because I have worked hard to keep up with everyone and I haven't been told by any adult instructor that I can't do a test yet apart from the physical exercise one but that was because I had been told by the nurse not to until tonight. I catch up to Rigo and smile at him. He's a very good teacher, and I think I helped with that because I was trying to give him a little bit of advice when he asked without offending him. I know Brody is the type of guy that would eventually piss Rigo off. I can see it making Rigo sigh and do the thing Rigo normally does when he is annoyed and pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Dan was it you who rolled over at the start?" Rigo asks me when we get to the billet. I look at Jorel and we both burst out laughing. "Yeah it was me," I tell him. I was hoping that he hadn't seen me. I managed to pass though so it was okay. "I saw you and I though that because it had just started I would give you a second chance," Rigo says, it was definitely just after he said he started looking for us. "I freaking loved it when Brody got discovered. The look on his face was priceless," Jordon says. It was quite amusing, he looked so irritated especially when Rigo told him that he had too much camouflage cream on. I had just managed to take all of mine off and I had the right amount on. Brody is going to struggle with his.
We get it off just in time to head to dinner. "Dylan are you going to share the milk biscuit pudding with Mattie and Dan?" George asks Dylan, just as we reach the mess hall. We kinda know what is about to go down. "Yeah they can fight amongst themselves and have it," Dylan says, and Matt cheers. I'm definitely going to have to learn how they make this so I can add it to the menu at the café or just make it at home. It might be popular in the café who knows. "If Danny keeps eating this then we might just fatten him up," Jay says, and I push him. I am not going to get fat on milk biscuit pudding, that much I do know. I run way to much for it to be a thing. "If you think Danny is going to get fat on milk biscuit pudding then you don't know my brother," Rigo says.
"Sorry Dan, I know you won't get fat," Jay says. I hug him and he hugs me back. I know there was no malicious intend with that. "I forgive you," I tell him, and we go to the table we always sit at. Everyone seems to have developed a routine of which table they sit on every mealtime. We also have the same seats every time. It is quite interesting to see how quickly routines and habits develop over time. "Are you up for running in a bit Danny?" Jorel asks me, and I nod. I can't wait for physical training in a little while. "Time to burn all the calories you have eaten in the last two weeks," Rigo says. Also further deflate Brody's ego with the physical training. I seem to be doing well already with our plan and today has been the first day I have been allowed to do everything.
We're not being deliberately nasty to Brody; we just want to bring him down into the reality of life before it comes to hurt him. If he realises that he just needs to knuckle down and focus on training instead of flexing he'd do so much better. "Do not forget to hand all your letters in tonight, so we can send them home to your families," one of the captain's announces loudly. We had all handed ours in already, mine hidden as safely as it could get within Rigo's. All the drawings I had done are in there too. I hope that mother will be proud of me. I know that not everyone on the camp can read and write. So in a way I am thankful for my father had forced me to have the chance to do it. That is the only thing I am thankful that my father did it for me.
It is now time to stack our trays and go to physical training. Until today, this would be the time I would go to the billet and relax for a while whilst the guys do their second hour on physical training. It will feel nice to finally join in for once. I am going to have a lot of fun with the guys, physical training will be a lot of fun when you do it right. Most people see it as an hour of running around with occasional exercise change. However it is important to exercise and stay fit and healthy while you are in the military to be the best you can be. I know I keep giving my friends advice that I have not been strictly following, but it is not really my fault with everything that has happened in the last two/three weeks.
"Private Murillo, glad to see you are cleared to join us. Do not forget that you can rest if you need to and it's not going to affect how I am assessing you," Major Williams tells me. Obviously the nurse has informed them of the results of the evaluation. "I will rest if I need to sir," I tell him. I am getting into the good books already. I do think it is slightly weird that I seem to be being assessed differently, but I guess it has something to do with Rigo telling them about my fitness level as it was before I was injured. He is very well trusted and respected. I have to show that I can listen to directions and orders. We start off with some basic warmups, so we don't overdo it when we go running laps in a little while. It feels so good to be back into this. Jordon was watching Brody while we stretch. It seems like Brody is only good at physical training as I have been informed that he has failed all the other tests.
Major Williams told us that when we pass all of our tests we will get promoted to either private 2 or private first-class ranks. It all depends on how well we do on our tests. It might seem strange, however they want to promote people as quickly as possible through the first few ranks, so they don't have too many privates at once. Due to the threat of war so many people are signing up which means they have to speed through those initial promotions. Any promotions that come after those first two are up to the officers as they see fit. You have to work hard to earn those higher ranks. Rigo and George worked very hard to get their ranks. Kyle has also worked hard to get his current rank. I am going to work hard to get a high rank.
I showed Brody up again. I was much better at physical training and I out did him in the amount of laps we were doing. "Are you okay Private Murillo?" Major Williams asks me, when we were about halfway through the lesson. "Yes, I am okay sir," I tell him. He taps my arm as a friendly gesture. I am feeling fine, I don't feel like I am over doing it right now. I could feel a whole lot worse in the morning though. "That is good, keep up the good work," Major Williams tells me. Brody looks so jealous of me right now. He is not on the best of terms with the officers we have to call sir or ma'am. I am definitely starting to see how I am different to the rest of the new recruits and even Jorel. I have a lot of knowledge that they don't have and that is all due to my upbringing.
I think physical training is going to be one of those topics which is tested constantly as I see Major Williams looking at people running then writing things down on a clipboard. I guess we will see on Sunday, it is Tuesday now. Updates are usually given on Sundays to mark the end of one week and the beginning of a new week. It is also when people move up to the next stage of training and when promotions are handed out. Jordon loves having me here and helping them out as much as I have been able to. I have been giving him motivation to keep running and to not give up on his training. I can understand how this can be difficult for those who are not used to it. It can get tempting to quit every now and then on the rougher days at camp.
If you looked at the six of us on the first day of camp I don't think you would have pictured us getting along as well as we have done. I think the mixtures of personalities work really well. We are all happily getting along together without much if any arguments despite the fact that we are in a stressful environment. I also thought a lot more fights would have broken out because of the random throwing together of people. I guess that might happen when we get put into squads because then friendship groups will have been more cemented. The army are not going to necessarily take friendship groups into consideration when they are forming the squads. From what Rigo told me they just go for squads with even strengths. You need multiple skills within the squad in order to make it a successful one.
If you're sent out to the battlefield or on an exercise then you're going to need a range of skills within your squad. You could have someone who was very stealthy to sneak and get an idea of what's to come, you would need a decent leader that everyone was going to listen to without a huge argument and the squad needs to have the best level of communication possible so that the squad can run as smoothly as possible. You could go far if you were behind a successful squad. The promotions you could get as well as recognition is not to be ignored. You could get the best missions in the army if you were willing to prove that you are worth those more dangerous missions. That's what Kyle has been telling me anyways.
I was definitely ready for bed by the time we got back to the billet. "You wore Danny out," Rigo jokes when we walk back into the billet. He wasn't there when we were doing physical training because he had a meeting with the other officers. I flop onto my bed; I feel too tired to even wash myself properly right now. "Yeah I think he did like twenty laps or something," Jorel says. I wasn't keeping count while I was running to be honest. I didn't think it was that much though. "Yeah, that is a new record for him and doing it so soon after being badly injured and dealing with a nasty infection," Rigo says. I don't even remember what my record was before tonight's twenty lap. I sleepily look at Jorel who was sitting on the other bed.
Jorel spends most of the night with me as part of our night-time routine. If he wakes up to go pee in the night then he goes back to his own bed. Otherwise we spend all night together. It helps me to have some company at night. I tend to get nightmares when I am alone. I yawn and I feel Jorel's weight lower one part of the bed. "Yeah, I am proud of him. He outdid Brody by quite a bit," Jorel tells him. I roll onto my side and Jorel rubs my back. I am so tired, which I am considering to be a good thing. I need to feel tired at night, so I can get some much-needed sleep at night. "Maybe I should let Danny get some sleep. I am proud of him too, he has worked very hard," Rigo says. I heard the others walking around and leaving the billet to clean up for bed then come back.
I know Rigo is proud of me. "I will wash myself first sleep later," I mumble, and Jay laughs from where he is sitting. I sorta have my face in his thigh from how I was laying when he was sitting down on my bed. I roll back over and let Rigo gently pull me to my feet. Jorel follows me outside to the "bathroom", so we can get ready for bed. "I will stay with you tonight again Danny. I am so sorry that I left you and you had a nightmare," Jorel tells me. I guess Rigo told him what happened very early this morning. Jorel also probably saw me cuddled up to Rigo this morning. "It's okay Jay. It is not your fault, a grown man like me should sleep on his own without nightmares. I like snuggling with you. I feel safe with you," I tell him, and he hugs me tightly. I am so glad to have him in my life.
"I am glad you feel safe with me Danny. Not many grown men have their fathers abuse them. Not many men will also join the army so soon after their last beating. Nightmares will happen, but I will cuddle you whenever I know about them and whenever you want them," Jorel tells me. We walk back into the billet and get into my bed. I snuggle up with him and he wraps his arms around me. I bet people will start assuming that we are in a relationship even though we are practically brothers. "Thank you Jay," I tell him, and he smiles. I love being close to him. I yawn and he rubs my back again. "You're always welcome Danny," he tells me. I get up again briefly to take my boots off. Rigo takes them to add a layer of boot polish to them because he decided it was his turn to do it.
The others have followed our advice to leave a layer of boot polish on our boots and leave them overnight and then take it off just before morning parade. We have been given the award for the smartest dressed billet and they have complimented our skills. Jorel's boots are already on the floor and had a layer of polish on them. I think Jordon did it for him because he said he wanted to get more practice. Jorel wraps his arms around me again. I close my eyes and hope that I can fall asleep quickly.
And that is the end of another chapter. I hope you have enjoyed this book so far. Let me know.
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