Chapter 5 - Camp Blue Bird
Christy rode along until she came to a large sign that had written on it. "BLUE BIRD"
In addition, underneath that it said "Training Camp". Christy swallowed hard, and wiped away tears as she dismounted off Rocky. She then puffed out her chest, to look big, and straightened herself to look taller than 5'8. She felt big.
She proceeded to walk tough into the camp with Rocky following close behind. She was about to take another step when a rock moved in front of her. Then bumped right into him. She felt like she could melt into a puddle as she gazed up into the sparkling, ocean blue eyes of what may be the most handsome man in the world. He was 6'2 and was nineteen. His father, the general, was the "Main Man" or the "Big Kahoona" of the Blue Bird soldiers. His hair was a dark brown. Straight and gorgeous. They way it looked so soft made Christy want to stroke it. And his skin, tan, soft, manly and also gorgeous made Christy feel completely embarrassed. She thought about how goofy she looked. She only wished she wasn't wearing any of the stuff she put on, or the stuff on her face. She especially hated the ugly uniform. It was bulgy and made her look fat. However, his made him look absolutely stunning to her.
"Name." He spoke firmly. He held a black clipboard and a pen. "His voice is so…." she began to think then quickly realized he asked for her name. "Oh crap what do I say?" She thought again. "Name?" he asked again looking at her now. He bent over closer to her face. "You do have one. Don't cha' bushy?" He scoffed at her, then back away. He had a smirk on his face. Christy realized he was referring to her bushy eyebrows. "M-m-my n-n-name …" she began thinking about how much she was stuttering. "Umm…I-i-it's…." "Aaany day now Bushy." He said starting to sound annoyed. She thought to herself again. "What's going to be my guy name!" He sighed then was about to walk away when she blurted out. "My name is Ralph!" Then she remembered that she needs to make her voice sound deeper. He stopped then said "Raaalph eh?" He paused to look at his clipboard. "Ralph what? Ralph isn't on the list." he looked at her questioningly. Christ answered obediently. "Ralph Miller. I'm taking my father's place. He uhh couldn't come and---" He cut her off. "Ralph? Okay." Then he quickly moved onto another person.
She stood there for a moment thinking it all over. "Ralph?" She thought then giggled at her choice of a name. She was about to give Rocky a pat on the head, when "Mr. Wonderful" came back.
"Ralph." He said. "Yes sir?" "Follow me, I will show you to your tent, and your tent mate." She listened then had to practically jog to keep up with him. "My name." He began. "Is Rex Mortimer. You will refer to me as "Sir" or "Sargent Rex." "His name suits him. Rex, at his 6'2 height, muscular body, and people can certainly call him "T" Rex, for Tyrannosaurus Rex." She pondered in her head, with a smile.
His back was still facing her. "Here we are." "Tent #104, remember that number Bushy." The nickname Bushy was starting to get bothersome. I wonder if he'll always call me Bushy!" She wondered. "Alright your tent mate is Toby. Toby Cooper. Toby! Front and center!" Rex shouted. His big voice made Christy jumped slightly. Toby then came running out. "Yes sir?" He answered as he tumbled out of the tent. Toby has short blonde hair, chocolaty brown eyes, and was some-what scrawny looking. He is also 5'9. "This is Ralph Miller, your tent." With a sigh and in a mumbled voice, for only him to hear he said. "Also known as Bushy." But Christy heard him. Even though it was getting on her nerves how he called her Bushy, it made her feel special. Like he won't soon forget her around here. "Okay get acquainted ladies and I'll see you this afternoon." With that "T" Rex was gone.
"Hello there! I'm Toby! Well I guess you already know that! Ha ha! It sure it a pleasure to meet you Ralph!" Christy thought he sounded to perky. "Nice to meet you too Toby." Christy returned sweetly. "I'm sorry I must sound to happy for someone who is going to war and might never see their family again." He sighed. "But I like to make good out of a bad situation." Christy listened without a word and without looking at him. He read her expression. "But I bet you miss your family too though." When he said this Christy instantly turned to her family. "How could I forget them so easily? I'm at camp Banana Brains for only 10 minutes and I've already forgotten them? What kind of daughter, (and sister) am I!" Those three questions raced through her mind in a split second.
"Not Christy! WHY MY DAUGHTER!" Practically screeching Christy's father asked. "No, no, no, no, no, NO! Not my Christy! No!" Sobbed a heartbroken Mother. Matt stood like a solid rock thinking aloud. "Why'd she go? Why…Christy…..Why?" "My daughter" Dad swallowed back the tears. "My daughter is going to war."
Christy looked all around at the camp, as she and Toby walked up to join a group of people.
"Alright everyone! Settle down!" Boomed a loud, strong male voice. "My name is General Mortimer. You will refer to me as General! Do I make myself clear!" He boomed again. "Sir yes, sir!" Everyone yelled back. "Good!" "Sargent Rex, my son, shall take over form here!" He yelled as he walked off. "Okay everyone, line up!" He yelled. All this yelling and booming of the voices practically broke Christy's hearing. They all scrambled to form a line side-by-side. Rex walked in front of everyone to ask their age (if necessary), and to check their strength and yata yata.
"Good, age?" "Good strength?" Rex threw a huge sack of rice at the man to test is strength. "Good." "Next." Christy could hear him coming closer. "Okay, next." He was at her now. "Well hey, what've we've got here?" "Bushy! My buddy! Long time no see!" He insulted her loud enough for most people to hear. Then after the insult came the laughs. Rex smiled feeling proud. "Now then, age?" He said getting back on track. Christy thought for a moment. "Nineteen." She answered. "Good strength?" He smiled when he said "strength". They both knew how she would do. Then before she knew it, the huge sack of rice bolted at her, sending her flat on her back. Or what's left of it. "Hmm, not. Too. Good." Then he pulled the rice bag off her and pulled her up. "He has such strong hands." She thought to herself. Even though he publicly humiliated her, and couldn't care less for her, she still adored him. Next came the facial inspection.
He studied her for a moment then confused looking he asked. "You have got to be the strangest guy I've ever met." He kept looking at her. Christy felt as if he could see threw the dirt on her face, fake goatee, eyeliner on eyebrows, and see who she really was. A women.