Our lives continued like this for another few years, the same routine, day in day out. We worked, we ate, and once every blue moon, Steve and I accompanied Bucky to a night of dancing. Nothing changed between Bucky and I, he was too busy with his brunettes and redheads. Steve and Bucky were now 20 and I had recently turned 19. Bucky had enlisted in the army and Steve was trying his hardest to follow him. I can't imagine them both leaving to fight, I can't imagine losing them, I just can't. So I myself was hatching a plan between my days of work, I was planning on enlisting myself - of course a girl can't become a solider, so I planned on enlisting as a boy. That is if Steve was accepted.
I'll never forget the day Bucky walked into the apartment with Steve in toe with his Uniform on, I immediately cried. He hugged me and told me he'd write, that's when I noticed Steve's black eye. I scolded him for starting another fight, to lighten the mood Bucky invited both Steve and I to the Expo, promising Steve a dance partner. I declined. When Steve came back alone, he came back with horrible news, he'd enlisted! He was due to leave in the morning! I still don't know how it happened so quick, but now my plan was having to move ahead.
It's now almost a week since then, I had made arrangements to put a hold on my mending business and I asked a neighbour to keep an eye on the apartment whilst I 'visited a sick relative'. My plan today was to enlist. I spent the previous evening practicing binding my chest and cutting off all my hair, I sobbed harder than I ever have whilst cutting my long blonde hair. My hair was now a messy inch long... I used some makeup to create a 5 o'clock shadow, bind my chest and pulled on some of Steve's old clothes. I'll admit I sure did look like a boy, a feminine boy, but a boy none the less.
I made my way down to the community centre where the 1st stage of recruitment was, I introduced myself as Michael Stevens and handed over my own forged ID papers. I was asked to take a seat and I'd be called to my medical soon, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was called on, my heartbeat was checked, as well as my lung capacity, weight, height and then a urine test. I passed. It seems the army are desperate, or I make a better man than I expected.
"Michael Stevens" The recruitment officer called, I stood to make myself known, "Welcome to the army, you will leave for bootcamp tomorrow midday, here is your recruitment pack, it has your pickup point and Military ID, don't be late"
"Yes sir, thank you sir."
It was an hour before my pick-up time, and I had my bag packed with a few changes of clothes - Steve's of course. The only thing of mine I packed was a small wallet sized photo of myself, Steve and Bucky from last year when we visited Cony Island. I was on the Brooklyn Bridge saying my goodbyes to the city, I said goodbye to mom, and Beth, and papa and mama, and then to the Bridge I spent my silent years sleeping under, God knows if I'd make it back, but I had to do this, I had to follow Steve and Bucky, they were the only family I had. I walked the 20minute walk to the pickup point slowly, when I got there, I showed my ID and was instructed onto the bus. The bus ride was long, but we eventually arrived at our bootcamp, most men had made introductions on the bus, but I stayed silent.
"Off the bus!" Our General commanded, "Line up in front,"
We did exactly that, heads held high and backs straight.
"In your packs you were given a number, that number corresponds to your new living arrangements, so number 1-15 to my left, 16-30 to my right!"
I made my way quickly to the left, unlucky number 13.
"Well done, you can follow simple orders, now here's another, follow your building supervisor - gentleman raise your hands, make yourself known! - follow these men to your buildings, find your bunks and get into your uniform, then follow your supervisors to the registration building, you'll be getting photos taken for our records and then tomorrow the training begins, so savour today, it'll be your last day of rest!"
Over the next few days, the routine was the same; 6am 10mile run, breakfast, a mile-long assault course with everything from my nightmares; crawling under barbed wire, swimming in mud, rope walls and underground tunnels. Then was a small lunch, another run and ending the day with weapons training. In between every activity I tried to look out for Steve or Bucky, but maybe they weren't at this camp. I'm bottom rank in our troop, I'm the butt of every joke and I'm sick of it, if I can't find Steve or Bucky, I'm going to get better where I am, I made a massive stupid sacrifice following Steve and he's not even here! I can't reveal who I am I'd be in a worse place then I am now, I'm going to train, fight and become a solider.
After 4 weeks of routine and determination I was running faster than all my troop, I was throwing myself through the assault courses, my small frame was easier to get through then all the buff men in my troop, I excelled in weapons training, even though I still jumped when I pulled the trigger. Tonight, was my last night at the camp, we were moving onto our first location, we were joining the 107th in Italy. Right now, myself and the troop were sitting in our quarters sharing a bottle of whiskey and stories of our family.
"So Mike, where's your family?" Bart asked passing the bottle, Bart was a good guy, we've became good friends, we're very competitive on the courses.
I coughed to gruff up my voice "My ma died a year back, and my brother enlisted just before me, I haven't heard from him though, not sure where he is,"
"Sorry about that, I get it, my pop died a few years back, my mom is still kicking back home with my twin sisters, I'd rather be at war than living with three dames though," Bart let out a hearty laugh, a few men joining in,
"Yeah, woman are... hard work" I added awkwardly,
"Hey Mike, Bart you got to get yourselves some girlfriends, my girl is the best thing in my life, I can't wait to get home to her!" Cal laughed, pulling a small photo out of his pocket and showing us,
"She's gorgeous, Cal" I smiled, "I mean, you know, she's-"
"Ha! Don't apologise, but keep your hands off, she's mine!"
"How'd you get a girl like that?" Bart laughed taking the photo from him "She's way to pretty for you, I'll keep her!"
"How about I see if she's got any friends for you?" Cal winked; Bart passed back the photo.
"Seems fair"
The rest of the night was spent laughing at each other's stories, reminiscing and drinking. We were all worried about shipping off to Italy, but no one dared to say it. We all retired to our bunks well past midnight and I could tell I'd have a hangover in the morning.