A month went by and we went from 20 marines to 10, Gracie being one of them. Sullivan and I stood there proud; we couldn't have asked for better soldiers. But we knew 5 more would be gone.
" I think it's time for the Mobile Urban Training Facility," announced Sullivan one day over breakfast. I choked on my orange juice.
"Are you crazy, they can hardly hold up a gun," I said
"I meant for Gracie and Sharpay."
"Again I say it, are you crazy."
"Come on have you seen those two I mean come on they shoot like Annie Oakly, drive a car like Richard Petty, and they know all the words to every Dolly Parton song."
"Alright, but I wanna see how the others do so we'll know who we're dealing with."
"You got it."
It went well; only we got rid of five people so the only ones who were left were Gracie, Sharpay, Troy, Chad, and Clay.
"All right listen up you five are the only ones left one more test and only four of you will pass," said Sullivan
"In the mean time since y'all got this far we decided to take y'all out to eat," I said
"To Outback Steakhouse," said Sullivan
There was a chorus of yee-haws and yeahs. That night both Sullivan and me made a toast.
"Excuse me, but I'd like to propose a toast to the best dang I could ask for," I said raising my glass.
"Here, here," said the others as glasses clanked together.
"I second that," said Sullivan
"We would like to make a toast as well," said Troy
"To the best dang instructors in the world," said Gracie
"Here, here."