When I Was Gone

Arrival

The train had taken me from my small town in Alabama to a Marine camp, Camp Lejeune, in North Carolina. I had met a few nice gents on the way and befriended them. They were all a mixtures of the forces. One of them is named Fredrick, he comes from a similar background and has the same interests in me. I befriended him instantly. Turns out, he also is in the Marines. He had also introduced me to Darrell, who's heading for the Army Air Force, and Cornelius, another fellow Marine. We had all promised we'd keep in touch with Darrell before he has gotten off the train. He was a nice fellow and easy to talk to. Not long after, Fredrick, Cornelius, and I had gotten off the train to see Marine troops marching around, following commands, doing drills. It seemed hectic to everyone when we departed from the train. A Sargent was assigned to our group and took us to the canteen for our first meal, it was actually really...normal, surprisingly. It was hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, pizza, potatoes, all as normal as ever.

"Fredrick, Cornelius, " I said. "How old are you- if I may ask?"

Cornelius replied, "I am 20."

"25." Fredrick simply said.

"Do you know each other from back home?" I asked.

"No, actually we are both from Michigan but we met at the train station and talked." Cornelius answered while taking a bit of his cheeseburger.

"Where did you say you were from again, Jayden?" Fredrick asked.

"Central Alabama."

"Ahh, a farmer boy, huh?" Cornelius said.

"No actually, I grew up in a little town. My father made a living after growing up on the farm himself. I am much of a city boy like you two."

"That's actually quite surprising. My apologies about the stereotypes." Cornelius respond.

"No, you're fine." I chuckled and sipped my water.

We had finished our lunch and our group was shuttled to a "sick bay" for examination where Navy Corpsmen and doctors waited. They gave us boots, the first set many vaccines, drew blood, checked our eyes. We were subjected to a medical check and then our health records were set-up. What a hell of a time that was, it took four damn hours! I remember looking to Fredrick and Cornelius as if these people were mad and overthinking about the procedures. Surprisingly some people didn't even pass because of their health, I've noticed. Then it was off to the administrative section for paperwork, dog tags, ID card, allotments, service record books, and issuance of the all-important service number. Somewhere in there, everyone had gotten their hair cut in the cue ball style at the barber. Then we received our initial issue of clothing and 782 gear, drew rifles, received our first PX issue of personal items stowed in a brand new GI bucket. Finally, we had formed into platoons (our troops), then we met our drill instructors.

By the time we were done, it was chow time again then we hit the hay at our quarters. I decided to stay up a little and write my first letter back to Em:

"Em,

I have be stationed for training in North Carolina. It is my first day and it was eventful you could say. On the train, I met a couple of nice lads and turns out they are in the Marines with me! Well, one of them was heading to the army. Their names are Fredrick and Cornelius, they're around our age and both lived in Michigan (not the same area though). Food is actually surprisingly normal, like barbecue food almost. I'm really missing you already, Em. And you're surprise was real nice, I've thought of some names while on the train. For a boy: Ralph, Wayne, Peter, Douglas, Joseph, and Thomas. For a girl: Marie, Kathleen, Charlotte, Alice, Jean, and Martha. I also think that Johnny Boy should be the godfather and Kayleigh be the godmother, it's just a thought. How are you holding up since I'm gone? Everyone else? I'm supposed to be in camp here for seven weeks so maybe you could come visit? I would enjoy that immensely! Right now I'm writing at lights out, I hope to get your letters soon. Love ya, Em.

Your brave soldier,
J. Forester"

"Uh, Fredrick?" I asked.

"Hmmm?" Fredrick replied. I didn't expect him to be awake still.

"Do you have any family back home? Any kids?"

"Uh, yeah," he sounded startled by the question. I couldn't see his expression in the pitch black room. "My oldest, Andrea, she is four and my youngest, Jordan, he is two. My wife is due any day now with our third child and I am going to miss it..." I could hear Fredrick sniffling as if he were about to cry. "It's just wonderful to hold your child for the first time and now that I'm drafted, I might not even meet my child or know anything about him or her unless Amy tells me through a letter-"

"Pipe it down will Ya?" Another soldier whispered-yelled.

"Listen, Jayden, get some sleep and I will tell you in the morning." Fredrick said. He sounded annoyed and by the tone of his voice, it seemed he wanted to punch the guy who yelled at him.

I didn't respond. I just nodded and laid my head down on the pillow and slept.

•••

Morning

I wake up to the blaring sound of a trumpet reveille. Jackson, my bunkmate, was on the top bunk and fell off the bed when the trumpet blew.

I looked up at him. "You okay, Jackson?" I tried not to laugh.

He was rubbing his head. "Yeah, I think so. I bet you that'll happen everyday now." Jackson chuckled at himself. Sargent Dennis came in.

"Quit, dilly dallying, and get up!" Sargent Dennis yelled. "Everyone! Stand in position!" Everyone stumbled to get up. "Move! Move! Move!" Once everyone eventually got ready and stood in position. He walked back and forward, inspecting everyone in line. "Now, no one was expecting that wake up call, now were Ya? That's what every morning will be like. You will all start off your morning today with drills then you'll have breakfast then go lift weights..." Sargent Dennis' words started fading away in my head. I was thinking what about Fredrick was telling me about his family, "I may never meet my child." It just kept repeating in my head over and over again, haunting me. I didn't realize that the Sargent Dennis had came up to me. "Are you paying attention, soldier!?" He screamed in my face.

"Y-y-yes, sir." I stuttered.

"What's your name, solider?"

"J-Jayden. Jayden Forster."

"Ah..Forster..where you from, Forster?"

"Central Alabama, sir."

"Alabama..." Dennis mumbled under his breathe and huffed. "I'm gonna keep a sharp eye on you..boy." He looked me straight in the eye. "Now, come on, men! Get dressed and go to drills, dismissed!" Everyone went at ease and got dressed.

"Why do you think he yelled at you?" Cornelius asked.

"I don't know, maybe he does that to anybody." I replied. Cornelius nodded and got dressed. I slumped on my bed not wanting to do anything but be home.

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Yay! Another chapter! Enjoy reading :)