The Boy of Company B

[1] Smile, Smile, Smile

The room was filled with excitement and joy as we stood firm. We were to become the world greatest generation, and we knew it. I had my uniform cleaned and ironed. The buttons were polished and the collar was neatly tucked. I felt so much pride when I wore it. I couldn't help but smile. I always made sure it was kept tidy.
"Gentlemen," my commanding officers voice boomed.
"You are about to embark upon the most important moment of your lives. Your mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends will have you in mind as you are shipped off to France. You young men will be remembered in the history of your nation for generations to come. You are the bravery that shapes Great Britain. Young men, you will become soldiers after all you've given and trained for."
I felt a strong sense of duty wash over me. My friends and I smiled and clapped as the room erupted into applause. The boys all shouted and waved their hands around. My friend William Beckers wrapped his arm around my shoulder. He looked at me with his big blue eyes and ran his hand through his smooth black hair.
"How about that, Lawrence? We're finally soldiers!" He cried with joy.
"I know!!" I happily agreed.
My other friend Thomas Kitson stood to my left side, cheering loud enough to pop my eardrums. He waved his hat in the air, his wild blonde hair danced and spun about. We boys were absolutely ecstatic. Each one of us was proud to serve our country.
"Comrades," began our officer again.
"You will fight shoulder to shoulder with your brothers in arms. You'll have many stories to share with your families when you return home. They say the war will be over by Christmas, and if you boys give your all, I'm sure that'll come true."
He started,
"Now, boys, you'll be prepared to be loaded onto the ship outside. Your families will be ready to send you off to battle. Be strong for them, men."
We erupted into cheery shouting and clapping once more. Our commanding officer departed and a sergeant entered the room.
"Form follow me to the docks, lads." He instructed.
We crowded around each other and shuffled along behind him. We followed as he led us through the front doors and to the ship docks. Seagulls flew all around overhead, squealing as they passed by. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers, crowded around us to watch as we proudly marched to the ship. There were drummers who played a steady beat while we boarded. The mothers wept and held on tight to their husbands. They knew something that we, young and naive, did not.
It took what felt like an eternity to finally load the ship. Thomas and William were stuck to my side the whole time. We all waved to the crowds, shouting goodbye and promising to come home. Many handkerchiefs were waving about through the slight breeze as the ship departed. The vast amount of people soon faded away from the eyes view, and we were left to watch the water move along the horizon.
My stomach was full of butterflies, I couldn't tell if I was nervous or excited. I reached my hand up and wiped a droplet of sweat from my forehead.
"Well this is underwhelming," Thomas sarcastically remarked, flicking a dead bug off the side of the ship.
"This is peaceful," William retorted.
"Do you guys really think that the war will be over by Christmas?" Thomas asked.
I paused for a moment, thinking of a good response.
"Who knows. Haven't they been saying that for months? Years?" I noted.
"Yeah, yeah they have," said William.
The three of us stared blankly at the deep blue water before saying anything.
"Personally, I don't think the war will be over for another year or so," Thomas inferred.
A sudden loud voice appeared from behind us, I swung around to see who it was. A young auburn haired chap, with freckles and wild brown eyes stood firmly before his friend.
"Rest assured, you blokes will make it home before dinner tonight!" He imitated.
You could hear his thick Irish accent peaking through as he boasted. His friend busted out into laughter, giving him a slap on the back.
"You there!" He said in a heavy British accent, pointing a finger towards me.
Ah shit.
"Do you believe that the Germans shall march on Paris?"
I smirked and played along with the joke.
"Sir, no, sir!" I jested, standing up straight and saluting.
"Good, good, you're a fine young lad! I say, a fine young lad!" He bantered.
His friend laughed again and he gave a proud little smile.
"What's your name?" Asked the boy, dropping the imitation.
"I'm Lawrence, Lawrence Jackson," I responded.
"Good to meet ya, the names Finn O'Connell," we shook hands and exchanged a smile of approval.
"This is my best friend, Lewis Macintyre," stated Finn.
I shook his hand and nodded.
"Pleased to meet you," I said.
"You as well," nodded the lad.
Finn and Lewis exchanged greetings and shook William and Thomas's hands.
"Mind if we stay here for a little?" Finn requested.
"Could use the company," William spoke up.
The two boys leaned against the side of the ship.
"Where are you from?" The Irish lad asked.
"William and Thomas are from Wales and I'm from Yorkshire," I said.
Finn pointed to Lewis, "he's from Scotland, and I think you may have established where I'm from." He chuckled.
"Land of the Leprechauns," Lewis laughed.
Finn turned around and gave him a threatening glare.
"Oi, watch it.." he sarcastically warned.
The five of us laughed and the atmosphere returned to an empty quiet.
"Ay, chow time," said a voice from behind us. I turned and saw the same sergeant who had taken us to the ship. He was visibly tired and his expression displayed a bit of sadness. The man was standing in a dimly lit door way that led to the lower deck of the ship. I could hear voices rising up the stairs.
The five of us made our way to the door and barreled down the steps to the 'mess hall'. The room was packed full and smelled like sweat.
"Bloody lovely," Finn mumbled.
"You smell that too?" William laughed.
"Makes me want to eat," Thomas gagged.
We each grabbed trays and the cooks laid down slop on them. The sound of beans making a weird sloshing is never something you want to hear. Finn pointed to a table in the corner and took a seat, we each followed closely behind him.
"Oi, take a dekko at this," Lewis exclaimed.
I took a peek at his tray. The, what should have been, black beans were gray and hard.
"We give our lives and they give us burnt kidneys?" William joked.
I chuckled and moved my spoon back and forth on my plate. I dug at the mashed potatoes and examined them. They looked normal so I figured they were safe to eat.
A man who was sat at the table behind us turned around.
"You lot have any of those beans?" He asked.
"You cannot be that hungry..." I said.
"I'm not eating them, I'm going to mash em' up and put em' in my buddy's coffee when he's not looking."
I shoveled a large spoonful of the forbidden beans and slopped them onto his tray.
"Much obliged."
I cringed at the thought of the beans inside coffee. How awful they'd taste. Hell, I'd never drink coffee again.
***
After dinner my group of friends and I headed back up to the first deck to watch the sun set. It was peaceful just to quietly watch the sky merge with the sun. Stars began to rise and the moon made itself known. It hung high over us and illuminated the sky when the sun finally set.
"Supper was daft," Thomas said, breaking the silence.
"I think it made me sick ," groaned Lewis.
"Why were the beans gray, that's my question," I announced.
"Christ, do I even want to know," Finn replied.
We bantered over how insufferable supper had been all the way to the lowest deck where we slept. The body odor of the men was just about as bad as the farts. You'd be sleeping and hear one, followed by the scolding of others.
"Really, mate?"
"What the fuck."
"Who was that?"
"This isn't a damn latrine, man."
I was eventually able to fall asleep after everyone was finished with crapping themselves and yelling back and forth. It was rather nice to fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the ship making its way to the Western Front.