A mixture of anxiety, fear, worry, excitement and sorrow stirred in Garry's stomach it was a witches perfect brew. He stepped into the sign-up office not sure if he should go through with this. He had left a note on the counter top for his Mother explaining everything but he could so easily go back and tear it up. Nobody would ever know. No! He had to go through with this he heard the stories he saw the fear in everyone's eyes; he had to do something; anything!
"How old are you Sir?" He could the suspicion in the Lieutenant's voice but he still cleared his throat and replied "19!" He declared firmly Garry was going to say 18 but he decided to be on the safe side and go with nineteen years of age. "Hmmm, okay then go through to the nurse's office she will make sure your fit and healthy if so good luck young man," Garry thought the Lieutenant was finished until he hissed the last words out through his teeth "Wars tough kid, it does things to you; if your die you will come home scared for life." His words weren't even that bad it's just the was he said it this man had been to war and he knew what he was talking about. That's what sent shivers through more naive Garry's spine. That's what scared him the most.
War was an awful place and he knew that a lot of people didn't but Garry did, many of the boys at school had older brothers who were at war or sisters who were nurses. The letters those people sent were frightening enough even if you were not about to step onto a ship a and head to worst of the worst.
Deep down Garry knew he would be lucky to survive. He knew this was going to be life or death!
