To Make A Name

Chapter 2 - Defenses

The count was over and she was now marching with the rest of her squad onward toward the bunks where they would be sleeping. Growing up she had alway been picked on and teased for her chest that was flat enough to match some of the boys. Now she was thankful for that. It helped her to blend in more.

"God has a reason for everything I suppose," She thought to herself, laughing a bit.

They arrived at the bunks and fear crept into her.

Stop it! She scolded herself. Just don't let them see. Don't fear for you can do all things.....

She recited the verse in her head. She could do this. This was God's will for her, she knew it was. She tried not to cringe as she shuffled by dirty men who were removing their shoes and exposing a horrid smell that seemed to erupt and remain in a hazy cloud that remained in the cramped quarters of the canvas tent.

No one really made room for her as she pushed by and so she created her own path as one of the men, punching and shoving to make her way to her bunk that she wanted. One that was near the entrance. Yes she might be called on duty more but at least she'd have a break from the stench. Lord knows she smelled just as bad as any of them.

She pushed one man aside and he turned around. Seeing her face he looked at her with bitter hatred.

"Who do you think think you are blasted nigger!" He raised his fist and punched hard into the pit of her stomach knocking her wind out. The impact that she hadn't been expecting through her backward and her head hit against the pole of one of the bunks before landing on her bottom at the base of the bunk.

A low moan escaped her as her back scraped the hard wood post.

The man laughed wickedly. " See this kid?" He said looking at the other men in the now quiet tent. " Nothing but a softy! Ha! Didn't I tell you that them nigger boys didn't belong here?" His voice raised with every word. And he began to take a step towards her. She didn't know why it surprised her. She should have expected it. But coming from Oregon, she wasn't used to the extreme hatred that people could have against one another.

"Hey, hey calm yourself we all in this together man. Just fighting our country."

The voice was familiar. One that she knew could only belong to one person. She opened my eyes. Standing there with his arm around the man with friendliness and empowerment was Ricky.

Ricky had been her neighbor and was a good friend of the man who would one day be her husband, her beloved Benjamin. Benny to her and ,of course being the "cool" man that he was, went by Jam to the rest of his friends. As the thoughts crosses my mind She was tempted to smile, but that would only hurt her in this situation. She managed to keep her face stern as an angered man who would not be thinking of a boyfriend back home.

The man's face turned red. " What are you a nigger lover !" He said trying to get his pride back no doubt.

" I'm an America lover!" Said Ricky loud enough for all to hear. And seems to me " he said pointing at her." that you be fighting the wrong enemy!" He cocked his head to one side holding the man in a bit of a headlock. Ricky had some height on the man which gave him power if not the authoritative voice that God had blessed him with.

She saw a few other men nod a bit in agreement and it touched her heart.

"Wouldn't you agree?" Said Ricky with a cocked eyebrow.

As she began lifting herself up the man grunted loudly and stalked angrily away.

Ricky looked at her asking only with his eyes if she was okay. She replied in kind and he gave a quick nod and walked away. It was best if they did not show that they knew each other. She finally made it over quietly to her bunk where they were both separate from the grunts and most of the smelly men and were labeled with a sign saying "blacks only." It's funny that with so few compared to "whites" who had been admitted they still managed to put up a sign.

Oh how she wished her brother could be here with her. She had tried so hard to be assigned the same area and bunk arrangement as her brother, but of course the choice was not hers to make. It was the government. She was merely volunteered property now. Property with no feeling, desires or goals. No one to protect. Just a defending machine.

"It's funny that defenders of America "land of the free" would be treated this way," she thought to herself as she rolled up her belonging she had pulled from her boot and had kicked them off to the side. She chose a top bunk and climbed up slowly. Her first day and already her hips were bruised and she knew she had a nasty bump on her head. There was no way she was going to show anyone her weakness.

She laid back slowly in bed and breathed deeply. The cold air coming from the slit in the canvas felt good in contrast to the hot stuffy humid air that had remained in the tent from earlier this afternoon.

Her head hit the pillow ( or rather sack of clothes behind her head) and she closed her eyes. Trying to drown out every sound of the men around her who were preparing to retire.

Her thoughts drifted to her life back home. The one that was waiting for her.

But that wasn't her life now ...

The thought interrupted her memories . No her reality was trying not to get shot by the enemy while protecting her brother and trying not to get beat up by her "allies." What a life. Her knew name wasn't hard to remember at least. She had named herself Benjamin so that she would always be reminded of her ultimate supporter and lover. Although she doubted shed forget him, even on a battle field.

As her mind drifted of into sleep her dreams went to a place that she had been only a few months before, though it felt like years. A life in Oregon, that she thought she'd never leave. Not for anyone other than the safety of her brother.