Fallen Soldier

Chapter three

Two years later.

Vinny’s POV

“Hey Taylor! You’re coming out tonight right?” I yelled across the outdoor gun range.

“Nah man, the Mrs is going out tonight, I’ve got to look after Ella ” He yelled back before stuffing his earplugs into his ears and firing off the rest of his clip and the targets tactfully hidden in the trees.

“Shit!” I swore loudly, but it was muffled by gunfire.

Taylor and his wife had a baby six months ago, I can’t understand how he can be so happy to stay at home with them all the time.  I mean, I get that he loves his family but to be put on babysitting duty because your wife decides she wants to go out?  That’s precisely why I don’t have a girlfriend, who would want a woman to boss you around and dictate what you can and can’t do? Not me that’s for sure, I thought firmly.

I snapped my ear mufflers back on and reloaded my gun as the moving target in my section started its sequence, twelve shots later and the sequence was finished.

“Not bad” Taylor remarked from behind me when I took the headgear off again.

“Not bad?” I questioned as I walked into the forest to collect my target sheet.

When I reached the straw stuffed mannequin I grinned, ripping the sheet off I jogged back to him and gleefully held it up for his inspection, a tattered hole was all that was left of the red bulls-eye section.

“What can I say, you learnt from the best” He unrolled his own target sheet with a grin, I saw the same markings on his own.

“True” I chuckled smacking him high five, both of us laughing and joking as we made our way back through the barracks to my quarters.

“Yeesh, I am so glad I don’t live here anymore” Taylor said turning his nose up as he looked at the plain grey walls that all the soldiers living accommodations consisted of.  Three bunk beds were crammed into the dim room, each soldier having his own bunk and a tiny set of draws for his belongings.

“It’s not so bad” I shrugged pulling some fresh clothes out “It sucks bringing chicks back though” I amended.

“Yeah, I remember” he grimaced.

“C’mon you must miss it man” I teased stripping off my green army issue shirt.

“Not one bit” He shook his head vigorously as he plonked himself down onto one of the bottom bunks.

I scoffed and chucked on a white tee with a naked chicks ass and legs printed on the front.

“Mad” I muttered, shaking my head.

“Seriously dude I don’t miss it at all, you’ll understand one day when you finally grow up” He joked grinning up at me.

“Whatever dude I’m 27, two years older than you I would like to point out” I said as I ditched my mud green combat pants and donned some fitted chinos “Maybe you’re the one who needs to grow up” I added as a childish afterthought.

“Says the one with no girlfriend to the guy with a wife and a baby” he rolled his eyes and walked out of the door.

“Whatever bro, I just haven’t ever found anyone I like enough” I admitted quickly grabbing my jacket and spraying myself with aftershave before following him in the direction of the base exit.

“Anyone good enough you mean?”  He teased raising his eyebrow.

I ignored his question and looked around, I spotted the others waiting for us to arrive and headed over to them.