The Dishonorable

Front Leaning Rest!

Dear Cheryl,

This is letter 25 that I'm writing to you, so I hope that you've read all the others I've sent you. Writing to you makes me feel sane like everything going to be okay and it's not pointless. I know you aren't good with words, so I understand not getting a letter from you. The last time we left things were on bad terms, I'm sorry, I really wish I'd done things differently. I was being selfish, and it really scared me of your reaction. Being far away from you hurts but I know that I made the right decision for myself. I needed to do this for myself and I understand if you can never forgive me for that. I hope that you're off enjoying college and that someone has fixed what I so stupidly broke. I'm forever grateful to you for letting me love you and to have received your love.

Love ALWAYS,

Toni

"Yo Topaz, we got to be in formation in less than 1 minute and I don't want to be in the front leaning rest position again today." PV2 Cortez leaning on the wall locker tying her shoelaces up.

"HAHA, yeah who's the fault is that for goofing off in the chow line?" Putting my letter in an envelope sliding it under my pillow looking up at Cortez.

"Yeah, well Drill Sergeant Hayes has staff duty tonight so please Top-azz let's go!!"

When Cortez and I made it outside everyone was in formation standing at parade rest. Drill Sergeant Hayes was looking at us with a smug look on his face.

"Topaz, Cortez, Front leaning rest position, move!"

Cortez looked like she wanted to murder me, I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. We both got into position and waited for further instruction.

"Down! You both thought you would show up to my formation late and I wouldn't say anything. You don't run shit private."

Cortez and I both went down holding the position waiting for further instructions.

"I do not discriminate. If my mother and grandmother were in basic training, I'd smoke their ass too!"

"UP! Down, Up, UP! I didn't tell you to move so why are you moving?! Down, Up, Down, up.........We can keep going all night ladies just let me know."

Cortez and I were both exhausted. Sweat was in areas that it doesn't belong. I looked over and saw Cortez's arms were shaking, I knew she couldn't do anymore. By the grace of God, the drill sergeant must've seen the same thing and walked away.

"Position of Attention Move! Fall into the formation."

Moving to the back of the formation Cortez and I stood at parade rest both trying to gather ourselves.

"Look, I don't want to be out here all night but if y'all fuck this up once we're gonna keep doing this shit until everyone knows their numbers so 1st floor Count Off............."

"38" I screamed at the top of my lungs as the other girls stood around me at parade rest waiting to be excused for bed.

"All right, I understand that tomorrow's graduation but if I hear anything when lights go out I'll bring everyone back out here and we can have a party. Y'all want to play fuck fuck games okay we can fuck fuck games. Am I understood?"