“Come on, Smith!” Grabowski yelled when theycame around past him. Ryan happened to look over and he could havesworn the Drill Sergeant was grinning.
This was no longer about Brendon scoringperfectly. This was about four boys who grew up together. If onefailed they all failed, and that was not going to happen.
Grabowski was shouting out times as each soldierpassed. When the four of them passed he shouted the time. This timeRyan looked over and smiled when Grabowski grinned at him. Henoticed that the other two drills came over and stood withGrabowski the timer.
On the last leg of the two miles Patrick washuffing and just wanted to do nothing more than sit down.
“You will not fucking walk!” Brendon barked.This run was actually pretty easy for him. “Fifteen minutes flat.We can fucking do this in fifteen minutes.”
Ryan had run behind Patrick. “You slow down andI'll run your ass over, Patrick, so fucking move!”
“You're not fucking quitting, Patrick. We're notletting you.”
They were fifty feet away from Grabowski whenothers who had already finished their run began to shoutencouragement at Patrick. Even King and Connelly were shouting atthem.
They made it to Grabowski, who yelled.“Done.”
Patrick was huffing even worse as he jogged offthe track. The other three were right behind him but looked back atGrabowski.
“15:12.”
They cheered and thumped Patrick on theback.
After the last man finished Grabowski walkedaround congratulating each of them. When he got to Brendon hestayed longer.
Ryan couldn't hear what was being said but hesaw Phillip shake Murray's hand. He noticed tears welling up inBrendon's eyes. He would ask about it once they got back to thebarracks.
Back in the barracks all four men were gatheringtheir stuff for a shower.
“What did Grabowski want?” Kenneth asked.
“He shook my hand and said he was proud of me,”Brendon whispered and then held out his hand. In his palm was asilver coin.
Getting a coin from someone like Drill SergeantGrabowski was a huge honor. It meant even more because Brendon hadgiven up his goal of a perfect PT test to make sure Patrickfinished the race.
***
They were woken at three the next morning. Ryanwasn't surprised when they were ordered into BDUs. Their BCT wasalmost over. In six days they would all be heading to theirindividual schools. They would no longer be together and Ryan wasextremely sad about that. Kenneth. Patrick. Brendon. They were allhis best friends. They were men who had taken everything BCT hadthrown at them and come back for more. He was pretty certain thatwhile high school friends were easily forgotten those three menwould forever remain his driving force.
They were in formation and marched to a clear,open field. Once there they were ordered into an ‘open ranks’formation.
Drill Sergeant Grabowski cleared his throat.“Eight weeks ago you came into this not knowing what to expect. Youwere all different people and acted like such. Over these lasteight weeks I had the privilege to watch you all grow and become aworking machine. This is one of my best classes. I have beenhonored to be with each one of you.”
Ryan glanced down the line. Patrick was bitinghis lips to keep from crying. Brendon actually was crying andKenneth kept blinking like he wanted to cry, but not in front ofthem.
“Now you men are United States Soldiers,”Phillip said, his voice strong and proud. “Repeat after me!”
All of them stood a little taller.
As I walk through the valley of the Shadowof Death! I will fear no Evil!”
“As I walk through the valley of the Shadowof Death! I will Fear no evil!”
Phillip's face grew hard. “ForIam thebaddest motherfucker in this valley!”
They repeated it at a dull roar.
“HOOOAH!” Phillip yelled.
