WBY - Montford Military Academy part two
River wandered down the tree lined path, ornamental pear blossoms fluttering past him like snow flakes. Ordinarily, he would have taken a few moments to appreciate them. To appreciate this campus. MMA was a gorgeous school, old stately brick buildings and walkways, grass free from debris and even foot steps. (River felt sure there were definitely some kind of punishment awarded for touching shoes to the pristine lawn) He’d always enjoyed architecture and the visual artistry that often accompanied older institutions. He supposed he was a geek in that way.
However on this occasion he barely noticed.
He was on his way to the commandant’s office. His offense being that for the third time today he’d been disciplined for the sad state of affairs that was his uniform. Only a half a day as an MMA Cadet and he was already in hot water.
God these people were picky.
The punishment for his inability to dress himself like all the other cadets was pushups. Each set of pushups had been increased by twenty and River figured that the DS figured by the time he had reached a total of 120 that most kids would have learned. Apparently most kids weren’t River. Truthfully though, he got the message loud and clear but chose to ignore it. It was bad enough that his shoulder length hair had been cut, it was just an added affront that now he had to wear a uniform. Not only wear it, but wear it exactly like everyone else. River could have told the DS that pushups were hardly any deterrent for him. River could, and often did 120 pushups in a day. He supposed that the physical punishment tended to encourage most other Cadets to follow protocol but River had merely shrugged and hit the dirt. Or in this case, the gorgeous green carpet of grass.
Finally the DS had scowled exasperatedly and had sent him to the Commandant’s office muttering under his breath about kids who were too damn fit to take punishment like men.
River had shrugged again and had headed off to the Commandant’s office. There was little he could do to change anyone’s mind about it. Jamie hadn’t even been able to break ranks to give him advice. Not that he needed advice…but he could tell that despite Jamie’s adaptation to military life, his cousin was agitated at not being able to at least accompany River to see Commandant Fraser.
River was smart enough to know that a Commandant was like a Head Master or maybe a principal. He wondered briefly if anyone had been sent to the head honcho on the first day of class. Probably not, he doubted that anyone was as stubborn as he was. Except for maybe Jamie and for all Jamie’s stubbornness, he tended to follow the rules.
Usually.
The brick lined path and flowering rhododendron, as opposed to the ornamental pear, that lead to the Commandant’s office were misleading. They were pink and fragile looking, a complete contrast to the imposing brick building with marble accents. A young man, maybe a little younger than River walked down the steps and then stopped, glaring at River.
“Do you see these bars?” The boy snapped gesturing at his collar.
“Yes.” River answered.
“Yes, SIR!” the boy bellowed
“Yes, SIR!” River parroted but his eyes held no deference.
“These bars, Cadet,” the boy grabbed his lapel and shook it vigorously in River’s direction, “mean I am a Lieutenant and as such I expect a salute when I pass.” The boy bristled with indignation.
River shook his head slowly, noticing the Lieutenant’s name plate, L. Berner. He would remember this turd come hell or high water. These kids were the poster children of power tripping. River did however, raise his right hand into what he assumed was a salute. He’d watched enough movies to at least get the gist of it. Besides, a salute, no matter how poorly executed would be better than calling Berner dickhead.
“Very sloppy, Cadet. If I wasn’t under time constraints I would write you up!” The boy, ahem Lieutenant, sniffed haughtily and returned the salute, crisp and sharp.
Unable to think of any reply to his obvious lack in military decorum, River simply said, “Yes, sir.” and continued on into the building.
Once inside, he removed his hat, River corrected himself, his cover and placed it under his right arm. He wasn’t sure if that was correct or not, but wearing his baseball hat in front of Gramps in the house sometimes got him a sharp rap on the head. If Gramps would whack him for a baseball hat, Lord knew what these crazy people would do for wearing a freaking cover inside.
There was a large formal semi-circular desk at the front of the entrance of the building with a uniformed man there. A grown man at least as old as River’s grandfather. He figured the guy was the secretary…or whatever passed for a secretary in this place. He didn’t recognize the insignia on his collar and the thought of getting it wrong, irritated the crap out of him
“I’m here to see the Commandant, sir.” River stated, hoping he was correct. At least the man was indeed a man and as such, addressing him as sir couldn’t be too bad.
The man looked up and over his eyeglasses, pale blue eyes scanning River up and down. “You’re new here.” It wasn’t a question so River didn’t answer. “First day and you are here to see The Old Man.”
“Not sure, sir.” River tentatively began.
“Oh, you’ll be sure enough after.” The man grinned but it didn’t look like he was upset or angry.
“Name’s Gunny. Just Gunny. No need to sir me or call me Gunnery Sergeant. I’m the only gunny here so I figure I can make my own rules up on this one. Besides, I’m older than the Commandant too.” His blue eyes twinkled mischievously. “But Old Man has been the nick name of every Commandant who has been here since I’ve been here and I’m older than dirt. Word of warning kid, do not call him ‘Old Man’ to his face.”
“No, Gunny.” River agreed, “I am dumb but not stupid.”
“Well, that remains to be seen, “ Gunny said again looking as if he could barely contain a smile.
Suddenly emboldened by the pleasantries River asked, “Why are you so happy, Gunny? You like seeing kids get sent to the principal’s office?”
“Nope, just no one has come here first day in quite a while.
“And when did it happen last?” River asked suddenly curious.
“About 50 year ago.”
River looked at the gunny, he was old alright but 50 years ago?
Gunny laughed then, “It was me.”
River didn’t know how to answer that but he grinned.
“Go on in Winchester, knock first.”
River knocked on the door and opened it to the Commandant’s office. Well, here goes nothing.
Part 3 Sorry about the formatting LJ is sucking the life out of me. http://wildblueyonder6.livejournal.com/46314.html