5.16

[I'm enjoying finally being in a place in my life with reminders set up to daily blog again. I'm not good at it anymore, but I'm having a good time. Dad said one of my posts made mom cry. I guess I'm keeping with the theme.]

I walked into the common room, carrying my pack. "Alright," I called out. "Which of you are bunking in the room with me?" Eleven men--boys, really--stood up and shuffled toward the door where I stood. "Let's go look at this room situation," I said, and, turning abruptly, walked into the hallway. They walked in front of me and led the way to the large dormitory-style room. Three bunk beds, two mattresses, and an air mattress filled the space. The last three rooms I had ducked into were spotless, and the beds were made up. This room was a sty. The boys all threw themselves onto their beds, expectant. In the back corner, I saw a junior officer stand up from his bed, surprised. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. I've just got to sort this out." He nodded.
"Where are you sleeping, Captain?" one boy called out.
I turned to him morosely. This seemed like an entirely temporary arrangement. Why was the military bunking officers with enlisted anyway? And worse? Each man had chosen the choicest spot for himself as he arrived, leaving no space except to sleep with two others on the large bed in the center. Several men were already double-bunked on the larger beds. Honestly, it couldn't be helped; they wouldn't have been able to leave me space and fit themselves into the room, but: it couldn't be helped. There's no good being merciful in a situation like this.
"I understand that you all knew I would be rooming with you? That would explain why you all stood up when I asked. No, don't speak. It won't make things better, and you know it. What I want to know is how eleven bright young idiots saw the billet with two officers and decided to save one bed out for the both of them."
There were stirrings in the ranks. Several boys looked extremely uncomfortable. One tried opening his mouth, but I bit the words off before they came out.
"No, don't try to answer that. This is an entirely hypothetical conversation. I'm just perplexed at what you all thought would happen. Did you just think to take a risk, hoping I wouldn't show up and kick you out of bed? Maybe you thought that after a while I just wouldn't show up? Well, good news for all of you: I'm as fair as fair can be. I'm not going to kick one or two of you out of bed. I'm kicking you all out, and I'll pick your bunks. Grab your things and make your bed and when I give you a bunk to knock out in, you'd better say thank you and treat it like you would your own momma's bed."
There wasn't any sound, at that point, other than the fast shuffling of men stuffing their personal effects into packs and scurrying toward the door.
Then it was just the lieutenant and myself in the room. I frowned at him, and he just shrugged. Time to reapportion the fools. I guess just alphabetically, this time. I took a deep breath and turned around.

Dream 5.16.17 6:30 am