English
AfterIlefttheidiotschool,peoplewerealwaysshoutingatme–CoachFellers,CoachBryant,andthenthepeopleinthearmy.ButIhavetosaythis:thepeopleinthearmyshoutedlouderandlongerthananybody!
FortBenningwasinGeorgia.Afteraboutahundredhoursonabus,meandalotofothernewyoungsoldiersarrivedthere.TheplacewhereIhadtolivewasjustabitbetterthantheroomsattheuniversity,butthefoodwasnot.Itwasterrible.
Then,andinthemonthstocome,IjusthadtodothethingsthatIwastoldtodo.Theytaughtmehowtoshootguns,throwhandgrenades,andmovealongthegroundonmystomach.
Oneday,thecookwasill,andsomebodysaid,‘Gump,you’regoingtobethecooktoday.’
‘WhatamIgoingtocook?’Isaid.‘HowdoIcook?’
‘It’seasy,’saidoneofthemen.‘Justputeverythingthatyouseeinthefoodcupboardintoabigpotandcookit.’
‘Maybeitwon’ttasteverygood,’Isaid.
‘Nothingdoesinthisplace!’hesaid.Hewasright.
Well,Igottinsoftomatoes,somerice,apples,potatoes,andeverythingthatIcouldfind.‘WhatamIgoingtocookitin?’Iaskedoneofthemen.
Therearesomepotsinthecupboard,’hesaid.Butthepotswereonlysmall.
‘You’vegottofindsomething,’oneoftheothermensaid.
‘Whataboutthis?’Iasked.Therewasabigmetalthingaboutsixfeettallandfivefeetround,sittinginthecorner.
‘That’stheboiler.Youcan’tcookanythinginthat.’
‘Whynot?’Iasked.‘It’shot.It’sgotwaterinit.’
Butthemenhadotherthingstodo.‘Dowhatyoulike,’theysaid.
SoIusedtheboiler.
Iputeverythinginit,andafteraboutanhouryoucouldsmellthecooking.ItsmelledOK.Thenthemencamebackandeverybodywaswaitingfortheirdinner.
‘Hurryupwiththatfood,Gump!We’rehungry!’theyshouted.
Suddenly,theboilerbegantoshakeandmakenoises–andthenitblewup!
Itblewthefoodalloverus–me,andallthemenwhoweresittingatthetables.
‘Gump!’theyscreamed.‘You’reanidiot!’
ButIalreadyknewthat.
Afterayear,wewenttoVietnamtofightinthewar.Oneeveningwewenttohaveashower.The‘showers’werejustalongholeinthegroundforustostandin,whilesomebodythrewwateroverus.Wewerestandinginit,whensuddenlytherewasastrangenoise.
Thenthegroundbegantoblowupallroundus!
Wethrewourselvesontotheflooroftheshowerhole,andsomebodystartedscreaming.Itwassomeofourmenonthefarsideofthehole,andtherewasbloodalloverthem.Theneverythingwentquietagain,andafteraminuteortwotherestofusclimbedupoutofthehole.
Theenemysoldierstriedtoblowusupforthenextfivenights,thenitstopped.Butitwastimeforustomoveupnorthtohelpsomeofourothermeninthejungle.
Wewentinhelicopters,andtherewassmokecomingupoutofthejunglewhenwegotthere.Theenemystartedshootingatusbeforewegotontheground,andtheyblewuponeofourhelicopters.Itwasterrible!Peopleonfire,andnothingthatwecoulddo.Itwasalmostnightbeforewefoundourothersoldiersinthejungle.
Andwhodoyouthinkoneofthemwas?ItwasBubba!
Well,inbetweentheshooting,Bubbatoldmeabouthimself.Hisfootgottoobadtoplayfootball,andhehadtoleavetheuniversity.Buthisfootwasn’ttoobadforthearmytogethim–andherehewas.
‘WhathappenedtoJennyCurran?’Iasked.
‘Sheleftschoolandwentoffwithagroupofpeoplewhowereagainstthewar,’hesaid.
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