Alex Jones has been a recruit in the army for only 6 month. Her parole officer thought the army would do her some good, help her disciplinary problems, even dealing with her resistance to authority figures. He also thought the army was the best place to resolve her lack of anger management control. It would be the best place to straighten out this 23 year old girl. If it fails she would be back to gaol for a long time.
Private Jones eyes opened with the sounds of whistles going off. She starts to rise and looks at her clock reading 4.55am. She watches the other girls scurry for their clothes and throws hers on while rushing out to form the line.
Outside the sun was trying to rise and pacing in front of the girls was Sergent Stacy ‘the bitch’ Burke. She was a fit woman nearing 40 and had the voice of a machine gun that cut straight through everyone.
“EVERY GOD DAMN FUCKING MORNING I WAIT. I WAIT FOR YOU BITCHES TO GET OUT HERE AND FORM A LINE. IT TAKES YOU 10 MINUTES TO DRAG YOUR LAZY ARSES OUT AND INTO THIS LINE.” She walks closer to the girls examining them all closely. “THIS IS NOT A BEAUTY PAGEANT LADIES, THIS IS NOT A FUCKING HOLIDAY CAMP. THIS IS THE ARMY”
“YES MAAM” choruses the group
Burke stops in front of one solider and looks her over “Do you find something amusing Private Jones”
“not particularly” she says looking at her Sergeant
“Eyes front soldier I don’t remember giving you permission to look at me. Then tell me something Jones why are you always the last one to line up in the mornings eh?”
“Well I guess it could be cos my bed is the furthest from the door maam.” Her flat reply
Burke scowls. “AFTER ALL THIS TIME STILL THE WISE ASS, DOWN AND GIVE ME 50” she yells into Jones’s ear “AND LET ME HEAR YOU COUNT”
“Yes maam” and Jones drops and starts push ups
Sergent Burke continues to berate her troops before returning to Private Jones. She puts her foot under Jones chest and rolls her over
“So what is your count Private Jones” orders Burke
“45 maam” answers promptly
“Well I didn’t her the last 20, so again give me 50 and call them out LOUD.”
Jones started counting again and Burke dismisses her troops for breakfast. She waited until Jones and completed and got to her feet.
“DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM PRIVATE JONES” yells Burke
“No maam”
“well lets keep it that way. Dismissed” barks the Sergeant
Private Jones salutes and leaves.
Jones sits at the table with the rest of the girls and digs into her breakfast. Some girls laughed and one spoke up
“Hey Alex so how many does that total to now”
Alex laughed “I dunno probably 500”
Another girl spoke “more like 5000, Alex when are you going to learn”
Alex looked over and smiled at her good friend Jo.
Jo Lim started out same time as Alex, they had become good friends, and although Jo tried to keep her on the straight and narrow she knew that Alex was untameable and unobtainable.
“the bitch has it in for me Jo I tell you” whines Alex
“well of course she does, you act like as she put it a wise ass” puts arm around shoulder and hugs
Alex laughs “bite me” she teases
Jo laughs and thinks to herself “Hmmm I wish”
Early afternoon the girl’s were in the motor pool servicing the 30 vehicles. The music was up loud and the girls where singing and having a good time. Alex had her jacket off and tied around her waist, she was dancing around while smoking a cigarette.
The music was shut off instantly and someone yelled out “FALL IN”
“YOU WANNA DANCE, DO IT IN YOUR OWN TIME.” Barks Burke “YOU MUST BE THE WORST BUNCH OF SHIT HEADS I’VE EVER HAD” and stops in front of Alex
“any reason why you are out of uniform and smoking during hours soldier”
“No maam”
“ TIDY YOURSELF UP NOW” yells Burke
Alex puts her jacket on and butts out her cigarette
Burke looks at the vehicles “Have all these vehicles been serviced to regulations”
“Yes maam” they chorused out confidently
“really” and inspects the vehicles
“Does that include the swapping of tyres” she asked quickly
“Yes maam” came one solitary voice
Burke looked around and noticed Jones had closed her eyes. “Private Jones front and centre”
Alex walked out two steps.
Burke walks behind Alex and faces the other girls “Jones is the only one who thinks these tyres have been changed. I say that Jones is a compulsive liar and therefore don’t believe her.
Burke moves to front of Alex and stares at her “Isn’t that right Private”
Alex didn’t flinch
“I SAID ISN’T THAT RIGHT PRIVATE JONES” she barked to her face
“in your opinion maam” replies Jones flatly
Jo rolls her eyes and waited for it
“it is my opinion and my opinion is law to you” she growls
“fine” growls back Alex
Jo gasps but remained still
Burke moves to Jo “DID YOU SAY SOMETHING LIM” she asked
“No maam, just swallowed a bug” she replied
“Well it seems Jones’s bad influence is rubbing off on you all. Not only do I have the worst bunch of bitches, but are all liars as well.
Burke points to the girls except Jones “YOU WILL ALL CHANGE EVERY GOD DAMN TYRE ON ALL THESE VEHICLES.”
“Yes maam” they chorused
“Private Jones fall back into formation
Alex complies and Burke gets in her face. “after you have helped your team change the tyres you will wash every single vehicle inside and out before you go do dinner, UNDERSTOOD”
Alex stood firm “yes maam” she gritted out