The Accidental Veteran
I'm on the front page of the base newspaper, a bulky Kevlar helmet on my head, even clunkier military issued glasses on my face, frozen in time next to a 4-star general. I'm showing him the results of my target practice. He's smiling, proudly. All the bullet holes in a tight circle in the center. I look bored. It was raining. I was woken up extra early, before any of the others. Placed on an old school bus painted drab brown-green. Or maybe it was green-brown. It was so long ago. It's hard to remember the details. I sit directly behind the driver. Alone. I didn't know who I was with. I didn't ask. They didn't offer. We drove in the dark. Stopped. Exited. I stood waiting with two other strangers dressed the same as me. Someone pointed. The three of us, strangers to each other, walked away. I found the perfect spot up on the wooded hill. Covered in camouflaged face paint - the most make up I'd ever wear on my face, covered my body in t...