A thick cloud of dust, kicked up as the jeep sped down the dirt road, followed the vehicle that traveled between the perimeter fence and the thick woods of the army base. The dull, olive-green vehicle was difficult to see in the star-filled night despite its headlights which had trouble lighting up more than a few feet in front of the jeep. Its olive-drab uniformed occupants were jostled around with every dip, rock, and bump it came across on the rough road. The driver with both hands clenched to the wheel seemed less impacted than the soldier to his right who wore a nauseated expression.
“Damn you, Snafu. If you don’t slow down, I am going to barf”, stated the passenger. His green fatigues were perfectly laundered and fit to his body like a glove; his helmet rested on his head as if it were made just for him. The soldier appeared as if he was ready to advertise war bonds or lose his lunch.
“Sarge, I ain’t going that fast”, replied the driver. Unlike the army sergeant in the passenger’s seat, the driver was a hot mess. Snafu’s uniform was easily a size too big and looked like he borrowed it from an older brother. His helmet wasn’t an exception either as it shifted on his head with every bump.
“Private Snafu, that’s an order! Slow this jeep down before you spend the next month with KP”.
“Yes, Sergeant Geisel”, replied Snafu with a sign. The private grabbed the stick shift with his right hand and attempted to slow the jeep down and change gears. The hum of the engine was drowned out by the cries from the transmission as gears ground together as Snafu struggled to get the jeep in the right gear. The jeep finally settled into gear and the soldier glanced over to his superior with a failed smile.
Sergeant Geisel closed his eyes, took an extended breath in, and slowly let it out. As he opened his eyes, he said “Snafu, I am sure you must have your redeeming qualities, but your talents involve getting confused, lost, in trouble and generally fouled up. Just get me back to the motor pool in one piece”.
Sgt. Geisel pulled out a cigarette and zippo from his breast pocket and placed the end between his lips. Lighting the tobacco before dropping the lighter back into his pocket, the sergeant took a drag from the cigarette and exhaled the smoke without taking it from his lips before closing his eyes and easing into the seat.
“Um, thanks, Sarge. I think” said Snafu as he turned his eyes back to the dirt road. He got the hint and would leave the sarge alone.
The drive didn’t offer much to look at in the late hours. Darkness awaiting behind the fence to the left and more darkness in the woods to the right. The only break in the dark came from the dim headlights and the stars from the clear night sky. Snafu glanced up at the stars and mentally connected stars like a dot-to-dot picture to make his own constellations.
“Let’s see”, the private said to himself. “Those stars are the body. There are the arms and legs. And that one would be the… Hey, Sarge, do stars move?”
“Do stars what?”
“Move, Sarge. The head of my star thingy is moving, and I think it is getting closer.”
Sergeant Geisel slightly opened his eyes and glanced up at the night sky. He took another drag of his cigarette before he closed his eyes again and replied, “That’s just one of the flyboys from McChord Field taking a night flight. I bet he is trying to impress some dame.”
Before Private Snafu could respond to his sergeant, the headlights faded in and out until they went out completely. The lights were followed by the engine which cut out and the jeep came to a stop.
The sergeant sat and turned to the private. “Damnit Snafu! What did you do?”
Snafu pointed his finger in front of him and responded with a slight tremor, “Uh, Sarge. I don’t think that’s one of ours.”
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