"Shit sir, sounds like we're going to have some stories to tell Hollywood when he gets back," someone called out.
Laughter greeted it.
"Sure we can't get Townsend to sign at least one poster, saying something like 'Miss You Hollywood!' or something?” someone else asked.
"I'll mention it to Major Kirk, but nobody below a captain's bars asks for his autograph," Parker said, which included himself. "For now, go ahead and get back down to the motorpool, I'm going to meet with Major Kirk to get our plans hashed out. Dismissed."
The platoon broke up, and started walking back towards the motorpool. As Linda walked, she heard boots behind her and glanced back to see Sergeant Orkin coming up.
"You know you walk louder than half a dozen people, right?"
"Tell that to my first platoon sergeant," Aaron said, chuckling. "Man wanted us pinging when we were in garrison."
"Pinging?" Linda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, that old school power walking thing. Still slips out when I'm trying to catch someone."
"So what's on your mind?"
"Look, El-Tee's got to say what he's got to say," Orkin said. "And we'll bring Brutal Townsend into the squad. But I want to know how you're going to handle it. You okay, or do you need me to sort of hand hold this guy when he shows up?"
Linda hesitated, wondering if she was truly ready for this. The last thing the platoon needed was for her to misstep with a high-profile civilian. Still, she couldn't let her squad leader think she couldn't handle a task, no matter how unusual.
"I've got no problems, I'll deal with him just like he's Hollywood," Linda said. "Why?"
"I just want to be sure. Lot of people are pissed with him after what he did. Also, I'm going to play things a little loose with this guy. El-Tee Parker's right, we're not going to haze this guy."
"That's good."
Up ahead, Linda could see the motorpool, the scent of diesel and oil already reaching her nostrils.
Orkin slowed up a bit. "That being said, I plan on us running Brutus Townsend ragged. He might be a professional football player, but I'll bet you twenty bucks that we can send him back to the rest of his offseason with real respect for the Army."
"You want to make him tap out?" Linda asked, a little surprised.
Orkin did play fast and loose with certain traditions and regulations even, but he was never one to go over the line maliciously. If anything, he always broke the rules for the good of the unit.
"If you mean grind him into the ground, not intentionally," Orkin said, relieving her worries. "We're not going to ask him to do anything we won't put ourselves through. Lead by example, you know?"
"That's the way I do things," Linda said, "and the way that you've always done things with the squad too. So what do you mean in his case?"
"I mean we're going to challenge him, hold him to the standard that we always hold," Orkin said. "I'm going to need you to help me with it. You're the fire team leader, and you'll be the one responsible for teaching him how not to get himself killed on all of the tasks that we're going to be throwing his direction. Think you can handle it?"
Linda didn't answer right away, because she knew this was more than the standard request. When a new soldier came to the unit, they'd already had at least six months of military training, if not years of experience being in other units.
Brutus Townsend was a professional football player. There might be some similarities in terms of physical activity, understanding hard work, and not being afraid to sweat. But there were a lot of differences, and he couldn't be expected to know any of the skills an infantry soldier would know coming out of basic training.
She wondered if she was really qualified to guide a celebrity through this experience. What if she messed up? What if he didn't respect her authority? What if, worst of all, she found herself distracted by him?
She would have to handle that.
"No... no. I can do it," Linda said. "I'll be able to teach him. Or I'll be able to task it out to some of the other troops in the team."
"Cool." Orkin started walking again. "Then you can be the teacher. But if he needs to be sent to the principal's office..."
"Then you'll be there to have my back."
"Exactly."
