What Kindness Can Bring

Chapter 17, Higher Responsibility

Two days passed ever since he departed from the house to buy my equipment for the M1 rifle. My uncle promised to return with crates of ammunition and a surplus M1 Garand straight from the military warehouses.

During those days I was able to print out the picture of Rotte and me, two copies to be exact. For some reason, my uncle wanted to have one on the refrigerator while the other was to be brought back to the Creature Realm to keep in her room. I've also managed to get a copy of The Diary of a Young Girl for Effie.

Turning to a picture of my grandfather on the wall I started speaking to it like it was a live person. "Hey grandpa, don't know what I've gotten myself into. Met a girl and- look I'm a nervous wreck... I couldn't bring myself to talk to her without acting shy. Well, at least that's what is probably happening. Also getting the M1 Garand, the rifle you used to bring freedom to an oppressed country. That's all."

Pulling out my phone I start playing games, "Alright, here we go again.."

The sound of my uncle's car is heard from the driveway a few minutes later, "It's finally here."

I rush to the door but right as I'm about to open it, my uncle unlocks the door and greets me with a wide smile. "Good day, soldier."

He leads me to the trunk of the car to where I see many crates, both big and small. "This is the carrying case." My uncle tells me as he hands me a sturdy military grade bag, the bag itself looks like it's in very good condition for any type of terrain.

My uncle motions me to start putting the crates inside the house so I walk over and pick up a box, "Woohh, sure is heavy." Tin clanking sounds can be heard from the box as I make my way to an empty room where I set it down.

After every crate is inside the room I am stunned to see that the room is halfway filled with boxes that seem to contain all the same things inside.

"2nd Lieutenant, your equipment is here!" My uncle calls to me.

Inhaling in the air I reply, "Yes sir! On the way!"

I come face to face with my uncle and in his hands... is the M1 Garand.

Flipping and turning the gun in multiple angles, he inspects the gun like what soldiers do to the men who have a lower ranking than them.

He clears his throat and looks at me with a straight face, "I present to you the M1 Garand. This rifle is not only just a gift but also a symbol of responsibility handed to you by me. Your responsibility includes making decisions that can either impact your life or the life of others around you in a negative or positive way, you are old enough to know what is right and wrong. I've taught you well on conduct including military discipline when you were still a young boy, don't put it to waste."

I take the rifle with shaking hands, "This rifle will be used for upholding the US Constitution in a foreign land, protecting the weak, and doing what is best for those around me by putting myself on the line for them to live."

"It's all yours." He tells me, "We're going to start training tomorrow."

Saluting to him, I rush to my room and open the holding bag to find a rifle sling for the Garand and attach it along with my bayonet. The result is the most legendary sight ever.

I sling my rifle over my shoulder and go to the kitchen to ask questions, he immediately remarks on how my appearance looks like.
"Wow! It fits you well, starting to remind me of your grandfather. Why don't we visit him sometime?"

"Sure thing. Got a question for you, what're the crates for?" I reply.

He scratches his chin, "They are mostly .30 caliber bullets and some clips for your rifle, might have to load them in still but you can do that yourself."

"Ah, I almost forgot!" Handing me what appears to be a gun holster, "A good sidearm, take care of it."

Taking the pistol with me, I go into the crates and start searching for .45 ACP and .30 caliber bullets.

I easily find .45 magazines and take a handful of bullets to load them in. After sorting through many more crates, .30 caliber rounds are finally found.

Rushing to my room and putting my suspenders on and mounting the M1 Garand ammo pouches on it, I rush back to the storage room and insert as many clips inside the pouches along with several .45 loaded magazines.

With a quick pace, I change to my uniform and equip everything and go to the kitchen.

From the corner of my eye my uncle stares at me in awe, laying the rifle in the table I quickly field strip the rifle under 3 minutes and reassemble it.

He comments on my work, "Not bad, not bad."

Holding the rifle with my left arm, my right hand pulls out a clip. I align it with the middle of the gun while using my left arm to hold the operating rod open in the process then push down and release the rod, the magazine is loaded successfully as the gun is switched to safety.

Saying a quick thank you and going to my room, I remove the bayonet and my gear and set them in an organized pattern but not before putting my rifle in its designated bag. The pistol looks small to fit in one of the surplus gas mask bags, maybe gonna try secretly carrying it with me.

I lay on my bed and fall asleep, dreaming of pleasant memories with Rotte.