“Well, ya know, if you’d gotten your lazy butt up earlier, there was the famous huevos rancheros.” A lot of love in Will’s pretend nasty.
“Ya tryin’ to make me feel bad or sumpin’? Cookie’s good at what she does, but this grub’s just what I needed, recruits.” I loved that very strange man. My uncle. My dad.
“Now,” Will said, “For my surprise.” He looked at me. “You, my friend, are gonna help me pick out a Christmas tree.”
Sarge immediately spoke. “Great idea. But don’t get one of them spindly Charlie Brown things. We need a tall, proud soldier of a tree. One that’s seen combat, fought when they tried to cut him down but lost the battle with dignity.” Enough with all this soldier stuff. Remembering Will’s words, though, I thought this must be how nervous Marines talk.
“Well, Gunny, gues
