Semper Fi Read Online Free PDF Page A

right there on my birth certificate in black and white.”
    Jim’s smile faded as he glanced at the row of toilets. “How many have you done?”
    “Not enough.” Cal went back to scrubbing, wincing as he angled the toothbrush under the stained rim. “At least I’ve had the place to myself.” As with everything at Parris Island, there was no privacy to be found in the bathroom, and Cal didn’t fancy having to clean while fellow recruits did their business.
    “Can I help? You’re going to miss chow at this rate.” Jim kneeled beside him and peered around, as if looking for another toothbrush.
    “Nah, you’d better not. Don’t want to get you in the dog house. Go on and eat. I need to have this bathroom—no, I’m sorry, this head —clean by taps or God knows what other punishment Tyrell has in mind.”
    Although he was clearly reluctant to go, Jim stood. “Okay. See you later.”
    Cal couldn’t resist watching him leave, admiring the way the uniform trousers showed off Jim’s firm ass. Then he gave his head a shake and went back to his task. The last thing he needed was to get caught giving Jim the eye. He could only imagine what Tyrell would do then, and none of the options were remotely pleasant.
    As if conjured by the mere thought, strident footsteps announced Tyrell’s arrival. Lips narrowed, he watched Cal for a long moment before Cal remembered he was supposed to stand at attention. Hopping to his feet, he clicked his heels, stuck out his chest, raised his chin and snapped off a salute, toothbrush still in hand.
    Seconds ticked by as Tyrell stared him down. Although he was shorter than Cal, he was a force of nature, his presence oppressively filling the corners of the room. Finally he barked, “At ease!”
    Cal stood with his hands behind his back, the disgusting toothbrush between his fingers. Tyrell surveyed Cal’s progress with steely eyes. He marched slowly from one end of the room to the other, steps so measured and exact that Cal was sure they were precisely six inches apart. He returned and stood so close that Cal had to stop himself from backing up. He kept his eyes focused on the wall.
    “Cunningham, I ordered you to have this head clean by taps, did I not?” His drawl made the last word sound more like nawt .
    “You did, sir.”
    “And I instructed you to use your toothbrush, did I not?”
    “Yes, sir. I—this recruit has, sir.” Cal held up the brush.
    “It’s chow time now. You’re gonna miss it if you want to finish on time.”
    “Yes, sir.” His stomach growled as if in protest.
    “You hungry, Cunningham?”
    Cal hesitated before going with the truth, since any answer he gave would undoubtedly be the wrong one. “Yes, sir.”
    Squinting, Tyrell leaned in even closer, his fetid breath on Cal’s face. “Bet you had a maid to clean for you. Bet you never cleaned a damn thing in your whole sorry, useless life.”
    Even if Cal could argue, he wouldn’t. “That’s correct, sir.” He resisted the urge to add that his family had a whole household staff, not just a maid. Even at Princeton, he and his roommate in the dorm had secretly hired a local cleaning woman.
    “Finish the job or you’ll be eating that there toothbrush, recruit.”
    Stomach heaving at the thought, Cal jerked out a nod. “Permission to get back to work, sir.”
    Tyrell’s features arranged themselves into a smile. “Permission granted.” He did an about face, pausing in the doorway. “Oh, and Cunningham?”
    Cal braced. “Yes, sir?”
    “Tomorrow mornin’ you’ll make sure this head is still gleaming before you hit the mess hall.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Jaw clenched, Cal pivoted on his heel and started on the next toilet, thrusting his arm in and scrubbing. The tile was hard beneath his knees. He could sense Tyrell lingering in the doorway, so he pursed his lips and began whistling a merry tune. If Tyrell made any response, Cal didn’t hear it.
    As taps rang out a couple of hours later, he raced to