Worse yet... he'd overslept until evening! What an unfavorable first impression he must be making on the officer before him.
Remembering the decorum that he was required to show in front of his superiors, Meekins sat up straight in bed, his spine cracking from the sudden shift, and slammed the palm of his right hand into his forehead. "Sir! I am finally awake, Sir! I apologize for taking so long to wake up, Sir I am now ready to take your orders, Sir!"
No response. At least, none that Meekins had been able to hear. Maybe the man couldn't hear him. After all, Meekins didn't have his megaphone with him at the moment. He would definitely have to speak up. At the top of his lungs, Meekins addressed the stranger again, followed by another salute.
"SIR! I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SPEAKING LOUDLY ENOUGH! I SAID THAT I AM AWAKE AND AM READY TO TAKE YOUR ORDERS, SIR!"
This time, it elicited a response. Meekins suddenly found himself forcibly pulled out of bed into a standing position (nearly toppling over the other man in the process). Then in a grunting tone of voice, the man finally addressed him.
"As punishment for your insolence, Mr. Bibbitt, you will not be allowed to sit down during daylight hours until until tomorrow's afternoon shift. Nor are you allowed to eat dinner tonight. Now! Stand up straight! Your roommate is arriving shortly."
Just like the Academy as Meekins remembered it, only meaner. And with his name wrong.
Wait a minute... That had to be the explanation! Someone had mixed him up with a Mr. Bibbitt. Just like how Meekins had mistaken Officer Marshall with Detective Goodman. An honest error, no doubt. It happened to the best of everyone.
"I... I beg your pardon, Sir, but... I'm-- I'm not--"
"Silence, idiot! This is your only warning. Now stand up and don't lean against anything. That is your order!"
It was all Meekins could do to keep himself from reflexively apologizing and answering "Yes, Sir!" to the man. His first day back at the Academy, and he'd already been penalized just for speaking. Maybe he really did need this remedial training after all.
As he waited for his roommate to show up, Meekins stood in the middle of the room, arms outstretched for balance. He could make it until "lights out" without falling over this time. There was always a first time for everything!
Re: M10
Remembering the decorum that he was required to show in front of his superiors, Meekins sat up straight in bed, his spine cracking from the sudden shift, and slammed the palm of his right hand into his forehead. "Sir! I am finally awake, Sir! I apologize for taking so long to wake up, Sir I am now ready to take your orders, Sir!"
No response. At least, none that Meekins had been able to hear. Maybe the man couldn't hear him. After all, Meekins didn't have his megaphone with him at the moment. He would definitely have to speak up. At the top of his lungs, Meekins addressed the stranger again, followed by another salute.
"SIR! I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SPEAKING LOUDLY ENOUGH! I SAID THAT I AM AWAKE AND AM READY TO TAKE YOUR ORDERS, SIR!"
This time, it elicited a response. Meekins suddenly found himself forcibly pulled out of bed into a standing position (nearly toppling over the other man in the process). Then in a grunting tone of voice, the man finally addressed him.
"As punishment for your insolence, Mr. Bibbitt, you will not be allowed to sit down during daylight hours until until tomorrow's afternoon shift. Nor are you allowed to eat dinner tonight. Now! Stand up straight! Your roommate is arriving shortly."
Just like the Academy as Meekins remembered it, only meaner. And with his name wrong.
Wait a minute... That had to be the explanation! Someone had mixed him up with a Mr. Bibbitt. Just like how Meekins had mistaken Officer Marshall with Detective Goodman. An honest error, no doubt. It happened to the best of everyone.
"I... I beg your pardon, Sir, but... I'm-- I'm not--"
"Silence, idiot! This is your only warning. Now stand up and don't lean against anything. That is your order!"
It was all Meekins could do to keep himself from reflexively apologizing and answering "Yes, Sir!" to the man. His first day back at the Academy, and he'd already been penalized just for speaking. Maybe he really did need this remedial training after all.
As he waited for his roommate to show up, Meekins stood in the middle of the room, arms outstretched for balance. He could make it until "lights out" without falling over this time. There was always a first time for everything!
[Oh Canada~]