Tales from the Camp The long day of training had ended at Camp 60, and the four recruits had returned to their barracks after supper in the mess hall. Privates Dunn, Scott, Hemmings, and Hanley sat together talking about the antics of their fellow recruits. Dunn, the most serious of the four, began their conversation. “It’s true what happened at that little Chinese café in town last night.” “Well,” said Scott, with a grin, “it’s a good thing none of us were involved.” Dunn, continuing on, “Someone called the camp, and the MPs had to get involved. I heard it took quite a few to break it up. Then they heard someone yelling and found the owner in the oven.” Dunn shook his head, explaining, “Apparently there was a big stove in the kitchen, and he had been shoved into it and they closed the door.” “Sounds like something you’d do, Scott!” Hanley never passed up an opportunity to tease Scott. Scott looking at Hanley “I was not there, buddy!” “Good thing” Hanley retorted. Dunn, ignoring Hanley’s teasing of Scott, “It’s a wonder the guy wasn’t dead! Good thing the stove was cold. Scott, changing the subject, “Did you hear about all the excitement in the Sergeant’s barracks?” “I did,” said Hanley, “That Sergeant was drunk when he got in!” “I heard they just finished fixing the place up, painted each of the cubicles and hung curtains over the entrance of their spaces,” said Hemmings, a quiet guy with a knack for details. “And he set it on fire.” Hanley continued, “Picture this: everyone’s asleep, and he grabs a stick of wood from the stove. Pokes the embers around, mindlessly. Then he pulls the stick out, staggers down the hallway, and—bam!—sets each curtain on fire. Didn’t even realize what he was doing.” Dunn, shaking his head, “I didn't think there could be that much excitement in the Sergeant's barracks” Scott, with a grin, replied, “Yeah, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?” Hemmings, murmured, “Let’s just hope it’s nothing involving ovens or curtains.” Hanley, the last to speak as the four moved on to their bunks, said, “Or Scott’s antics.”