Filling out the application he was afraid to use his real name and because he didn't have the first clue on how to spell anonymous he simply tried to abbreviate writing in the letters A -- n -- n -- y . He continued filling in a phony address, phone number, social security number, but after all the identifying information he basically filled out the rest of the form as truthfully as he could. He then grabbed the paper and handed it to the sergeant sitting behind the desk.
The large man looked over the application and asked, "Your name is Anny?"
"That's abbreviated, short for anonymous," he replied.
"Why didn't you fill in the full name?"
"I didn't know how to spell anonymous," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
Shaking his head the sergeant said, "Okay, I'll just write here the you didn't know how to spell your name. Just make sure when you are taking the tests that you tell the monitor that Anny is an abbreviation of your real name. "
"It's not my real name."
"I know, you just told me it was an abbreviation."
"I mean anonymous is not my real name, just put that there..."
"You signed the form didn't you?"
"Well, yes.."
"By signing the form you attested that the information you provided was correct. As far as the army is concerned you are Anny. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Ah, no sir."
"I'm a working man, you don't call me sir. Over there, the lieutenant, you call him sir, he is an officer. Now the lieutenant will get you set up for the physical and fill you in on what will happen next. He will also review and approve the form. Go ahead and take the form to him."
He grabbed the form from the sergeant and walked over to the lieutenant. The lieutenant finished writing something and then looked up. He reached out his hand and without a work pointed to the chair in front of his desk.
"Anny? Your name is Anny?"
"Well no, not really."
"Not really? This is an official Army form, are you telling me you wrote down the wrong name?"
"Not exactly."
"Not exactly? Exactly what did you write down?"
"I wanted to write down anonymous but I didn't know how to spell it."
"You spell anonymous a-n-o-n-y-m-o-u-s. Now why would you come here to the recruitment center and write down anonymous on this form? Do you think we are a joke here?"
"No, it's just that..." he paused.
"It's just what?" the lieutenant asked.
"Well, I just kind of changed..."
"You lost your nerve?"
"I changed my mind."
"Well, why didn't you just tell the sergeant you changed your mind?"
"I don't know."
Taking the application and tearing it in half the lieutenant said, "Look, if you ever decide to step up and take responsibility for what you do and say come on back. Until then why not just be anonymous somewhere else, okay?"
He nodded standing up.
"Have a nice day," the lieutenant paused looking back at the top half of the torn form, "Anny."
He stood up and walked toward the door. Just as he was leaving he heard the lieutenant say, "Just another Anny, I've been seeing more and more of them around these days."
Glad to be out of there, he looked across the street and noticed a flickering neon sign above a bar. The sign said, "Tops and bottoms." He needed a drink so he crossed the street and stepped inside. Moving up to the bar he sat down and ordered a beer.
He no sooner got the beer when a nice looking woman sat down next to him. She had straight cut black hair that just reached her shoulders. He skin was a pale white but she wore an almost black lipstick. She was wearing a black bustier with some shiny black pants and high heels. Exciting and frightening at the same time, he asked, "Hey, can I buy you a drink."
She looked at him, pausing to gaze at him from head to toe before asking, "What is your name little man?"
He had to admit that she was at least a full three inches taller than he was so he let the little man comment drop and answered, "I'm Tim." It was a lie, but what the hell.
"Just Tim?"
"Yeah, it's short for Timothy."
"Ah, short. Okay, I'm Roxanne, but call me Roxanne, not Rox or Roxie okay?"
"Okay Roxanne. Do you want a drink?"
"I don't drink."
"What are you in the bar for?"
"I play and well, I need another player, are you game."