James Burke was a normal geeky high school student. Jimmy was from a small tourist town in Washington State. Anacortes was the gateway to the famous San Juan Islands. Most all the business in town revolved around the tourist trade or the salmon fishing fleet. Jimmy's father was a deck hand on one of the salmon boats, and consequently wasn't around very often. Due to the instability of the Salmon industry, and his fathers drinking habits, money was often tight in the Burke house. Jimmy was often tasked with helping to make the bills. Jimmy resented having to pick up odd jobs and swore that as soon as he was able to get out of Anacortes he would be gone. Now Jimmy wasn't the best student in school, but he wasn't a Dunce. He was a solid B+ student. Good enough to get into most any university, but not good enough to get scholarships to pay for it. His academics counselor asked if he was good enough in any sports to maybe get sports scholarships? Yeah right. Jimmy spent his freshman year on the football team watching from sidelines, and being a moving tackling dummy. He had two left feet, so soccer was out, and he got winded walking to the computer lab, so track was defiantly out.
Jimmy's social life wasn't much to talk about either. He had no Girlfriend, Had never kissed a girl, let alone gotten himself laid. Not to say he never tried to get a date, but the girls usually just laughed at him. Take the last time he had tried his luck. He had asked Ashley Johansen out. Jimmy went up to Ashley in the hallway in between classes and without much of a plan tried his level best to at least make a positive impression.
"Um….. Hi Ashley… I'm Jimmy. We're in Biology together." The poor son of a bitch stammered.
"Yeah, so?" God could she be a bitch if she wanted to be. She looked at Jimmy and wondered what this geek could possibly want. Didn't he know they weren't in the same circle, hell they weren't even in the same social caste.
"Um…..I was wondering if you would like to go to a movie this Friday?"
Please say yes. Hell say no, just don't make a scene! I know you're not in my league, but a guy has to try.
"You mean a date? With you, I don't think so… George, you have got to hear this!" Now George wasn't Ashley's boyfriend, but he was in her clique. He was the starting middle linebacker for the school football team. George came over to Ashley and looked at the skinny geeky kid who was hassling Ash.
"This guy bothering you Ash? You want I should get rid of him?" George was born and raised in Anacortes, but somehow ended up talking like a goomba from Brooklyn. Jimmy thought he must have a thing for the Godfather trilogy and Goodfella's.
"You won't believe what…. What's your name?"
"Jimmy… I just asked…"
"Right, what Jimmy here asked me; get this, he asked if I wanted to go to the movies with him. Ha ha, can you believe that! Like I'd go out with him!"
Man why did she have to bring George into this. I've been hit by him on the practice field when we were freshmen. God that guy can hit. I really don't want to go to work this afternoon with a concussion….
"George, look man, I was just asking…."
"I thinks I know what you was asking, let me tell you what. Yous gonna turn your skinny but around, and make like a tree and leave. Stop hassalin Ash, or I'm gonna pound ya."
Man, George just turn around and go away. People are starting to look. I knew this was a bad idea. Please just turn around and go away!
At that point, George turned around and walked away. Ashley stared at him in disbelief. Where was her George going? She didn't want him to bust up the geek, but she did want him to make the geeks life a little miserable.
"Ashley" said Jimmy, "I'm sorry if you don't want to go out with me. I'll see you around." And with that, Jimmy left Ashley standing next to her locker mouth agape and still wondering how the geek managed to leave with out massive trauma to his ego?
What was I thinking? Why did George just turn around and leave? Man I'm late for the senior assembly!
Jimmy ran to the other end of the school and tried to slip into the auditorium with out being heard. Instead of sneaking in soundlessly, Jimmy tripped over one of the teachers and fell flat on his face with a thud. Jimmy looked up, and half of the students in the auditorium were gawking at him. Embarrassed as could be, Jimmy found a seat and tried to become invisible. After a few minuets Jimmy started to pay attention to what the principle was saying.
"Now those of you who have no clear plans for the rest of your lives need to pay attention to what these gentlemen have to say. They can provide you with an education outside of this school, and can give some of you direction in your life. Now with out further ado, here is Sargent Barnes of the Marines….."
"Thank you for that kind introduction Mr. Wiesenthal. My name is GUNNERY SARGENT Barnes. I am your local Marine Recruiter. My mission in life is to find qualified applicants from the local High schools and enlist them into the United States Marine Corps. But seeing as how most of my applicants are Sports stars, and your school has the worst record in the league in just about every sport, I'm going to let the Army and Air Force have first crack at you all. I don't think any of you have what it takes to be a Marine. Except for maybe that kid who busted his Butt to get here. He might have a chance, just because he tried. If any of you heartless, gutless wonders care to try, you can give me a call. The career counselor has my card"
And with that Gunny Barnes right faced, and walked out of the auditorium leaving the Army and Air Force recruiters steaming mad that Barnes made it seem that they were willing and eager to take the Marine Corps rejects. Jimmy couldn't believe that the Marine Recruiter thought that he might have what it takes to be a Marine…..
Aren't they all big meat heads who can bench press an ox
? He had seen pictures of the Marines on the News. They had been in Afghanistan and they had been carrying huge packs, and walking over entire mountain ranges. Could he do that? Maybe it was his way out of this crappy little town? Jimmy decided to take the time to visit the Counselor's office and pick up a card. What was the worst they could say? No? Hell, he was already used to rejection. The Gunnery Sergeant couldn't be any worse than the girls he asked out.
Jimmy had picked up a card from the Counselors office, and had finally gotten the determination to call the Marine Recruiter.
