JFK airport was full of life as travellers walked and ran about to get to their destinations, Tyler and his group from the A.C.F (Army Cadet Force) from the UK, at last outside waiting for the coach to pick up all the cadets. finally, it turned up and they all piled into the coach, Tyler sitting as far to the back as possible from everyone else.
He'd always been like that, keeping to himself and avoiding people like they were a plague. It didn't help that he had problems with making friends. High School only seemed to amplify his feelings of anxiety and loneliness. But at least for now, he could rest and watch outside as the snow fell and fresh frost began to cover the window. He watched as the city turned to small groups of houses, eventually into deep woodland, whilst munching on his Digestives and sipping his Pepsi. "I hope they have good beds, i don't want to freeze out here" Tyler thought. Watching the trees and cars speed past almost had a sleepy affect on him, most of the other cadets looked like they were asleep including the adults.
"Might as well nod off myself" Tyler mumbled to himself, he covered himself up with his parka, got into a more comfortable position and closed his eyes, but not before putting his headphones on and putting on some music to listen to.
If Tyler had kept his eyes open a little while longer, he could've spotted a dark figure watching the vehicle as it went by, as quickly as it was there, it disappeared again into the darkness.
"Hey Tyler wake up, we've arrived at the base" Tyler woke to a voice and someone pulling off his parka, he opened his eyes, looking out the window to see a military camp/base. It seemed quite old, like it was built during the Cold War. Tyler groggily got up and packed up his stuff, put on his parka and trotted outside with his friend who he realised was a very tired looking Mitchell. once Tyler got outside, he realised that they were just near the border of a massive forest, it looked like something out of a horror film, the kind that would easily swallow unsuspecting people up, but find it hard to spit them back out again.
"Alright guys, make sure you grab all ya kit and head inside that building" Tyler looked over to the voice and saw one of the Sergeants in front of a line of cadets, grabbing their burgeons and hurriedly heading into a big building, the American flag hung, dead in the wind like a wet piece of paper, on one of the flag poles near the entrance. Both Tyler and Mitchell got there burgeons and ran inside, not wanting to stand around any longer in the cold, Tyler noticed a few soldiers around, American marines, guiding the cadets into the building and into a massive hall with a stand for someone to make a speech almost.
All of the cadets sat down and let out a simultaneous sigh of relieve as the warmth of the heat started to warm up the room and the people. Tyler and Mitchell looked for their other friends, and luckily found them close by, and made their way over to them. Tyler's other mates Jeremy, Luke and Chris looked over to see Tyler and Mitchell walk over to them.
"Hey guys, you lot alright?" Tyler said to the guys.
"Hey Ty, hey Mitchell, yeah we're good, how was the trip?" Chris answered.
"Not too bad if you don't count the times we were lost in the airports on both ends, and don't get me started on the goddamned cold! i swear i cant feel my face!" Tyler responded with a slight chuckle.
"Yeah, us as well" Luke said, "and i thought the weather back in England was terrible".
"you don't say mate!" Mitchell replied.
their conversation went on for a little bit before a loud, booming voice shouted:
"CADETS, FORM UP!"
All the cadets quickly lined up in rows and stood at attention in front of the podium, waiting for another order.
An old, bearded man, wearing a grey ACU pattern uniform came out from behind a door, and stood up at the podium, checking to see if the microphone was working before saying in a gruff voice:
"Hello cadets, my name is Colonel James Will borough, and Welcome to the United States of America, i'm sure you are excited for the time you will have here, don't worry, me and my staff's jobs are to make sure you are all set and ready to participate in this new exchange program for the military's of the US and UK.
as you all know, this course is not just for your benefit in the army, but also in civilian life. this will help you secure a good job, a good home and a good adult life. However to achieve this, all of you must push yourselves to you limits, and make yourselves and your families proud of you!"
Tyler and all the other cadets listened as the colonel went on with his speech, out of all of them, Tyler practically wrote down every single word of the speech into his head, he was good at this, it helped him a lot when he was desperate, like his exams back in high school. And now, here he was, about to participate in one of the greatest adventures he'd ever been on. However, Tyler was starting to think about his home, even if he did the course and completed it with flying colours, he'd probably still have trouble trying to find an exciting job and a home that wasn't falling apart and infested with spiders.
"We will teach you practical things, like how to clean yourself in the wilderness, and how to fight"The colonel said, he cleared his throat before continuing:
"But today, you will get yourselves set in, get some hot food in your bellies and in bed ready for training, tomorrow"
The colonel now done with his speech, walked off back from where he came from.
"CADETS, FALL OUT!"
11:28pm
Tyler sat in his bunk, thinking about what he was going to do for his training tomorrow, then he began thinking of home, about how his mum was worried about him going to America but still having faith that he would keep himself out of trouble and promising it with his heart.
"I just hope this will be fun" Tyler thought before turning over and drifting off to sleep.