Iraqi Child Selling Porno CD; Explains How Friend's Father Was Killed in the War
October 8, 2003
It’s another day. 1530, and I’m about to go on shift. I just talked to you on the phone. It’s so great to hear your voice! Really! Today I lay in bed and listened to “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and looked over at your pictures next to my bed. I began to cry – seriously. No matter how strong – it happens. I love you so much.
Well, I was going to call on the free phone, but some higher enlisted sergeants showed up and “hustled” their way in front of the line – that whole black brotherhood thing still shining through. It happens in lines when you’re in the Army, so you’re used to it and let it slide.
Nothing much happened so far today. Yesterday I was on a guard tower (we all have to do that at some point – regardless of our duty position). There was a lot of gunfire, and it got closer and increased in volume as night fell.
From the tower, I was joking with the kids below. One boy, called “Donkey Boy” showed up trying to sell porno CDs, but I told him I was going to arrest him unless he put it away. I asked how much for a donkey. He thought I was serious and said, “Two, zero, zero!” $200. Then he said, “You want donkey? I bring you donkey!” So he ran off and brought back a real donkey. I had to explain to him that I didn’t want the donkey, and it was only a joke. “No good mista!” he said. Then we both laughed.
I’ve got a cold now, and a pretty good fever. So does Peterson. We both woke up with it two days ago. No sick days here! You go to work no matter what. This morning Sergeant Rush got all the guards together for a meeting. He was late to his own meeting, and then lectured us on how to load and clear our rifles. Then, how to use our night goggles. That is so simple, it needs no explaining – so we all stood around looking at each other as if to say, “Hurry up Rush, you’re wasting our time.” Then a girl came out to wash her hair, probably 16 years old, and he reached for the binoculars trying to hide what he appeared to be doing against his own will.
“And the bino’s work, but be careful with them, and – um, hello there!” He kept his bino’s on the girl and you could see his eyes go up and down – he was in a momentary trance – taken in by the sight of this poor, but feminine creature. I dropped my head and kicked a pebble with my foot, and continued to stare at the ground.
‘Any day now Rush, pop out of your boyish trance,’ I thought to myself. The whole point of these meetings was to instill professionalism, and here is Rush showing no self control.
2100 – I am going to bed, but I’m going to wake up early so I can talk to you. The line for the free phone is ridiculous right now, and that will only lead to arguing. I got your letter too! I love you so much! Your encouragement about writing really matters to me! Who knows, maybe this book will be on a shelf!
Well on my last shift tonight, a wedding began just across the fence. People were playing drums and singing and dancing. The bride only looked about 15 at the most. It was neat how all the villagers came to the sound of the drums, but the girl’s age made me a bit sad. The girls were dressed so nice, but I knew that contrasted with her future of living in trash, having 7 kids in 7 years, and doing manual labor while her husband looks on. Sometimes it seems like the men lack all initiative. One little girl came to the fence to wave to me. Her dad was a soldier, and killed in the war. Little DeJaJa (chicken), my Iraqi friend explained:
“Father, ba ba ba bew! America – AHHH!” he motioned he got hit by airplane gunfire from above, grabbed his stomach, then played dead. He was explaining how this girl’s father died. But, they love us anyways. Strange.
“Saddam Donkey!” he said.
‘Yes, Saddam Donkey,’ I replied.
“Yes! Good Mister!” he smiled.
As I sat on the tower, there was some more gunfire close by. It’s so routine. I love you Nora, so much!
It’s another day. 1530, and I’m about to go on shift. I just talked to you on the phone. It’s so great to hear your voice! Really! Today I lay in bed and listened to “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and looked over at your pictures next to my bed. I began to cry – seriously. No matter how strong – it happens. I love you so much.
Well, I was going to call on the free phone, but some higher enlisted sergeants showed up and “hustled” their way in front of the line – that whole black brotherhood thing still shining through. It happens in lines when you’re in the Army, so you’re used to it and let it slide.
Nothing much happened so far today. Yesterday I was on a guard tower (we all have to do that at some point – regardless of our duty position). There was a lot of gunfire, and it got closer and increased in volume as night fell.
From the tower, I was joking with the kids below. One boy, called “Donkey Boy” showed up trying to sell porno CDs, but I told him I was going to arrest him unless he put it away. I asked how much for a donkey. He thought I was serious and said, “Two, zero, zero!” $200. Then he said, “You want donkey? I bring you donkey!” So he ran off and brought back a real donkey. I had to explain to him that I didn’t want the donkey, and it was only a joke. “No good mista!” he said. Then we both laughed.
I’ve got a cold now, and a pretty good fever. So does Peterson. We both woke up with it two days ago. No sick days here! You go to work no matter what. This morning Sergeant Rush got all the guards together for a meeting. He was late to his own meeting, and then lectured us on how to load and clear our rifles. Then, how to use our night goggles. That is so simple, it needs no explaining – so we all stood around looking at each other as if to say, “Hurry up Rush, you’re wasting our time.” Then a girl came out to wash her hair, probably 16 years old, and he reached for the binoculars trying to hide what he appeared to be doing against his own will.
“And the bino’s work, but be careful with them, and – um, hello there!” He kept his bino’s on the girl and you could see his eyes go up and down – he was in a momentary trance – taken in by the sight of this poor, but feminine creature. I dropped my head and kicked a pebble with my foot, and continued to stare at the ground.
‘Any day now Rush, pop out of your boyish trance,’ I thought to myself. The whole point of these meetings was to instill professionalism, and here is Rush showing no self control.
2100 – I am going to bed, but I’m going to wake up early so I can talk to you. The line for the free phone is ridiculous right now, and that will only lead to arguing. I got your letter too! I love you so much! Your encouragement about writing really matters to me! Who knows, maybe this book will be on a shelf!
Well on my last shift tonight, a wedding began just across the fence. People were playing drums and singing and dancing. The bride only looked about 15 at the most. It was neat how all the villagers came to the sound of the drums, but the girl’s age made me a bit sad. The girls were dressed so nice, but I knew that contrasted with her future of living in trash, having 7 kids in 7 years, and doing manual labor while her husband looks on. Sometimes it seems like the men lack all initiative. One little girl came to the fence to wave to me. Her dad was a soldier, and killed in the war. Little DeJaJa (chicken), my Iraqi friend explained:
“Father, ba ba ba bew! America – AHHH!” he motioned he got hit by airplane gunfire from above, grabbed his stomach, then played dead. He was explaining how this girl’s father died. But, they love us anyways. Strange.
“Saddam Donkey!” he said.
‘Yes, Saddam Donkey,’ I replied.
“Yes! Good Mister!” he smiled.
As I sat on the tower, there was some more gunfire close by. It’s so routine. I love you Nora, so much!
posted by American, Interrupted at 11:23 PM
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