Page 73 - English Expedition Class 4

11 My Sister, the Soldier

Do you wish to join the army when you grow up? Do you think it is a difficult job? Soldiers
live away from their families for long periods of time. Do they miss home? Do their families
miss them? Read the story to learn more about the life of a young soldier.

My sister is a soldier. I remember when she came home and announced to our mother

that she was going to enlist in the army. My mother replied, ‘You’re terribly young. It’s
1
2
too difficult, challenging and dangerous. You should reconsider .’
My sister, Darlene, said, ‘I’m
eighteen already, which is old enough

and through the army I’ll be able to
make progress. Right now, all I can
get is a part-time job while I go to
3
community college . I need to have
a career, not a part-time job. I need
a college education and the army
will pay for that when I’ve finished
my tour of duty, so this is about my

future.’
My mother cried and said, ‘If there
is a war, you will be in dangerous
situations.’

I said, ‘ They don’t send women
to fight on the front lines in wars so
they are not in great danger.’
Darlene said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m
4
cautious , I won’t take unnecessary risks.’
5
Despite that assurance , my mother stayed worried. My sister went to training
camp for three months and when she returned, she said, ‘I’m glad I enlisted. It was a

1 challenging: hard 4 cautious: very careful
2 reconsider: consider or think again 5 assurance: promise
3 community college: a college for students from the local
community
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