Page 74 - English Expedition Class 4

wise decision. The training was challenging. We had to get up at five every morning.
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The work was demanding , we drilled a lot, but we learnt many skills. You have to
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be on time and follow all the directions. They keep you occupied so you don’t get
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bored. I liked the other recruits in my platoon . We supported each other in the
exercises.
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My mother said, ‘I’m proud of you, but I’m still concerned about your safety.’
‘Don’t worry, Mom. If I do get sent to the war zone, I’ll be extremely careful.’
My sister actually did go to the war zone when her unit was sent to Iraq. I had no

idea where that was, so I looked it up on the Internet.
My sister had purchased a computer before she departed and she had shown us
how to use it to send emails. I’m glad she did because we sent her emails every day.
She responded when she could, but usually not immediately. She reported about the

weather and the people, but didn’t describe her activities. Here’s what she wrote in one
of the messages:

‘It’s extremely hot here and we have to wear heavy clothes, which makes it really
challenging, though they are bulletproof for our protection. Most of the local people

here are supportive and the soldiers are great companions. Don’t worry, you can rely
on me to be careful, I know how important it is to be cautious. See you in September.’

She would end every communication that way – ‘Don’t worry . . . see you in

September.’ But then September came and she communicated a disappointing message,
‘We have to stay here longer. I’m not sure when I’ll be returning. Don’t be discouraged,
I’ll be there soon.’
My mother checked the email every day for the next week but she didn’t get any

message. She was increasingly concerned and then she got a reassuring note – ‘I’m fine,
sorry I couldn’t email for some time as we were on an assignment. Don’t worry. I’m
being careful.’
So it went on. We waited and waited and I was worried, too. The news reports

on the war looked dangerous and my mother would cry when we saw those reports.
October went by; then November; then it was December. My mother bought
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some presents for my sister and dispatched them by mail. She said, ‘I really wish
Darlene could return for Christmas.’ Every time someone knocked on the door, she

hoped it might be Darlene coming home to surprise us. But she didn’t get her wish,
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so Christmas was uniquely sad this year. It was not the holiday we had appreciated
in the past.

6 demanding: needing a lot of patience and eff ort 10 platoon: a military unit
7 drilled: (here) practised 11 concerned: worried
8 occupied: busy; engaged 12 dispatched: sent off something
9 recruit: a recently enlisted soldier 13 uniquely: (here) unusually
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