Summary

In Chapter 9, the protagonist decides to join the United States Army, so he goes to a local recruiting center, as some of his Cleveland friends decided to enlist in the military. It is 2005, and the protagonist is 20 years old. After the officers at the recruiting center approve his application, he calls Emily to tell her. She is sad and angry, as she does not want him to enlist. He then tells his parents, who have a similar reaction to Emily’s. He then visits Emily in Elba during his final two weeks before basic training. In Chapter 10, he reports for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. The recruits all have their heads shaved, and then basic training begins. The training is humiliating and physically exhausting, and the drill sergeants are very hostile. The protagonist occasionally calls Emily to check in with her...