it mean to you? Why do you feel you want to do it?"
"That's just it. I'm not sure I want to so much as I feel compelled to."
Jeremiah smiled. "In Israel we are compelled to. Here in America you have a choice. It's either something you want, something you don't want, or something you think you should want."
"I hate school," Noah admitted. "The thought of going straight to college just makes me sick inside. It makes me feel trapped."
"You could get a job, work for a few years first."
"I want to be able to do more than work at a fast food joint and I'm not really interested in most of the skilled trades like mechanic and carpenter."
"So, what makes you feel that going into the military will be better than going to college or getting a job?"
"I feel like I'd actually be doing something, helping out, you know? And I could learn a lot in the process, maybe figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. My little brother, he's smart, loves to read and study. He wants to be a doctor someday and I think he'll make it. He hated Boy Scouts. He quit after six months. Me, I hate studying, but I loved Boy Scouts. I made Eagle Scout when I was fourteen."
Though he had no experience himself with Boy Scouts Jeremiah still knew that was young to achieve the distinction."What did you like about it?" he asked.
"Everything. It made sense to me. I knew where I stood, what I was doing, what I had to do to excel and achieve the next thing. I loved the outdoors aspects. And I felt like I was accomplishing something real."
Jeremiah cleared his throat, aware that what he said next would likely have a huge impact on Noah with consequences that were as yet unforeseen to them both. "Some people do very well in the military. They like the structure; they like serving; they can both follow and lead. There's nothing wrong with choosing that for a career or even for a short-term experience. However, there are costs, even beyond the obvious physical dangers. It can isolate you from friends and family, even change you. It can become hard to relate to people who aren't in the military. And then, if you do see combat, you'll have to live with the knowledge that you've killed people. Some can and some can't."
"I had thought about the danger, and that I might have to fight, but I didn't think that it could change me," Noah admitted soberly.
"It will change the way you think, respond, react. The military is very good at creating fighting machines. Unfortunately, there is no off switch for what you will become. It will be part of you for the rest of your life."
"Thank you, sir, you've given me a lot to think about."Noah glanced across the room. "I think my mom wants me for pictures."
Jeremiah stood. "Go be with your family. Days like this are precious."
"I'll think about what you said."
"I hope so," Jeremiah whispered to the boy's retreating back.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
