'All right you phonies, get up." Sergeant Bullwell went from bed to bed. pulling off the covers. All the men responded to the Sergeant's gesture, all except Ethan.

"Is Miss Ethan getting up?" The men stopped moving, even the sun disappeared behind a cloud. Ethan clenched his fists and remained silent.

"I bet Miss Ethan is particular who takes off her covers." The Sergeant stood in front of his bed, his massive chest expanded emphasizing all his medals, the sign of virility. Ethan lifted his covers and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Thank you, Miss Ethan." Bullwell slapped a young man on the behind on his way out.

"What makes him dislike you so?" Roger asked.

Ethan banged his fists against the metal post cot, saying nothing. Roger wanted to put his arm around him but lack of understanding and fear of Ethan's problem prevented him.

The early part of the morning was spent packing and day-dreaming of home. Ethan had very little to pack since the army gave him no sun-tans to wear to college nor the benefits or chance for an education. Roger trying to be friendly, offered Ethan two pairs of his sun-tans explaining five were too many and he would probably give them away. Ethan refused politely, saying the color never looked well on him anyway.

After packing some civilian clothes, a few books, and letters, Ethan decided to walk to the Chaplain's office. He asked Roger to join him but Roger had to buy a few extra cartons of cigarettes at the P.X.

"Might as well get the most for my money," he told Ethan as they left the barracks.

The day seemed unhappy. A cold wind blew every few minutes, trying to assert its importance since it was still winter. I was drafted in the summer and discharged in the winter. I didn't even last nine months, he thought jokingly while his left foot kicked a little stone across the road. As he walked toward the Chapel he imagined the happy scene when Roger Denan opened his front door and ran into the arms of his mother. He pictured the big dinner celebration with all of Roger's favorite foods and relatives. The aunts and uncles gaping at the conquering hero who had returned home because a leg injury, a childhood experience, had been aggravated by the harsh treatment of the army. Then he heard Roger's voice.

"Boy, you should have known some of the guys who were discharged with The happy eyes and inquisitive ears urged him on.

"Why we had one guy discharged because he was found in bed with another soldier." Then the looks of horror, disgust, and let's talk about your own experiences some more.

The Chapel was a mile from the barracks. The cold air began to make him think of his own family. What am I going to tell them? I could say I was drunk or did it for money or . . . but why make something ugly out of an act of love? Is it wrong to love? Is it wrong to love? The captain's face at the court-martial was harsh and void of understanding.

"Private Aarons, normal men do not express their love in sexual abnormalties."

"Captain, normal men just express their sexual urges in abnormalties like prostitutes, right?" Ethan was glad he had said it, but it had done no good. You can't make a man open his eyes, for then he sees himself and the vision disgusts him.

Ethan reached the Chapel. Maybe the minister would know what he could