Boot Camp Read Free Page B

her— and me standing beside her.
    â€œMany of you know each other. Some of you know nobody. But, as of the moment you walked into this gym, we’re all teammates, and as such, you will treat each other with the respect and courtesy that you treat teammates. Am I understood?”
    â€œYes, sir!” people yelled back.
    â€œI can’t hear you!”
    â€œYes, sir!” everybody, including me, bellowed out.
    â€œWhen you get rewarded, you will get rewarded as a team, and when you get punished, you will be punished as a team. And that punishment will often involve running and doing push-ups,” Sergeant Josh said.
    â€œEverybody, down on your bellies!” Mr. Williams called out.
    Slowly, hesitantly, kids did what he ordered.
    â€œI’m now going to show you all how to do a push-up,” he said.
    â€œLike we haven’t seen a push-up,” the guy beside me said under his breath. He seemed to have something to say about everything. I edged slightly away.
    The man’s back was rigid, his arms straight out; he bent down until his nose touched the ground. Then he pushed himself back to the set position. He did a second push-up, then a third, a fourth and then in the fifth, he pushed off so strongly that he flew up and did a hand clap! He jumped to his feet. He certainly didn’t seem that old all of a sudden.
    â€œAs you know my name is Mr. Williams,” he said. “Although you kids won’t be calling me Mr. Williams. You will call me
Sergeant Push-up
.”
    â€œWhat is that supposed to mean?” the kid beside me mumbled.
    â€œOdds are,” he continued, “that you are all going to be doing a
whole
lot of push-ups thisweek. If we catch you walking when you should be running, you’ll be doing push-ups.”
    â€œIf you’re not paying attention when we’re giving instructions…,” Sergeant Kevin said.
    â€œYou’ll be doing push-ups,” Mr. Williams—I mean, Sergeant Push-up—said.
    â€œIf you’re fighting with or criticizing a team-mate…,” Sergeant Josh said.
    â€œYou’ll be doing push-ups,” Sergeant Push-up bellowed.
    â€œIf you’re late…,” Sergeant Kevin said. “You’ll be doing push-ups,” Sergeant Push-up yelled.
    Just then the door at the far end of the gym opened and in walked Jerome, followed by Johnnie. I wanted to rush up and say hello, but of course I didn’t. There was a rumble of whispers and pointing as everybody else noticed them too.
    Kia leaned across me and looked the kid in the eye.
    â€œGee, that looks a lot like Jerome Williams, unless I’m wrong,” Kia said.
    â€œSo what?” said the mouthy kid. “That just means this is the hour he’ll be here.”
    â€œEyes on me!” Sergeant Push-up yelled, andthe crowd quieted down. He turned around to watch the two men saunter across the floor. They were smiling and waving.
    â€œYou’re late!” Sergeant Push-up called out to them.
    â€œTraffic was backed up on the Beltway,” Johnnie said.
    â€œDon’t care why. You’re late, and when anybody is late, we’re all late. Everybody assume the position. I need
five
push-ups.”
    â€œYou want us to do push-ups?” Jerome asked.
    He had a surprised look on his face—a really surprised look. Johnnie even looked embarrassed. I didn’t think I’d ever seen JYD when he wasn’t smiling.
    â€œYou’re late, you do push-ups. Those are the rules.”
    This was really uncomfortable. Jerome walked over until he was standing right beside—actually over top of—Sergeant Push-up. The Sergeant stared up at him. His expression looked like he meant business.
    â€œDo you really think we’re doing push-ups?” Jerome demanded.
    Johnnie and the other coaches had moved inand now all of them surrounded Sergeant Push-up.
    â€œRules are rules in this gym, whether you’re