Billy Kale was on vacation. I walked in to Inspire or retire shirt roll call spit shinned shoes, creased pants, name tag on my shirt with a whistle, yes an officially issued silver whistle attached to a hook on my shirt pocket and ready to take on Trenton. “Flash” is wearing a wrinkled stained shirt.

Inspire or retire shirt

New Inspire or retire shirt

His tie hanging on his shirt shoulder strap, his Inspire or retire shirt pants had faded to an indescribable color and the heels of his shoes had worn down to such a level that he walked bowlegged. He was sitting on a chair with his feet on the table, a lit cigarette dangling.

From the Inspire or retire shirt corner of his mouth with ash falling all over him. He takes one long look at me from head to toe. He takes a long puff of the cigarette, exhales, yells out, “Hey Sarge, when the hell does Billy get back?” Wow! What a coincidence. I thought the same thing