The Academy - Acceptance
#2 of The Academy
Sunday, the day of the ceremony, had dawned. I called Joe to see if he wanted to meet, but he said he was going to prepare. For him, I guessed this meant playing video games all day, since he would be parted from from his precious console for the entirety of freshman year. I spent most of the day with Traci. Somehow, just her presence could calm me down. She was a wonderful individual. Energetic, extremely brilliant, and insightful in her own annoying way, all of which I loved. Somehow, whenever I was troubled, she could tell and knew exactly how to help.
Today that meant simply being with me. We didn't talk very much, I just sat on her bed holding her while she read, the smell of her hair and fur filling my nose. I was going to miss her so much when I went to the Academy. Sure, I'll be able to email her, and occasionally call her, but it won't be the same. Traci meant more to me than it was in my power to let her know.
"What's going to happen with us?" she asked after lunch.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when you go off to the academy, and I start college on the coast."
"I don't know. I've tried not to think about it. I guess we'll just have to see what happens. I suppose if you found someone else, I would understand. I've always felt our relationship was more spiritual than romantic. That doesn't make sense. I'm an idiot."
"It makes more sense than you think, and I understand what you're trying to say. I doubt I'll find someone as you so eloquently stated. I'll be too busy with school, and swimming, and waiting for mah soldier to come home." She ended the sentence in a thick accent and we both laughed.
"Do you want me to go to the Academy?"
"I want you to do what you believe in your heart is right. If that means going to the Academy, I know you'll make an outstanding leader. You won't always be liked, but you'll always be trusted to make the best decision."
"How can you know that?"
"Because I know you."
"Do you love me Traci?"
"I absolutely love you." She paused and then stated, "for the same reason."
After that brief exchange we returned to our silent vigil. Eventually I looked at my watch and saw it was time to go and prepare for the ceremony. I got up and so did Traci.
"I'll see you tonight," I told her.
She kissed me. Traci always seemed to put a special meaning into each one of our kisses. Each one was just as passionate, yet somehow different.
That night, I rode in the family car, mine being washed and waxed and covered, awaiting my return. Freshmen were not allowed cars. My suit was hot and uncomfortable. We reached the campus and entered the ballroom to find it thronging with families. Seeing the other future cadets suddenly made the whole situation real for me. This was the best of the country? Who was I to count myself worthy to stand side by side with them? However, Traci's endorsement earlier today seemed like confirmation that I deserved my place here and it gave me the strength to walk confidently through the pack.
My parents left me to sit in arranged seating along one wall. The other wall had a podium and ten chairs. I found Joe in the crowd. His ears twitched like someone who had just drank a pot of coffee, the fur on his neck stood out straight, and his tail was puffed out as if he'd just received an electric shock.
"This is intense man," he proceeded to inform me. As if I didn't already know this.
Traci walked up to me. Her face held and expression of mild concern.
"Good luck Kirian," she said weakly.
I hugged her, and then kissed her quickly on the lips. Sure she had teased me about it, but now that it came down to this, I could tell she really wanted me to attend. A uniformed tiger walked up to the podium and looked like they were about to make an announcement.
"Go have a seat with my parents," I told her, "and don't worry about me."
The speaker stood at the podium to address us.
"Good evening everyone. I'm glad you could all make it to the acceptance ceremony for the 2137 Academy class."
Mild applause followed this statement.
"I am Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Reese, commander of the cadet battalion, and I will be presiding over tonight's events. All applicants assemble yourselves on the line, facing the stage. Visitor, please find a place in the provided seating. We will begin shortly."
I looked down and saw that a line of tape had been stretched across the length of the room. We shuffled and jostled forward until we were all shoulder to shoulder on the line. Joe was on my left. I looked to my right and saw a rather muscular female wolf. I smiled at her.
"Hey."
Either she was just unfriendly, or had been struck dumb with nervousness because she didn't respond.
I looked back up at Cadet Reese. He waited patiently as the line finished itself and the spectators took their seats.. He came to attention and seemed to swell.
"Room! Ten hut!" he shouted, nearly breaking my eardrums without the use of the mike.
I jumped and then straightened myself to what I hoped was more or less a proper position of attention. Ten uniformed and decorated soldiers entered the room. There were seven men, and three women. Nine of them walked to chairs and stood at attention in front of them.
The tenth, a Wolf with a series of scars on the right side of his face proceeded to the podium. The left breast of his uniform was covered in ribbons and commendations and two gold stars shined on his shoulders. The cadet turned and snapped a brisk salute. There was an unheard exchange and the General returned the salute. The cadet performed an about face and walked to the chair at the end of the line.
"At ease," commanded the wolf.
The line of officers at the front took their seats. I relaxed slightly. The girl to my right put her hands behind her back. This seemed to look right so I followed suit.
"Good evening. My name is Lieutenant General Richard Kohl, Chief of Military Education. You are here because you seek admission to the highest quality officer training program in the world. This school has worked ceaselessly to achieve that position. Therefore, it only accepts the highest quality applicants. What does this mean for you? This means that once inducted you are facing four years of the most strenuous physical and academic training you will ever experience. Four years of pain and exertion, pushing your limits of endurance and tolerance. However, for those of you who make it, and not all of you will, you will leave this school with the knowledge and experience to become top quality leaders, and friendships with your classmates to last a lifetime. If anyone here feels they cannot live up to those standards, it would be in your best interest to leave now."
He paused for a moment, examining the line of applicants. I looked around to see if anyone left. It didn't look like anyone did.
"Good," he continued satisfied, "Immediately following tonight's induction, your cadet life, and future in the military will begin. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavour to achieve that highest honor of graduation." He turned to the original speaker, "cadet."
The tiger rose from his seat and strode to the podium and relived the general.
Other speakers rose, said pretty words and returned, but it was all meaningless to me. I was here, I was ready to begin, but the pomp and circumstance of the event demanded it, and they wanted to put on a good show for the families. What must be the last speaker finished and returned to their chair, Reese returning to the lectern. I fidgeted. It felt like someone had liquefied my insides and the end of my tail twitched in expectation. It had to be getting close to time for the induction announcement.
"Thank you sir," the cadet said acknowledging the preceding officer. "Shortly a list of the applicants who are accepted will be read. When your last name is called, take one step forward."
He cleared his throat and began to read an alphabetized list of names. It was purely ceremonial as everyone here already knew they had been accepted. He passed through the a's and into the b's.
"Baker, Barba, Benson, Bishop..."
As his name was called, Joe stepped forward. I could see the fur on his neck still raised, but not straight as it had been earlier, and his tail hung relaxed. The names continued.
"Grace, Green, Hall, Harper..."
I realized I had been holding my breath and let it out as I heard my name. I took a step forward to once again stand next to my friend. We exchange a quick fist bump behind our backs, our eyes meeting for the briefest instance. Where my insides had felt like liquid before, they seemed not to exist now. I listened as he continued down the list. Now I just had to wait for him to finish.
"Turpin, Ulrich, Vance, Vincent, Wake, Wiles."
The speaker looked over the audience for a second.
"Thank you, that concludes our induction. Welcome new Academy cadets."
At these words the assembled audience cheered loudly. The applause continued for a few more seconds before Reese held up one hand for silence.
"Would all parents and representatives, as well as the remaining applicants please exit quickly through the door you entered from."
There was a shuffling of feet behind me. A female voice, which could have been my mother's or Traci's whispered behind me "good luck" but I didn't turn to see who it was, my eyes locked on the Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. Eventually, though I knew it couldn't have been as long as I perceived it, the noise died down and the seated individuals at the front of the room rose and left. Only cadet Reese stayed in the room with us leaving the space uncomfortably empty. The echo of a door shutting somewhere eventually died and we were left standing in silence. Somewhere to my right one of the cadets coughed. Finally, when people began fidgeting the Battalion Commander spoke again.
"I would like to congratulate you on joining the elite few who pass through this school. Unfortunately I don't have time for that. We have work to do!"