Mini Bootcamp

I dreamed last night that as part of the ritual of entering military service i had to go to a nearby airforce base in the area and experience a sort of mini bootcamp. We spent most of the time standing at attention, remaining silent, and practicing marching, though there was ample leisure time as well. There was a small group watching tv when the DI left and so I joined them, silently and stoically i looked at the tv but i had no idea what they were watching and didnt much care. At some point i decided to go the bathroom and I blacked out.

I woke up and somehow i ended up in the brig, a little prison cell of sorts. I realized i had mistaken the brig for a bathroom area (since there was a toilet within) and to my horror i accidentally locked myself in. There was a button to buzz the font desk in case this happened, but unfortunately the button just lit up the cell and generated a computer voice saying, "Not to worry, we are confident that you can learn to march from behind bars" so i sat on the cott and sighed, resigned to my fate.

Finally, the DI returned from his break and released me from the room and gathered the others to finish our drills. He didnt seem to think it strange at all that i was in there in the first place, though i remember him sighing and rolling his eyes as if this happened all the time with new recruits.

Noahs girlfriend Lita showed up along with my mother to see march, but while other new recruits were being picked up by their parents, my mother left me there. I then heard various women's voices in my head reciting what seemed to be a poem entitled "Decant The Rant" assuring me it was ok, and this journey for the betterment of my soul, and all would be well etc.

They left me to my misery, but Lita promised to return to pick me up, and left her cellphone nearby, instructing me to watch it. The DI saw her and greeted her warmly, laughing, as if she were a "regular customer" here, probably from when she picked Noah up before he left for bootcamp. He teased her saying she was early, and didnt get off work for another hour. She explained she was on break, but assured me she would be back for me after work, and once again reminded me to watch her cellphone.

The DI then took us all aside and gave us a lesson in Christianity. Most of the recruits scoffed at him silently, but i listened with keen interest as he told the story of his daughter who was a devout Christian. He said she was so sincere and strong in her faith that she would often glow slightly, and when she left that glow would stay in the eyes of a person she talked to until they followed it to church to find the presence of God. As i said most of the recruits scoffed at the stories he told and the faith he held. I felt like I was the only Christian there.

We took another break of leisure time and one of the recruit, a large, built, and rather hairy fellow discovered a small metal sphere. It was referred to as a "religious matrix", which i suppose allowed one to experience his religion in 3d. The recruit, being a satanist typed into the marix "666" and we watched together. Profoundly realistic 3d images then ensued and we watched together. They mostly depicted torture, and various emo/dominatrix themed images and spectacles. I couldnt stand to watch it anymore so when he wasn't looking i typed in my own religious code "777". There were then images of Jesus Christ himself, both serious movies, and childrens cartoons telling the story of Christ flashed before us. My satanist friend was not impressed, but walked away huffing, puffing, rolling his eyes, muttering and mocking as he went.

I once again felt alone as I enjoyed the religious matrix, when suddenly someone joined me. There was some cartoon that first resembled southpark at first glance, but actually became more like Ren and Stimpy, then Rocco's Modern Life. Whatever the cartoon was it depicted a quaint show where a few children were misunderstanding the concept of imitating Christ. They waited for Jesus to arrive in Jerusalem and discussed how when he came they would simply copy everything he did. My new friend watched the cartoon with keen and sincere interest. We did not say a word to each other, both nervous and unsure of how to behave in this military environment, but nonetheless a silent bond formed, only from enjoying an entertainment piece from our mutual faith, juvenile as it may have been. He was the only other Christian there, i could sense it. Upon wondering what his name was i began to focus as if silently and psychically asking, and it was revealed to me his name was Jose'. As a silent connection of friendship formed between us I suddenly felt at ease and wondered if I might form other such bonds when actually in bootcamp.

Lita finally showed up and took me home. Upon returning my mother explained that she would've come to pick me up herself, but she just wanted me to know what it felt like to "make it back on my own" and I at last woke up...