Alpha Team

I was with the Alpha team on Jalalabad road. The road was situation black, but dammit man, we were in an armored car and there were Skittles at the PX.

A shot rang out.

The maid screamed.

"When I get back to Montana, I'm going to lie," S said, admiring her new sniper team "one shot, one kill" ball cap.

"I don't think anyone believes me when I tell the truth," I said ruefully. It was a tight fit for the three of us in the back of the armored car, and I was jealous of the cap. Had I seen it at the PX, I would have bought one too. "Besides, what's to make up? I didn't know it was code black on this road. Did you?"

We'd spent Friday afternoon at the base, eating lunch with the guys in the mess. The soldiers complained about the food, and by American standards it was fairly uninspired. But compared to the usual Kabuli restaurant fare it was a treat. Garlic mashed potatoes, mini pizzas, onion rings! I was in heaven. Their little wooden chapel was decorated for Christmas, and as we left the mess we watched two officers get their promotions in a ceremony before the base flags. But the base overall is a grim, industrial sort of place, and I feel for the guys stuck on it.