Standing at attention in his skivvies, Cadet Carter's mind begins to race. "I fell asleep, after all that planning and work to get out of here... Now I'm definitely getting a haircut and will end up just like Cadets Stevens and Stone." Glancing over at Cadet Stone, who just a couple days ago was disobeying everything Officer Stevens ordered, Cadet Carter thinks to himself that it might be best to lose the side of him that wants to escape and just go through the motions with his platoon.
His inner dialogue is interrupted as Officer Stevens begins to speak: "Alright, Cadets. You've all done mighty fine work on the trenches and the obstacle course these past few days. With just a couple more days of work, you should be able to complete it."
"Sir," Cadet Stevens interrupts.
"Yes, Cadet?"
"Cadet Stone and I believe that it is in the best interest of the platoon for us to bring Cadet Carter to Sarge for a haircut. It's beginning to touch his ears, Sir!"
Blushing with embarrassment as Officer Stevens glances at his hair, Cadet Carter resigns himself to his fate.
"I think you two are right," Officer Stevens sighs. "You three head to Sarge's while I adjust today's itinerary. And get into your dress uniforms--have to look presentable for Sarge. Dismissed."
"Sir, yes sir!" The three cadets yell in unison. Compelled by the invisible force, the cadets begin putting on the extremely uncomfortable dress uniforms. As he's lacing up the notoriously torturous boots, Cadet Carter begins to wonder what Sarge will do to him to make him like his platoon mates.
-
"Good morning, Sargent!" Cadet Stevens and Stone say in unison as the three cadets walk into the barbershop.
"Good morning, Gentlemen!" Sarge scans the three cadets and instantly recognizes Cadet Carter as the one he has not had a chance to give a haircut. The three cadets salute Sarge, with Cadet Carter's salute noticeably less enthusiastic. After reciprocating the salute, Sarge extends his hand toward Cadet Carter.
"You must be Cadet Carter," Sarge says, "I heard that your hair might be growing a bit past regulation... and it looks to be true."
Cadet Carter nods as Sarge gestures toward the barber chair. Cadets Stevens and Stone casually plop down in a couple lobby chairs as Cadet Carter sullenly takes a seat in front of a large mirror.
"Let's get you back in accordance with regulation, son." Sarge attaches a number 2 guard to his razor and begins sweeping across Cadet Carter's head. As he does, he begins to intrude upon the Cadet's thoughts.
"I see you've been busy these past few days," Sarge whispers, "Digging trenches, working out, hatching an escape plan..."
"Yes, sir," Cadet Carter says sheepishly.
"You do realize how selfish that was, right?" The Sarge pushes this notion into the Cadet's mind, and Cadet Carter does not try to fight it.
"Yes, sir. I was being selfish. My platoon needs me and I tried to abandon them."
"That's right. Look at your fellow Cadets. They need you." Cadet Carter glances at his platoon mates and feels a twinge of guilt at his attempt to leave them. As he's doing this, Sarge removes the number 2 guard and brings the bare clippers to the Cadet's head. "Are you now ready to accept the responsibility of being in this platoon, Cadet Carter?"
"Yes, sir," Cadet Carter says as a tear begins rolling down his face. As Sarge begins sweeping the clippers across the sides and bottom of the Cadet's head, Cadet Carter loses the last vestiges of his old self. Gone is the boy who planned a daring escape, replaced by a young man completely dedicated to the success of his platoon. He now matches Cadets Stevens and Stone in enthusiasm and dedication, and Sarge instills in Cadet Carter a strong sense of pride in being a cadet. As he puts on a number 1 guard to smooth out the cadet's high-n-tight, Sarge seals the changes to Cadet Carter as his platoon mates stand up from their seats.
"Back in agreement with regulation, son," Sarge says as he removes the cape from Cadet Carter.
Standing up from the barber chair, Cadet Carter takes a look at himself in the mirror: His haircut is now identical to his platoon mates, and he feels a sudden wave of pride as Cadets Stevens and Stone pat him on the back and stand on both sides of him.
"Looking good, Cadet Carter," Cadet Stone says with a smile.
"Thanks, Cadet Stone. I feel a lot better."
"Glad to hear it," Sarge says as he sweeps up the light dusting of hair from the floor. "You all should probably get back to Officer Stevens: Don't want to keep him waiting."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Cadet Carter says as the three Cadets walk out of the barbershop.
"Wanna run," Cadet Stevens proposes.
"You bet," the new Cadet Carter says challengingly as he sprints ahead of his platoon mates.