​​Less than six months from that night at Roby’s, Misty reported to Great Lakes as an E-2 and an undesignated Navy airman. She took a puddle-jumper plane from her hometown to Chicago and then was loaded into a van with the other recruits.

 

“Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em,” said the driver. “This’ll be the last time you’re gonna smoke for quite a while.”

 

It was dark when they reached the base. Misty had no idea what time it was. She tumbled out of the van, already feeling disoriented and overwhelmed.  

 

Misty and the others were funneled into a room with a bunch of desks and a water fountain. Rather than being allowed to sit, they were herded into a line and forced to walk laps around the room. Every time they passed the water fountain, they were told to drink. This went on until their bladders were full to bursting. Then it was off for the urinalysis test, paperwork, and questions upon questions upon questions.

 

Misty lost all sense of time. She felt like she was crowd surfing, completely out of control. So she just let go and rode the wave.

 

At long last, Misty was escorted to a large room that resembled a small gymnasium filled with cots. She flopped down and immediately fell asleep.

 

Suddenly, she was jerked awake by a thunderous crash. A huge aluminum trashcan was hurtling across the floor between the beds.  There was a Chief, not her Recruit Division Commander, and a slew of Petty Officers, all of them yelling… about what Misty couldn’t comprehend. It was absolute chaos. All she could do was react.

 

Yes, Misty thought, this is home. I need to be here. I’m never leaving!