The Odd Angry Shot by William Nagle

Author:William Nagle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction classic, War and military
ISBN: 9781922148087
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2013-03-20T04:00:00+00:00

THE presentation goes off without a hitch. Harry does the honours.

‘On behalf of ourselves and all the other unit members present, we would like to present you with this small token of our esteem, and it is with, er, profound gratitude for all the wonderful things that you have done to make our stay in this poor country just a little more enjoyable, padre.’

‘Don’t forget the jubes,’ comes from within the dust-covered group that constitutes the audience.

‘…And the jubes, padre,’ says Harry handing the blue painted box to the padre.

The poor man looks ridiculous, I think as I look at him standing there with his baggy shorts and matchstick legs. The padre bows his head as if to collect his thoughts and begins to speak softly.

‘Boys, this is one of the nicest moments of my life. It’s not easy being a padre, trying to bring God’s word to angry groups of men whose sole business is fighting wars, but I would have you understand that it’s moments like these that make an outsider, and although I’ve been in this man’s army for over fifteen years, at times I still feel an outsider, feel as though he has a place alongside you.’

‘I almost feel ashamed,’ whispers Rogers.

The padre bows his head again and then raises it.

A broad smile creeps over his face as he speaks again.

‘In closing I would just like to say that this is the most well-constructed wanking machine I’ve ever seen.’

Have you ever seen twenty-five war-weary young soldiers stand as though touched with a wand and turned to stone?

‘Thanks fellas. Anyone like a jube?’ asks the padre, still smiling.

A ripple of laughter now rising to a roar and punctuated with shouts of:

‘Good on yer padre.’

‘You’re OK, mate.’

‘You’ll do us, padre,’ sweeps through the ragged looking group standing in the dust outside their canvas and sandbag homes.

Someone starts to sing ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’. Everyone present joins in except Rogers, who is still standing in open-mouthed shock at the padre’s words.

‘Have to go, fellas. God bless you,’ says the padre, turning and walking away towards the road.

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