Why NOT to Yawn During Drill Class

"Czarnowske! Are you yawning in my drill class!"

It wasn't a question. It was a statement, bellowed at the top of his lungs. Sergeant Warawa was angry again.

"No, Sergeant!" Czarnowske wailed.

"Are you lying to me, Czarnowske?"

"No, Sergeant!"

"I think you're lying to me!"

"No, Sergeant!"

The last was more a plea than anything. Czarnowske knew what as about to happen to him, at least in a sense. So did the rest of the platoon standing at attention on the drill square.

"Czarnowske!" Sergeant Warawa yells, causing the aforementioned private to stiffen a little bit. "I want you to run over there and get me the license plate number of the BLACK car!"

Sergeant Warawa follows this up with a wave of his hand towards a black vehicle resting a half kilometer away from the platoon. Czarnowske doesn't move for a second. The platoon holds its collective breath. Then: "Czarnowske! NOW!" Czarnowske takes off running, slipping off from the platoon and making his way toward the black sedan at speed. After a moment of watching him, Sergeant Warawa spun on his heel, turning to the platoon, a twinkle in his eye, and says with gleeful humor: "Too bad for Czarnowske, I wanted the license plate number of the BLUE car!"

Some giggling erupts, but everyone stays quiet. Nobody wants the same to happen to them.

Eventually, Czarnowske returns. He comes to attention before the irate sergeant and even before he can begin to ramble off the numbers and letters he had memorized, the sergeant cuts him off with a wave of his hand, saying: "Czarnowske! What's the license plate of the BLUE car?"

"But Sergeant! You asked for the black car!"

Sergeant Warawa turns back to the platoon, bellowing: "Platoon! Am I even wrong?"

The coursed reply shrilled up, "No, Sergeant!"

"Czarnowske! You better get me the license plate number of the BLUE car! And you better hurry! Looks like it's driving away!"

Czarnowske looks over and sees it's true. His face falls as he takes off running away. The platoon laughs at their compatriots expense again. Yawning was definitely out of the question.