FOOTLOCKERS

One of the things that sticks out in my mind is Footlocker Inspections. My footlocker held a lot of things. My underwear was stored in the bottom of the locker. I usually had two pair of boxer shorts and two undershirts. They had to be folded in a specific way. First you placed the boxer shorts face down on the bed. Then you folded the left side toward the center. Then the right side. Then you folded from the bottom toward the top. Then you turned them over. Then you pressed them flat with your hands. They were stacked one on top of the other. The shorts were placed on the left side of the locker. Your undershirts were placed on the right side. The shelf was placed on top of the shorts and undershirts. Next were socks placed in the left side of the shelf. They were folded into a Cadet E. That is too hard to explain. Tooth paste and tooth brush were in the center. One of the favorite things for the inspector to do was to squeeze the tooth paste tube when he picked it up for inspection. The squeeze made the paste squirt into the cap of the tube. Then the inspector called you a dirty slob. The punishment for being a dirty slob was extra marching or push ups. My buddy gave me an answer for the squeeze. Clean the cap carefully. Before you put the cap on the tube you blow into the tube pushing all the paste to the bottom. The inspector squeezes the tube, removes the cap and it is clean inside. Your razor and shaving cream was beside the tooth brush and tooth paste. The cream comes out the top of the can. The small hole must be clean. You pull a straw out of the broom and clean it carefully. Be sure to leave the cover over the place where you press to get the cream to come out. If you don’t the inspector will press it when he picks it up for inspection. You have a spare sock in your pocket at all times. You slip it over your hand when you handle anything in your locker that will leave finger prints. I learned quickly that you will not pass inspection every time. There are always tricks the inspector uses to outwit you. If you pass inspection half the time you are lucky. It’s all in the game and the game is MONKEY'N AROUND.