We are soldiers training as sportsmen. This is our first diary entry.

[Trigger warning: mentions of nudity, abuse]

"So," Instructor Ryan says, "You'll be training as sportsmen now."

Wedgie and I perk up. Not training as soldiers anymore, eh?

Instructor Ryan glimpses at our hopeful faces and seems to read our minds.

"In case you think you're no longer soldiers, let me disabuse you of that notion right now. You will always be soldiers first and foremost. But good gentlemen need to have a variety of skills. Since you'll never age, we have all the time in the world. So why not start now?"

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So begins our training as swimmers.

"Swimming is a crucial skill. I know you have basic swimming skills, but here we train to be fast in the water," says Instructor Ryan one morning after our 5 am run.

Down to the pool we go at 8 am.

Wedgie and I line up on the block.

"Swim as fast as you can," Instructor Ryan says, "I want to see how fast you are. Just try to get to the other end of the pool as soon as possible."

Instructor Ryan blows a whistle and we leap into the swimming pool. We're both quite fit, but I lag behind Wedgie quite a bit, and him and Instructor Ryan are waiting for me at the other end of the pool.

Without being told I knock out ten pushups--the usual punishment for the loser. I swear I saw Instructor Ryan smile. Was this respect?

"Jungle, your technique isn't good. Here, let me guide you."

Instructor Ryan leaps into the pool, showing me where my arm had curved incorrectly.

"Let's go again!"

"No notes for you Wedgie--you're doing well."

We spend the rest of the day pracitising. Wedgie beats me handily all the time, so I do hundreds of extra pushups over the course of the day. But I think my technique is getting better.

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Days pass, and I improve. I even beat Wedgie sometimes now, which is nice.

"Easy days are over," says Instructor Ryan, "time for some distance training."

Wedgie and I start to swim 8 laps, 16 laps... eventually we reach 20 laps.

We are fast now too, and aren't splashing as much.

"Silent predators in the water," says Instructor Ryan.

Wedgie is generally still faster, but I sometimes beat him. It's nice to see someone else doing pushups on the poolside for a change.

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Weeks go by, until one day, Instructor Ryan starts training with us.

"Alright gentlemen, time for me to start competing with you."

Wedgie and I exchange glances.

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

Easy or not, Wedgie and I find ourselves doing pushups together on the poolside day after day.

How is he so fast? Wedgie pings.

I dunno, man. I reply, as we count out our pushups together.

******************************************

Weeks--and thousands of pushups later--we start to even start drawing close to Instructor Ryan.

We're still losing, but at least he's no longer lounging by the poolside by the time we push ourselves out of the pool onto the deck, panting.

Just a bit more! pings Wedgie.

We're getting close.

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It finally happens one day, and Wedgie touches the panel before me and Instructor Ryan.

Wedgie yells out triumphantly, pumping his arms into the air.

"I'm proud of you, Wedgie," Instructor Ryan fist-bumps him, before doing pushups with me. Like I said, Instructor Ryan is a man of his word.

It'll be your turn soon, pings Wedgie.

It takes me another week before I win.

Congratulations! pings Wedgie. I feel his pride and joy, even though he had to do that penalty.

It finally happened to me. Me! I'm making progress. I'm finally a swimmer!