Freedom of choice
“The week after Hell Week” is “a brief recovery phase called walk week.” By then “they’ve beaten you so bad your body feels permanently bruised and swollen.” The survivors of Hell Week wear “tennis shoes and don’t run,” for it is too painful, so they “just fast-walk everywhere.” However, this “concession doesn’t last for very long.” “After a few days,” they “start beating the hell out of you again.” The instructors tell you “when you’re hurt and when you’re not.” The irony is that, according to the instructors, the trainees are never hurt.
Perks of not being naïve
The SEALs try to keep their occupation in a secret. So does Chris. So when he or his fellow SEALs go to bars and somebody asks what they do for a living, they start telling different kind of nonsense. The most popular versions are the following: “a dolphin waxer,” a person who mans “an ATM machine, sitting inside and doling out money when people put their credit cards in,” and “an ice cream truck” driver. It is “a pretty convincing story” if you are “a young, naïve, and tipsy girl.” The irony is that Taya is not “anywhere near that naïve, or drunk” to believe that story, so she guesses pretty quickly that Chris is a military.
Not impressed
Chris is really proud of his accomplishments. He is a part of the SEAL, he has endured everything, and he has finally achieved his goal. However, Taya is not that impressed. She doesn’t even try hide her opinion of his. “You’re arrogant, self-centered, and glory-seeking,” she says. “You lie and think you can do whatever you want,” Taya states. Chris seems to be “truly puzzled.” “Why would you say that?” he asks. “I would lay my life for my country,” he continues. “How is that self-centered?” The irony is that Chris doesn’t even think that his decision hurts his parents, so it truly is a little bit self-centered.
