My gloved hands clasped around the metal bar. There must have been about four hundred pounds on each side of the bar. I lifted up, and down, and up again, and repeated the process. It was about a half and hour before I was tired, so I stopped.

That kid was still standing there, watching in complete awe.

“H-how the hell did you do that?” He quietly stammered.

Man, he should really think about a question before he asks it. They don’t call me a super soldier for my good looks!

I sat up and chuckled for the first time in what seemed like decades.

“Why, I ate my Wheaties, of course!” I said wryly, patting the kid on the shoulder.

I walked out of the gym with a smile on my face. I was feeling the childish happiness of a kid who no one ever talks to, but someone finally does.

Maybe I am childish, but they never built me to mature, just complete the mission, I suppose.