The Rules

"Were you ever that angry?" Jack asked me, once we'd shipped Cadet Hailey back to the academy.

"No, sir," I replied.

"I suppose not." He flashed me a cryptic grin.

As he walked away, I wondered what he'd meant by that. Yes, I'd always been the good little cadet - I hadn't tried to break regulations, never mind an upperclassman's nose. I still toe the line.

I envy Hailey's passion, the fire that makes her stand up to a superior officer and say you're wrong. Sometimes I wish I had the self-confidence to believe the rules shouldn't apply to me.