“Chow looks wonderful,” I told the mess sergeant, a large, intimidating man. “I’d love seconds.”

“You’ll get the same as everyone else,” he growled as he chucked food on my tray. “Now move it!”

After finishing the edible portion of my meal, I dumped the rest in the garbage, accidentally tossing out my silverware. While leaning into the trash can to look for my knife and fork, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the mess sergeant. “It’s all right, son,” he said. “You can grab seconds.”

— Scott Pope