Legs

Creative Writing Prompt – 19 Nov 2024

We revolted.

The males looked at us females, all of us grouped together as a company of

Soldiers inside a nondescript room.

Then, as one, they all looked at our legs.

Our hairy legs.

Previously unnoticed by them, but itching away at us, our hairy legs demanded

attention.

“This is unsanitary,” we said, to the male Army leaders in a sensing session,

pointing to our hairy legs bared by our uniform PT shorts.

“The males haven’t even noticed, but we have to live with it,” we said, as the

leaders glanced at each other.

“Wait,” said one of the male Soldiers. “We’re a month into basic training….why

aren’t you allowed to shave?”

As one, the female Soldiers looked back at the males and then up toward the

Army leadership.

A pause, and then one female sighed.

“The drill sergeants told us they didn’t want to worry about sex between the male

and female recruits,” she told them, her head straight and gaze fixed on the wall.

Another female cleared her throat, looked directly into the male’s eyes and said,

“They told us we couldn’t shave because it was supposed to be revolting you all

enough to make you stay away from us sexually.”

The males looked at each other.

“Um…,” says yet another female Soldier, fidgeting with her shorts, repeatedly

scrunching the fabric along her leg.

“We have male drill sergeants demanding we toe the line in the female barracks

every night…and then they run their hands up and down our legs to make sure we

aren’t shaving.”

• As one, the male and female Soldiers look up to the Army leadership standing at

  the front of the room.

  And wait. In silence.

  “Well,” coughs one leader as he shifts from one foot to another. “Seeing that the

  male Soldiers didn’t notice the situation and it bothers the female Soldiers…

  perhaps…?”

  He trails off, looking at the other male leadership. One winces, and the other

  shrugs.

  “Yes,” he says more firmly.

  “You can now shave your legs.”