The Trench Rats--On Leave Front

INTRODUCTION: The entire text of The Trench Rats--On Leave, touted sequel to the original story. This was written in a five-subject notebook along with various other novel attempts which are posted separately. Back then my TR stories were meant to be more comedy than drama. I came up with the ludicrous idea of putting ALL the Rats on vacation back in America (who the hell is minding the trenches??). Supposedly Black was going to fall in love, and Gold was going to confront his ex-girlfriend, who mysteriously dumped him right before he shipped out; I think Burgundy was also to face his estranged wife. The story certainly never got that far. I remember at least a snippet or two of it being written elsewhere, but this is all of that story itself. Interesting aside--it looks like this and the other stories in this notebook were written overtop older stories which had been erased. I believe the story that this was written over was my psychic animals drama ANNIT--it looks like I got through all of one chapter before erasing it and starting this. I fail to understand why I didn't copy it before erasing it! *sigh*

Take note of the mention of the "Tunnel Rats" and "Trench Mice." The Tunnel Rats are Vietnam soldiers who have been shuttled off into their own spinoff story which has NOTHING to do with the Trench Rats (aside from a tenuous mental connection). No stories about them were ever written. The Trench Mice are something else entirely; this was my then-best friend's and my attempt at "feminizing" the Trench Rats a bit, by creating an equivalent female battalion. The Trench Mice were color-codenamed as well; only their names all ended with Y--their sergeant, for example, was named Reddy Mouse, and their corporal was named Pinky. Needless to say...the Trench Mice idea was quickly booted from the rewrites of the series. As for Gold Rat's real name? Yep, it still starts with A. Nope, I'm not telling it unless you ask.

1991.

Front, Prologue, Chapter 1

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The Trench Rats--On Leave

In America, everything's perfect--almost!

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Ah! Finally on leave in the gold ol' USA! Those wily Trench Rats are going out on the town for a walk on the wild side (as if they haven't been there already!) and some r and r. But things aren't as peaceful as they seem! Blue's got a gang of angry thugs on his heels, Gold's got a score to settle with an old girlfriend, and Black's engaged in a silent struggle with an old enemy! Join the T. R.'s [sic] and their friends, the Tunnel Rats and Trench Mice (and all the others) in a crazy rat race--in America!

Dedicated to
All Those Who Made This
Rat Race
Goose Chase
Possible

Copyright ©1991 by Rachel H. [last name omitted]