P28

 

Explanations of Difficult Words and Phrases

• Boot camp: This is a training program for new recruits in the military. It's a period of intense, rigorous instruction designed to turn civilians into disciplined soldiers.

• Patton's Third Army: This refers to the United States Third Army, a military formation that was commanded by General George S. Patton during World War II. They were a key force in the Allied invasion of Europe, fighting across France, Germany, and other areas.

• Tramping through deserts in North Africa and forests in Europe: To "tramp" means to walk heavily or wearily over a long distance. This phrase describes the difficult and tiring experience of a soldier, marching through different and challenging environments during the war.

• Foxhole: A foxhole is a small pit or hole dug in the ground by a soldier as a temporary shelter against enemy fire. It's a common defensive position used in combat.

• Estate liquidated: When an estate is "liquidated," it means all of the deceased person's property and assets (such as the business in this case) are converted into cash. This is done to settle any debts and distribute the remaining funds to the legal heirs.

• Reeling in the line: This is a fishing term that means to wind the fishing line onto a reel. The phrase indicates that the character had been fishing and was now finishing up.

• Tired shack of a house: This is a descriptive phrase that means a small, rundown, and dilapidated house. The word "tired" is used here metaphorically to suggest that the house is old, worn out, and in poor condition, much like a person who is tired.