The first reveille at a Marine Corps boot camp was a nightmare for boots. But they finally managed to dress and line up. The sergeant was going at them a tongue-lashing for being so slow and sloppy, when a still undressed figure slithered into line. The sergeant stormed over and glared into the boy's cut and bleeding face. "Soldier," began the sergeant in a quiet voice of controlled frustration, "did it take you all this time to shave?"
"Yes, sir," replied the recruit, "the blood kept washing off the lather."