Forster is a professor at a university after four years' absence, three of which he spent serving in the army. He finds some of his army friends enrolled as students at the school, but luckily does not have any of them enrolled in his own classes.  Two of the former soldiers, Andy and Reid, come to Forster’s office to get some help with a writing assignment. Reid tells Forster about a citation about Lt. Longsmith that he had written during his service and how he wants to use it as inspiration for a literary paper. As Reid reads the citation out loud, Forster struggles to stifle a yawn and focus on Reid’s words. Andy brings up Italy in conversation and the three men reminisce about their days in their headquarters stationed near the Italian Lake Garda. Reid recites a Tennyson poem about olive trees and piques Forster’s interest.  Forster encourages Reid to continue talking about the ideas for his essay and Reid spills out this desires to write about the daylight attack that Lt. Longsmith had engaged in. Though Reid get enthusiastic about recounting Longsmith’s experience in the attack, Forster finds himself oddly apathetic and tells Reid and Andy to take a break and “forget about it.” the two men leave Forster’s office and Forster thinks again about taking an enticing nap.