Since they operate on instinct, this reality may not be real to them. This could be another reason why O'Brien uses the tangible items they carry and the intangible ones. The tangible is the reality they are in right now, even if it is not favorable. The intangible is Jimmy Cross's dreams. The dream of “walking barefoot along the Jersey Shore, with Martha, wearing nothing.” Carrying nothing could mean carrying no equipment, or it could mean carrying none of the emotional baggage he carried with him, just complete emptiness and serenity. Sometimes O'Brien also didn't indent his paragraphs, which also made the story a poem. On page 473, he did not indent Jimmy Cross' daydream. Perhaps O'Brien felt that it needed to be self-contained and could be separated into itself. This little passage alone tells its own story and could constitute a standalone piece. It also indicates a chaotic tone. This short story does not follow a traditional short story. All the nuances of this story make it quite a unique piece. It sometimes follows a poetic structure, but some passages are their own short story. It follows a chaotic structure and pairs well with the setting (Vietnam War). O'Brien shows the chaos of war and incorporates it into every part of his