How would you explain this sentence?
Tomorrow begins a real job, for pay. Pearl diving, Bull’s Eye calls it. Washing dishes in the mess hall. Father arranged it to cover board over the summer. But this afternoon, nothing yet to do in the empty barracks but take out every pair of pants from the foot locker and fold it up again. Or sit on the bed with The Odyssey. Until the head of Bull’s Eye appears around the door. All ears and smile, the half-bit haircut. “Heya bookworm. Too busy lollygagging, then?”

How would you explain this sentence: but take out every pair of pants from the foot locker and fold it up again?
Did he actually take out the pants and fold them up again?
Thanks!

Question

How would you explain this sentence?
Tomorrow begins a real job, for pay. Pearl diving, Bull’s Eye calls it. Washing dishes in the mess hall. Father arranged it to cover board over the summer. But this afternoon, nothing yet to do in the empty barracks but take out every pair of pants from the foot locker and fold it up again. Or sit on the bed with The Odyssey. Until the head of Bull’s Eye appears around the door. All ears and smile, the half-bit haircut. “Heya bookworm. Too busy lollygagging, then?”

How would you explain this sentence: but take out every pair of pants from the foot locker and fold it up again?
Did he actually take out the pants and fold them up again?
Thanks!

Answer

I would say you are correct, there is so little to do that he will fold his pants up again even though they are already folded.  Another reason for this is that in a barracks, military type school (or wherever this is) inspections of your footlocker are done regularly and if your items are not neat and in good order you are usually punished.

Answer

Yes. The word "barracks" suggests he is in a military type environment where to real objective is to teach discipline, not to achieve nice creases in one's pants.