College’ll Wait
By Mark Stellinga
She’d be doin’ absolutely everything she could to stop me from enlisting in
the Army after school.
Trouble was…Dad and Grandpa both had proudly served, and plans ignoring their decisions didn’t feel too cool.
Pointing at the photographs of my and my Dad’s father, all decked out in uniform, I argued with her, “Mom…
Lots of other guys I know are joining up this summer, an’ I’d feel like a coward tellin’ Dad and Grandpa Tom…
“Given all the conflicts overseas…that I’m not going! Plus – having missed the scholarship we all were sure I’d get –
College ’ll wait…and seein’ as Dad has yet to find a job…I don’t wanna add another dime of fam’ly debt.”
“Get in the car,” Mother barked…“it’s best you see – up close – the facet of –
a conflict -that may help you to decide.
We’re going to tour Walter Reed, and…by the time we leave…I’m sure you’ll feel the lucky ones are actually – those who died!”
