For me, the normal after school routine was to first hit the refrigerator to get a snack, and then go to the television and turn on the “ Early Show “. The Early Show was an afternoon movie that usually featured old Tarzan or War movies. Whatever movie was on that afternoon would set the mood for evening play. Today was a war movie, I can’t remember the title, but I always liked the old war movies, they got me all fired up and ready for battle. So when the movie was over, I stepped out the front door and onto the battlefield.
My commander met me outside and informed me that the troops had been engaged in a serious battle in the south quadrant (my backyard), and that they were pinned down by a nest of snipers that were dug in up on the ridge (the big elm tree in my back yard).
My mission was to work my way into the south quadrant with out being detected and take out the sniper’s nest with a hand grenade.
Acting on my orders I grabbed my plastic army helmet, my machine gun and two hand grenades (two Eveready D cell flashlight batteries) and moved out. I was going to be on my own and the lives of my buddies depended on me. I proceeded on the three-mile journey around the house to the south quadrant and saw my buddies laying out there on the battlefield pinned down tight. I signaled to them and they replied letting me know that they were ok, but I could tell they were wearing down and that I needed to act fast.
I peered around the corner of the house and I could see the snipers up on the ridge. It was going to be a pretty far toss with a hand grenade and I was going to have to get into the open if this was going to be successful. So I took one of my hand grenades, stepped back a couple steps and with a John Wayne type of maneuver I dove into the backyard, rolled once, stood up and hurled the hand grenade into the tree.
As I watched the hand grenade disappeared into the heavy foliage of the tree my make believe war came to an abrupt end. Instead of the deafening explosion that I was expecting to hear, what I heard was a distressed chirping sound. My heart jumped into my throat as I watched a robin fall from the tree along with the flashlight battery. I stood there froze as I was watched the bird struggling to get to its feet. When I finally got the nerve to walk over and see the damage that I had done, I saw the robin lay down and begin to fade away. I picked up the small red breasted casualty of war and as I cried, watched it die in my cupped hands.
After I calmed down I gave the robin a proper burial and went over and sat on the old wooden bench that was in our backyard. I sat there thinking about the robin, and I thought about how I wish it were a Tarzan movie featured this afternoon rather than a war movie. I also thought about how other than some ants that I had cooked with a magnifying glass, that this was the first living thing that had died by my hand.
I would be a long time forgetting this battle.
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Reviewed by Tracey L. O' Very
4/10/2005
Oh Jack this was a heartbreaking story. I can imagine how you felt.
This story brings to light though the real live happenings as I see them to be in my mind of war andall that they have to go through.
I'm so sorry for that robin and you.
A kind heart you have.
Wonderful story brought smiles and tears.
Take care Jack
Tracey
Reviewed by Smoke Martin
8/23/2002
Wonderful. Very good images!
Puts you right in the thick of the "battle"
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