by Jennifer Smith

Created on: April 20, 2008   Last Updated: June 11, 2008

FRIENDS FOREVER (THE CHANGES ARE VERY SUBTLE....PLEASE DO NOT REJECT THIS LEAPFROG)

Sam stood erect inside the classroom, hands poised at his side, eyes looking straight in front of him, and feet spread apart with heels touching in the back. He was doing a report in his classroom about the United States Army and how the troops were disciplined to stand at attention for long periods of time. The class listened intently as he told about his father's experiences as he fought alongside fellow soldiers who were all ready to give their lives in the name of freedom. The easel in front of him held a two folded poster board that Sam had used to make a time line of certain events as they pertained to the Vietnam War. In the bottom left hand corner was a discolored piece of notebook paper that looked as if it had been folded and unfolded so much that the indentions were nearly torn in half.

The class listened as Sam recounted the events that his father had gone through to get home. They listened as Sam told about his father's best friend who had disappeared in the war. Sam recounted the stories told to him by his father as he fought alongside John, how they each had saved each others lives more than once. Beside of the crumpled letter, tacked with precision and care stood one lone photograph. Sam said that this photograph was the only picture his dad had kept from the war.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sam watched as the man on the street corner held his hand open at each time someone passed by. School was out and he was headed home for the day. The homeless man was always there, always standing on this street corner when classes' adjourned and he made his way home. Some of the other kids frequently teased the old man and although Sam could not say that he never joined in on some of the jokes he could say that more than anything he found the old man to be a mystery.

Today the old man seemed even more agitated than usual. The lines in his face were deep and made his face seem like a sort of ocean with every wrinkle being a wave. What was buried inside of the old man that could make him so hostile? Why did he not do something with himself like get a job? For weeks he had wanted to say something too him but had never found the courage to approach him. Today was no different.

He clutched the board from his report tightly under his arm. The board was not heavy but it was oddly shaped and too large which made it difficult to carry. As he prepared

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>