by Patty E Padgett

Created on: December 05, 2009

BRAVE LITTLE SOLDIER

I don't wanna' go, I don't wanna go, screamed four-year-old Danny. His mother had him by the arm pulling him towards the pediatrician's office.

Be a brave little soldier, son. The doctor is only going to check you over, she yelled back over his screams.

Danny was due for his routine check-up. He hated going to see the pediatrician and this time was no different. He feared the dreaded shot. However, as it turned out that day, he was not due for a shot and the visit went well. He received the awarded lollipop and he skipped out of the office, delighted that it was over.

Now, that's Mommy's brave little soldier, Mommy said soothingly.

Two years later as Mommy walked him down the hall of the big brick school building, he could be heard again. I don't wanna' go, I don't wanna' go.

Be a brave little soldier, son. This is school, where the big boys go. You will like it, I promise. He looked up at Mommy, not believing a word of it, but finally gave in. He enjoyed his first day of school and thereafter couldn't wait to go every morning.

Four years later, at the age of ten years, his pleas could be heard once more.

I don't wanna' go, I don't wanna' go, please don't make me go.

Now Danny, you must be a brave little soldier and go and say goodbye to Daddy. I know you don't understand why Daddy had to go to Heaven, but we must go and say 'goodbye'. Danny didn't understand why his father was killed in the war, but he would be Mommy's brave little soldier and face it.

The years went by and he and Mommy managed on their own. He became the man of the house and took his role seriously. When he turned eighteen and graduated from High School he enlisted in the Army. He hated being away from Mama but she had a new man in her life now; one who would be good to her. Danny felt that after years of taking care of him, she deserved someone who would take care of her. He wanted to see the world, and learn a trade and/or get an education that he couldn't afford on his own.

The day came when he again found himself saying to Mama, I don't want to go. This time he was referring to the war. He was to be deployed overseas and was not at all happy about it.

Mama, I know I said that I wanted to travel and learn but there was no war going on when I made that decision. I know a lot of guys say they want to go and fight for their country and they don't seem to mind being sent to war-torn countries. I also know a lot of them who joined up for the same reasons I did, never expecting that they would actually have to go and fight. Oh, we all knew that was a possibility but we never really thought we would see the day. When soldiers are interviewed, they always say that they are proud to serve their country and many of them mean it. The vast majority are scared as hell, just like me and don't want to go. They're just saying what they are expected to say. I'll be your brave little soldier, Mama, and go because I have to. I really do love my country. I hope it turns out like all the other times when I didn't want to go and you asked me to be your brave little soldier. You were always right then, Mama.

Years later, he said those words again. I don't want to go and bury my Mama. I can't bear it. Why did she have to go when her life was going so well for her?

At the age of seventy-two, a survivor of three wars and a decorated soldier, he lay on his death bed. He was finally succumbing to cancer after a long battle, his last. His family had said their 'I love yous' and 'goodbyes' and were gathered around him.

He looked into the tired, sad eyes of his wife as he felt himself slipping away. In a voice weakened from disease and fatigue, he softly said, I will be a brave little soldier, but I don't want to go

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