Читать книгу The Poignant Years - Horace N. Robinson - Страница 8

Convoys of soldiers roared down the narrow highway in front of the elementary school. Tanks followed on massive trailers and well-secured bombs on flatbeds.

The soldiers were headed to battlefields unknown and the munitions to the supply line on the sea coast of south Texas.

An adult could understand the life and death struggle of the war and the one hundred flag-draped caskets that had already come home to our small Oklahoma county.

But to a second grader, the trappings of war and the deep emotions that tinctured daily life added up to one big question, “Why?”

Through the Eyes of a Child

Why?—1943

“Second Grade, listen to me—stay on the curb—do not step into the street, understand? The convoy is coming.”

“Teacher, can I wave our little flag? Jasper did it last week and it’s my turn.”

“My name is Mrs. Miller and yes you may wave the little flag. I wish we all had one to wave.”

“Teacher—Mizz Miller,—I got some questions.”

“Not now Skippy, I can’t hear you well; we’ll talk about it after the convoy.”

“OK, Mizz Miller.”—

“Teacher—why are the soldiers always nervous and smokin’—but they always smile and wave?”

“They’ve come many, many miles, Skippy.”

“Teacher, why was the Kool-Aid bitter at Mary’s birthday party? It was red but it was bitter. Her mom said, ‘Wait till next year when the war’s over—It’ll be sweet I guarantee you.’”

“Sugar is rationed.”

“What’s rationed?”

“You can’t have everything you want.”

“Mizz Miller, why do we have bomb drills and hide under our desk with our notebook on our heads? Is Hitler going to drop a bomb on us? That scares me.”

“He doesn’t even have a bomb, Skippy.”

“You sure, teacher,—that scares me.”

“Mizz Miller, why do people get real quiet when they talk about Mizz Vest?”

“Mrs. Vest is a Gold Star Mother.”

“What’s a Gold Star Mother?”

“It is a mother who has lost a son or daughter in the war.”

“Teacher, what does loose lips sink ships mean?”

“It means don’t tell secrets, Skippy.”

“Mizz Miller—why does that old man who prays at church always start cryin’ when he gets to the end and prays about the soldiers?”

“All of us need to pray—and pray hard.”

“What does bombs away over Tokyo mean?”

“Tomorrow—Skippy—wait till tomorrow, please!”