It was 1920 and that was the day I left my little town of Brewer Maine to get drafted into the war.Mother was in the kitchen tending to dirty dishes soaking in the sink. Father sat comfortably in the old sunk in couch. He had his beer perfectly set on the coaster next to his left hand. Jeopardy the television show would begin soon and father was waiting impatiently. Just then a hard solid knock struck our red farm door. Father got up quickly from the couch and hurried to the door. Mother lifted her head from the dishes but didn’t move. I was peeking from around the stairs. It was dusk out so I had my pajamas on and was on my way downstairs to grab a night snack. The soldiers big and with such a strong structure was empowering. It stopped me in my tracks because “ why would a soldier be at my house at this time at night?” I thought to myself. My father slowly shut the door behind him as he stepped outside with the soldiers. I decided that my snack could wait, even though my stomach wouldn’t stop growling. I started to feel myself become very anxious and worried, it felt like they had been talking for a hour or more. Finally father came back inside. He shut the door and turned his body around facing me. As his eyes drifted upwards towards the stairs he contained a look of sadness and lost. I had never seen my father look like this and I almost hoped he wouldn’t tell me what had happened between him and the soldiers.
“ Ryan come down here please, I have news that I need to tell you.” Father whispered
“ Coming father.” I quivered
I bounced off the stairs and scuffed my slippers into the kitchen where mother had now finished the dishes and was sitting at the table. Her hands were clasped together, the right leg was moving up and down rapidly. This was not normal behavior for mother. I pulled out the wooden chair I always sat in and plopped my butt into it.
“ The soldier that just spoke to me was telling me that you are going to be drafted into the war right now.” father rumbled
“ You do not need to pack anything. He is waiting outside to bring you to your location.”
I was in such a shock. War what war? How could I just be thrown out into a pack of wolves? I was a kid for pete sakes. This must be a dream. But sadly it wasn’t. Mother was sobbing on the floor rocking back and forth with her hands holding onto her knees. Father grabbed a beer and popped the top off of it.
“ Father this must be a joke, I have never even…” I squealed
“ No it’s not and you need to leave in 5 min.”
I fell on the ground begging to my father.
“ Please don’t let them take me. I am too young for this. I will surely die out there in the battle field.” I said
With that my father hit me on the side of the head so hard that I thought I was going to get a concussion. Why the heck would he hit me right now? This was a serious moment. Did he have no compassion?
“ You will not die, every time you feel lonely son look at the moon. We are all looking at the same one. When I hear that knock on the door I will know you have returned home.” My father whispered in my ear.
The soldier appeared in my doorway and waved a finger towards me motioning that we needed to leave. I then turned to my father and gave him a faint smile and left. I couldn’t possibly bear to look at my mother. The pain was already killing her so I didn’t need to say good-bye. See you soon was what she needed. The car pulled farther and farther away from the house. All I could see through the window was the little wooden rocking chairs sitting on the porch. Great memories flowed through my mind of all the times I had spent in that house and with my parents. I would always be grateful. Rolling down that bumpy dirt road for the last time for awhile never felt so depressing to me before. Entering the little town I grew up in brought tears to my eyes. Fireworks flew high into the sky exploding beautiful colors into the soft dark sky. Tonight was the celebration of 100 years that my town had been there. Kids ran around on the sidewalk with balloons in their hands. Young couples held hands, continuing to stroll on this beautiful night. Banners strung high along the side stores lining the town. Feeling the car start to turn I looked out the back of the car and gave it a farewell wave. That was the end of my childhood and a open to my new chapter of war.