No Longer Alone by John Cranford Alone Writing Contest contest entry |
Alone...I opened the envelope.
Alone...I read the Notice. Alone...I boarded the bus to the Army Induction Center. Alone...I endured the two-day physical. Alone...I watched them stamp, "Approved for the Draft." Alone...I walked the main street of my hometown and wondered what my future would hold. Alone...I boarded the plane to Vietnam.
Alone...I was transported to the Mekong Delta. Alone...I walked down the village street. Alone...I was surrounded by a group of small children. No longer alone...I found some little friends in a faraway land. The Vietnamese people are smooth skinned. I, on the other hand, have been graced (or cursed) with lots of hair, particularly on my arms and legs. In every town or village I entered, I became an instant attraction for the children. They began following this hairy, odd-looking fellow and tugging at the hair on his arms as if he were the Pied Piper...a good one, of course. I learned that children are the same everywhere. They are curious, friendly and happy...even in the midst of war. We could learn much from them.
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John Cranford
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