Travis took a paper route to earn money for the lessons he wanted. He got up early every morning to put the inserts into the papers, fold them neatly, and take them around the neighbourhood. It had to be done before school. Sometimes it would take him longer than expected, and he would have to run to get to school on time. Those days Beth would walk to school alone.
One day, Travis came home at lunchtime with bloody knuckles. At first he shrugged it off, but eventually I pulled the story out of him. A few kids had accosted Beth, who was walking to school alone that day. There were four or five boys and they surrounded Beth, teasing her, at first verbally but then pushing her. She was pleading with them to leave her alone, trying to bribe them with her snack or the few coins she had in her pocket, then crying. When Travis came upon them, one of the boys was trying to pull off her blouse, to "see if she was growing any yet" and had managed to rip it. Travis punched him in the nose. He fell to the ground,bleeding, and the other boys fled.
Dave had a sad look on his face. "Was that your only option, son?"
"It was the right thing to do, Dad." Travis's voice rang with certainty.
How could we argue with that?
YOU ARE READING
A Soldier's Heart
General Fiction"Travis was a soldier with heart. His love for his family, his country and his community is unquestioned. He never hesitated to put his life on the line for those he loved- and he loved many and deeply." So begins Travis Barrett's eulogy. A true her...
