Letters to Darrell

Letters to Darrell

            When I was in fourth grade, I had a pen pal. I had never met him before but I had more respect for him than anyone I had actually met. He dedicated his life to saving people. He was a fireman, a medic, a nurse and a marine. He was the idealistic American hero. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about him.

            One day, my mom was crying in her room. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me that her friend was going to Iraq to fight for our country. Immediately, I asked her what I could do to help this brave man. She told me that I could write to him and see what he wanted or needed. Turns out, I was what he wanted and needed all wrapped into one. He was my world and I was his guardian angel.

            I wrote to him every week day, for six months. He would reply back by the next day the latest. I would tell him about things that were going on back here. I told him about funny things that happened at school or with my family. I told him about the polar bears at our local zoo. I talked all the time about how I was praying for him. He told me that he wasn’t a religious person but for me to keep praying for him because it made both of us feel better.

I don’t believe in luck, I believe in Faith. I prayed for him after I woke up in the morning, before every meal and before I went to sleep at night. I always believed that God gives strength to people who needed it. Darrell and I both needed it. I needed it to keep building a relationship with this man who may die. He needed it to come home safe. I prayed hard enough so that we both would have strength

            The emails went back and forth for a long time. I would run home from school and check my email to see if he answered, and he always did. He told me that he was hoping to come home soon so that we could finally meet. I answered him by saying how much I couldn’t wait for that moment. To that, he said nothing.

            Days went by. Then weeks went by. He still hadn’t answered me. I never stopped writing. I never stopped praying, but I started to get scared. I was depressed for the longest time. I didn’t let him know that, though, because I wanted him to know that everything was fine here. If only I knew if he was ok I would have been able to sleep at night. I was really touchy at school. Some kids were playing war games on the playground one day during recess and I screamed at them to stop. That war was bad, not fun or a game. I yelled at them that there are people dying in the war to save them. I ran away crying. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I wouldn’t laugh or smile. I was an emotional wreck. I wondered what I had gotten myself into.  I watched the news every day, thinking to myself no news is good news. They would announce how many casualties there were that day and how many were from Ohio. Then they said their names. I clung to my cross necklace in one hand and my older sister’s hand in the other. Then came the almost life shattering news.

            There was a massive tank explosion right where Darrell was stationed. There were many soldiers missing from the same group he was in. I crumbled in a ball on the floor and cried. I knew that he was killed. I couldn’t breathe. My older sister Katie, who normally could calm me down, couldn’t. She just sat there and cried with me. I told her that I was going to write him a letter. I know exactly what she was thinking but she didn’t try to stop me. It was a Thursday and that was a writing day. I told him that I had heard about the tank explosion and that I was praying for him. Instead of saying the prayer out loud, I sent it to him.

            Twelve days went by from then. I would run home from school and check for an email just as I had done before. I finally got one. The happiest moment of my whole life was when I saw the letter. He told me that he was safe. He was right behind the tank that exploded but that some of his friends were inside it. Because of all that, communication was down and he want able to talk until the families were informed of the losses first. He then told me that I would get an email if anything ever happened to him. (Later someone sent me one saying he got a paper cut). He also told me he was coming home soon. October 9 to be exact. To make it even better, that was my birthday.

            It’s really hard to remember his homecoming. I just cried the whole time. It was so relieving to have him home and to finally meet him. What I do remember is when I saw him for the first time. He said to me “Hey sweetheart. Come give me a hug”. This was and will always be the best birthday present I ever got.

Reviews

[Miles W.]

Our hearts house our happiest memories, as well as our saddest. You have a great way of expressing the heart in a way that makes the reader relate. Well constructed writing, excellent story. Keep up the good work.

[Nicole Klein]

Aw Bethany this is such an inspirational story! I had only heard the aftermath of all of this I never really understand what happened building up to this. I love how you weren't afraid to say what you wanted. Your emotions and thoughts really came across in this! Nice job :)

[Tiffany]

On behalf of Ali, who is lacking a computer at the moment, this story is super spectacular!! She says she was truly captivated by the emotion you expressed. Is it a true story?? Inquiring minds want to know O.o Keep writing!!!
P.s. I liked it too :3

[Bethany_Savy]

Thanks Ali and Tiffany... hope you get that computer thing worked out... This is a true story. He ended up having to serve another term in Iraq a few years later. It was harder than the first time. He came home from that and then retired from the military.

[Emily Wallace]

that is AMAZING i love this short story. it is very heart warming. did this actually happen? i think it is very nice that you wrote to and prayed for this soldier every day.. and that you never lost hope when he didnt write you back like he normaly would.. i am very glad he was ok i really loved this piece of writing

[Madeline G]

I loved how you weren't afraid to show your emotions in this piece because it really adds to the quality of the work.It was so easy to imagine that scene on the playground because you described it so well. very good job!

[Chloe Beck]

Wow! What a captivating story! I loved your use of descriptive adjectives and feelings! Your choice of words really set the tone and high emotion levels for the story! I think this could for sure be a story that you could extend and elaborate on for a future story or paper:) oh and I loved the title! Very creative!

[Bethany_Savy]

Thanks :) This is the short version of the story. I wrote it for another class and had to have less 1000 words.

[Casey Emeigh]

That was amazing! I almost cried reading it. It makes a great point about how having even a little faith can make a huge difference.

[Bethany_Savy]

Aww!!! That's one of the points I was trying to get across :)

[Gaby Valverde]

Very touching :) although i was very confused as to how he could write back to you in the same day. once you mentioned email i understood, but maybe you should've mentioned that earlier?

[Bethany_Savy]

Oops i thought i had mentioned it in the story sooner... my bad
I'm glad you liked it!