06-26-2014, 08:05 AM
Jared had a rather unfortunate view where he was situated. Refugees were coming in by the hundreds. Many were wounded and all were tired, and fear was in abundance. Most of the refugees were African, but there were also Chinese. Some were rich, but many of the refugees were poor.
Jared listened as people went by to their stories, and the same theme kept coming up: the atrocities of General Wallace-Johnson and his soldiers. Jared was so angry that he wanted to hit something, but he reined in his emotion as beating the wall would be completely unprofessional. These people were innocent bystanders - and true soldiers didn't attack civilians. The most difficult part was seeing the children. Jared saw parents carrying their injured kids and scared children that hid behind their mother's legs at the sight of the soldiers. Jared hoped to God that these kids would make it through this emotionally and physically unscathed. They were too young to know the horrors of war.
Jared wished he could help more. They were scared and hurt and all he could really do at this time is watch as they went to their embassies for help and evacuation. He wanted to do more. He wanted to tell all of these people that it would be okay, but he knew he couldn't give them that assurance. He didn't know if they would be either. It was a grim situation and everyone's mood mirrored that. As unlikely as it would be, Jared found himself wishing that before the day was out, he could make one person forget their troubles for a moment and smile, their hope in humanity rekindled.
A small voice caught Jared's attention, "Mommy, I'm hungry."
Jared turned to face the sound. A young boy and his mother stood perhaps a hundred feet away from him. They looked poor and malnourished. Both wore ragged clothing that was torn and dirty from hardship. Dirt covered their faces where tears hadn't etched lines through it.
Jared's heart broke as he saw the mother kneel down to comfort and tell her son that they would eat soon. Her face betrayed her true fear that she really didn't know when that would be. The whole situation continued to fuel Jared's anger, but he kept it in check and then remembered he could help this woman.
His hand moved towards his pocket and he pulled out the granola bar he had saved in case he wanted a snack while on the road. He had completely forgotten about it. He slung his FAMAS over his shoulder and began to walk slowly towards the woman and her son while opening the wrapper. As the boy caught sight of Jared, he darted behind his mother's legs, hand gripping her dress.
Jared knelt down, tore off a piece of the granola bar and ate it, showing the young boy that it was food, and spoke in a calm voice, "Here, for you."
The prospect of food made the young boy look from behind his mother's legs. The boy looked from his mother to Jared and back to his mother again before locking on to the small treat that Jared held in his hands. Jared offered the boy a warm smile of encouragement, and slowly the boy walked toward Jared, took the bar, and ran back to the safety of his mother's legs. He nibbled at the treat and as he realized it really was food, a gleam came into his eyes.
"Thank you mister,"
the tiny voice said in between mouthfuls as the boy moved forward and took his mother's hand.
Jared went back to his post without a word. He unslung his FAMAS and continued to watch the refugees pass through in silence. The mother passed by a few seconds later, new tears etching new lines through the dirt on her face. Jared gave her a polite nod and she returned it with a grateful smile.
Mission Accomplished.
Edited by Jared Vanders, Jun 26 2014, 08:35 AM.
Jared listened as people went by to their stories, and the same theme kept coming up: the atrocities of General Wallace-Johnson and his soldiers. Jared was so angry that he wanted to hit something, but he reined in his emotion as beating the wall would be completely unprofessional. These people were innocent bystanders - and true soldiers didn't attack civilians. The most difficult part was seeing the children. Jared saw parents carrying their injured kids and scared children that hid behind their mother's legs at the sight of the soldiers. Jared hoped to God that these kids would make it through this emotionally and physically unscathed. They were too young to know the horrors of war.
Jared wished he could help more. They were scared and hurt and all he could really do at this time is watch as they went to their embassies for help and evacuation. He wanted to do more. He wanted to tell all of these people that it would be okay, but he knew he couldn't give them that assurance. He didn't know if they would be either. It was a grim situation and everyone's mood mirrored that. As unlikely as it would be, Jared found himself wishing that before the day was out, he could make one person forget their troubles for a moment and smile, their hope in humanity rekindled.
A small voice caught Jared's attention, "Mommy, I'm hungry."
Jared turned to face the sound. A young boy and his mother stood perhaps a hundred feet away from him. They looked poor and malnourished. Both wore ragged clothing that was torn and dirty from hardship. Dirt covered their faces where tears hadn't etched lines through it.
Jared's heart broke as he saw the mother kneel down to comfort and tell her son that they would eat soon. Her face betrayed her true fear that she really didn't know when that would be. The whole situation continued to fuel Jared's anger, but he kept it in check and then remembered he could help this woman.
His hand moved towards his pocket and he pulled out the granola bar he had saved in case he wanted a snack while on the road. He had completely forgotten about it. He slung his FAMAS over his shoulder and began to walk slowly towards the woman and her son while opening the wrapper. As the boy caught sight of Jared, he darted behind his mother's legs, hand gripping her dress.
Jared knelt down, tore off a piece of the granola bar and ate it, showing the young boy that it was food, and spoke in a calm voice, "Here, for you."
The prospect of food made the young boy look from behind his mother's legs. The boy looked from his mother to Jared and back to his mother again before locking on to the small treat that Jared held in his hands. Jared offered the boy a warm smile of encouragement, and slowly the boy walked toward Jared, took the bar, and ran back to the safety of his mother's legs. He nibbled at the treat and as he realized it really was food, a gleam came into his eyes.
"Thank you mister,"
the tiny voice said in between mouthfuls as the boy moved forward and took his mother's hand.
Jared went back to his post without a word. He unslung his FAMAS and continued to watch the refugees pass through in silence. The mother passed by a few seconds later, new tears etching new lines through the dirt on her face. Jared gave her a polite nod and she returned it with a grateful smile.
Mission Accomplished.
Edited by Jared Vanders, Jun 26 2014, 08:35 AM.