‘Look, mom. I’m fighting in this war. Our country has fought in and helped many wars and many countries. We have even helped win in the world wars.’
‘No, son. I want you to work, or go to school, what about music? You said you loved music.’
‘I do love music, mom. I do. But after dad passed away, he had told me, he always had, that if he got to do it all over again, he would have served his country. He would have enlisted.’
‘Your dad never fought.’
‘Mom, he did fight. He fought for you, he fought for us, and he fought in many other ways. He was a nobleman. He met thousands of people, and only ever fought with his friends.’
‘Look, I loved your father, but he was wrong about a lot of things.’
‘Like what? He is not wrong in asking that when or if he passed away, that I would serve this country. Every person who came here, including his family, they came here for a better life. If it was legally, they came here legally for the pursuit of happiness, liberty, and freedom. If they came here illegally, and for those same things, they’re almost as rebellious as the original Americans who left Britain in pursuit of democracy. And I’m not discounting our families side, mom. It’s just that traveling across the world for freedom, and sneaking up the border for freedom are kind of different things. And our family is not a family of huevóns, but our family on your side also hasn’t actually fought for this country, or even been in its’ wars. If we heard the call for a better life, there is a price we must pay, and I am not even afraid to die if I do. Do you even know dad, your husband, at all?’
‘Yes. I very much do. He wanted you to be bilingual. He wanted you to play music. He wanted you to be happy.’
‘No, mom. He wanted those things for you. And by me living those things out, I lived out you, but he also asked me to serve. And guess what. With his education, the conversations I have had, I have talked my teachers into circles and corners because of dad’s brilliance. If I do get in a jam overseas, it might not be music that saves me, though that would be incredibly badass. It will be my wits.’
‘Your just like your father, but you look just like me. I want you to stay home. What about your brother and sister?’
‘Mom, they understand. Trust me. Why would dad give me a white name like William and not expect the world from me? The other two can do what they want, but I am my father’s son. And his words are loudest in my ears. Just like rock n’ roll. Though I do get down with everything else. Blues, country, rap, hip hop, but this country won with rock.’
‘And if your father was alive?’
‘If dad was alive, I’d be making music because he was creativity in a man. Now that he has gone, I see very clearly that his every fiber was invested in the peace and wits of this country, including in the high arts of music. But to actually be boots on the ground, with my fellow countrymen, he said that I would learn a lot more about being a man in a squadron, than getting caught up in a band, or on the streets, or even in school. And maybe my brother enlists after I do, good for him, another true American, living out and serving his country with almost as much fiber as dad had for peace and tranquility. But listen to you mom. You’re fighting with me, you fought with dad almost every day. I am a fighter, but I know where the battle is won. And if others can dream, I will fight for those dreams, because the bigger of mine passed after dad had, and now I must learn more about something more valuable than even the greatest song ever told.’
Realistic Fiction