“I love you Mom.” I hear and once more I am thrown back intime.

          I see mylittle boy struggling to take his very first steps. I see his crystal blue eyesand those chubby, little cheeks spread wide to show off his slobbery, toothygrin. I was so full of awe and pride as he took not one, not two, but threesteps forward before he toppled over. He did so with a flourish that only ababy could have. What amazed me most was that he got back up again, only totopple over after a few more steps. Not a tear slipped down his cherubic face,not a cry was uttered from his little rosy mouth.

        My baby is determined.

        My mind flies forward afew years. I see my little boy Velcro his light up shoes. I watch as he grabshis brand new backpack with such reverence. Turning to me he smiles, showing amissing front tooth, and declares quite calmly that he is ready. A short ridelater and we are walking down the hall toward his preschool classroom. No traceof fear creeps onto his innocent face. No sign of hesitation is expressed as helets go of my hand to follow his friends into the classroom. Only one last lookover his little shoulder and the words “I love you Mommy,” were heard over thedin of excitement made by the other children.

       My baby is brave.

       Years pass by. I watch as myboy walks slowly, head down towards his father. His baseball bat held with bothhands, his baseball missing. With great care he hands his father the bat andstates that he broke Mr. Brown’s window. He looks up, his face pale, his stancewary and he faces his impending doom. He takes the punishment with his headheld high, never once arguing unfairness.

         My baby isresponsible.

        The flight attendant’svoice sounds over the intercom, calling for all to board the Kuwait boundplane. My mind is brought abruptly back to the present.

         “ I love you Mom.”I hear once more.

       Tears fill my eyes as weembrace. I don’t want to let go. I know when he lands in Kuwait there will beanother plane waiting. That one will bring him to Iraq. That flight will takemy baby to war. I watch Blurry eyed as he shakes his fathers hand. I watch ashe picks up his duffle bag and walks away. I watch as he boards the plane. Iwatch as the plane takes off. I watch until the plane is no longer in sight. Itake my husband’s hand and we begin to walk away.

         My baby is allgrown up. My baby is gone. 

Keyword: my baby

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Comments (5)

Posted by Dirkin 2008-03-29 22:21:54 .... That was so sad at the end. I don't have kids, but I could really feel the emotions when I read this. kudos + Report this comment
Posted by Sucheta 2008-03-30 05:53:25 ... i really dont know wat 2 say...its an extremely emotional story n 1 of d best dat ive come across till date. + Report this comment
Posted by resistanceisfreedom 2008-03-30 19:03:42 .... yes a very emotional story. but well written. war takes alot of babies away in the end. + Report this comment
Posted by billyboy 2008-03-31 01:32:54 .... A lovely vignette. To condense a mother's feelings for her child, from birth to adulthood in so few words is very clever. Well done Kasey. + Report this comment
Posted by Tarhead Mugwump 2008-04-02 02:19:21 well done the time line was very well paced. + Report this comment

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