2007 HONORABLE MENTION

THE PRICE OF PEACE
Emily Huang
17 years old, California

Shadows were just starting to grow longer when Dirk stalked out of the U. S. Marine building. While boarding the public bus that had just arrived, Dirk shook his head in frustration and exhaled harshly as he sat down and glared out of the window. Peace. What good is something that must be earned by spilling blood? What about Peace? He was just as inexperienced as he was naïve back then when he had first joined the Marines. Instead of receiving shining medals during service, he had received depressing daily reports of the newly wounded and dead. After hoisting on his soldier shoulder pack for the last time, Dirk made his way out of the air-conditioned bus out onto the sidewalk. Perhaps a stroll would cheer him up.

The sun was about to set when he found himself at the entrance of a small neighborhood park surrounded by cozy, brick-covered apartments jostling for a place along the sidewalk. Sounds of mirth floated from the playground where children were enjoying the last few hours of husky light and warmth. Dirk peeled off his jacket and flipped it over his shoulder; he strolled languidly along a dirt path that ran through vibrant patches of flowers. On impulse, he paused, taking a moment to enjoy the sweet, exotic fragrances of the flowers blooming in perfusion at his feet.

Suddenly, a strange yet familiar melody cut through the hot summer air, followed by the delighted shrieks and yells of the children back at the playground. Curious, he followed their disappearing backs towards the source of the music. It was an ice-cream truck, taking advantage of the heat that persisted into the night. Amidst all the busy chatter and laughter, he noticed a little boy who was wearing a worn red baseball cap, standing alone with his shoulders in a mournful droop, all the while looking at his turned-out pockets in disappointment. Dirk, realizing the situation, stepped up to the truck. A few moments later, he stooped down to place a ridiculously tall ice-cream cone into the grubby hands of the surprised boy before walking away to enjoy his own at a bench.

The setting sun was beginning to bathe the park in hues of green and gold when Dirk spotted an empty park bench. Not too soon after he had sat down, the little boy followed, climbing onto the bench to sit next to him. Any passerby would have been amused to observe this strange pair, one taking small measured bites out of a cone while the other gnawed enthusiastically at his with obvious delight. Companionably together in their own private world, they enjoyed their desserts side by side whilst taking in the spectacular view of the sunset. Dirk settled back and sighed to himself resignedly. Here was the solution to his questions, one that couldn't be measured or grasped but rather felt. For this, he would put his life on the line a hundred times over; for this, was Peace.