I guess it goes back to that bright future — perhaps one day we won’t have to worry about our sons and daughters being forced to become men and women this way.
Mother and child.
I miss Mom. I miss my wife and children. I miss Dad. Aunts, uncles, cousins, I miss them all. I can picture my son when he was just learning to walk, standing in my boots. His face was a mask of frustration, because he couldn’t make them move. You couldn’t help but laugh at him; those unsteady legs of his were so short that the tops of my boots were up past his knees. When we laughed, he would look up and laugh with us. Finally, my wife would take the boots gently in her hands, and with him holding tightly to her arms, move the boots back and forth until he was “walking.” My daughter, who is a couple years older, wants her turn. We spent the evening playing with our kids like this.
I’ll be an awfully proud father if they decide to follow in my footsteps, but I pray to God that they never do.
Holy infant.
I remember when my daughter was born. I guess it was the light from the base hospital’s overhead lights, but when I first held her, she had aglow about her. You’ve seen the paintings from the old master, how they always painted baby Jesus, whether in the manager, or in Mary’s arms, surrounded by a glowing halo. I swear, when I first held her, she had that same glow.
There was no wrong in her. She was completely pure. I don’t believe that we are ever that holy in our lives as we were at the moment of our birth.
So tender and mild.
I remember my wife’s right hand when we got the orders to ship out. She cried — we both did — when we got the news, but with her right hand, she touched my cheek. Even now, as the night wind blows across our position, I can feel the touch of her right hand on my cheek.
My children held my hands as we walked to the hangar on the day I left. I had to walk bent over, and with my gear it wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. My son kept repeating the phrase, “Dah go bye,” over and over as we walked, while my daughter held my hand so tight her knuckles were white. When it came time to go, I held my wife and my kids, and we cried. There was no shame in our tears; I’ve learned that real men do cry. My son saw my tears and touched my face. “Dah go home,” he said.
One day, Lord willing.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
I close my eyes, just for a moment, and I discover that it is peaceful. My ear are still alert, but, somehow, by closing my eyes to the darkness and what it could hold, my heart finds a little peace.
I see my family, all of them, gathered around the Christmas tree. I can hear their laughter, and when they think of me here, I can hear their sorrow. I send them my thoughts, my love, my prayers, and they are smiling again. I smile, too, because I know they are sending theirs to me.
Now I know how Hillbilly finds it so easy to sleep. Home is in our dreams, and he returns there every chance he gets.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
I open my eyes when I hear McGuire talking on the radio. We all gather round, even Hillbilly — see, wide awake, just like I said.
It’s H.Q. They tell us that our eyes in the sky are picking up no heat signatures but ours. We give them our coordinates, just to be sure, and they confirm. They order us back to base.
As we start back, Sanchez’s lips are still moving, but his words aren’t silent now. By the time we reach the base, we’ve all joined in. The guards at the gate laugh.
“It’s Christmas, guys,” one says. “Why don’t you sing Silent Night?”
We stop and look at each other, my brothers and me, and we laugh. We’ve had our silent night, but standing here, looking up at the flag and all it stands for, the anthem makes a pretty good Christmas carol.
The End
Plop! Justice Society of America
One Night Before Christmas
by Drivtaan
The classic Christmas poem retold — JSA style!
***
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
And at the North Pole,
A calamity had struck,
And it was looking no-go.
Chicken soup was cooking,
Hoping it’d do the trick;
Like I said, a calamity,
Because Santa was sick.
Then Mrs. Claus was inspired
On how to save the day;
She put in a call,
To the J.S. of A.
Now, Wildcat was on duty,
When the first call came in.
“Dis must be a joke,”
He said with a grin.
Then came a second call,
But he ignored that one, too.
“Must be dem kids,
“Like that Little Boy Blue.”
Finally, a third call
Saying, “The hour is late.
“Get off your fur,
“And get Doctor Fate!”
So, he sprang to his feet,
Toppling his chair with a crash;
He called on his teammates,
Green Lantern and Flash.
Johnny Thunder and Cei-U appeared
With Doctor Mid-Nite in tow;
Fate, Starman, Atom, and Sandman,
Not a one of them slow.
“The kids need us,” said Johnny,
“So let’s pick up the pace.
“Say, you know, we must hurry;
“We’re off to Santa’s place.”
In the blink of an eye,
They were at the North Pole,
Drinking hot chocolate
To ward off the cold.
“Santa’s schedule is shot,”
Mrs. Claus told the guys,
“The sleigh should already
“Be crossing the skies.
“Even with your help,
“I’m afraid it’s too late;
“We must postpone Christmas,
“‘Til a later date.”
“Not on your life!”
Starman said with a grin;
“We’re the Justice Society,
“And we have a plan.”
So they were off to the stable
Where the sleigh was prepared;
And soon they were ready
To take to the air.
Thanks to the efforts
Of Green Lantern and Fate,
Instead of one sleigh,
Now there were eight.
“I’ll divide up the toys
“And do it real quick.”
And good to his word,
Flash was done in a tick
“But there’s nine of us here,”
Atom included himself.
“Then you ride with me,” said Wildcat
“You’ll be my elf!”
After the laughter,
They were ready to go;
The sleighs were away
Through the cold North Pole snow.
Needless to say,
The heroes succeeded;
Everyone made it
To where they were needed
All over the world,
The children knew joy;
Each had a bright
And shiny new toy
So if you are worried
About Christmas Day,
It’s being taken care of
By the J.S. of A.
The End
Afterword
If you enjoyed any of the stories in this volume, you’ll probably enjoy the tales of the Five Earths Project!
Visit www.5earths.info today for more exciting stories of the DC Universe!
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