*click*

“My name…” he said hoarsely, faltered and started again.

“My name is Commander Benjamin J. Paolenti” he said with a more self-assured tone.

“I have kept a dark secret inside, all this time.”

He coughed heavily, before clearing his throat

“How many of us have felt that we... we’re destined for something, huh?!” he said with a wry smile.

“I guess most of us believe we’ve been put on this earth to do something meaningful and in a way “good” whatever that even means”. He took a short sharp sip of a drink.

“Well, sometimes we don’t know what our role is to play in the great history books, until we’re able to look back and see all that we have wrought”.

“I was weak, a fool,  and a  disgrace to the uniform , my country.” He spat the words out.

“I was.. I was” He trailed off, looking for the right words but unable to find them.

“I was the one that told the enemy of the upcoming invasion of 1943... under torture”

“Now, I don’t say this as..” another coughing fit

Another sip “You know my record, you know what our brave soldiers have achieved and tomorrow will be a big push and to give 110%.”

“But be under no illusion the odds are not in our favour but they are the best we’re going to get.”

“If we don’t succeed, I want you all to keep fighting”

“I could have let that moment destroy me, curled up and died…and then what?”

“huh, what would have that done to improve anything”

“It would just have been another win for them, and I wasn’t going to let them take anymore”

Sip, the glass hitting hard against a slate coaster.

“We’ve got a big battle tomorrow, but I want everyone one of you to keep fighting, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and every fucking day until your heart stomps pumping!”

The rise of shouts and whoops could be heard in the distance recorded back faintly in the background.

*click*

“So, who in class can tell me what happened next?” the young woman’s voice asked encouragingly

A bustle of kids reached their hands high into the air to get a chance to speak

“Yes Sylvia?” She said

The 7 year old stood up, brushed down her corduroy yellow dress and began confidently.

“The brave soldiers, fought at the battle of Paris and took back France”

“Very good” the teacher nodded for her to sit. “and why was this so important”

Again a flurry of hands went up. “Yes” she said nodding to another child

“Because Commander Benjamin, died fighting” Timmy said, confidently.

“Not quite” she pointed to another student

But was interrupted by Sylvia: “It was the moment the Fox Rebels, took back a country and that started the rebellions and victories that overwhelmed the Reichstag and freed everyone”.

“Sylvia, wait your turn” She lightly scolded the bright, overeager student.

 “But what is the lesson we can learn?” she posed to the class.

Silence

And what do you think?

-The end