Davy was a little boy who loved trains. His father often took him to the old train station to watch the trains go by. They would sit on the bench next to the ticket office, and wave at the engineers as the locomotives pulled the trains past the station, and they pulled their horn.
One day, they went to the station, and they saw a young lady wearing a t-shirt, blue jeans and was barefoot sitting on their bench crying hard. “Why is she so sad?” Davy wondered.
“Wait here.” Davy’s father said to him. He walked over to the young lady. “Are you O.K.?”
The young lady peeked up at him with tears rolling down her face.
“My little boy saw you crying. I was just wondering.” He added.
She wiped the tears from her face. “I just got the news that my boyfriend is not coming home.”
“What happened?” He asked.
More tears rolled from her face. “We were going to get married as soon as he returned home. He was a proud soldier, and he always wanted to serve his country. He was about to board the plane to come home, but a band of terrorists attacked the plane killing everyone on board.”
The father was getting emotional.
“We would chase trains all the time. We spent most of our dates at the bridge watching the trains go across. The last time I saw him, he boarded the train right here. We kissed, and I told him that I will wait for him to return.”
The father was choked up. “He must be remembered for his sacrifice.”
She continued to cry.
“What is your name?”
She immediately noticed Davy standing next to her.
“My name is Davy. I like to watch trains. Do you?” Davy smiled.
She grabbed Davy and hugged him. “I’m Jessica.”
“What was your boyfriend’s name?” the father asked.
“Calvin.” She had more tears rolled down her face.
“Well then, we must thank him for his dedicated service not just to the nation but for the many who are able to live their lives because of his service. If people only knew what it is like to live under tyranny, they would take the time to remember every soldier who did not return home from war. Because of his service, many who wish to destroy our freedom have been stopped. Everyone needs to thank your boyfriend. He was a great man.”
She wiped tears from her face.
“We are here to watch trains. Do you want to watch trains with us?” Davy asked her.
She paused, and she gave Davy a big hug. “I would love to watch trains with you.”
Davy sat on one side of Jessica while his father sat on the other side.
An hour went by. “Here comes the train.” Davy shouted.
A passenger train pulled up. A few passengers stepped off of the train. The conductor saw Jessica sitting between Davy and his father. He walked over to Jessica and said, “I heard that your boyfriend is not coming home. I am sadden by your loss and that you are not going to marry your lifelong friend, but I was told by many that he was a great soldier. I hope that you will always remember him for his sacrifice.”
She jumped up and hugged the conductor.
“He told me that the train ride was his favorite part of his journey. I enjoyed him as a passenger.” The conductor added. “I must go now.” The conductor stepped onto the train, and the train pulled away.
“You’re a great lady to watch trains with.” Davy smiled at Jessica.
Jessica hugged Davy. “I am enjoying watching trains with you.”
On this Memorial Day, let us remember the men and women who went to fight in battle and did not return home. We enjoy watching trains because they stood in the way of those who did not want us to watch trains.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 