Winnie the Pooh
"A Soldier's Return"
(Winnie-the-Pooh is the property of Walt Disney Co. and A. A. Milne)
Dedicated to the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the world
defending our freedom.
(Author's note: Since this story makes references to 9/11, Afghanistan, and
Iraq War, I want to make it very clear that I am not making sort of
political statement. These events just provide a setting for the story.)
Chapter 1: Enlistment & Goodbye
It was a hot summer day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when a tall,
lanky boy with brown hair walked into the Army recruiting office on 7th
Street. The recruiting officer looked up at the boy with interest.
"Interested in joining the Army, son?" asked the officer. "Yes," said the
boy, "I just graduated from high school two weeks ago and wanted to sign
up since last year." "Good," said the officer, "First off, what's your
name?" "Christopher Robin, sir," the boy replied.
Most people know Christopher Robin well. He was star of the school
basketball team and had received good grades upon his graduation. He was a
shy kid and had few friends, but was very friendly. He was the type of boy
everyone wanted as a son/brother/friend. When everyone heard that he
enlisted in the Army most were shocked but accepted the decision. The world
was at peace and the military could use people like Christopher around. Now
Christopher needed to tell one more group of friends of his decision, the
gang in the Hundred-Acre Wood.
The creatures of the Hundred Acre Wood were Christopher Robin's
closest friends. He could talk to them about any problem he had, except for
dating. During that summer Christopher Robin walked a familiar path to the
center of the Wood. He kept secret about his friends' existence for years
lest everyone will think he was crazy. Thankfully, the size for the Wood
kept many from venturing into the interior where his friends lived. He was
the only one who knew the path to a place where stuff animals walked,
talked, ate and thought.
He finally came to the clearing where his friends lived. The first
one he saw was Eeyore, the gloomy donkey who's always fell off and never
had a house. Christopher solved the housing problem a year ago when he
built a small cabin for the donkey, but his tail, pinned to his rear, still
fell off. "Hello Christopher Robin," said the gloomy donkey in his usual
monotone voice, "what brings you here?" "I just wanted talk to you guys I
have something important to say," said the boy. "OK, let's meet them at
Pooh bear's house," said the donkey. So they walked for some while until
they came to the tree with 'Mr. Sander's' nailed above the door. The door
then opened to reveal a familiar chubby yellow bear in a red tee shirt.
"Hello, Eeyore. Hello Christopher Robin. Want to come inside to have some
honey?" asked the bear. Christopher Robin had to simile, honey seem to be
on the bear's mind. "No thanks Pooh bear," said Christopher who had to
decline the offer due to his immense height of six feet two. "The thing is
I need to tell everyone something important. Can we gather them here right
now?" asked Christopher. "Sure Christopher Robin," said Pooh who rang a
bell that hung from a branch.
Within minutes all the creatures of the Hundred-Acre Wood gathered around
Christopher Robin. Christopher looked at all the familiar faces: Rabbit,
Tigger, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Gopher, Piglet and Kessie. "Hi everyone," said
Christopher, "there is something I need to tell you today." Everyone sat
quietly to hear what was so important. "This maybe the last time I will
see you. A couple of weeks ago I signed up to join the Army. I won't be
seeing you all for a long time and I might be killed on duty," said
Christopher with a solemn tone. At the last part of the speech everyone
gasped. They all knew what death was, though as stuffed animals it was
still a difficult thing to comprehend. "Please don't go," cried Piglet. "A
boy like you should be in higher learning, not fighting," said Owl, the
resident genius. Everyone else expressed his or her shock and concern.
Christopher knew this was coming but was prepared to explain to them why he
was going. "Don't worry guys. Just because I joined the Army does not mean
I going to die, but I won't be coming home any time soon either. Military
is an honorable profession. These are people who risk their lives to
protect our freedom and us from our enemies. I'll come home every once and
a while to visit," reassured Christopher to his sadden friends. "Be safe
Christopher Robin," said a teary eyed Pooh. He wrapped his arms around his
friend and so did everyone else. The next week Christopher Robin was on a
bus to basic training.
"A Soldier's Return"
(Winnie-the-Pooh is the property of Walt Disney Co. and A. A. Milne)
Dedicated to the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the world
defending our freedom.
(Author's note: Since this story makes references to 9/11, Afghanistan, and
Iraq War, I want to make it very clear that I am not making sort of
political statement. These events just provide a setting for the story.)
Chapter 1: Enlistment & Goodbye
It was a hot summer day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when a tall,
lanky boy with brown hair walked into the Army recruiting office on 7th
Street. The recruiting officer looked up at the boy with interest.
"Interested in joining the Army, son?" asked the officer. "Yes," said the
boy, "I just graduated from high school two weeks ago and wanted to sign
up since last year." "Good," said the officer, "First off, what's your
name?" "Christopher Robin, sir," the boy replied.
Most people know Christopher Robin well. He was star of the school
basketball team and had received good grades upon his graduation. He was a
shy kid and had few friends, but was very friendly. He was the type of boy
everyone wanted as a son/brother/friend. When everyone heard that he
enlisted in the Army most were shocked but accepted the decision. The world
was at peace and the military could use people like Christopher around. Now
Christopher needed to tell one more group of friends of his decision, the
gang in the Hundred-Acre Wood.
The creatures of the Hundred Acre Wood were Christopher Robin's
closest friends. He could talk to them about any problem he had, except for
dating. During that summer Christopher Robin walked a familiar path to the
center of the Wood. He kept secret about his friends' existence for years
lest everyone will think he was crazy. Thankfully, the size for the Wood
kept many from venturing into the interior where his friends lived. He was
the only one who knew the path to a place where stuff animals walked,
talked, ate and thought.
He finally came to the clearing where his friends lived. The first
one he saw was Eeyore, the gloomy donkey who's always fell off and never
had a house. Christopher solved the housing problem a year ago when he
built a small cabin for the donkey, but his tail, pinned to his rear, still
fell off. "Hello Christopher Robin," said the gloomy donkey in his usual
monotone voice, "what brings you here?" "I just wanted talk to you guys I
have something important to say," said the boy. "OK, let's meet them at
Pooh bear's house," said the donkey. So they walked for some while until
they came to the tree with 'Mr. Sander's' nailed above the door. The door
then opened to reveal a familiar chubby yellow bear in a red tee shirt.
"Hello, Eeyore. Hello Christopher Robin. Want to come inside to have some
honey?" asked the bear. Christopher Robin had to simile, honey seem to be
on the bear's mind. "No thanks Pooh bear," said Christopher who had to
decline the offer due to his immense height of six feet two. "The thing is
I need to tell everyone something important. Can we gather them here right
now?" asked Christopher. "Sure Christopher Robin," said Pooh who rang a
bell that hung from a branch.
Within minutes all the creatures of the Hundred-Acre Wood gathered around
Christopher Robin. Christopher looked at all the familiar faces: Rabbit,
Tigger, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Gopher, Piglet and Kessie. "Hi everyone," said
Christopher, "there is something I need to tell you today." Everyone sat
quietly to hear what was so important. "This maybe the last time I will
see you. A couple of weeks ago I signed up to join the Army. I won't be
seeing you all for a long time and I might be killed on duty," said
Christopher with a solemn tone. At the last part of the speech everyone
gasped. They all knew what death was, though as stuffed animals it was
still a difficult thing to comprehend. "Please don't go," cried Piglet. "A
boy like you should be in higher learning, not fighting," said Owl, the
resident genius. Everyone else expressed his or her shock and concern.
Christopher knew this was coming but was prepared to explain to them why he
was going. "Don't worry guys. Just because I joined the Army does not mean
I going to die, but I won't be coming home any time soon either. Military
is an honorable profession. These are people who risk their lives to
protect our freedom and us from our enemies. I'll come home every once and
a while to visit," reassured Christopher to his sadden friends. "Be safe
Christopher Robin," said a teary eyed Pooh. He wrapped his arms around his
friend and so did everyone else. The next week Christopher Robin was on a
bus to basic training.