"My Priceless Pencil"

This is a super touching and sweet story written by an eighteen yr old (I think) homeschooler who has entered the army. M3T41 51UG (Metal Slug) of Teen Homeschool Hang posted it in the "Open Mic" Forum. But it is a true story, and I thought that it was so sad and sweet that I wanted to share it.


Never in my entire life have I ever been so scared of a child. On Wednesday morning of last week, Alpha company along with the MP unit from Fort Meyer went to the Washington monument to rehearse for Twilight Tattoo. As I was riding on the bus, the sergeant rose, turned to us, and told us what was going to happen that morning.

" Hey guys, listen up. for those of us that have done this for a couple years, you know whats going on, for the rest of you, pay attention. Make a wish foundation has granted this kid's wish to be president for the day. If he walks up to you, be sure to call him 'Mr President'."

" Oh, and I swear to God, if you jack around out there with him, I will SMOKE THE...."

You get the idea.

We arrived shortly there after and began to practice. We did a few run throughs, and then I heard it. Sirens that where once in the distance grew louder and louder as the presidential motorcade closed in. my heart started to pound as the sergeant called us to attention. I didn't know what to expect. They didn't say how old he was, what he looked like, or who would be there. The doors to the black hummer opened up, and the secret service took there positions. the president was in view.....

Out popped this 8 year old boy, who was barely tall enough to see over the bodyguard's knees. He had a little red tie on, which stood out that much more in his black "presidential tuxedo", and next to him was the vise president, dressed the same attire. he was escorted to the viewing area, and was lifted onto the luxury leather seat. i wanted to laugh at how awkward he was positioned. His legs hardly went over the edge of the chair.

It was at that point we started the show.

I was in a long line of Old guard soldiers, all of us carrying one of the 56 flags representing 50 states and the 6 US territories. I will spare you the details, but basically our job was to dip the flags in front of the president. as I was about to pass in front of him, i was filled with panic, fear, and sorrow all at once. " What if i screw up!? This kid is going to die, and all i do is ruin his one chance to be president!"

The point came, and i executed my job perfectly. I went back to my marker, and waited for the ceremony to end. Something happened that i didn't expect. Instead of leaving, the president and his posse disappeared out of my sight. Time goes by, and I start to see what's going on.

Before I know it, the president is standing.. right... in front... of me. I didn't know what to say, what to do. I salute him, and he sticks out his little hand. His little hand. Here in front of me is a boy, dying of terminal cancer, president of ALL AMERICA, and all he wants to do is shake my hand and give me a pencil.

Thats all I could do. shake his hand...and take his pencil. Just like that, he was gone on to the next guy, and I'm left with a small reminder of what happened mere seconds ago. I wanted to do so much more. I wanted to take his cancer. I wanted to give him the rest of his life. I wanted to say," thank you, Mr. "President".

I can't take his cancer. I can't give him his life back. I didn't "say thank you".

However, I dipped the flag the best I ever have, could, or will. No other president will get that dip. It's something no other person in the world will ever witness.

I have his pencil. I keep it in my top drawer. I check the make a wish foundation often to see if they posted his story. Whether they do or not, I will always remember Michael Salzinger, President for a Day.