A Portrait of Steve

 

     He was tall and gangly, but fast as a gazelle. He was awkward yet had a nice face, but always a bit of mischief stirring around. His neighborhood was like a Lost Boys hideout. On the dead end street of middle-class houses outlined with woods they nicknamed the “Daniel Boone Forest,” he spent his afternoons and summer vacations. This was the location on Chicago street for the superhero to take his abode. He lived with his mother, a strong-willed little woman who loved her children fiercely and could win a competitive game of Spades with the roosting mother hens gathered in her living room. His distant father seldom seen was always tinkering or studying when he was home.

    This is where Steve grew up and lived his adventures. It is here that he escaped the angry neighbor’s thrashing after stealing his apples by pole-vaulting over the fence on his hand-made 10-foot cane pole. This is how he became a  record-breaking sprinter as he escaped to his own backyard and protective mother’s arms. It is here that he created cherry bombs with his friends and thought up all sorts of mischief. Little did these boys know in a few short years most of them would travel to a beautiful place called Vietnam. But it would be filled with horror as the violent blow of bombs would tear apart everything in their path: friends lives, ancient villages, and the hope for peace.

    It is through the back squeaky door, past the kitchen table, and up the creaky stairs and onto the springy bed Steve dreamed of being an Olympic runner. In highschool, his name was framed for the pole-vault record. In the middle of a sprint, in stride and exhale, life was bold and gleaming best. On his pillow, Steve’s mind drifted. It is from his perch on the twin sized mattress when he was eighteen, decided to sign up for Vietnam. He felt ready to change the world with his neighborhood buddies. With bags packed and hair buzzed he looked one more time in the mirror hanging over the modest dresser.

 “Steve you are now a man,” he said to the young thin man smiling, with perfect teeth each a twin side by side, in the reflection.

     Little did he know that the army would look into his medical records before he could officially enlist and would see the BB gun wound to his left eye. It happened in the "Daniel Boone Forest" when he was thirteen. His friend Eric Backens meant to aim for the squirrel a few yards away. Aiming at a squirrel he accidentally hit a Steve. He was not a good shot. For almost a month Steve would lay in the hospital recovering. Miraculously he could still have some vision out of the left eye, so he was shocked that he wouldn't be able to serve his country, because of the injury.

    He was so convinced that he was fit to serve that he took his last paycheck and gave it to his family. He took the time to say good-bye to all his friends, and even his father. Walking off to the bus where his friends awaited him ready to leave for basic training he heard his name called, "Stephen D. Tullis, report to the health office at once."

    Sitting on the metal folding chair he looked down at his enlistment papers with “Denied” stamped in red ink across his name. Angry tears threatened to betray his disappointment as he was dismissed from the army. Leaving the health office he waved good-bye to his neighborhood buddies on the bus. Making the humbling walk back home to his upstairs room, swept clean, and packed up he hung his head. Embarrassed he realized he would have to get all his stuff back. He had given away everything of value in his passion, to save the world. All the goals he had of being a superhero while he soared through the air on his handmade 10-foot cane pole came crashing down to earth.

    Little did he know that he would soon meet the One who saves souls. He would get married to my mother and have four children. He would teach Sunday school as a new believer learning the bible from the righteous little sixth grade students he was supposed to lead. Little did he know he would fill the lives of his children with silly adventures of hide and seek and Monster tag. Little did he know that he would be known as an evangelist to all his friends, co-workers, and family. His adventures were only beginning, but in the quiet of his upstairs room, there was no wide toothy grin on that day, just angry tears as he had to say good bye to the Lost Boys of the little dead end street.