Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-03
BY Chef OPAL

He was a general. He knew
he wasn't really a general, bu
just the same he imagined him
self one.
He was part of mass O.
people marching down Lincoln
boulevard carrying placards. Tht
procession had just passed {
large street-Randiy. or some
thing like that = he couldn'
read. being only six years old
but he could remember.
He knew they were gettins
close to Central Park. That wa.
good. he'd been marching a Ions
time. Propped on his right
shoulder was a long pole, reach.
ing into the air. On the enc
was a sign. He couldn't reac
what it said nor did he really
care-the nice man had given
him 25 cents to carry it.
To him the pole was a rife. A
bright shiny piece with carved
stock. Not pistol. but a rifle
He was a bold general leading
victorious army.
People Were Cheering
Along the street people were
cheering; a few here and there
were booing and throwing rocks
and tomatoes and apples and
other things at the paraders
That was all right; a victorious
general would expect to be booed
by the people of the country
he conquered He didn't relish
the idea of being hit, but en-
loved it when others were.
He had dreamed of being in
a parade, of being al actor, but
most of all of being a general
Parades were a lot of fun. but
he'd much rather be a general
He looked at the people carrying
placards ahead. They were his
army which he was going to lead
into another great battle which
he would win with the use OF
cunning tricks. The people at
his side were colonies giving him
advice: the sound of firecrack-
ers, cannons in the distance. He
was storming great cities-New
York. places in Germany. Texas
He would fight for his country
for freedom. and for what was
right He would be one OF the
most famous generals in history
The parade rounded a corner
Only about 10 blocks to Central
Park. he thought He was
starting to sweat: it was two in
the afternoon in midsummer
and they had been marching
since II. There was a scramble
ahead and to his left and he
heard a yelp. Someone must
have gotten hit with tomato
or something. Good. all generals
should be honored. like this.
Hit by Tomato
On the next block he was hit
by tomato on his right leg and
several hrecrackers went off close
by. But he didn't mind because
he was brave!
He recalled he was carving a
sign and looked up at It. He
spelled the letters out. but he
couldn't make out their mean
ing. Oh well. it didn't matter
he had gotten to be in parade
a few people broke ranks behind
him and had retaliated against
a group of tomato fingers. That
was good. it showed him his
army was tough.
He had often come to watch
paraders on Lincoln boulevard
since his family lived in an
apartment only a block from the
thoroughfare He was the only
child in the family. living with
his parents and his grandmother
Though it was a humble home
they had television set. and he
often watched war movies on It
Someday when he could read he
hoped he would become a gen.
eral
He felt the quarter in his
pocket. and tried to decide
whether 70 buy toy pistol or a
sword with it Finally he decided
to wait until he had saved uu
enough to buy a rifle, 2 nice
shiny one. Boy, would that b.
fun He'd always wanted a toy
rife.
Just Make Believe
He sometimes thought about
reading after all you had TO be
able TO read to be general. He
saw his father reading the paper,
but yet he thought 1t would be
impossible TO learn TO read And
he would be able TO add IL End
~ and count to 200. He would be
very smart some day and become
good general. But right now
he could make believe, All the
other kids pretended to be space
men That's sissy-spacemen and
rocket ships. He would be- gen.
eral
Six more blocks to Central
Park Over across the street was
the bakery. Behind It was an
empty lot where his friend and
he had played war His house
was a block up on the other
side, behind the dime store.
Gosh he was tired The pro-
ccssion had started at Central
80 a