Chapter 16 - YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A HEROMiddle school introduced Noah to a new problem.
Other children knew how to search.
His father’s name produced articles.
Memorial pages.
Rebecca’s essay.
Military citations.
One boy said:
“Your dad saved people. What have you done?”
Noah was twelve.
He came home furious.
“I hate him.”
“Who?”
“Dad.”
Rebecca stopped.
No judgment.
“Why?”
“Because everybody thinks I’m supposed be something.”
She sat.
“Tell me.”
“They say your dad hero.”
“Teacher says courage runs family.”
“Coach says I have big shoes.”
“I don’t want shoes.”
Rebecca almost cried.
Caleb had predicted exactly.
She retrieved letter.
Noah groaned.
“I know.”
“No. Read yourself.”
She pointed.
Do not let anybody make him carry my uniform like a debt.
Noah stared.
“That’s weird.”
“Why?”
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
He read next:
You don’t owe world life I chose.
Noah looked.
“So I can be coward?”
Rebecca smiled.
“You can be scared.”
“What if I don’t save anybody?”
“You are twelve.”
“Your job is homework and showering.”
“Showering sucks.”
“Still.”
Foster reinforced.
“Your father’s service is not inherited obligation.”
Noah:
“What if I never do anything important?”
Foster:
“Who decides important?”
“My dad saved life.”
“He also packed your lunch wrong.”
Noah laughed.
Foster continued:
“Your dad wanted ordinary days.”
“Being good friend, partner, father, engineer, mechanic—whatever—that matters.”
Noah joined robotics club.
He liked machines.
At competition, robot failed.
Motor burned out.
Noah cried from frustration.
Foster attended.
No speech about perseverance.
He helped carry broken robot.
Noah said:
“Dad good robots?”
“No.”
“Good.”
One burden gone.
Noah later became interested in mechanical engineering.
People assumed because father’s accident.
He hated assumption.
“I liked robots before report.”
May you like
Rebecca defended.
No one gets to turn career into trauma symbol unless person chooses.
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