First is a quarter from his home state of Maryland. More than a symbol of patriotism, the coin serves to kill time when not killing others; there is an art to coin flipping. In a pinch, a coin flip can settle unneeded disputes among comrades. Leaving one more thing to chance in a field of chaotic probabilities is no great loss on the part of anyone.
Next is a pen, nothing especially remarkable along with a notebook. The tip is sharp enough should the situation call for it and there is always occasion to write. In lieu of paper, an arm could serve perfectly as a canvas. It carries the hope that what has been written will one day return to be read by family and friends who did not experience the horror of war.
Third and final is a watch. A timepiece is no doubt valuable in a place where confusion runs amok. This certain watch is a G-Shock series, known for its durability and was a gift from William's cousin as he entered high school. It heralded new times and all of the times since were recorded upon its clock face. A war should be no different. The times past and awaiting will see to it that they are a part of who he is now.
At first when you showed the class what you intended to bring to war, I thought you had simply forgotten to do the homework. Then I actually delved into a bit of
ReplyDeletethought on the subject myself, and realized that my own three items were fairly
rudimentary. After truly thinking about the subject at hand, I came to the conclusion that it really is the most simple things in life that we need most. A pen is both a tool, and a time killer. It allows for creativity and also allows for reflection on any thoughts prompted by the exciting or boring events you live through while at war. Many people would think of a writing utensil as overrated, but you saw the true usefulness of such a simple object, which I enjoy.
A coin, much like a pen, is simple, light, and serves almost any function. It is a decision maker, a dispute settler, a reminder of the country that you're fighting for, a time killer, and also is as handy as a screwdriver is when it comes to disassembling weapons.
A watch, though fairly singular in purpose, is made much more special in that it was a gift from a family member. This to me represents the most important of the three, because it is a reminder of home and loved ones. This type of an object may not necessarily function in many different ways (though it actually does because it's a G-Shock), but it is much like Alex Cross's pebble. It stays with you at all times and carries an importance to you personally.