Patriots Day By Kevin Mickel (HKUriah@AOL.com) Author's Note: This is a very different story for me. It is a reflection of the times that are living in, and the challenges that we must face because of them. I wrote this story in about an hour's time, two days before it was to be released in the April 2002 Mailer. There is not much humor in it, and it is kinda somber in its tone. Even so, I hope that it will be thought provoking, and that people will find it to be worth reading. When all else is said and done, it is an expression of my thoughts. Thank you for letting me share my mind with you all. April 15, 2003 Bugs Bunny opened the old box that had been in storage for almost sixty years and sighed at its contents. With a strange feeling of nostalgia, he pulled out his Marine Corps uniform and pulled it on. "Heh, it still fits," he said as he looked at himself in the mirror to make sure that everything was in place. "Not bad," he mused when he was satisfied that all was correct. Then, picking up his hat, he climbed up out of his home, and headed for the Loo. "I've wost weight," mused Elmer Fudd as he looked at his own reflection in the mirror. He was wearing his old Army uniform, and found himself wondering why he had not looked at it in so long. "Bugs is wight," he said as he headed for the door. "I hope the kids understand. Sitting in his home, the Dove of Peace sighed as he looked up at the heads of Hitlerduck, Tojoduck and Goosilini hanging on his wall. "Oh branch of peace," he said softly to the olive brow in his hand, "once more it has come to thus, that peace is lost, and must be fought for to be regained." Then, setting the branch down reverently on his desk and pushing the laurel leaf circlet on his head forward, he said, "There's work to be done, and it's time to do it!" With that, he picked up an empty wall hanger similar to the one that the Ducktators were displayed upon and hung it up next to them. The words, "Reserved for Osama Duck Ladin" were clearly visible upon it. Opening the closet in his Acme Loo office, Private Snafu, one time professional screw up in Uncle Sam's army, pulled out his old M1 rifle and sighed. With a practiced skill that would have surprised many who had seen and enjoyed the many training films he had starred in during World War Two, he stripped, cleaned and reassembled the venerable weapon in 3 minutes flat. "Still in good shape," he mused as he put it away once more. "I'll be ready if called." He looked at the rifle for a long moment before closing the closet door once more, and with the tune, "We Did it Before and We Can Do it Again" running through his mind, he headed for the auditorium. "What's going on, Buster?" asked Babs Bunny as they took their old seats in the Acme Loo auditorium. "It's been years since we were called here." "I dunno, Babs. Bugs wouldn't say. Just that he was wanting us all to be here." "Well, if like, Blue boy doesn't know, the, like nobody totally will." The rabbit turned to see that Plucky and Shirley were standing behind them, looking just as confused that they were themselves. "Hi, Buster," said Plucky. "Nice to be back, ain't it?" "I guess so," agreed Buster. "You guys came all the way down from the Satellite Campus for this?" "Didn't have much choice," mused Plucky. "I just wonder what's going on." Having no answers to that question, the four old friends just sat down and watched the auditorium fill up with all of their old classmates; the original graduating class of Acme Looniversity, and one time stars of Tiny Toon Adventures. Hamton and Fifi came into together, and as soon as they had joined with the others, Babs, Shirley and Fifi each held out their left hands to compare wedding rings. "Are you sure you guys didn't get a group rate?" they asked in unison as they pointed at their identical bands. "No dear," said Buster, Plucky and Hamton in practiced unison, playing out an old ritual that they still all got a good chuckle out of. "This had better be good!" came a loud shout in an old and familiarly raspy voice. Everyone turned to see Montana and Elmyra Max come into the auditorium, Monty looking for all the world like he wanted to be somewhere else. Elmyra on the other hand looked only full of glee. "Eewoo! Monty, look! It's the Hippity Hops, and the Ducky heads, and the Stinky Kitty and the Piggy wiggy head! Let's go say hello!" "Whatever," muttered Monty as he let Elmyra drag him over to his old nemeses. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they all sat down again, and Monty muttered, "So what *is* going on?" That's what was on everytoons mind as the rest of their old classmates filed into the auditorium. Soon it was full, and after a several minutes of greetings and hurried conversations, the house lights started to dim, and the audience dimmed as the stage wash light came on. There was many a raised eyebrow as the curtains parted to reveal the entire Acme Loo faculty. Several of them, Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Elmer, and Pvt. Snafu were all in older style military uniforms, and there were more than a few obscure Loony Tunes up there as well who had never really been a part of the faculty. As a sense of confusion grew over the gathered crowd, Bugs stepped forward and said, "Eh, hiya kids. I guess yer wonderin' what youse was all called her for, and what's up with the old getup for some of us. Well, it's kinda simple really. In a coupla states back East, today's holiday. A holiday dat commemorates da start of da Revolutionary War. Dey call it, "Patriots Day." Dat was almost two hundred and thoity years ago. Sixty years ago, me and da rest of us up here put on dese uniforms for another war. Now, today, it's happening again. I never thought I'd have t'say dese woids again, but as you kids all know, we are at war." Bugs let that statement hang for a long time before he continued. "Sixty years ago, me and me colleagues up here had to do our part, and now it's your toin. I'm not tellin' youse all t'run out and enlist, there'll be plenty a time fer that later if the need arises. Rather, I wanted to call yas all here to remind you of the cost of Freedom. It ain't free kids, and in the months an' years t'come, you may have to do somea da same t'ings dat we did. I wanted to let you know though, dat all of us'll be there too, ready to take up the cause once more. You won't have to do it alone." With that, several more toons, ones from every major old time studio, all of whom were in their old uniforms, came out onto the stage. The Loony Tunes in uniform moved over to join them, and coming to attention, they all turned to face the flag standing on the side of the stage. Porky Pig stepped forward then, and facing the audience, he said, "Weh uh w-would you all pleeuh, p-pkease st-t-tand for the Pledge of Allegiance?" Then, turning to face the flag again, he, and all the other uniformed toons, snapped a smart salute, and in a voice remarkably clear of stutter, he led the assembled crowds with the words, "I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. Once nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all." There was silence in the auditorium for a long time then as all the toons present thought about what they had just said, and what so many people had had to do so that they could stand there and do it. And more than a few of them wondered just what they might have to do in the future to make sure that they'd be able to do it again. After a few moments of this silence, Michigan J. Frog hopped forward and up to a small microphone that had been set up for him. After giving it a quick tap to make sure it was on, he nodded over to the Daffy, who had sat down at the piano, and after the Duck had played a short introduction, the Frog opened his mouth to sing. While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer: Then, with the everytoon on the stage joining him, he moved on into the chorus. God Bless America. Land that I love Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies , To the oceans, white with foam God bless America My home sweet home, God bless America My home sweet home! By the time the song was finished, everytoon was again on his or her feet, and all of them had joined in on the chorus. They sang from their hearts, and with a pride that many of them did not realize that they had. They still didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but they knew that they'd be able to face it, together. On the morning of April 19th, 1775, the forces of King George III opened fire on the Lexington Green. They marched on to Concord, but much to their dismay, the simple farmers from the towns of Bedford, Concord, Lincon and the surrounding communities had converged on the Old North Bridge in Concord, and there they turned them back, forcing the Redcoats to flee back to Boston, under heavy fire the entire way. On that day, a new nation was being formed. Every year in Massachusetts, on the Monday closest to April 19th, the holiday, "Patriots Day" is observed to honor this, the very beginnings of the American Nation. Today, April 15th, 2002 is Patriots Day. Let me dedicate this story to all men who have served, and especially those who have died, from Lexington to Kabul, so that we can remember just what it is that we stand for. Happy Patriots Day.