A Homecoming from Afghanistan in Rode Apple Junction (Part 1)

Rode Apple Junctions's third grade.

A Fort Wayne TV station and newspaper drove out to the Rode Apple Junction Elementary School two weeks ago. They were there to catch the joy of Darla Saterfield’s surprise return of her Dad, Specialists Zach Saterfield, who was supposed to come into Darla’s third grade class. The cameras were there to capture the unscripted emotion and drama of the moment; hugs, tears, joyful faces.

Four media people positioned themselves for the best shots. Zach was told to arrive at nine-thirty so it could appear on the noon news on the TV station and make the evening paper. People like to see returning soldiers. It sells advertising.

Nine-thirty came and no Zach. Nine-thirty five came and no Zach. Nine-forty came and the TV reporter said, “I’m glad this ain’t live.”

The teacher, Mrs. Gladstone, became nervous. She said to the reporter, “Maybe I should go to the office and make sure of the time.” She left the room and came back a couple of minutes later. She approached the reporter and shrugged her shoulders, “They said it was set up for nine-thirty. They don’t know where he is.”

The TV reporter said, “I barely have enough time to get this all edited and ready for noon.”

The reporter from the paper said, “Noon is my deadline for the evening new.”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Mrs. Gladstone said. “Zach was to come in on a flight late last night, stay the night in Dayton, and be here at eight-thirty. He would have had plenty of time. We went over the schedule with Darla’s mother at least five times. Maybe something went wrong. I’ll give Darla’s mom a call.” She rushed to her purse, grabbed her cell phone, and pecked out the numbers. She tapped her foot; waiting and waiting. There was no answer.

Mrs. Gladstone looked over at the unassuming little Darla Saterfield. “I’m glad she knows none of this in going on. It would break her heart.”

“Look,” the TV newsman said, “This is not about little girls’ broken hearts; it’s about news and selling air time. It’s about making my liberal biased station look like hearts are joyful over a benevolent president bringing soldiers home to families. It’s about appearance. If there was a conservative in charge the other guys would be out her getting the story. If it bleeds; it leads. If they sob; we have jobs.”

“That’s so calloused,” Mrs. Gladstone said.

“It’s war,” The TV reporter said. “And we’re here to manipulate it with all the skill of an infantry field marshal.”

“What are we going to do if Darla’s Dad doesn’t show?” Mrs. Gladstone said.

The TV newsman motioned for his colleagues to follow him to the hallway. “I have an idea.”

(Next week; “the idea.”)