A flash fiction story.
My grandson and I are attending his first football match; it's Remembrance Weekend. My club has a strong connection with the Great War and observes its usual impeccable minute's silence before kickoff.
He's a bit bewildered. "Why are we wearing poppies, Grandpa?"
"To remember soldiers who died fighting for their country."
"You said wars were stupid."
"They are, usually. But soldiers don't start wars. They follow government orders."
"So wars are the government's fault?"
"Yup."
He pauses.
"But don't we elect governments?"
"Yup."
"Does that mean it's our fault the soldiers die, Grandpa?"
"Sort of. That's why we wear poppies."
He's a bit bewildered. "Why are we wearing poppies, Grandpa?"
"To remember soldiers who died fighting for their country."
"You said wars were stupid."
"They are, usually. But soldiers don't start wars. They follow government orders."
"So wars are the government's fault?"
"Yup."
He pauses.
"But don't we elect governments?"
"Yup."
"Does that mean it's our fault the soldiers die, Grandpa?"
"Sort of. That's why we wear poppies."
