John's dad is standing straight and tall in his Army uniform. There's a war going on somewhere far away, and John's dad has to go fight in it. (The Walklands? No, the Falklands.) He gives John's mum a hug and kisses Harriet on the cheek. Then he kneels down in front of John.
"Now John, while I'm away, you're the man of the house. Look after your mother and your sister until I come home."
"When will you come home?"
Dad smiles and says, "When the war is over. Be a good boy now."
As Dad walks off, John looks up and sees that Mum is crying. Remembering his dad's instruction, John holds his mother's hand. His greatest fear is that Dad won't come back.
