John and his dad are sitting on the couch looking at old photographs. Most of the photos are black-and-white, and all of the men are in military uniforms.
"This one's your great-grandfather – he was one of Britain's first fighter pilots. And that's your grandfather; he was an army medic in the Second World War. He was a part of the Battle of the Bulge and rescued a group of American soldiers. And that's me, son, just before the Falklands. There's been a Watson in every war Britain's fought for the last 250 years. We don't shirk our duties; when Queen and Country call, we answer. We go to war and we return as heroes." Slipping his arm around John's shoulders, he adds, "Someday, you will be a hero too."
John gives his father an uncertain look. "But I'm short."
Dad looks the boy in the eye and says, "Son, you don't need to be tall to be a hero. You just need to be brave and to do what must be done. If you can manage that, people will look up to you, no matter your height."
John's greatest fear is that his dad is wrong.
A/N: Special thanks to my dad, who gave me similar advice when I was about this age. :)