Song: Riding with Privet Malone

By: David Bell

Start song at (1)

Idea by Randomly Talented.

Thank you to all of you Veterans! You have done so much for your home and the people in it; we honor you now and forever!

"When war takes someone you love it can be hard. Some people hang on to things of their loved ones others pass them on to someone else. But the memories are still there, one time I even witnessed a miracle around one such possession." Now great uncle Rob took his turn to tell a story.

(1) "I had just come home from the service and was looking for a car of my own. Spotting an ad for a Chevy in the paper I went to look it over. I was doubtful at first because it was in the back corner of the barn and covered it with a tarp that was layered in dirt and dust. But the car I found underneath was a beautiful Corvette that had obviously been loved and well cared for." Rob took out a different album and showed everyone picture of him standing beside a 66 red Corvette.

"The real surprise that came with this car was when I opened up the glove-box what I found was a letter inside. It read: my name is Private Andrew Malone and if you're reading this, and I didn't make it home. But for every dream that's shattered, another one comes true. This car was once a dream of mine, now it belongs to you. Though you may take her and make her your own, you'll always be riding, with Private Malone." Shocked eyes stared back at him as uncle Rob pulled out a well creased slightly colored letter. It had been tucked behind the photo of him in the car, "a tribute to Private Malone, so he would be remembered along with his car." He explained as the letter was carefully and read around the group.

"I took the car and cared for it, cleaning and reworking the engine shining the wheels polishing the exterior, like it was a precious gem. I took it as an honor to have a car that had once belonged to a soldier named Private Malone. One that had fought for his country but never made it home. I wanted to be worthy; I guess you could say, of having his precious dream. I made a promise to that soldier to do as he asked in his letter secretly hidden on the chance he never made it home to take care of the car himself."

Uncle Rob gave a small grown as he shifted in his chair. Is he comfortable story, or is he in hurt? Jack wandered to himself. His face seemed to take on a wince of remembered pain. After a bit of getting comfortable he continued his story. "Turned out that what he'd said at the end of his letter could very well have been true. I always felt as if there was someone riding beside me. If I turned real quick, I thought, and might see a soldier riding shotgun. Though I never actually saw him the feeling remained. And one stormy night when I lost traction on my wheels I was thanking God for it. My car swerved around the corner far too quickly and I ended up crashing. Very foggy memory of what really happened all I can clearly recall is heat and pain."

Jack, along with just about everyone else, winced. Well that explains that. Jack thought. "When I woke up in the hospital I found out that the car had caught on fire. People had come running to try and help and one observer saw a man in uniform pulled me from the wreckage to safety. They never caught his name, and he seemed to vanish into thin air right after."

Astonishment! That is what was obvious on every single face, in every pair of eyes, in all of their body language. "He saved you!" Jamie said barely above a whisper.

Uncle Rob nodded a smile of gratitude on his face. "Yes, yes he did! I've said this before and I'll say it again thank God for Private Malone!"