Saying Goodbye

Tom was dressed in his best clothes. He was not going to a party or to any type of celebration. Instead, he was going to stand with the hundreds of others to watch the train pass—the train that held the body of the country’s beloved president, Abraham Lincoln.

As Tom put on his shoes, he could not stop thinking about the assassination of President Lincoln. After four years of war, the country had already been through so much. Losing the president seemed liked the final straw. He felt especially sorry for Mrs. Lincoln. He imagined how things would be for his mother if something happened to his father. She relied on his strength just like he was sure Mrs. Lincoln had relied on her own husband. He hoped the country could pull together and be there to help her and her family.

Tom’s parents were ready to go when he walked outside to join them. He held tight to his mother’s hand as the three began to make their way up the street and toward the train station. He knew he would never forget this day, even if he wanted to. He wasn’t sure what would happen when they arrived or if they would even be able to see the president, but he knew they all needed to go to show their respect for the man who had tried so hard to preserve the Union.

As they continued their walk, Tom thought a lot about what he might want to do someday. No answer came to him as he made the slow and steady walk with his parents, but one thing did become clear to him. He wanted to make a difference in the world, just like President Lincoln had.