Honor The Pledge

He was my friend, from the beginning
From the moment we meet in Cub Scout Troop 93
Where all the guys of the neighborhood first meet
Learning our pledge: DO MY BEST
To do my DUTY to GOD and my Country
To HELP other people, and To OBEY the LAW of the Pack
Meeting each week to work on being a good citizen

He said he was learning piano, so was I
With this common interest were the bonds of friendship formed
Sealed by the laws of the pack, to God, country and friends
So I would go to his house to compare lessons
Practice our code and our piano skills, still beginning
Trust developed and secrets shared, good and bad
That's when I learned he played with dolls, dress-up

It didn't bother me but I told my mom
She said different people liked different things
I tried to get him to go snake hunting with me
I showed him a copperhead I had caught, my pride
He told his mom and she forbid him to visit again
Or friendship became a secret; I still went to see him
He was my friend, friends stuck together through thick and thin

In JR high school the bullies formed, drawn to his difference
He would go home with a blooded nose, my clothes torn
I had quit piano after learning “Fur Elise” classical
He still played and it took most of his time, drills
We both started liking girls at the same time
I would laugh as I pulled their hair, said opposite my feelings
He would invite girl to his house for a ‘tea party'

The bullies found out about the ‘tea party', gossip
At a pep rally bully “Jason” was in fine form, pinching
My friend wiggled which made Jason laugh louder
It made me mad; I got my friend to back me, a plan
“You've got a history book, smack him in the head”
“No he will hurt me,” my mild mannered friend
“No he won't, he will never hit you again, promise”

My friends joined in, “He won't hit you, we promise”
“Go ahead stand up for yourself, stop him and hit him”
“Use the history book right on his head, he deserves it”
“This one time you're safe my friend; he won't hit back”
“We will protect you, promise” pats on his back, promise made
“Yeah,” Jason chimed in, “Go ahead and hit me”
This was the breaking point for my friend, rage swelled

He stood, shaking and lifted the big history book over his head
Taking aim he crashed the book on the bully's head, crack
The stunned face of Jason the bully is etched into my mind
Eyes rolled up into his face and he passed out for the count
Laughter erupted, surprised my friends accepted him as one
Pats on the back and a woozy bully, and my friend
Passive still but he will defend himself, honor the pledge.