Behind the Lines: by David Heiller

David Heiller The small black suitcase lay before me on the bed, and I hesitated before opening it. The suitcase stays in the top dresser drawer in my old bedroom, but I had never opened it before. And now, I hesitated just a second before lifting the two metal clasps, like you hesitate before lifting the phone receiver to call a friend you haven’t seen in a long, long time, not knowing who’ll answer. Inside the black vinyl case, two bright scarves lay on top, and two hand-made pot holders, and a ceramic wall hanging, carefully painted but with colors running into each other, the yellow banana flowing onto the green foliage. Some construction paper posters were carefully folded, along with two hot pads, and a Girl Scout sash with 16 merit badges from Troop 93, Peace Pipe Council. David and Lynette with Grandma Schnick. I touched these things carefully, seeing for what seemed like the first time in 20 years, the smiling girl who had made them and worn them, my sister, Ly...

Editor's note : I believe that this was David's first column as the editor of the Askov American. The idea of a weekly column was just  beginning  to  percolate  in his mind. So, the format  and the style were a little different. The story is a beloved one in our family.   ON CAMP COURAGE: David's older sister Lynette went to camp, D avid and I met at camp (he was the cowboy, I was the cook).  My brother and sister-in-law worked there.  Our daughter, Malika worked at camp.  It is not a stretch to say what an important place Camp Courage was to our family. David Heiller   Every week, newspapers like the American are inundated with press releases from people, organizations or businesses who have some information they would like passed along. Some of the press releases are for good causes, others are blatantly self-serving, little more than free advertising. The press release on the front page of this week’s American from the ...