As the sun began to peek over the Berkshires, I composed myself on the porch of the bunk and put a smile on my face in an attempt to greet the day with confidence, hoping my demeanor would compel the twelve-year-old children inside to do the same. I entered the room, turned on the lights, and quickly ducked as a shoe whizzed by just inches from my ear. My efforts to wake, dress, and prepare my campers for their daily...

I sat eating my hamburger, wary of the two soldiers guarding the entrance to the restaurant. A young boy who couldn’t have been more than ten years old walked towards his table and unintentionally stepped on a styrofoam cup, producing a loud and defined “pop.” The soldiers instantly turned around with their machine guns cocked and aimed squarely at the source of the sound – the young boy. The restaurant was silent as the reality of the situation worked its...