Tiger Moths Read Free

up that’s what I want to do. No, that’s what I’m gonna do – just like you did. I’m gonna fly one of those Air Force planes and I’m gonna be really, really good at it too – maybe as good as you.”
    “Oh, my little friend, I believe you will; and you will probably be better than me.”
    “I’m sorry, sir, but I must get back to my campsite now.”
    “Really? You’re leaving me so soon.”
    “Yes, sir, I have to go find my dad. I have to tell him that I want to be a pilot. My dad is very smart; he will help me learn to fly like that one day.”
    With that, Eliza had turned on her heels and sped off to find her father, who listened to her story intently, and smiled the biggest smile she had ever seen. Not a day had gone by since that night last summer that Eliza had not declared that she was going to be a pilot when she grew up. Her dad smiled that same smile every time she announced her dream; and every time he nodded his head and encouraged her. It was only when she grew older that she discovered women were not allowed to fly fighter jets. And yet, her dad never let her think her dream was impossible. He truly was the greatest dad in the world, and each trip to the beach with her family only made her more convinced of that.

     
    “Eliza, where are you? C’mon, honey, it’s time to check out our neighbors and friends this year.”
    David found Eliza sitting by the fire, mesmerized by its pops and cracks, as the flames leaped from the smaller to the larger logs. She held a stick in the flames and would periodically pull it out to see how long it remained afire on its own. After the flame died away, she would repeat the ritual, and be quietly impressed with the whole process.
    “Eliza, didn’t you hear me; and have we not talked about playing in the fire?”
    “Daddy, have we not talked about what my name is when we are camping?” she imitated his tone to perfection. “My name is Dale, not Eliza. And I’m not playing in the fire, I’m sperimenting; I mean experimenting.”
    Eliza Dale Grayson had wanted to be known as Dale from the time she could talk. It fit her better she said; and indeed it probably was more suitable for the tomboy she was. But her mom had been adamant about this issue – she would be called Eliza. It was a more proper name for her little girl. Ann did allow that if her daughter disagreed when she grew up, then she would agree to call her Dale.
    But her little girl had been relentless. Thus, the one other concession was that for the one week when they were on vacation, Eliza could choose to be who she wanted to be. Eliza knew that her mom had hoped that she would outgrow her desire to be Dale – but her hopes remained unfulfilled for the fifth year. Once again their vacation daughter was an adventurous girl named Dale.
    “So sorry about that – Dale it is. So Dale, since you are experimenting, let me show you a neat trick you can do with your burning stick there.”
    He walked over to her and ran his hand through her newly shorn hair. She usually wore it longer, but her vacation persona called for the short bob cut. It was cute, and as she said, “It is a lot easier than that whole mess of long hair, and it sure feels better too.”
    He reached down next to her and picked up a stick of his own. “Here now, watch this.”
    She stood at his side watching intently. Her dad always taught her the coolest stuff. He thrust the stick in the fire until it caught the flames. He held it there momentarily and then lifted it out as Dale had done. It too lost its flames; but rather than returning it to the larger fire he told Dale to look at the end of the stick. She saw that it still held a bright orange glow. Then telling her to stand back, he quickly moved the glowing stick through the air, forming trails of letters that continued to linger in mid-air behind the stick. D-A-L-E, he spelled, and just like that, the glow was gone.
    The young girl was enthralled by the sight. Wide-eyed