I’m not sure what caused the hostilities and no mediator for either side could elicit a specific reason for the stand-off. Arbitration failed, though negotiators for both factions had used every facet of their expertise before the goal of peace vanished. Even though I spearheaded the advisory team, I felt helpless. Boundaries drawn, both sides prepared for battle.

“Since you won’t tell me the problem,” I pleaded, “won’t you at least give me a hint about what we might offer for appeasement?”

The General glared at me. “Honor is at stake! Compromise is impossible! We must destroy all those that would sully our honor!”

“We’ve never faced such an opponent before…so strong, so skilled. Besides, our respective well-beings are so interdependent, there could be no winner.” I broke into a sweat as I thought of the long term consequences of the unresolved conflict.

As days went by, flaring tempers caused minor skirmishes, but both sides chose to use these only as tests of the enemy’s strength instead of as an excuse for the ultimate conflict. Neither of the war machines could afford to cede the privilege of picking the time and the place. I watched helplessly as battle preparations changed from attack maneuvers to forging an impenetrable defense.

Early one morning, as I began my daily routine, an aide interrupted me. “There’s a messenger from the enemy…he’s asking to speak with you.”

“Please excuse my interruption,” the envoy said after the usual amenities. “Since we are both fathers of our respective Generals, I have an idea that may prove valuable to both sides.” I called my co-advisor, who was also my wife (but that is another story for another time), into the room and the messenger revealed a plan--a detailed scheme that was astonishing, both in concept and simplicity. My wife and I listened intently. This might work! I promised to do what I could, but I had secret doubts of any success.

Later that day, I happened to find the general in a rare relaxed mood. Delicately, I broached the subject. This touched off an immediate rage that dwarfed any tantrum I had ever seen. I stepped back to weather the tirade. The General branded me as a traitor--even threatened deportation and total excommunication. Love for my homeland and for the General overrode my personal fear. I blurted out the terms of the proposal and made a hasty exit, knowing that my counterpart in the enemy camp would initiate his part of the peace proposal soon.

My duties that day, took me away from headquarters. Thoughts of the pending holocaust dominated my mind. The hour was late when I made my way back to the palace. With the imminent threat of annihilation, I was astonished at the lack of activity.

I immediately went to the war room. To my surprise, I learned the General had left the palace. I ran to my chamber where my wife was asleep.

“Honey, I can’t find Erika.” She stirred from her sleep. “Where is the General?” I asked.
Without raising her head from the pillow, my wife turned her head toward me, smiled, and mumbled, “No big deal. I couldn’t get any explanation. Erika called Heather to see if the peace plan was true. Somebody said something right so Erika is spending the night at Heather’s house.”

For the first time in nearly a month, I breathed easy. Resolution came to the fifth grade and the world was safe again!