Chapter 1: Alone on the Trail
By Lisa Trumbauer
Cal and his mother continued across the flat Texas landscape. They still had many miles to go before they reached Papa and the ranch. If they were lucky, they would be there by nightfall. Texas could get very hot, but that February afternoon was unusually cool. Cal’s mother wrapped her shawl tightly around her shoulders. She shivered in her seat. Cal could tell that she was nervous.
“It’ll be all right, Mama,” he said, trying to comfort her. “We’re almost home.”
His mother nodded, but she was still worried. “I know,” she said. “But things are very uncertain in Texas these days.”
News spread slowly in Texas, but Cal’s mother was well aware of the struggles between Texans and Mexicans. The Mexican army, led by General Santa Anna, wanted Texas to be part of Mexico. Many Americans wanted Texas to be part of the United States. Just two months earlier, in December 1835, Texan troops fought off Mexican soldiers at a battle known as the Siege of Bexar. They had successfully defended an old Spanish mission called the Alamo. Cal’s mother worried that nothing was settled. She worried about her and Cal, alone on the trail.
“It’s only been a few months since the Texans fought in San Antonio,” she said.
“I heard that battle was glorious!” Cal replied, excitedly. “I wish I could have been there.”
“Hush!” his mother snapped. “You should wish no such thing!”
“I could have helped defend Texas for the United States! I would be a hero!”
“Battles are for grown men, not boys,” his mother replied.
“Then we better get out of here, Mama.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Look!” Cal pointed.
Mama squinted, looking into the distance. At first she didn’t see anything but dust rising off of the ground. Then slowly she made out a thin, dark line. The line appeared to be moving. “Cal, quick! Turn the cart off the path!” his mother yelled.
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Adapted from Standoff: Remembering the Alamo, by Lisa Trumbauer, ©️ by Capstone. Reprinted with permission.
Chapter 1: Alone on the Trail
Cal and his mother were making their way through the vast Texas landscape, eager to reach Papa and their ranch. The journey was long, and the prospect of arriving by nightfall brought a sense of anticipation. Although Texas could be scorching hot, the weather that February afternoon was surprisingly cool. Cal's mother shivered in her seat, wrapping her shawl tightly around her shoulders. It was clear she was feeling anxious.
Trying to comfort her, Cal spoke up, "It'll be all right, Mama. We're almost home."
His mother nodded, but her worry remained. "I know," she replied. "But these are uncertain times in Texas."
News traveled slowly in Texas, but Cal's mother was well aware of the tension between Texans and Mexicans. General Santa Anna and the Mexican army desired Texas to remain a part of Mexico, while many Americans wanted Texas to join the United States. Just two months earlier, Texan troops had successfully defended the Alamo in a battle known as the Siege of Bexar. However, the conflict was far from over, and nothing seemed settled. Alone on the trail, Cal's mother feared for their safety.
"It's only been a few months since the Texans fought in San Antonio," she worriedly reminded Cal.
"I heard that battle was glorious!" Cal exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice. "I wish I could have been there."
His mother snapped, "Hush! You should not wish for such a thing!"
"But Mama, I could have helped defend Texas for the United States! I could have been a hero!"
"Battles are not meant for boys like you," his mother sternly replied.
"In that case, we better get out of here, Mama," Cal urged.
Perplexed, his mother asked, "Why?"
"Look!" Cal pointed ahead.
His mother squinted, straining her eyes to see what Cal had spotted. At first, she only saw dust rising from the ground, obscuring her view. But as she focused, a thin, dark line came into sight. The line was moving, steadily approaching their position. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she urgently shouted, "Cal, quick! Turn the cart off the path!"
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“‘I heard that battle was glorious!’ Cal replied, excitedly. ‘I wish I could have been there.’”
What does Cal’s mother and the narrator think about this statement?
Cal’s mother thinks that battle is no place for boys, but the narrator does not share their opinion.
Cal’s mother is proud of him, but the narrator thinks that battle is no place for boys.
They both think that battle is no place for boys.
They both wish they could have joined the battle too.