Answer:There are several textual evidence in the beginning of the story that shows that the boy is afraid. For example:
He listens to his own heart “rufle away away” and feels it “at last gone from his ears and back in his chest again” (Bradbury 11), which implies that he is nervous and anxious about the upcoming battle.
He thinks of the drum as “a toy instrument” and wonders “what was he doing among all these men?” (Bradbury 11), which shows that he feels insecure and out of place among the soldiers.
He imagines that “the peach blossoms, shaken by the wind, were Civil War soldiers, gray and blue, falling in a slow dance” (Bradbury 21), which reveals that he is haunted by the images of death and violence that he will soon witness.
He considers “running away, back through the orchard, back across the river, back home” (Bradbury 21), which indicates that he is tempted to escape from the danger and responsibility that he faces.
Step-by-step explanation: