Author's note: I don't really have much to say, except enjoy!
The Return
Part 2
The last thing Jim remembered before everything went black on the beach was Sergeant Baker shouting his name. Slowly, the darkness faded as his eyes opened, bringing everything into focus. His awakening into the land of the living was accompanied by a few guttural groans.
A strong smell assailed his nostrils; he looked around him and saw that he was in a type of hospital ward. That would explain the smell; it had a powerful disinfectant type quality to it. He was not alone though. The ward was full of injured soldiers like him. Doctors and nurses were running around all over the place trying to help everybody.
Turning his attention away from his surroundings, he looked at himself. Fresh bandages had been applied to all his wounds. Still, he felt a bit groggy, like he had been operated on not too long ago. That would explain the bandages.
"Oh, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Jim turned his head; a young nurse with black hair and green eyes was standing at his bedside.
"Like I got hit by a speeding train. Where am I?"
"On board a hospital ship. Take it easy, you were operated on two hours ago. You shouldn't even be awake yet. Oh well, since I'm here I might as well check your vitals."
She produced a thermometer, checked his temperature and pulse and talked with him a bit to keep his mind off the pain he was still feeling. "You know, the doctors thought you were a lost cause. When you were brought in one of them said you were as good as dead even if you were still breathing."
"If I was as good as dead then why'd they go ahead with the operation anyway?"
"You should thank Doctor Sullivan. He was convinced you still had a chance to survive. If it hadn't been for him you would've died. He said he'd come by later to check on you when he had some time."
"Good. I'd like to thank the man who saved my life."
"I'm sure you do. Okay, I'm all done. Just take it easy and get some rest. You've had a rough day behind you."
She was about to turn around when Jim remembered he wanted to ask her something. "Wait! Before you go I'd like to ask you a favor."
"Well, okay. I can't promise anything though."
"Could you find out if there are any other men from my unit on this ship?"
"I'll see what I can do. What outfit do you belong to?"
"The 5th Rangers."
"Okay. I'll look into it. Now remember what I said, take it easy and get some rest, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Jim was getting a bit annoyed at hearing he shouldn't strain himself too much. How was he supposed to do that? He'd be confined to the bed the whole time. It's not like he had the strength to get out of bed anyway. With these thoughts, he drifted into a deep sleep again because he had nothing else to do anyway.
Later, he woke up again and felt much better. Doctor Sullivan, true to his word, made the time to visit Jim and check up on him. "Mr. Patterson, is it? Good to see you're doing so well. None of the other doctors were willing to give you a chance at survival."
"I don't know how I can repay you for all you've done, Doctor. Thanks for all you did for me. And call me Jim. "Mr. Patterson" sounds too formal."
"If you prefer it that way. Just get better and help to win this war, Jim. That's all the thanks I need."
"There's something I wanted to ask you, Doctor."
"Yes?"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful and everything, but why did you take a chance on me?"
"When you were brought in you were still breathing despite the extensiveness of your injuries and the loss of blood. Other men would have died, but you…you were still alive, you were still breathing. You struck me as someone who had a strong fighting spirit. Whether you knew it or not, you were fighting for your life and you wouldn't give up. That's why I took that chance. I guess my faith in you was well placed."
"I don't know if I would call it a fighting spirit, Doctor."
"Call it a miracle if you want, but the fact remains that you are here alive."
"Thanks again, Doctor. By the way, just how long will I be here for? I'd like to get back to my squad as soon as possible."
"Hold on there! You're still far too weak to even think about rejoining your unit. Right now you should rest; that's what's best for you now. I can't have a half healed soldier getting back into the fight. I wouldn't be able to call myself a doctor if I did. Besides, you're not out of danger yet. You'll have to stay for observation, and you'll only leave when I clear you to do so. Understood?"
Jim couldn't really object to Doctor's Sullivan's instructions. After all, this was the man who saved his life. "Okay, Doctor. If that's what I have to do I guess I have no choice then."
The weeks dragged by slowly, too slowly to Jim's liking. Every day was the same routine: regular visits by the middle aged Doctor Sullivan and the black haired, green eyed nurse he came to know as Mary became part of his schedule on board the hospital ship. Sometimes Mary would bring him news of what was happening outside the ship. During his stay she brought him news he had been waiting for a long time: the status of the invasion. It went something like this:
"Hey there, Jim. Ready for your checkup?"
"Hell, I've got nothing better to do. Check me all you want."
"Still the same, I see. By the way, I thought you'd like to know what's been happening outside the ship."
"Are you kidding? I've been dying to hear how the invasion's been doing."
"It turns out that the beaches you guys landed on have been linked into a single front. Ships are coming in every day unloading supplies. I wish you could see it. There are hundreds of ships out there. I never knew how big the invasion was until I saw it all for myself."
"Thanks, Mary. Sounds like it was a success after all. You have no idea how easily it could have been a disaster. By the way, you still haven't told me if there are other members from the 5th Rangers being treated for injuries on the ship. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Uh…no, I've just been busy, that's all. You're not the only patient I have to take care of, you know. I'll look into it as soon as I can. Now, let's finish with your checkup."
"Yes, ma'am."
Sergeant Baker also paid Jim a visit on the ship. When he heard Jim had survived he couldn't wait to see him again. Soon he was at Jim's side, talking with him.
"Patterson, you son of a bitch! You scared the shit outta me back there on the beach. For a moment I thought you were dead."
"You're not the only one, Sarge. I'm just grateful to be alive."
"Damn right you should be! You're probably the luckiest bastard I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."
Jim was sure of one thing: Sergeant Baker acted like he was tough as nails but underneath the rough exterior was a heart of gold. This was made apparent on many occasions when he took the time to get to know his men. Even now at Jim's side he was showing that aspect of his personality. Sergeant Baker had achieved his rank because he knew when to be tough and when to be gentle. Above all, he was a fair leader.
"I won't argue with that. But I'd like to know…just how many of our guys made it?"
"Oh...so you want to know how many of us are still alive? Well, it's hard to say at this time…I mean, we're not really sure…"
"Sarge, it's been two weeks since the invasion. You gotta have some idea by now."
"You're right; avoiding the situation won't solve anything. I should tell you and get it over with, you're gonna hear it all later anyway."
Jim was aware of his commanding officer's sudden indecisiveness. Usually he always got to the point fast. What could be so terrible that he was scared to share it with him?
Baker drew a deep breath and then he continued his tale. "We…lost a lot of good men out there. Men who've been with us since the start…Rangers who were some of the first members of this unit. After the beach was taken, I looked back on what had happened. I don't think you'd ever see a massacre like this in your deepest, darkest nightmares. We couldn't identify some of the bodies…the Kraut artillery had blown some of them in half, or tore off whole body parts. It…wasn't a pretty picture. Actually, we did find some of them still alive but missing a few limbs. For them the war is over. Witnessing it all wasn't the worst though. I was the one who had to write letters to the families of these dead young men. What was I supposed to say? That they died for their country? That they died as heroes? Half of them never even made it off the landing craft! It's all a goddamn waste if you ask me. Nothing but a goddamn waste."
Jim took all of it in and what he heard was not pleasant to say the least. Not that it was unexpected, but he was saddened to hear about the gruesome circumstances of the deaths of his fellow Rangers.
"So that's probably why Mary never told me the truth. There probably were guys from the 5th who were being treated here but I guess some of them never survived or had grievous wounds .It's likely she didn't want to upset me in my condition. After all, it is a nurses' job to take care of patients. She was only doing what she thought was right."
While he was thinking on this, he remembered what the mystery girl had said to him.
"You've been given a second chance. It's a gift few other people will ever receive. Don't waste it."
Was this what she was talking about? Was this what she meant with the second chance? Here he was, lying in a comfortable hospital bed with his legs and arms still intact. For all intents and purposes, he had probably been the luckiest man on the planet ever. He realized that this must be the great gift she spoke of.
"Patterson! Are you listening to me?"
Jim was quickly brought back to reality when Baker half shouted at him to get his attention. He nearly jumped out of his bed. "Huh? What? Sorry, Sarge, I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"About a lot of things, but mostly about the war. Sarge, I know we've lost a lot of good men ever since this war started and mourning their loss is what's expected. But you know what I think, Sarge? We shouldn't be mourning at all."
When Baker heard those words, he looked at Jim like he had lost the last vestiges of his sanity. He couldn't possibly be serious, could he?
"Patterson, what the hell are you talking about? Have you lost your mind?"
"Don't get me wrong, Sarge. I think the loss of life in this war is tragic. But instead of mourning, we should be thanking God that we ever had the honor and privilege of knowing and serving with them! That's how we should remember them: not how they died but how they lived and influenced the people around them. I just know that's how they would have wanted it. Sure, they're gone and we'll never see them again but as long as we remember them they'll always live on."
"I…never thought about it…that way. Patterson…you're different, you know that? What's gotten into you? I've never seen you like this."
"Come on, Sarge, you say it like it's a bad thing."
"Yeah, but…you're so cheerful all of a sudden. You're not the same person I've known all this time."
"Let's just say I've had time to think and a little help from above."
"Help from above? What are you talking about?"
"Believe me, Sarge, its better if you don't ask. But seriously, I feel like I have changed. I'm actually excited about my life for once. You don't know how badly I wanna get out of this bed and back with the rest of the squad. Hell, I'd march out of here right now if I could!"
Baker didn't know what to say. He stared at Jim while his lower jaw was nearly dropping on the ground. It was like the unsocial loner he knew from before had been kidnapped and replaced with a cheerful version of himself. Jim was far from finished though.
"You know, Sarge, I've got this gut feeling that by this time next year we'll all be going home. When we launched the invasion, we sent Hitler a message that we're coming for him and his days are numbered. He can't hide anymore 'cause we'll find him wherever he is and make him pay for what he's done! The sacrifices our brothers in arms made in battle will not be in vain! We will avenge them and bring Hitler's dreams of conquest to an end!"
Jim hadn't noticed that his enthusiasm had made him talk louder than usual. By now every other patient in the ward had heard him and before Jim knew what was going on they were all cheering him on and whistling. The nurses and doctors had quite a hard time restoring order and calm to the otherwise quiet ward.
Baker wasn't sure what to make of the situation. Jim was always the cynical loner who fought like crazy in battle, but now it was like he was replaced by someone who looked like him but with a different attitude.
"A month ago he'd hardly get excited about anything. Now look at him. He's actually smiling for once and inspiring these injured men. It's gonna be hard explaining this to the guys when I get back to them."
Two weeks later…
Doctor Sullivan had just gone through performing a checkup on Jim, and he was quite pleased with his progress. "Well, Jim, you recovered faster than I expected you to. The physical tests we performed on you also show that you're as healthy as you were before you were injured. I might as well sign your discharge papers now."
That was the best news Jim had heard in a long time. He waited for nearly a month to hear those words.
"Really? You mean I'm finally getting out of here?"
"That's what I said. Tonight will be your last night on board the ship."
"Thanks, Doctor. You don't know how long I've waited to hear you say that."
"If I may ask, what's the rush? Other men would have seen this as a chance to lay back and relax. You do realize that after you leave here tomorrow you're leave of absence will be over?"
"I know, but I can't sit here while my squad is out there fighting and I can't be there to help them out."
"To each his own then. Well, I'm done here. Goodnight, Jim. Sleep well, and I'll see you tomorrow then with the discharge papers."
The next day Jim was officially cleared to rejoin his squad. Doctor Sullivan handed him his papers and sent him on his way, but not before Jim had thanked him and Mary for all they had done for him. A jeep was waiting to take him and several others back to their units. When Jim was reunited with his fellow Rangers, they were all taken aback at his sudden change of attitude. Even though Sergeant Baker had told them about how Jim had changed, they still didn't want to believe it until they saw it for themselves.
It wasn't long before Jim and his squad was back in action. Now Jim no longer feared death: if it came to claim him, then it had to claim him and get it over with. His new outlook on life also served him well in combat: with no regard for his own safety, he once managed to rescue a wounded Ranger while being fired upon by the enemy. This act would secure him a medal, one he wore with pride. A second medal would be his because of service above and beyond the call of duty when he single handedly destroyed an enemy machine gun nest with a well-aimed grenade, at which time he was injured again.
No war lasts forever, however. Even the once mighty Germany had to admit defeat. The Allies were closing in on them from the west, and the Soviet war machine was advancing from the east. Those same Russian troops were the ones to enter the war torn Berlin where Hitler was found dead in his bunker. Apparently it was a suicide; he'd rather die than see his beloved Reich fall apart around him. It was only a matter of time before the Fatherland had no choice but to surrender.
That day came on the 8th of May, 1945, when Sergeant Baker had an important announcement for Jim and the rest of the squad. They were all engaging in conversation, some playing cards, some partaking in gambling like soldiers often did to pass the time, when Baker approached them with a piece of paper in hand. They all stood at attention when they saw their commanding officer coming towards them.
"As you were," Baker said. "Boys, I just got this message from Battalion HQ. It's pretty important so make sure you all listen carefully."
As if to impress upon them the seriousness of it all, Baker cleared his throat before he continued. "Effective immediately, all troops are to stand fast on present positions."
"Stand fast? What's that supposed to mean?", one of the Rangers chimed in.
"You know what, screw the message. I'm not one for long speeches; I'll just get straight to the point. Guys, the German Army surrendered unconditionally. We're not at war with them anymore."
The news hit them all like a slap in the face. They all stood there like they were petrified; it was hard for them to grasp what Baker had just shared with them. Could it be real? Was the war finally over?
One Ranger, a fellow named Taylor, finally gained control of his vocal chords and asked, "Sarge, permission to speak."
"Granted."
"You're not kidding around with us, are you, Sarge? Is it finally over? For real?"
"Well, smart-ass, if you don't believe me, then read the message yourself. I just thought you'd all be happy to hear that you don't have to shoot at Jerry anymore. By the way, Battalion arranged a case of champagne for us and every other unit stationed here at the base. Feel free to celebrate V-E Day."
Taylor once again proved how clueless he could be sometimes when he asked, "V-E Day? What's that?"
Jim, silent thus far, finally spoke. "You mean you don't know? V-E means…Victory in Europe…guys, this is for real! It's all over! The war is finally over!"
Just as he uttered those words, one of their comrades arrived with a case of champagne in hand. "Hey fellas, look what I found, and since I'm such a generous guy and all, I thought I'd share it with ya. Not every day that we get to celebrate V-E Day."
The celebrations went on well into the night, and not just at their base camp, but all over the world as well. The American and British governments declared the 8th of May as a day of celebration, and people everywhere in both countries and the whole of Europe celebrated the end of a most brutal conflict.
When Jim though back on it all, he knew that he would never have been where he was now if it hadn't been for that mysterious blonde girl who came to him at the verge of death. She gave him a renewed will to fight, to live his life and to let go of his fear.
"I owe her so much, and there's no way I could ever repay her for her kindness. But…there was something about her…something I can't put my finger on…"
It was the fact that the girl had a name that baffled him so. To Jim it would appear that even though she may now be a benevolent angel of sorts, she may have once been a living, breathing person with her own hopes and dreams, a human being who once walked the surface of the planet. It was exactly these observations that compelled him to try and find out more about her if that were even possible. He only had half a name to go on, but he wouldn't let that stop him.
"When I get back home, I'm gonna go find out who and what she is, and I'm not stopping until I have the answers. I don't give a damn how long it takes, but I'll find the answers even if it takes me a lifetime."
But even though hostilities between the Germans and the Allies had ceased, there was still the matter of Japan which, despite having lost most of its naval power, still held out. Already Allied High Command was making plans to redeploy troops from the European theater of war over to the Pacific. Jim's future was very uncertain.
Three months later, on August 14th, 1945…
Jim's unit was no longer an aggressive fighting force. Instead, they had it easy now for the last three months. The most strenuous task they had to perform was the occasional guard duty. The rest of their time was spent relaxing and finding ways to occupy themselves. It was in this time of relative peace that they often spoke about where they would end up if Japan didn't surrender, and today was no different.
One of the squad members, a young man named Carter, was the first one to raise the question.
"So guys, where do ya think we're going after all this? The Japs ain't given up yet."
"Hell, I don't know. We're just the grunts, we just follow orders", another Ranger, named Braeburn, commented.
"I heard some rumblings from Battalion HQ that we might be put on a ship to the Pacific as early as next month. Any of you guys like the idea of saying hi to the Japs the Ranger way?"
"Since when did your chums at Battalion ever give you reliable information, Carter?"
"Fine, don't believe me, Braeburn. I'll be the one telling you I told you so when we're on that ship."
Their conversation was interrupted when Baker approached them. Before they could even stand at attention, he told them to remain as they were.
"Don't get up, it's not necessary. I just came from Battalion with an important message for you all."
"Does it have something to do with the Japs, Sarge? We're gonna be sent to the Pacific, right?"
"Yes and no, Carter."
"Huh?"
"You're right, it does have something to with the Japanese, and no, we're not being put on a ship to the Pacific. Did you go fishing for info at Battalion HQ again?"
"Uhm…well…"
They all laughed out loud when the talkative Carter had nothing to say for once. When the laughing died down, Baker continued. "The Japanese have announced their surrender to the Allied forces. We're not gonna see any action in the Pacific, we're staying right here. Oh, and Patterson, I wanna talk to you about something important."
Two weeks later…
It turned out that Jim's medals and achievements had counted for something after all. Sergeant Baker had informed him that the top brass had noticed him and were of a good mind to put him on a ship home. Three and a half years of service plus the two medals he earned stood him in good stead. Actually it was all a formality; Baker was certain that the ticket home was as good as his. Now here he was with a suitcase in hand waiting for a jeep to come pick him up and take him to the ship that would take him home. Around him stood all the friends he had made in his squad during the latter half of his service, Sergeant Baker included. They were all there to say their final goodbyes to the man who had experienced and shared so much with them.
"Guys…you know…I hate long goodbyes", Jim said to his fellow Rangers.
"Yeah, we know. We just wanna say…good luck, Jim. We're all gonna miss ya."
"You'd better swing by my dad's joint if you're ever in Brooklyn. He makes a mean pasta, Italian style."
"Sure thing, Rosetti. Maybe you'll have taken over his restaurant by the time I get a chance to drop in."
"Who knows? Anything's possible."
"Look, guys…it's been…hell, I don't know what it's been…you know…"
Jim didn't really know how to tell these men what he really felt. These were the guys who fought alongside him, who experienced so much with him, who had become like his brothers, like the family he never had.
Yet in their own way, they understood what Jim was trying to tell them. It wasn't easy for them to say goodbye either.
"We know, Jim. We know. Hey look, isn't that the jeep that's supposed to pick you up? You don't want to be late for your boat, do you?"
Indeed it was. Jim got into the passenger seat and took one last look at the men he considered his brothers in arms. They all said their last goodbyes as the jeep pulled away, leaving Jim with only the driver for company.
Two days later he was on board the ship that was to take him home. He had a lot of time to think about what he was going to do now. Probably the hardest change he had to make was adjusting to normal society again. The Army seemed to leave out that little detail during training. No, every man had to do that for himself, and Jim was no different. That was not his greatest worry though. Above all, he wanted to return to Chicago and let his grandparents know he was still alive and in one piece. Then he planned on taking a long vacation before he began his quest to find out more about the mysterious girl if he could.
He wasn't sure what he would do to earn some money for himself. His Army pay would only last so long before it was exhausted. It also worried him that he wasn't even sure what he was good at. All he knew now was how to be a soldier, but now that the world was at peace no one had any need of his skills. Besides, he had seen enough killing and destruction for one lifetime.
"Some of the guys used to talk about getting themselves a patch of land somewhere, some peace and quiet for the rest of their days when the fighting was over. Hell no, not me. Not after all the shit I've seen. The last thing I want to do is to live out the rest of my life alone."
A few days later Jim's feet touched solid ground when the ship arrived in New York's harbor. This was the second time he had been to the city: his first time was when his unit boarded the transport that took them to Ireland at the beginning of the war. From the harbor, he took a taxi to the nearest train station and bought himself a ticket to Chicago.
"Grandma and Grandpa are gonna be surprised to see me. I hope the neighborhood is still the same. I wonder how everyone will react when they see me again."
Unfortunately, an unpleasant surprise was waiting for him as soon as the train from New York pulled into the station at Chicago two days later. His excitement was at an all time high when the taxi dropped him off on the corner of the street where his grandparents lived. Soon he stood in front of the house where he spent so many of his early years. But something was wrong: the garden looked like it had been unattended for a while.
"That's strange. Grandpa would never let the garden end up like this."
Still, he proceeded to the front door and knocked a few times, but there was no response. Jim was really starting to worry now.
"Okay, this is getting stranger by the minute. Could they have gone out or something? Come to think of it, I didn't see the car in the driveway."
He took a chance and turned the knob of the front door. Surprisingly, it yielded to him pushing it forward. Slowly he advanced inside. "Hello? Grandma, Grandpa! It's me, Jim! I'm home!"
His voice echoing around the house was the only response he got back. Now he was really worried. He started searching the rooms and to his horror, he found the house devoid of any furniture. All their belongings were missing.
"What the hell is going on here!? Where's all our stuff? Where are my grandparents?"
He didn't know what to think anymore. Was he at the wrong house? No, it couldn't be. Then what was going on? Jim made his way outside again and into the daylight, still trying to figure out what had happened to his grandparents and their house.
"Excuse me."
A female voice spoke to him out of nowhere. He looked up and saw a woman in her late forties with black hair on the front lawn looking straight at him.
"Are you looking for someone?"
He thought for a moment that she looked really familiar. Then it hit him: she was Mrs. Perconte, his friend Joey's mother. If anyone knew what was going on, it would be her.
"Don't you recognize me, Mrs. Perconte? It's me, Jim. I'm Joey's friend. Don't tell me you don't remember me."
The woman gave him a look of suspicion, like she didn't believe him. "Jim? No, it can't be. Everybody said Jim died in the war."
"Well, I think I look pretty good for a dead guy."
Mrs. Perconte approached and looked at him from close up, inspecting him from every angle and every side. Jim felt a bit uncomfortable while she was scrutinizing him like this. Finally, she took her eyes off him but instead turned her attention to his face.
"Is there a problem, ma'am?"
"I…it's impossible…but…you…you were supposed to have died in the war…and still…it is you! Jim…you actually came back!"
"Yeah, and I'm glad to be back."
"Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't recognize. You just looked so different from the last time I saw you. You were eighteen at the time, right?"
"Yes, ma'am. I just turned twenty-two in April."
"I see. You look so much older than you used to."
"The Army has changed me, Ms. Perconte. I definitely feel different. But there's something important I have to ask you: what happened to my grandparents? I just got here from New York and all I found was an empty house."
"Oh dear, you mean you don't know? I'm so sorry, Jim. Your grandparents...they're…"
"They're what? Please, Ms. Perconte, I have to know."
"I don't know how to say this…but…while you were gone, they both…"
"What happened? Please, just tell me straight!"
"Jim…you'll never see your grandparents again. They both passed away a few months ago."
Jim's eyes opened up wide with the shock of what he just heard, his knees felt weak, and his mind went numb for a moment. The suitcase he was carrying fell to the ground when he loosened his grip on it without realizing it.
"Jim? Are you okay?", a concerned Ms. Perconte asked Jim.
It took Jim a few moments to register in his head that she was trying to get his attention. Still, the news of his grandparents' passing still left him in a numb state of mind. Finally, he took control of his thoughts again.
"Uh…yeah…I…I always wondered why the letters they sent me started drying up around January this year. I thought it was because I was never in one place for too long. It was pretty hard for our personal mail to get through to us sometimes. Our own mail didn't always get sent on time either. Maybe that's why everyone thought I had died. But…I never thought that…"
"I'm so sorry, Jim. I'll tell you what, come over to my house and we'll all sit down and have some coffee. I'm sure Joey would love to see you again."
"Thanks. I'd like that too."
Not long after, they stepped through the front door of the Perconte house. Jim waited in the living room while Mrs.Perconte proceeded further into the house to call Joey.
"Wonder if Joey has changed since I've been gone. The way I remember him he always had some or other scheme going to get rich quick. Unfortunately none of them ever worked. Good thing he was a fast runner; he had to be to run away from the trouble he got himself into sometimes. Yeah, that's Joey alright; he could never sit still, ever restless."
"Jim? Is it really you? Hell, it's been a long time."
Jim recognized that voice as belonging to none other than Joey. He turned around to say hello, but an unexpected sight awaited him. He froze right there; what he saw was indeed Joey, but not the same person he knew from before. The Joey in front of him now was sitting in a wheelchair missing half of his right leg.
"Joey? What happened…I mean, how did…"
"That's a fine way to greet someone you haven't seen in three years", Joey responded. "Well, after you left here in '41, I decided to enlist before I was drafted. Now you know me, taking it easy is my way of doing things, so the Marines sounded like a good deal. I mean, who could resist the chance to relax on tropical islands along with all the beautiful native girls? I mean, that's what I heard from everyone who volunteered. I got my rude awakening when that bad ass drill sergeant looked me in the face for the first time and told me exactly what he thought of me like he did with everyone else."
"But how…"
"Oh yeah, the leg. Well, as you know, the Japs attacked Pearl Harbor, and the next thing I knew I was fighting on those same tropical islands I'd heard so much about. No native girls though. It happened on a piece of rock called Iwo Jima, when a Jap artillery shell exploded right next to me and knocked me flat. When I tried to get up, I saw it: my right leg wasn't there anymore. I've been back home since May this year."
"I'm sorry…about the leg, Joey."
"Oh, it's not so bad. You get used to it…eventually. Hey, it could've been worse. I could've lost more than just a limb."
"Yeah…I guess."
Jim didn't know what to think of this. It all seemed so surreal. The Joey from then and the Joey now were two different people.
"It's like…he's settled down now, like he's left his old ways behind. He…seems to be taking it well, but…I can't help wondering if he's putting on a brave face for everyone. Losing a leg has to be one hell of an adjustment to make, even more so for a guy like him who used to be so restless."
Jim had to leave any further thoughts for later; Mrs. Perconte had just finished making coffee for everyone and soon they were seated around the kitchen table, talking about the last few months events.
"I just happened to be walking home from the store when I saw you standing at the front door of your house. I couldn't imagine who'd have any business going in there."
"So…how were my grandparents before the end?"
"They were worried about you all the time. There wasn't a day that didn't go by when they didn't think of you. They lived for the days when the letters you sent them arrived. If only you could have seen them."
Jim took a sip of his coffee before he continued asking his questions. "So…how did they…die?"
"I'm not sure. Their doctor couldn't find anything wrong with them. It seems like it was old age that finally took its toll on them. They passed away peacefully while they were sleeping. First it was your grandmother, then your grandfather followed her soon after."
"Well, if they didn't have any pain at the end, then I guess it was just their time to go. You know, Mrs. Perconte, the one thing I regret the most of all is that…I never got to say…how sorry I am for making them worry about me all these years. I thought that saying it in a letter wouldn't really do the trick. It's something I wanted to tell them face to face. But now…I'll never get a chance to do it…"
"I'm sure they knew what you wanted to say. The relationship between you and them was strained before you left, Jim. It's been strained for a long time."
"You know, Mrs. Perconte, I really did want to say how sorry I was, but my foolish pride kept me from doing just that. And now it's too late…"
Joey finally spoke after being quiet for so long. "I'm sorry for you, Jim. If it's alright with my mom, then I think you should stay with us for a while. You've got nowhere else to go as far as I know."
"Are you sure, Joey?"
"We really don't mind, Jim. I think Joey would appreciate some company other than mine around here. Besides, you just came back from fighting a war. You definitely need some time to rest and think about what you want to do next."
"Thanks, Mrs. Perconte. I think I'll take you up on the offer."
They spent the rest of their time talking about the good old times and later Jim and Joey exchanged war stories. Jim noticed that Joey didn't like taking charity from everyone and still insisted on doing most things on his own even if he was confined to a wheelchair. He also didn't like people looking at him with the "pity-stare" as he called it. He wanted to prove that just because he was missing half a leg it didn't mean that he was disabled and incapable.
The next day Jim visited the graves of his relatives. His grandparents were both buried next to his parents, something which Jim thought was fitting. As he looked upon the graves, a tear ran down his cheek. His sorrow nearly overtook him, but he kept his reserve. Now was not the time to break down.
"Grandma, grandpa…I'm sorry for everything. I know nothing I say could ever fix everything I screwed up. I'll probably live with the regret for the rest of my life. Guess that's the punishment for causing you all that trouble all those years. Just know that I really am sorry."
Now that Jim had finally visited the graves of his family, he felt a bit better knowing that he had a chance to at least say goodbye even if was a bit late. From there, he visited the proper authorities to find out what would happen to the house now that no one was living there.
He spent the rest of the week visiting friends and acquaintances and catching up on everything that happened in the neighborhood during his absence. During this time, he started getting the feeling that even though he grew up here, this place, this city, just wasn't his home anymore. He just couldn't see himself living here for the rest of his days.
One night, while he was lying in his bed at the Perconte house, Jim came to the conclusion that if he wanted to make a fresh start, this wasn't the place to do it.
'There are just…too many bad memories in this place. If I'm gonna start over, it has to anywhere but here. Strange…it's like something is urging me to go back to New York. I don't even know the place but I feel like if I go there…I might just find what I'm looking for."
The longer he stayed in Chicago, the more he was compelled to make the journey to New York. He couldn't deny that the mystery girl was still on his mind, had been for a long time. New York was as good a place as any to start his quest.
A week later, he was saying his final goodbyes to Mrs. Perconte and Joey at Chicago's train station. He shared his plans with them a few days earlier and even though they tried to convince him otherwise, Jim had made up his mind. There was nothing left for him in Chicago anymore, he told them. It was time to move on with his life.
He didn't want the old house anymore for obvious reasons. It would be the property of the city of Chicago until someone bought it again. He did manage to acquire a few photos of his family and some other personal items, mostly things he could fit in his suitcase and jacket pockets.
"Are you really sure this is what you want to do?'
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Mrs. Perconte. This is something I have to do. I have to put some distance between myself and this place."
"There's really nothing we can say to make you stay?"
"Nope."
They were interrupted when a train pulled in right next to the platform they were standing on. Jim took a look at his wristwatch; yes, this was the train to New York, right on time.
"So I guess this is where we part ways, huh?", Joey said as he extended a hand to Jim. "Good luck to you. Don't forget to swing by some time, okay? There'll always be a room for you at our house if you feel like coming back."
Jim took Joey's hand and exchanged a handshake with his childhood friend. "Thanks for everything, Joey, Mrs. Perconte. Maybe someday I'll show my face here again. Well, I gotta get going or the train will leave without me."
As the train pulled out of the station, Jim looked back one more time at Joey and his mother and waved back to them until they were too far away to see anymore. Then he settled in for the long trip to New York where he hoped he would find the answers he sought about the mysterious girl.
It was early morning when the train arrived at Grand Central station two days later. When Jim got off and stepped outside, he took some time to take in the city and most of the sights. Now he realized why people called it the city that never sleeps: this place was absolutely huge, much larger than he could've imagined.
"Everything I heard about this place was true. If my instincts are correct, somewhere in this city there has to be someone who can help me. Guess I'd better get started."
Of course, he wasn't entirely sure where to begin at all. He thought that a church would be the best place to start; priests were always willing to listen to people and their problems. At least that was what he thought. The first church he came across he tried, and found a willing minister to listen to him. Unfortunately, the minister found his story a bit hard to swallow. In his opinion, Jim had a near death experience that day on the beach, and that the mysterious girl who appeared to him was a figment of his imagination, something to help him through the pain. He didn't deny that she might have been his guardian angel, but under those conditions it was easy to imagine things considering the stress he was under. He was in the middle of a war, after all. He then tried to encourage Jim to forget about the incident and go on with his life.
Jim did not find this to be a satisfactory answer. He promptly thanked the minister for his time and left the church. So he went from one church to the next, and every time he found more or less the same answer. His determination wouldn't allow him to give up, however. He kept this up until the sun began slowly setting bringing darkness to this lively town. Of course, Jim didn't know that sometimes New York was even busier at night than it was at day. Now he was walking around aimlessly while trying to figure out his next move. He didn't have a place to stay, nor did he know where to find one, and by now most of the motels and guest houses would be closed for the day, he thought. Besides, he didn't have the money for a fancy hotel either. It seemed like sleeping on a park bench was his only option. Not that it bothered him; during his tour of duty, he often had worse sleeping accommodations that a park bench.
"It doesn't matter where I sleep, as long as I get some sleep. Hell, none of this will matter until I figure out who that girl was. I walked around the whole day for nothing, none of those priests and ministers could begin to help me. Damn, getting a bit hungry. Haven't eaten anything the whole day, but then I only have myself to blame for that."
As he was thinking on this, he noticed a café on the other side of the street. He couldn't deny that he was hungrier than he would have admitted, and he did feel like some coffee about now.
"Why not? I've got some loose change in my pocket, and I won't find out who that girl was if I'm starving to death."
Avoiding the traffic, he made his way across the street and soon found a seat at the café, where he ordered himself a sandwich and some coffee. He had just settled in when a middle aged man with blonde hair approached him.
"Excuse me, but would you mind if I shared the table with you?", the man asked Jim. "It's just that I come here regularly and I always sit here."
"Sure, I've got no problem", Jim responded. "By all means, have a seat."
"Thank you."
Jim's sandwich and coffee had arrived, at which time the blonde haired stranger took out a newspaper and started reading it. The front cover had a few articles about the developments in Europe. Looking over the edge of the newspaper, he said, "A good thing that the war is finally over, isn't it?"
"You're telling me. It feels damn good to be back after being gone for close to four years", Jim said as he took a sip of his coffee.
"You mean…you were over there yourself? You fought in the war?"
"Yeah, and I got the medals and scars to prove it. I was drafted into the Army back in '41 where I started out with the 34th Infantry Division. After that I ended up with the Rangers, an elite Army unit. And now here I am, a free man."
"You should consider yourself to be extremely lucky. Hundreds upon thousands of young men like you are dead now. I hear the fighting was particularly brutal in Europe."
"Hell, it doesn't matter where you fought, it was brutal everywhere. The Pacific wasn't anymore brutal than Europe was, and vice versa. A friend of mine had to leave half a leg behind on Iwo Jima."
"I bet your family will be glad to see you again, though."
Those words struck a cord in Jim. He was reminded of the fate of his parents and his grandparents. It finally struck that he was now alone in this world. He didn't have anyone to rely on anymore.
The stranger noticed the expression on Jim's face change and wondered if he had said anything wrong. "What's wrong? Did I say something to offend you?"
"No, its nothing you said. I'm…all alone in this world. My parents died when I was still a kid, and for twelve years my grandparents took care of me. When I came back from Europe and went home to Chicago, I found out that they had passed away while I was gone. They were the only family I had left."
"But that's just terrible! Are you sure that's the case? Don't you have any relatives somewhere out there?"
"I don't know. I never knew any members of my family except for my parents and grandparents. No, I'm the only one left. Hey, it could've been worse. At least I'm still alive and have all my limbs intact."
"Then what brought you to New York?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
The stranger put down his newspaper, looked Jim in the eye and said, "Try me."
Jim found his attitude to be a bit strange. Why should a stranger be so interested in him anyway? He didn't know this guy at all and now he wants to hear why he came all the way the New York.
"Who is this guy? What's the deal with him? Aw hell, maybe I should just tell him anyway. I can't do any worse than this guy, not after I talked to all those priests. Besides, he probably won't believe me anyway."
"Okay, I'll talk. I'm just warning you: you'll probably think it was my imagination playing tricks one me after I'm done. I don't even expect you to believe me."
"I may surprise you. Perhaps you'll find me to be a better listener than most people. So, are you going to tell me what brought you to New York?"
"You asked for it. Ok, here's what happened…"
A few minutes later…
"…so yeah, that's why I'm in New York. Kinda stupid, right? Chasing after some girl I don't even know. But I know it was real, no matter what anyone says. Hey, are you even listening to me?"
The stranger's wasn't paying any attention to Jim; his mind had drifted off into deep thought after what he was told. What really troubled him was the description Jim provided of the young girl.
"It isn't possible. She's supposed to be…but then…why? Why would she show herself to him? What is it about this young man that she would do something like that? What lies in store for him?"
The stranger was brought back to reality after Jim tried to get his attention for the fourth time. "Hey, what's up with you?"
"Oh, sorry about that. There's something I want to confirm: the girl you saw was blonde and had blue eyes, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much. There was something about her…oh well, not like it matters. You probably don't know anything that could help me anyway. Told you it would sound a bit stupid."
"You're wrong. I believe every word you said."
"You do? That's a first. But why you, when everyone else I talked to looked at me like I was crazy? Unless…wait a minute, you know something, don't you?"
"I'm not…certain yet. Perhaps I can help you, but I have to be absolutely sure of my facts before I can-"
The next moment he found himself looking Jim in the face, staring at the angry eyes of the young man. Jim might not have shown it, but by now he was extremely aggravated after the long day he had, especially when someone who knows something he needs to know about doesn't talk! Now he was holding the stranger by the collar of his jacket and demanded that he divulge whatever information he could.
"What kind of bullshit excuse is that!? You have no goddamn idea how far I've had to walk today, and now you come along knowing something and now you want to tell me I can't hear it!? Start talking and don't leave out a single bit, you hear me?"
"Please, now is not the time or place to resort to violence. Everyone's looking at us."
Which was quite true. All present in the café had turned to look at this scene that was playing itself out. Jim quickly let go of the stranger, turned to face everyone and said, "Sorry everyone. Just a little disagreement between…friends. Come on, there's nothing to see here anymore."
As soon as the normal calm had returned to the room and Jim had come to his senses, he thought he should at least apologize for his behavior towards the stranger. "Look, I'm sorry for grabbing you like that. I was totally out of line. I've been walking all day and I guess I was cranky 'cause I didn't find any of the answers I wanted."
"No need to apologize. I understand your situation. I think it's also about time I introduced myself. I'm Ewan Remington, pleased to meet you."
Ewan extended his hand to Jim and thus he responded in kind. "I'm James Patterson, but you can just call me Jim."
"Well, now that's out of the way, I need to ask you where you're staying. What I have to discuss with you will take too long to talk about tonight."
"Actually, I just got here today. To be honest, the last thing on my mind was finding a place to sleep. I guess a park bench is my only option now."
"Not a chance."
"Huh? What are you talking about? Really, I don't mind sleeping on a bench. I had to sleep in far worse places during the war."
"There is no way that I would be able to sleep tonight knowing I left you out in the cold when I could have helped you. No, a bench is out of the question. I have an idea, and I think you'll agree it's a good idea. A good friend of mine lives close by. We'll see if she can give you a warm bed to sleep in tonight."
"Are you sure she'll take me in just like that? I mean, it's not like I can afford to pay rent at the moment."
Ewan smiled at the young man before he continued. "Believe me, she will after she hears about what you've been through. But really, she's one of the kindest people I know. I don't think telling her about your experiences of the last three years is necessary."
"Okay, I'll trust you then."
Ewan waited at the door while Jim settled his bill for the sandwich and coffee. After that was done, he followed his older companion through the streets of New York until they had left the busy city center and arrived in a quiet neighborhood where new houses were under construction.
"Must be new houses for all the war veterans that are coming home. I heard about this a while back."
Jim was about to ask Ewan how much longer they had to walk when they came to a stop at a house with a white picket fence around the yard and a carefully tended garden. The lights were still on in the house, so someone had to be home.
"We're here", Ewan announced all of a sudden. "This is the place."
Little did Jim know that this would be just another step on his long journey…
Author's note: Hoped you enjoyed it. I noticed that not many people have read this fic thus far. Oh well, doesn't matter. I intend on finishing this anyway, even if only a few people ever read it. It's something I really want to finish anyway.
Until next time, see ya all later…