Spring 1915

After Albert rejected Neal's engagement proposal to Candy...

Neal ran outside, crying, followed closely by his mother, Sarah, and Eliza.

Neal's father, Arthur, bravely stayed absorbing people's cruel mocking stare. Calmly, he excused himself and his family from Sir William, aunt Elroy, and the rest of the guests. He then went outside to look for his wife and children. His son was crying in his mother's arms with Eliza by his side.

Arthur patted his son's back and said, "Let's go home."

With his mother and Eliza holding each one of Neal's arms, they took him to his car. They used the side walk to avoid meeting others.

"You can come with us, Neal," said Eliza. "There's enough space here inside the car. I can sit in the front seat."

Sobbing, Neal shook his head and retreated to his own car. Sitting on the back seat, the driver drove him. Alone. The seat where his fiancé was supposed to be sitting was empty.

Candy... Neal cried some more at that sight.

After putting Sarah and Eliza in the mansion, Arthur went straight to his office to work. Sarah and Eliza stayed to rally around Neal. They chatted with him, took him for a walk and didn't leave him until late at night and all his tears dried up.

"You're sure you'll be okay, Neal?" asked Sarah before she went to bed.

"Of course, mother. I will sleep like a log tonight," said Neal.

"He'll be alright… It's just Candy. Right, Neal?" added Eliza.

Putting a brave face, Neal nodded firmly pretending strong, feigning moving on, and had courageously let the topic go. He even laughed off the idea of moving to Florida when his mother mentioned it.

"Hell no! I will not move to Florida!" laughed Neal.

Only when he was finally alone in his room that he let the heartbreak out. Candy wasn't his. He would be willing to give up everything he had, do anything at all if only he could make her love him half as much as he did...

oOoo

The following day, the news about his failed engagement proposal to Candy hit the newsstand like a bomb shell. He wondered if there's anyone left in this planet who didn't know about his fall to disgrace.

Days turned to weeks... His soap opera story with Candy soon replaced with the news about the raging war in Europe. It appeared daily with big war pictures on the front page of newspaper. Every single day. Soon it became something that couldn't go unnoticed by all Americans including Neal who never really cared about the war.

It gave him an idea…

Candy never believed that he would join the war! So, if he actually joined, perhaps Candy would notice him! He felt a swell of winning pride imagining Candy's reaction. Probably, she would even shed worried tears for him!

Neal thought of Patty who cried when she was told that Stear died. The thought of Candy shed a tear for him made his heart soar.

Neal was deep in that thought when his driver spoke.

"War demonstration, Mr. Leagan." The driver's voice cut through Neal's train of thought.

Neal was startled. He looked outside the window and realized that their car was trapped in the middle of war demonstration! Outside, newspaper sellers were using the opportunity to get buyers. They're shouting and displaying the papers front page to the passerby.

"Lusitania sunk, torpedoed by the Germans! Hundred of Americans casualties!" they screamed.

Neal lowered his window and extended his arm to attract one newspaper boy's attention. The boy quickly came to grab the money and threw one roll of newspaper through the window .

Shit!, thought Neal as he read about the poor ship. Thousand of passengers died! He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up imagining the hopeless cries of the passengers in the chilly water.

Then his eyes went lower looking at the war photos from Ypres and Gallipoli. Shocked, Neal gobbled the story.

"Frezenberg turned to hell"

"Deadly battle in Gallipoli!"

Neal trembled. Going to war seemed scary.

Neal was so engrossed in the war news that he walked to his office still reading the newspaper. He almost jumped when his secretary knocked at his door and came to give today's letters.

To Neal's amusement, one was from Charles McKinsey, his friend from St. Paul.

.

Chelsea Barracks

April 28th, 1915

My friend Neal,

I just registered to join the army!

.

"WHAT!" screamed Neal, jumping in his seat.

.

It felt so good. I start to get tired of collecting the white feather*. Now they respect me. People, especially girls, cheered on me after I registered. I can't feel more proud. Remember our friend Larry Dray? He joined too last month. He is an officer now, a Lieutenant. He said girls were kissing him and showering him with cigarettes and hugs during the sent-off parade on his way to the Frontline.

Many of our other friends joined too, Neal. Willy, Jem, Ed,… Remember them? Come! Join the army with me. We can have fun together like in the good old days!

Your good friend,

Charles McKinsey

.

Neal looked at the white feathers Charles enclosed in the envelope and the newspaper clip. It read, "Have you done your bit in the great war?" The letters were printed big with the picture of a woman pointing with her index finger mockingly at him. Neal thought about Candy and her sneer right away.

Neal didn't want to be kissed by girls, he only wanted to be kissed Candy. And if by going to war he could make her do so, he would do it! If Charles, Larry, and others could do it. He could too. He re-read Charles' address. Barrack, admired Neal. It's way too cool.

Neal then heard a growing noises outside his office window. The war demonstrations got hotter, it even spilled to his office complex. They were demanding the government to join the war seeking justice for the American casualties in the ship Lusitania.

Neal stared outside and at the soldiers photos in the newspaper. He didn't feel he belonged in the office. His mother's secretary called reminding him of the match making meeting with girls this evening. He ignored her. Instead, Neal grabbed his suit and walked to the center of the crowd.

Neal watched and listened.

The young men all chatted about the war. Some even left their job and would go to Britain with their pocket money to join the war!

"Look!" said one showing the ship ticket he had for London. "My boss laid me off yesterday and I told him 'Fuck off! I'm going to Britain!'."

People around him clapped their hands and cheered for him.

Another man timidly showed the ticket he also had purchased. "I also bought one," the man said shyly. He smiled when the crowd cheered for him, too.

"Our government may be coward," another added shaking his head mockingly. "I'm not!"

People roared supporting him. It was simply too grand!

-To be continued-

Thanks for reading

NOTE:

White Feather: a movement in Britain. Women gave white feather as a mark of cowardice to eligible men who didn't join the war