Missing In Action. Those three words were enough to destroy a whole life. I thought of me, of our girls, and how could I tell them their daddy won't likely be home never again. And thought of our baby, who wouldn't even know his father. And sure, thought of Roger...if he was prisoner, or ...dead. Didn't know what was the worst. If he was dead, at least, and as awful as it might sound, he wouldn't suffer any more nor would have to go through being a captive and very likely being tortured. And if he had been made prisoner...well, there was the remote possibilty of him being rescued...some day, and who knows how would he be.
I got up and went to the phone, to tell Lydia. Later, at night, I would tell the girls. It was going to be really hard...
-Hello, Lydia, this is Jan. I...I got to tell you something. A letter came today...-I took air-Roger is missing in action.
I heard a muffled cry and her sobbings through the phone. From behind, I heard Tom's concerned voice.
-Lydia, honey, what happens?-she couldn't answer
-It must be a mistake...someday he'll be back and all this won't be but a nightmare. He can't leave us. Not this way. It's not fair, for him nor for us. And, Jan, if you want to come here, I would really like it. I think we both need it.
-Thanks, Lydia. I probably will...
That night, after I had bathed them, I told the girls what had happened to their father. The two of them were sitting on my lap, and Hazel had her head over my shoulder.
-Girls, I need you to be very, very strong. Daddy is lost and he won't be able to be back in a long time.
-But we want him here. He can do the same as Tom Thumb and use bread crumbs to find his way, he read us that tale...
-It's not that easy, Hazel, sweetie, but if he could, he would do it. You know he loves you two very much, right? And he'd do whatever to be with you. I hope he'll be back some day, but till then you two have to be strong and think a lot of him. Promised?
-Yes, mummy...