Remember when I said 'Carentan' was the hardest for me? I lied. This is the one that really gets me.
I, uh… just want to apologize now. I added in a swing song, honestly trying to boost my morale. Hopefully my writing will simply scratch the surface of how hard this must have been. My goal in this story is to become my characters, and I am just writing what I would have done if Hoobler was in front of me. So, I would say enjoy, but that might be a little hard! :/
I love you anyway, thanks for sticking with me!
Chapter Twenty- Five- How To Save a Life
"Renee's dead," Taletta ran her fingers through her short hair, trying to hold back the tears. Essie could finally see light and dark shapes, but everything was confusing and fuzzy.
"Aww, Jesus. I'm sorry, Tala," Malarkey gently rubbed her back, startling her. Tala jumped.
"Did I do something wrong?" Don seemed hurt by her reaction.
Through the tears in her eyes, she mustered a few short words. "I'm sorry, it's just… I haven't made human contact with a person that is alive in a long time."
They continued to talk, and Essie turned to Lipton. "Where's Dike, Lip? I haven't seen him all day." She paced around in small circles, Talbert trying to calm her down.
"I've been asking myself the same thing, Esther." Lip looked to the ground, cooking up an idea. "First Sergeant?"
"Yes, sir?" Essie was pleased with the sound of her title, as well as been given a task.
"You can sing, right? I mean," he stumbled for the words. "You're a girl and all… they can all sing, right?"
Essie's lips curled slightly, remembering herself singing lullaby's to her baby sister. In secret, she enjoyed it and inside she believed it relieved her more than it did Dixie. She brought her hand up to the locket, and flipped the cold steel chain through her fingers.
"Well, most of them have the gift… me on the other hand? Not so much," She scoffed, trying to get them to forget the idea.
Lipton leaned in closer to her, "I think it might help the men's morale if their favorite girl sings them a tune?"
"Yea, c'mon Es! We all know you can sing!" Luz chimed in, a snub of a cig held between his half gloved fingers.
"No, I can't guys. Seriously!" Persistently they pushed on, and Essie eventually caved into their begging. "I'll only do it if Tala joins…"
Her best friend's eyes got wide, hearing her name. Malarkey caught on, and reassuringly pushed her forward. As she was scooted forward, lumps of snow getting piled upon her boot, she crossed her index fingers over her lips.
Essie leaned into her, a sly smile dancing on her own lips, "C'mon, you know Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, by the Andrew Sisters! Here, I'll start…"
Tala stubbornly crossed her arms as Essie quietly thumped her toe to the snow covered ground.
"Of all the boys I've known," They all roared their approval, and soon everybody was clapping to the nonexistent beat. "and I've known some… until I first met you I was lonesome and when you came inside, dear my heart grew light and this whole world seemed new to me!" She happily neared Tab, playfully poking her finger in his chest.
"You're really swell I have to admit you, theres several terms that really fit you. And so I racked my brain, trying to explain…" Essie then came to Hoobler, who looked so solemn compared to the other cheerful men. Remembering what had happened the night earlier, her heart dropped.
She looked up, hard, into his eyes. "All the things that you do to me." They all gasped, and even Essie was shocked by the emphasis on her words. Covering up, she dashed over to Tala and captured her arm.
"And for the chorus, I know you know it!" Taletta shyly glanced around at the men with their eyes fixed on her. With all their might, the duo belted with a smooth and easy tone. Tala with a high and soprano voice blended in with Essie's slightly lower soprano alto song.
"Bei mir bist du schon, please let us explain. Bei mir bist du schon, means you're grand!" Essie found herself in Talbert's arms, smiling and singing while looking up his torso. As she turned to continue, Essie saw Lipton beaming and Tala being swung around in a certain Charles Grant's arms.
"Bei mir bist du schon, again I'll explain," Essie pulled Tala from Grant's arms she they could go on. "Bei mir bist du schon, means you're the fairest in the land. I could say bella, bella. Even say wunderbar, each language only helps me tell you, how grand you are! I've tried to explain bei mir bist di schon, so kiss me and say you understand!"
Grant captured Tala again, and brought her up into the air. He pecked her on the cheek, sending the shy girl giggling and blushing. Essie laughed out loud at her dear friend's bashfulness, but was stopped when Talbert began passionately kissing her.
"I do understand, dear…" Guilt rushed through her every bone, making her want to leave his embrace.
"Tab! Tab, put me down!" She giggled, but there was a certain serious tone in her voice. Wanting to rejoice with the now joyful men, she couldn't as she saw Hoobler sadly wander away.
"What the hell is going on here!" Buck Compton busted through the circle of men that had been previously watching the entertainment.
Essie shot her right hand to her forehead and spoke through the salute. "I'm sorry, Buck. Tala and I was a' just singing."
Buck looked over at Lipton who still had a smile on his face, "And they sang damn well!" Lipton heartily laughed at the young pair of girls arm in arm.
"Map?" Buck kneeled down, and unfolded a colorful map against Malarkey's back. Essie went over to the small cluster of men looking down, wanting to get an idea of where they were moving out to push the Germans back through the bulge.
Buck jabbed his finger into the map, making Malarkey turn.
"Hey!"
"Stop crying, Malark or else I'll nail it to your head."
Lipton began shoving the parchment back into his pocket, "Good luck, it's made out of wood!"
Essie chuckled as she saw Tala help Malarkey up to his feet. "Second platoon, let's go, move out!" Bill yelled, Essie motioning them to get moving with her arms.
"C'mon, let's go fellas!" She slung her M1 over her shoulder, and began shuffling through the trees with Talbert at her side. Her long wool coat hung to her ankles; because it was oversized it kept her extra warm. She thanked God she was a short girl, and would shudder remembering how could she was back in Bastonge. Days of pure misery later, they had earned some winter clothing though it seemed it would never be enough. Her bones cracked with the cold eating away inside of her. Trying to distract herself from the harsh cold, she smiled back at Shifty who had a white cover on his helmet.
Most of the men looked so chipper, and Essie admired them for that. A warm feeling was kindling inside of her, thinking that maybe her simple song may have been apart of that happiness.
A horse neighed loudly, the whinny filled with fear somewhere in the distance. Her heart stopped, knowing it could only be a German. Three shots rang out, and her eyes darted around to search for Hoobler. He was nowhere to be seen.
"Tab, where's Hoob?" She tugged on his sleeve, still looking around her.
"Jesus, I don't know. I think he's on the edge." Essie took off, her legs controlling her. She didn't want to go looking for him, which was more like looking for trouble. But she subconsciously did.
"First Sergeant! Where are you going?" Lipton captured her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
"Hoobler, I haven't seen him in awhile. The shots, sir, alarmed me."
He released her shoulders, "He's out on the edge, I'm sure he's fine."
Lipton continued to walk towards their destination, leaving Essie to swim in worry as a final shot was heard.
B.o.B.
"Down he goes, out of the saddle like a sack of potatoes. Outstanding acuarcy on my part, if I do say so myself."
Essie unbent her back that was chiseling away the frozen earth, her lips curved into a smile, "Which you do…"
"Which I do," Hoobler looked down at his prized treasure in his hands. He turned it over and over, gazing at every square inch. He looked like a kid on Christmas… he looked like Dixie on Christmas.
"Hoob, get to work," She pushed on, not wanting to dowse out his glee, but also not wanting to do the whole foxhole herself.
He ignored her, not done gloating, "Hell, Shifty, I think I could maybe even give you a run for your money!"
Shifty stood up as well, adjusting his helmet, "Ah, Hoob I ain't a good shot. Now, dad, he was an excellent shot. Excellent shot, I do declare he could shoot the wings off a fly."
Essie continued to pant as they were all now talking except for Lipton. He was a great leader, and now that Dike was nowhere to be found, he was the one that led Easy. Inside she knew he would be promoted soon, and though she was happy, it meant more responsibility for her.
"What happened to the horse?" Shifty sweetly asked, making Essie tune her ears to their conversation. She missed her life on the farm, and any talk of animals interested her.
"Probably still runnin', hope it's okay."
Lipton was now getting annoyed, "Hoob, you dug in?"
"Yea, just thought I'd take a walk, shoot the shit." He began to stand up.
"You're a good shot, just glad you're on our side."
Essie faced him, raising her eyebrows, "Hey, hey Hoob?" He turned around, still admiring the shiny black handgun. "Be careful, and stay safe."
Even though the boys were her brothers, she was First Sergeant, with more duties. It was her job to keep the men in line, and that included keeping them safe.
"Yea, yea… mom!" He sarcastically played, throwing all cares behind him. Essie rolled her eyes, digging some more… the only peaceful thing to do.
"Thanks for the help, Es and Lip," Shifty smiled down at them. Buck came up to Lipton, and they began nervously chatting. She tried to look occupied, until Malarkey and Shifty began joking about Shames and Dike.
She tried to muffle the laughs coming up her throat, "Shut up, boys! You're gonna get me in trouble!" They all began to chuckle, the only way they knew how to deal with their troublesome CO's.
A foreign sounding shot was heard, and it wasn't their own. "Patrol?"
"No, we would have heard," Lipton replied.
"One man, maybe a sniper," Buck suggested. Shifty disagreed with his expert ear.
"Nobody's out there," Shifty spoke, interrupted by Hershey.
"Aw, geez it's Hoob! He's shot!" Essie began to stand up, wanting to run to him.
"Sniper?"
"No, he- he shot himself!" She clambered out of the fresh hole, her only mission to find her good friend. Essie stopped, finding him sprawled on the ground.
"Medic!" Perconte shouted, and Esther dashed to his side.
"Hoobler? Hoob, what happened?" She caressed his face, trying to get him to calm down.
He squirmed, and uneasily spoke, "Shit, Essie it just went off. I wasn't touching it or nothing! Jesus, it hurts like a son of a bitch!"
"I know, I know, Hoob. Doc's coming, you're alright!" She bent down, running her purple fingers against his scruffy cheeks.
"What, did you think it was German leg?" Essie would have been startled by Eugene's rare act, but instead she focused on Hoobler.
"Hey, you're gonna be fine, just stay with me, c'mon Hoob!" She firmly held his face, forcing him to look in her eyes. She desperately wanted to cry, knowing he was slipping away. No, she told herself, I have to stay strong for him.
His eyes began to flutter, "Hey Lip? You said I was a great shot, right?"
"The best I know," Essie and Carwood said in unison.
He turned to the girl he secretly loved. "Essie, I-I love you, and I always will," She felt him slide further and further away with her fingers. She flipped her hand, stroking his cheeks with the back of her hand.
Something inside told her to kiss him, and she did without hesitation. Deep inside she knew he loved her, and it was a little thing to let him know she loved him back. Essie held them there, seeming to suck the last bit of life from him.
As she pulled back the tears were freely flowing now, and his eyes fluttered shut once more, "Donald Brenton Hoobler! Stay with me! I can't loose you, I need you!"
Her words lingered in the air, as everybody pulled away including Doc. Her weak body collapsed him his chest. Painful sobs wracked her body, and she pulled in nearer to him. She inhaled his scent for one last time, and spoke quietly to his body through gasps.
"No, no, no, no," Essie repeated to herself through chattering teeth. She grasped his scarf, and ran her fingertips behind his ears once more. Those adorable ears that always made her smile, now made her cry harder than she had ever in her life.
A broad pair of hands were placed on her back, "Essie, come on. It's time to go,"
She whipped her head around, "NO! I will not leave him!" Her words lashed out at Buck.
Again she collapsed onto him, needing to feel his hand on her back. She was in shock, and nothing would convince her to leave his side.
"Hoobler," She choked. "Please…"
No response.
She felt their eyes on her, trying themselves to bring it back together. She heard somebody whisper, "Go get Tab."
Moments later, Taletta and Floyd were trying their best to coax her away from his lifeless body. Talbert tried to hug her, but she venomously pushed him away. Taletta tried to coo her with her soft and loving words, only making her bawl harder.
Through her own powerful sobs, she heard Nixon and Lipton talking. "We can't have her stay there. We have to move." Nix agreed.
Footsteps neared her, "Essie, please." Nixon begged her to move, her actions were only making it harder for everybody else.
She refused to cave in, determined to stay with him until he was alive again. Arms wrapped around her, pulling her away from him. As she was lifted, she carried Hoobler after her but eventually released his neck. She kicked and punched, scratched and screamed at her captors. They contained her long enough for the jeeps to take him away; away from her.
"NO! Let me GO!" Essie lost her mind and the adrenaline did things to her she wasn't proud of. She swore at her closet friends, kicked Talbert away and did everything she could to go back to him. Once Easy saw the jeep disappear into the forest, they set her down, still kicking.
She crawled over to the nearest tree, sobbing like a small child. Some tried to talk to her, but they were pulled away. It was if they were afraid of her now. The pain of loosing him was sinking in, and no matter how she positioned herself the grief wouldn't leave her. She tried to roll into a ball, not wanting them to see her like this. If she had it her way, she would mourn in front of that pool of blood until the end of time.
B.o.B.
"Dick, got this from a runner today…" Nixon held out a small scrap of paper to his friend.
Winters icy blue eyes ran back and forth, quickly reading the dry words. For the circumstances, Nixon thought regiment could have used kinder words.
The letter read as followed:
To Whom It May Concern:
We are sorry to inform that Esther Fusillade's father has died due to natural causes. Charles Fusillade died on Christmas Day, 1944. Please inform the soldier of the news, and make sure they understand they may not return home.
Regimental Headquarters, January 2nd, 1945
"Jesus Christ…" Winters swallowed hard, thinking hard how he would explain this to the small and weak soldier.
"I know, after Hoobler… I don't think she can handle all this at once." Nixon took a swig from his flask.
"Essie would be even more upset if we didn't tell her. But, who should do it?"
"That's why I showed-"
Winters cut off Nixon, an idea striking him, "Guarnere. Guarnere should do it. She loves him."
"She is still at that tree, I'll go find Bill," Nixon began to walk from the tent.
"Hey, Lew? Tell her I said hang tough," Winters looked up, solemn with the situation. He couldn't think of anything else to tell the brave girl.
B.o.B.
"Well, whaddaya know? It's my favorite girl!" Bill timidly walked up to Essie, her eyes ghostly fixed on the frozen lake of blood in front of her. She didn't reply.
"Mind if I sit with you?" He held the letter firmly in his hand behind his back, not wanting to tell her.
"If you came to visit me, yes. If you came to remove me, no you may not." Essie snapped at him, Hoobler's sudden death was hastily changing her.
"Good! I didn't come for neither of those!" He plopped down beside her. "I just came to get warmth off of ya!" He chuckled with his thick accent, practically forcing Essie to smile.
"How's my baby girl?" He lowered his heavy arm around her shoulders.
With tears streaks staining her pink cheeks she tore her eyes from the blood. "How do I look like I'm doing, Bill?" she responded dryly.
"Look, we all miss him too. In the words of that Quaker, hang tough." Essie smiled into her sleeve that wiped the newly forming tears from her eyes.
"So, what did you really come for?" She felt sick when she heard Bill swallow hard and reach into his pocket.
"This…" She hesitantly snatched it, inside knowing it couldn't have been good.
Her swollen eyes scanned the page, tearful wrinkles scrunching up her face. Biting her lip, she fiercely tore the page in half and threw it into the bitter wind.
"Now my father?" She looked over at Bill, but no more tears would come. Guarnere looked as if he might cry as he nodded, so he wrapped her up in his arms. He tenderly stroked her back as she mumbled into his chest.
"I can't do this, it's too much. This can't be true…" Bill was never a very religious man, but at this point he looked up to the blank sky. He asked God why he was punishing her.
Nearly a half of an hour passed, filled with tearless sobs. She pulled away from Bill's hold, gasping for air. Essie looked rough. Her hair was a dirt filled mass, the tears cut through the grim coating he face. Her cheeks and ears were bright red, and her eyes swollen and bloodshot.
"My mother… my sister…" She looked over at Hoobler's blood, and at that moment she wished to be dead.
Bill tried comforting her by wiping away the dried tears, but she spoke again, "Bill, you got a smoke?"
"I though you only smoked cigars, Es?"
She looked down at her bloody hands that had the remains of Hoobler on them, "I'll smoke anything at this point…"
Guarnere flicked back his lighter, and the small flame brought warmth to her nose.
"You ready to go?" She looked back at the red mess once more and slowly nodded.
D': Sorry if that wasn't very detailed, I tried my best.
I would really appreciate reviews from all of you!
Thank you!