Danny couldn't belive he was saying that *Not sense any depression?!?! That was dumb. She's his sister of course she is going to be depressed. Geez Walker. You've said some pretty stupid stuff in your time, but that one takes the cake.*
Meanwhile...
Danny had said something about someone coming by to formally tell us the bad news and he was right. Within a few days there was an officer at our house confirming that Rafe had indeed been shot down. My mother got hysterical and dropped to her knees sobbing at the words while my father painfully took down the flag that was hanging by the porch. * Ishould take mine down too* I had two in my window. One for Rafe and the other for Danny. During dinner nobody said anything and the air was heavy, we had just lost one of our own and people would start floodling in soon. Suddenly I was very mad *How come Danny lived but my own brother is dead?? I prayed for Rafe everyday..Does God really hear our prayers?* were the questions I kept asking myself.
Eventully I got tired of sulking alone so I had Teresa come over so we could sulk together. I kept writting Danny, but usually all we talked about was Rafe. I had written to Danny about what was going on at home on Monday and since the mail was actully getting here at reasonable dates his letter should come today. "Hey Elisabeth, what day is it. Shouldn't you get Danny's letter by now"
"It's Thursday and I don't know when it's coming."
"Are you sure it's Thurday?"
"Well let's see. Yesterday was Wensday, tomorrow is Friday. Wen. Thursday, Friday. Yeah it's Thursday all right" Soon my mother was up delivering mail, but it wasen't from Danny. It was from Rafe. For a second a tiny pang of hope nailed my heart but then I relized I never got his final letter. I shoved it under my pillow and resumed my spot on the bed. "I'm sorry honey. The mail always takes a while for a peice out of the country" I didn't answer her so she shut the door and continued to work. "Do you to read the note?" asked Teresa
"No."
"Would you like me to read it to you ?" Silently I pulled it out and tossed it to her.
Dear Elisabeth, she started
TWO homeruns?! I could have never done that. That was the big news in my last letter
Who was pitching? I;ve got two things I would like you to remember always. 1) Enjoy your friends. It's hard to keep any here. I was having a drink with this new guy last week and two days later he was shot down. Don't ever take on a dare given by someone drunk. I'm not going to explain, just keep that in mind. Lesson two: I know how much you hate shots, but go in for them as often as you can. Belive it or not it can be a wonderful way of meeting people. Now I know you're saying they can be hell, but trust me on this. Anyway I know you miss me, so what I do when I miss home is just point my face towards the sun, it feels like Tenesee on a warm day so if you get lonley, try that and I'll be home. All we have is today and hope kid. Remember that. I promise you when they're done with me here I will come home and the two of us will play chicken until you can't take it anymore. Sorry this was a short one kiddo, but I gotta go. Promise me you'll look after the folks.
You're in my heart,
Rafe.
"Oh my God..I guess I'm hoping the shock will be too much for my heart and I'll just fall dead right here, and then I'll never have to hear about war or look anyone in the eye as long as I live!" Throwing the pillow over my face.
"Liz ?"
"Mmmph"
"Is Rafe Really gone?" Teresa asked looking more like my sister and less like my best friend. I hated these kind of questions. I never had a answer that I was satisfied with. So for once I forgot about 'answering' and said what was in my heart, what I felt "Um ,well that depends.. Have you said goodbye to him yet??" she shook her head no. "well then he's not gone for you. Not yet. But sooner or later, you're going to have to let him go, as painfull as that is" I felt proud of that, and if it didn't make much sense, I decided I didn't care. It was more like a personal thing, what I belived. It WAS ok to miss him, but I shouldn't go on moping for the rest of my life.
Meanwhile...
Danny had said something about someone coming by to formally tell us the bad news and he was right. Within a few days there was an officer at our house confirming that Rafe had indeed been shot down. My mother got hysterical and dropped to her knees sobbing at the words while my father painfully took down the flag that was hanging by the porch. * Ishould take mine down too* I had two in my window. One for Rafe and the other for Danny. During dinner nobody said anything and the air was heavy, we had just lost one of our own and people would start floodling in soon. Suddenly I was very mad *How come Danny lived but my own brother is dead?? I prayed for Rafe everyday..Does God really hear our prayers?* were the questions I kept asking myself.
Eventully I got tired of sulking alone so I had Teresa come over so we could sulk together. I kept writting Danny, but usually all we talked about was Rafe. I had written to Danny about what was going on at home on Monday and since the mail was actully getting here at reasonable dates his letter should come today. "Hey Elisabeth, what day is it. Shouldn't you get Danny's letter by now"
"It's Thursday and I don't know when it's coming."
"Are you sure it's Thurday?"
"Well let's see. Yesterday was Wensday, tomorrow is Friday. Wen. Thursday, Friday. Yeah it's Thursday all right" Soon my mother was up delivering mail, but it wasen't from Danny. It was from Rafe. For a second a tiny pang of hope nailed my heart but then I relized I never got his final letter. I shoved it under my pillow and resumed my spot on the bed. "I'm sorry honey. The mail always takes a while for a peice out of the country" I didn't answer her so she shut the door and continued to work. "Do you to read the note?" asked Teresa
"No."
"Would you like me to read it to you ?" Silently I pulled it out and tossed it to her.
Dear Elisabeth, she started
TWO homeruns?! I could have never done that. That was the big news in my last letter
Who was pitching? I;ve got two things I would like you to remember always. 1) Enjoy your friends. It's hard to keep any here. I was having a drink with this new guy last week and two days later he was shot down. Don't ever take on a dare given by someone drunk. I'm not going to explain, just keep that in mind. Lesson two: I know how much you hate shots, but go in for them as often as you can. Belive it or not it can be a wonderful way of meeting people. Now I know you're saying they can be hell, but trust me on this. Anyway I know you miss me, so what I do when I miss home is just point my face towards the sun, it feels like Tenesee on a warm day so if you get lonley, try that and I'll be home. All we have is today and hope kid. Remember that. I promise you when they're done with me here I will come home and the two of us will play chicken until you can't take it anymore. Sorry this was a short one kiddo, but I gotta go. Promise me you'll look after the folks.
You're in my heart,
Rafe.
"Oh my God..I guess I'm hoping the shock will be too much for my heart and I'll just fall dead right here, and then I'll never have to hear about war or look anyone in the eye as long as I live!" Throwing the pillow over my face.
"Liz ?"
"Mmmph"
"Is Rafe Really gone?" Teresa asked looking more like my sister and less like my best friend. I hated these kind of questions. I never had a answer that I was satisfied with. So for once I forgot about 'answering' and said what was in my heart, what I felt "Um ,well that depends.. Have you said goodbye to him yet??" she shook her head no. "well then he's not gone for you. Not yet. But sooner or later, you're going to have to let him go, as painfull as that is" I felt proud of that, and if it didn't make much sense, I decided I didn't care. It was more like a personal thing, what I belived. It WAS ok to miss him, but I shouldn't go on moping for the rest of my life.