I enjoyed the morning sun. It's warm and comforting. I like watching it rise as well but this morning I woke up a bit late it's strange because the sound of the birds is what usually wakes me up. I normally am easy to wake but today was different, I woke to the sun shining, I missed the sunrise. It doesn't really matter though, the sun will rise again tomorrow, in the same spot; there really isn't much to miss.

I walked downstairs after I was decent enough. I was greeted by the aroma of my mother's cooking once I entered the downstairs living room; cinnamon, eggs, orange juice and bread. I really like my mother's cooking but I don't understand why she doesn't let the hired help to cook. They do the cleaning and laundry every once in a while but never cook. I suppose I do know, she wants to feel needed. I could see it in her eyes, the human eyes are the portals into one's soul and I can almost understand what she is thinking by just looking into her eyes.

Yes, she does want to feel needed.

I walked down to eat breakfast. I kissed my mother on her cheek and I helped her set up the table for breakfast. We ate in silence. Not much was happening with us lately. Not much happening anywhere else. Well except the same thing that was going on the past few months and years. The Great War was still going on, and the sickness, the one that took my father's life, is spreading. It was called the Spanish Influenza. I haven't heard much about it besides that it was not a pleasant way to go.

Mother doesn't speak of those things.

My mother looked at me after she drank some of her milk.

"Edward, you woke a tad bit late. Are you alright son?" She asked with extreme care in her eyes. She thinks I might be getting the Spanish flu. I could not help but mentally scoff at her assumption. I am not usually the one who would get sick. If I did get sick it only lasted a short time, a day or two.

"Do not fret mother I am fine. I suppose I just over slept a bit that's all. There's no need to worry." I smiled at her. I love my mother but she worries too much. She doesn't have to worry about me; she has nothing to fear. Although she has been acting a bit strange lately. It's most likely that she overheard people's conversation about the flu, it's been floating around.

Mother stopped paying attention to what the newspapers print everyday and stopped discussing what was happening outside our world in Chicago a few weeks ago but with every news stand there has been an increasing numbers of dead soldiers and an even higher number of flu victims

Maybe she does have something to worry about.

"Mother, I'm going out for today. It has been a while since I have left the house. I could get you some milk from the store if I you'd like." I had not been out for a few weeks. The last time I went out was to get milk and bread and other things in the grocery store. What I have been doing lately was staying home and playing the piano that was in our living room. My father gave it to us as a gift. Mother loves listening to me play but it does remind me of my father.

But today I wanted to do something different. I wanted to watch a moving picture today; I had enough money to watch it.

My mother looked up from her breakfast and studied me for a while. I guess she was trying to see if I was telling the truth.

I was.

"Of course son you may go out. If you don't mind me asking where are you going for the day?" She was still testing me.

"I am going to watch a movie today perhaps and maybe walk around the park." She eyes me suspiciously and sighed. She believes me now.

"That's fine son. Just be careful. I heard about this group of people, who are considered mobsters, are walking around the city. If there is any trouble just remain in a safe building son. I heard they carried weapons." She waited for me until I nodded.

I knew about the mobsters but I never encountered one. Not that I would want to. They commit murders and robberies and as well as many other things for money. I don't want to get into any kind of trouble with the mob.

I kissed my mother goodbye. She wanted me to leave the house. It becomes tiresome to be stuck in your own home. Mother goes out to tea parties and book readings that are hosted by our neighbors.

I walked outside and I notice Mr. Gabriels was not outside yet. That was odd. He was usually out and about before I walked out of the house. Perhaps he overslept as well. I have not heard much about his sick wife and child. Perhaps he is taking care of them. I don't dwell on the idea too much. My mind would go to the worst conclusion; that she's suffering from the same sickness my father had.

I continued walking, getting that idea out of my mind. Pessimism would not help Mrs. Gabriels and her child.

Later that day, around noon I went over to buy a newspaper. I did not get a chance to read it today. I have been looking for any new update on the war. So far it is at a stalemate. They need more American soldiers to serve, from what I see from the paper. I am willing to fight. They would probably need me now then in nine months. It's September now and I only have nine months until I am drafted.

I can wait nine months.

Although, I have been debating with myself about lying about my age. One of my friends did that and now he is fighting along side his fellow Americans. I congratulated him. I haven't seen him or heard of him since.

I paid for the paper and wondered around for the next few hours. The warm summer air before the fall is pleasant and I could stay outside for hours before actually noticing the time. When I did notice the time, it was time to go watch the motion picture. I vaguely remember the first motion picture that came out in 1903. I was two then. My mother and father took me to watch it. It was a play that we knew very well but it was interesting seeing it on a screen, from what I recall. I did not remember much besides there were many people and my mother wanted me close to her and my father.

I entered the theater. It was not as large as the theaters where the plays are preformed but it was large enough to hold curious people in a showing of moving pictures.

The show did not last long. Perhaps thirty minutes, or maybe forty-five, but when I had left the theater the sky had darkened. It was odd. It felt as though time has been moving so much faster these days, it was almost like my life was flashing so fast now. It could be because I have been waiting for my 18th birthday to come in that way I can enlist.

I sighed. I walked over to the park. I was not ready to return home yet. Mother knew I would return late though. She shouldn't worry.

After spending some time walking around in the park I left (I had to leave, I could not see very well anymore). I walked over to the not-so-busy walkway. Should there be many more people walking around? I guess I lost more time than I thought. I looked over at my pocket watch. It was about eleven in the evening. Mother would start to worry now. I should return home.

As I started to walk home I could hear some muffled sound. It sounded like a woman trying to speak but her mouth was covered or something similar to that…I started to pay attention.

"Listen girl. We aren't gonna hurt you…much, if you listen to us. If you come back with us and entertain us, we might let ya go alive." It was a man, perhaps in his late twenties or early thirties.

I heard the girl scream under the man's hand.

"If you are going to be difficult we might not have time to take ya with us. Would you like that!" He was forceful. His voice seemed drunk and irritated. I walked closer, making sure I would not be heard. I could see them clearly. And once I did, I could feel anger in my rising. The girl, or the woman I should say, was battered and hurt and dirty and these men are ready to cause her more harm. I almost went after the man right then and there.

The girl was crying. Tears were running down her dirt stained face.

The man caressed her cheek and she flinched away.

"Well aren't you a beautiful thing. It would be such a waste. I'll ask ya again. Come with me and you aren't gonna get hurt! I'm the one who's gotta bring the girl in tonight, if I don't I can't join!" After he said this I knew he was someone trying to join the mob. I don't know what they have to do to get in, I has to be murder, robbing and…

He's going to rape her, I have to stop him.

The girl shook her head.

The man's face turned red. He removed his hand over her mouth and before the girl could scream he slapped her with such a force that knocked her down to the floor. As soon as she was on the floor, the man tried to act on her defenselessness. I could see he was struggling with his tie and buttons on his shirt.

I could not stand idly any longer.

I ran up to him and punched him in the face before he could get any closer to the girl. He fell to the floor and looked at me with a drunken expression. His look was confused but after a short time he started laughing. My anger rose.

"If you wanted the girl to yourself you could have just waited for me to finish with her." He continued to laugh and my anger raised more. I couldn't think straight. I didn't know if I should let him live or kill him myself

He slowly stood up. I did not know why I did not try to force him down again, to kill him. He glared at me.

"If ya want the girl just wait, so if you may, please move out of my way." He grabbed me by my shoulder and pushed me down to the ground. I got back up. I went to hit him again but he turned around, anticipating my move and hit me across the jaw. I fell backwards. It hurt, and it hurt a lot, but this girl needed me right now and my pain would be nothing if I let something else, far worse than a punch to a face, happen to her.

I went back to the man and hit him across his cheekbone. He stumbled a bit and went after me again. Before he hit me, I hit him across the head. I hit him hard enough for him to stubble and trip over a large rock that was in the alleyway. Once he fell he hit his head against the wall and was knocked unconscious. I would have continued to bludgeon him with my fists if the young woman was not in my presence.

I took a deep breath and turned around. She looked afraid; she thought I was fighting him to get to her.

I kneeled down to her level and she flinched. I gave her my hand to show her I was not going to hurt her.

"I'm sorry that man was about to hurt you, but I will not harm you I promise." I still had my hand out in order to help her get up off the ground.

She looked at me and after a short moment of analyzing my body language to determine if I was or was not going to hurt her, she took my hand and I helped her stand up.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I asked her. She shook her head and gave me a small smile.

"I am fine, I was not hurt because you came and saved you. I am in your debt Mr…"

"Masen, Edward Masen. Please you don't repay me. I couldn't have let you stay with him and let you get hurt by him. I must have frightened you. I'm sorry. I have a little problem with my temper, I'm sorry you had to see that."

"I do not mind Mr. Masen. Honestly, I owe you my life now." She still had tears coming out of her eyes. She must be in shock.

"Come, tell me where you live that way I can take you home. I'd rather you not run into one of his friends." I looked behind me to see the unconscious, drunken mobster, but to my surprise he was not there. I turned around completely. It was dark and the alleyway was long. He must have escaped…he must have feigned his injury to have a chance to leave…

I could hear the girl start hyperventilating. She was scared of her life and I couldn't blame her.

I turned around to face her and put my hands on her face.

"I promise you that I will have your life be endangered by one of those men again. I will find him. There is no need for panic." She nodded. I can see she wanted to believe me.

I removed my hands from her face "In what area do you live in?"

She told me where her house was located. I discovered her name was Mercy and she took care of her younger siblings by herself. She lost her father at war and her mother to a disease, she believes it was something other than the Influenza, but she did not know the symptoms. I gave her my home address and told her if anyone suspicious comes around that she can find me and tell me and I would be more than happy to help. She nodded and thanked me again. I repeated that her thanks wasn't necessary.

I wished her a good night and started to walk home.

Mother would be asking questions about my now swollen jaw and my late night. I have a story in mind but I am not sure she will believe me.

On my walk home I started to think of Mercy and the words Mr. Gabriels said a few weeks ago.

A woman that would hold my heart…Mercy was beautiful, kind, gentle, motherly but I still couldn't see myself as a husband, with a loving wife and family, not right now at least, not with Mercy. I only have one image of me and that is in a military uniform. The confrontation in the alleyway was proof enough that I can fight for my country. I want be part of that glory the United States infantry brings to our country, I want to protect not only girls like Mercy but my mother from foreign dangers. That's the least I can do. I'm intelligent but not the top of my class; talented I suppose but not the next Mozart or Debussy. My purpose is meant or the U.S. infantry. Even if there is a girl out there who can hold my heart it isn't Mercy although I am obliged to help her. I'll find that man one day and turn him in, or take care of him myself. I promised her and I always keep my word.

Luckily as I walked home I didn't come across any more mobsters, but when I got to my neighborhood I saw the lights of my house. They shouldn't be on; it's closer to midnight than 11:00. Mother was waiting up for me. I felt guilty immediately.

The least you can do Edward is stop making your mother worry about you. You're the only thing she has left.

I thought to myself, I really need to stop giving her a hard time. I'm her only son, the only family she has left, she's the only family I have. This is the exact reason I need to be out there on the front lines.

I need to be fighting and helping other people.

Walking up the stairs to my home, awaiting my mother's frantic questions, I decided that I would enlist in the army, lie about my age and go off to war. Nothing would stop me. Nothing will hold me back. I will fight for my country, for my friends and for my mother.