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in the shadows part 4...

in the shadows...
on the other side
of the world
a grandmother
finishes changing her
grandson's diaper
as the phone goes
acting as both
a mother and
a grandmother
she listens
to an officer
who informs her
of both her daughter's
daughter in law's
soon to be son in law's
and son's death
informing her
that her three
grandchildren
are now parentless
not a word or sound
does she utter
as she listens
to their story
with only
her shaking hands
and a single tear
does she give away
her emotional turmoil
at the new's
she is receiving
for now she has
three more children
to claim as her own
as she puts
down the reciever
a four year old
comes running in
and clings
to her skirts
"who was on
the phone gammy?
are mommy
and daddy okay
are aunty
and uncle okay
gammy?
whats wrong
you look like
you have seen
a ghosty
gammy?"
"be a good girl
and put your cousin
in his swinging chair
wont you?
thats a dearie
go on
out to play
with you
and stay within
my sight
you hear me?"
the grandmother
sits down
and remineses
about the days
when she had
her eldest children
to herself
before they
got it into
their heads
they were going
to follow
in their fathers
good ole footsteps
into the military
and like their father
they went off to war
and just like him
they did not return
a father, a son
and a daughter
killed in the same war

in the shadows..
the grandmother
remineses about
her husband
and how he died
in that damned war
he had been
part of the first wave
into iraq at the begining
of the war
during that time
the soldiers
hadnt realised
that picking up
a coke can
could and would
contain and IED and
kill one of them
until one day
when her husband
had picked one up
and it exploded
in his hand
he had died
she was told
on the way
to the hospital
calling out
her name
the medics
with him
were unalbe
to stop
the main artery
in his neck
from bleeding
and he slowly
bleed to death
as she came
back to the present
the last of her tears
were dried off
she heard
the school bus
pull up outside
the house

from the shadows...
within the school bus
a young girl
not but seventeen
holding the hand
of her five
year old niece
emerges followed
closely by
a fifteen year old
young man
holding his
little brothers
hand who is
almost seven
years old
"come along
now kids
i have a
tasty treat
waiting on
all of you"
the two oldest
among the children
notice their mother
trail of tears
but said nothing
to her in front of
the younger children
out of respect
that the tears
probably had to do
with their brothers
and sisters
who were still
serving in the war
when they finally
had a chance
later that night
to question
their mother
she told them
the tale she
had been told
as well as
"i was once
thought of as
a strong woman
that was what
your father
admired the most
in me my dearies
but i dont know
if i could be
so strong
if i lost another
loved one to
this damned war!
promise me
that neither of you
my now two
eldest surviving children
will serve
our country
during this war
we have lost
enough for
one family
to bear!
will you help me
raise your neices
and your nephews
and help me
explain to
the little ones
why their parents
wont be returning
for them..?"
"we will always
stand beside you
mother we love you"
"she speaks
for the both
of us mother
we will help
with the others
like we always have
and always will"

Author notes

this is part of a series
In the shadows...
In the shadows part 2...
In the shadows part 3...
In the shadows part 4...
Partly in the shadows...

A contest entry

Please tell me what you think

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    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
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Comments

1 - 8 of 8

  • Antebellum
    September 4

    Edit | Reply
    The only thing that I dont really like is the short lines.
    I throws off the flow and makes it diffacult to follow.
    But..
    the story itself is wonderful.Very sad, but written great.
    thanks for entering.


  • Symphony
    April 3
    Edit | Reply
    I found thi svery hard to read for two reasons, number one it's the middle of a story, LOL and number two the short short lines made it sooooo long!

    Anyhow, though, that aside, I love the way you gave us a glimpse into the lives of so many and the way you skillfully told the story [had a bit of a shiver at the ghostly gammy part ]

    nice job thanks for enteirng!


  • Symphony
    April 3
    Edit | Reply
    I found thi svery hard to read for two reasons, number one it's the middle of a story, LOL and number two the short short lines made it sooooo long!

    Anyhow, though, that aside, I love the way you gave us a glimpse into the lives of so many and the way you skillfully told the story [had a bit of a shiver at the ghostly gammy part ]

    nice job thanks for enteirng!


  • eightball666
    August 22, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Very sad. Good job and good luck.


  • Angelflower
    May 29, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    This was really good.. the imagery and story here was just so great.. The emotion and sadness is really heartfelt here.. thank you very much for sharing..
    Best of luck to you..

    Angel


  • No More Lies
    April 19, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    A beautiful poem, it brought tears to my eyes
    Good write,


  • Pollycheck
    April 17, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Thank you for entering my military contest. This is indeed a sad story. It is well written but I would suggest that you check for typos and misspelled words. I did notice a couple of them.


  • peridotPixi
    April 7, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    great, this is a great continuation of your series, i like how you asked the older kids if they would help gramy explaine what had happened and tell the young children while thier parents won't be returning, i also like how the older kids had to promise that they wouldn't join the military, they have all lost enough of their family, keep writing, -Amy

1 - 8 of 8