This story is about the couple I wrote about last week who wrote letters to each other during the war. A little bit of time has gone by…
Gold
“Frederick? Have you seen my earrings? You know the ones you bought me when we first got married?” Ruth walked quickly into the bedroom, tears streaming down her face. She stood in front of her dresser and began pulling out drawers, sifting through the contents, frantically searching for her beloved earrings.
Frederick finished tying his dress shoes and looked up at his wife. “Honey…”
“Don’t ‘honey’ me. I know I left them in here somewhere. They were right here on the top of my dresser this morning. Now all of a sudden, they’re nowhere to be found. I really love those earrings. I don’t want to go to the church without them.” Worry etched her face as she moved onto the dirty clothes hamper and began throwing clothes left and right in search of the earrings.
Frederick stood behind her. “Honey?”
She blew a deep breath out as she tossed a dress shirt to the floor and looked back at him. “I already said, don’t honey me. You can either help me look for them or leave me alone. We’ve got to be at the church in less than half an hour. Our family is probably already there. Roger and my sister have flown in from Los Angeles for the occasion. Freddie, Tammy and the kids have decorated the church with the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to celebrate our Golden 50th Wedding Anniversary without wearing those earrings.” She stood in the midst of a pile of clothes on the floor and completely gave into tears.
Once more he said, “Honey?”
Ruth turned around to face him. He handed her the handkerchief that was in his suit pocket and she used it to dry her eyes. “You’ve said ‘Honey’ three times now. WHAT?”
He reached out to touch her cheek with his hand. “Honey, you’re already wearing them.”
Ruth closed her eyes and reached up to touch her ears. She slowly opened them. “I can’t believe I just spent the last half hour looking everywhere for them.”
He laughed and pulled her close. “I do.”
She looked up at him adoringly. “Are you sure you don’t want to run away while you still have the chance? You don’t have to marry me again you know.”
He kissed her lips and their foreheads touched. “There’s no one on earth I’d rather grow old with. I love you more than ever.”
She whispered. “Not as much as I love you.”
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Flash Fiction--War
November 22, 1943
Dear Ruth,
Well, I just left you at the train station. Since this may be the last letter I get the chance to write before a censor’s eye will see everything, let me tell you just how much the last two weeks have meant to me. If someone had told me that I’d meet a girl and fall in love before I left for war, I would have told them they were crazy but it’s true.
Please say you’ll send me a picture so that I can always see your face whenever you cross my mind, which I know will be often.
You need to know that no matter where I go or what I do as this train pulls me further and further away from you that you’ll go there with me in my heart. Write as often as you can. I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
December 1, 1943
Dear Frederick,
I miss you like crazy. Before I walked into that USO, and believe you me, I was dragged there kicking and screaming by my sister, I was a lost soul. By some miracle (that’s what I’m calling it), you came walking in that door and that began to change. It was like waking up from the longest and saddest dream to something beautiful.
I’m enclosing my picture just like you asked. I was wondering if you could do the same for me, not that I’m going to forget those eyes of yours any time soon.
I need to close as the postman is coming up the other side of the street now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
December 23, 1943
My Dearest Ruth,
I got your letter today and let me tell you, it absolutely made my day. I can’t take my eyes off of your picture. I showed it to a couple of the guys. They wanted to know if you had any sisters. I told them you did but that she was already taken. They muttered some obscenities that I won’t share with you in this letter, and then said something about some guys having all the luck. I must say that I agree with them: I do have all the luck.
Well, I’m here. I’m not allowed to say where here is but just know that I’m safe for now. We’re doing some more training. It’s hard work but I’m more than willing to do it for my country.
I’ve got to close this letter for now. I miss you like crazy. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
January 20, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
I can’t believe it’s been almost two months since I’ve last seen your face. Thank you for sending that picture by the way. I just lifted my fingers to my lips and touched your face. God how I wish you were here and I could do even more than that. (Yes, I know the censors will see that but I don’t actually care. I miss you too much!)
To keep me from absolutely losing my mind from worrying and thinking of you, I decided to take a job at the hospital. Besides answering phone calls and doing some light secretarial work, I get to help with some of the soldiers who have come home so badly injured that they won’t be able to go back. Whenever I change a bandage, I’m changing your bandage. Whenever they need a dose of medicine, I’m doing it for you and whenever one of them needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to, I’m listening to you. You’re always on my mind.
Going to close for now as my shift starts in half an hour. I miss you. I’ll be seeing you. I love you.
Yours always,
Ruth
July 14, 1944
My Dearest Ruth,
I need you to sit down right now. Are you sitting yet? Just do it. Okay, now that you’re standing there with your hand on your hip and tapping your foot, (I know you are, don’t try to deny it), I’ll tell you where I am. I’m writing this letter from a hospital in France. I was shot in the leg about a week ago and am now recuperating and resting comfortably. They gave me the Purple Heart, which I have enclosed for your safe keeping. You already hold my own heart in your precious hands so I thought I’d give you this one as well.
The doctor said that there’s a chance I may be able to make a phone call home so I might be talking to you in a few days time. It will be wonderful to hear your voice. I miss you so much. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
July 17, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
Do you know how wonderful a day I had today? First thing, I had the day off. That was all fine and good but it absolutely paled in comparison to hearing your precious voice on the phone today. Just those few moments we had meant more to me than anything else that’s happened since you left. To hear you say that you love me and not just read it in a letter was music to my ears.
Now that I’ve got the nice things out of the way, let me tell you something: Don’t you ever, ever get hurt again so badly that you need to go to the hospital! Do you hear me? I hope you do because if it happens again, I’m heading on over there to deal with you myself.
Okay, done scolding you for now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
May 24, 1945
My Dearest Ruth,
Can you believe it? V - E Day has come and gone and this bloody war is over here in Europe. I can hardly wait to come home. They’re deciding with something called a points system. I’m pretty sure I’ll have enough to get me a ticket home a little bit sooner than some of the other guys. Just the thought of seeing you once more is keeping me going at the moment. I love you. I’ll be seeing you. (Really. I’ll really be seeing you soon. I can’t wait.)
Yours always,
Frederick
PS- I wrote the above earlier this afternoon and I just found out that I’m definitely on my way home. Look for me some time at the beginning of July. I’ll let you know for sure the exact date as the time grows closer. I love you!
PPS- Did you even realize that there was no post mark or stamp on this letter? Your sister told me you always read my letters sitting on the porch so I’m watching you from the sidewalk. Look up now. I know. I love you too.
Dear Ruth,
Well, I just left you at the train station. Since this may be the last letter I get the chance to write before a censor’s eye will see everything, let me tell you just how much the last two weeks have meant to me. If someone had told me that I’d meet a girl and fall in love before I left for war, I would have told them they were crazy but it’s true.
Please say you’ll send me a picture so that I can always see your face whenever you cross my mind, which I know will be often.
You need to know that no matter where I go or what I do as this train pulls me further and further away from you that you’ll go there with me in my heart. Write as often as you can. I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
December 1, 1943
Dear Frederick,
I miss you like crazy. Before I walked into that USO, and believe you me, I was dragged there kicking and screaming by my sister, I was a lost soul. By some miracle (that’s what I’m calling it), you came walking in that door and that began to change. It was like waking up from the longest and saddest dream to something beautiful.
I’m enclosing my picture just like you asked. I was wondering if you could do the same for me, not that I’m going to forget those eyes of yours any time soon.
I need to close as the postman is coming up the other side of the street now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
December 23, 1943
My Dearest Ruth,
I got your letter today and let me tell you, it absolutely made my day. I can’t take my eyes off of your picture. I showed it to a couple of the guys. They wanted to know if you had any sisters. I told them you did but that she was already taken. They muttered some obscenities that I won’t share with you in this letter, and then said something about some guys having all the luck. I must say that I agree with them: I do have all the luck.
Well, I’m here. I’m not allowed to say where here is but just know that I’m safe for now. We’re doing some more training. It’s hard work but I’m more than willing to do it for my country.
I’ve got to close this letter for now. I miss you like crazy. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
January 20, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
I can’t believe it’s been almost two months since I’ve last seen your face. Thank you for sending that picture by the way. I just lifted my fingers to my lips and touched your face. God how I wish you were here and I could do even more than that. (Yes, I know the censors will see that but I don’t actually care. I miss you too much!)
To keep me from absolutely losing my mind from worrying and thinking of you, I decided to take a job at the hospital. Besides answering phone calls and doing some light secretarial work, I get to help with some of the soldiers who have come home so badly injured that they won’t be able to go back. Whenever I change a bandage, I’m changing your bandage. Whenever they need a dose of medicine, I’m doing it for you and whenever one of them needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to, I’m listening to you. You’re always on my mind.
Going to close for now as my shift starts in half an hour. I miss you. I’ll be seeing you. I love you.
Yours always,
Ruth
July 14, 1944
My Dearest Ruth,
I need you to sit down right now. Are you sitting yet? Just do it. Okay, now that you’re standing there with your hand on your hip and tapping your foot, (I know you are, don’t try to deny it), I’ll tell you where I am. I’m writing this letter from a hospital in France. I was shot in the leg about a week ago and am now recuperating and resting comfortably. They gave me the Purple Heart, which I have enclosed for your safe keeping. You already hold my own heart in your precious hands so I thought I’d give you this one as well.
The doctor said that there’s a chance I may be able to make a phone call home so I might be talking to you in a few days time. It will be wonderful to hear your voice. I miss you so much. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
July 17, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
Do you know how wonderful a day I had today? First thing, I had the day off. That was all fine and good but it absolutely paled in comparison to hearing your precious voice on the phone today. Just those few moments we had meant more to me than anything else that’s happened since you left. To hear you say that you love me and not just read it in a letter was music to my ears.
Now that I’ve got the nice things out of the way, let me tell you something: Don’t you ever, ever get hurt again so badly that you need to go to the hospital! Do you hear me? I hope you do because if it happens again, I’m heading on over there to deal with you myself.
Okay, done scolding you for now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
May 24, 1945
My Dearest Ruth,
Can you believe it? V - E Day has come and gone and this bloody war is over here in Europe. I can hardly wait to come home. They’re deciding with something called a points system. I’m pretty sure I’ll have enough to get me a ticket home a little bit sooner than some of the other guys. Just the thought of seeing you once more is keeping me going at the moment. I love you. I’ll be seeing you. (Really. I’ll really be seeing you soon. I can’t wait.)
Yours always,
Frederick
PS- I wrote the above earlier this afternoon and I just found out that I’m definitely on my way home. Look for me some time at the beginning of July. I’ll let you know for sure the exact date as the time grows closer. I love you!
PPS- Did you even realize that there was no post mark or stamp on this letter? Your sister told me you always read my letters sitting on the porch so I’m watching you from the sidewalk. Look up now. I know. I love you too.
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