After breakfast I entered my room. I stood there staring at my uniform. The decorations on it, the medals. I didn't really do anything there, I barely had the guts to fire my gun, and hardly any of us knew if we had hit anything. We just fired blindly in fear. I was one of the few survivors of my squad. Sophy being injured deeply reminded me how much the traumas of war had followed me home. Like death, having lost his grip of me on the battlefield has followed me, to try and take the life of my sister. I walked out of my room, and into Sophy's. She had woken up and Mom gave her a bowl of hot soup and a large pile of cinnamon waffles with a lot of maple syrup. "Hey Sophy," I said. "Hey Georgy," she replied. I sat down on the chair where I was sleeping an hour earlier,"How are you feeling?" I asked. She took a bite of waffle, and sipped a spoonful of soup. "Never better," she said as she smiled. Then I heard a knock on the door. "That must be the doctor," said mom. I stayed with Sophy and took care of he dishes on her bed. I could hear mom, as she opened the door to speak with the doctor. "Good morning Mrs. Lloyd," he said. "Doctor Shepard, please come in, my daughter is in the room to the left," said mom as she made a gesture with her hand pointing down the hallway left of the living room. "Good morning sir," I said," Ah you must be the lad everyone in town is talking about," he said with a big smile on his face. "I guess so," I replied. "Uhh.. George Wilford Lloyd is it?" he recalled, just before my mom could give him my name."Yes I am," I replied once more. "Oh boy, you're a hero you know? You should head down there before you leave. I heard all about your next mission down in Africa, you must be excited." I nodded, smiled, and said"Thank you sir, and I am, very." I took a step aside so Dr. Shepard could take a look at Sophy. "And you must be Sophia Marie Lloyd," he said and chuckled a bit, "From what I've heard, you've got all those young men in town falling had over heals." He leaked out a little laugh. Sophy was flattered, her cheeks grew a little red. "Well I'll take that as a a compliment Dr. Shepard," said Sophy. The doctor asked he to open her mouth checked her throat, took her temperature, and took a look at her legs. "Well I suppose we'll have to take her to her to the hospital, get some X-rays, it doesn't look too bad,"said the doctor,"My guess is just a small fracture on the left leg it appears, probably a couple weeks in a cast and a crutch should make you as good as new." My mother and I sighed in relief,"Oh thank you so much Dr. Shepard," said my mother. "Oh you might not have heard, but the storm last night caused a lot of damage all across the New England coa, I'm late for my next appointment, I'll call for an ambulance on my way out, I'll be home this afternoon if you need me again," said the doctor. His house was just down the street by a mile, he was like our village's witch doctor, giving visits to everyone's house who needed him in the neighborhood. Our house was farther out of town than anyone's, even though we only lived about 3 miles out. We had no neighbors for almost half a mile. We lived secluded from most of the town's people, and since father died we only made trips into town once or twice a week. Since she became a widow, she always wanted to be alone, just the two of them, her and my daughter. My Father was an editor for the town's news paper, my mother was a tailor. Despite our private nature, we are still among the most talked about in town. Captain Marshall Alvin Lloyd, the valiant officer that died gloriously in battle, survived by his son the town hero, the most beautiful daughter in the county, and the sweetest wife a husband could ask for. I wanted to laugh at such a title when I saw it for the first time in the papers, I was only just a man trying to get by, and if I weren't still grieving over the loss of my father, I'd probably laugh out loud.
By lunch time I took Sophy to the hospital, and got her cast done. It was about noon when we left the hospital. People greeted me everywhere. It's true what Dr. Shepard has said, everyone did see me as the town hero. As we left the hospital, Sophy just laughed and roughed up my hair with her bony hands. "Hey soldier boy," she said as we got in the car to leave the hospital, I drove,"When are you gonna get yourself a hot wife? You could have any woman in this town if you wanted." I pondered a bit, then sad,"I don't know Sophy, I haven't found the right one yet I guess." Sophy sat down and slammed the door real hard, she always did that just to annoy me. Things seemed back to normal between us. I started the car and drove off. On our way back, I noticed that she kept staring at her cast. Probably wondering if the boys would still be hitting on her even though she was in crutches now. Silly self conscious Sophy I thought to my self. "George please don't stay for me," she said,"I'll be alright. You should go on your mission, that's what father would've wanted. For you to continue his legacy." I looked at Sophy and rubbed her shoulder, "Thanks sis," I said,"but don't get married till I come back." We laughed together for a bit. Then I heard a familiar faint sound, the propellers of a German bomber. A swarm of them in the sky, escorted by smaller fighters. It wasn't long before the entire was filled with the black silhouettes of enemy crafts. "My god," said Sophy,"Georgy..... are we under attack?" I was speechless for a moment, leaning over the steering wheel looking up into the sky. "We have to get home, and get mom and you to somewhere safe!" I said to her,"Listen to me carefully Sophy, you and mom take the car, and head west. Don't stop for anything, we've got enough gasoline barrels that dad collected to last you a thousand miles." Sophy was glued to her side of the window."George,"she said in a beckoning tone," please come with us, we can't make it with out you." I wanted to go, but I couldn't leave my duties behind, I couldn't leave for what my father stood for. I had to make my stand. I had to fight the Germans off my homeland. My time had come. It was now. "Look, they're headed South, they must be after the Boston Harbor," I speculated. It was the least I could think off, I was shaking, the memories from war, my unit wiped out. We took a bad hit out in Denmark, we couldn't hold the line. We had only taken it back from the Germans for a couple weeks, they fought back hard. General Adams ordered the retreat, it was devastating. The shells exploded all around behind our backs, 3rd degree burns, dust and dirt in our eyes, ears, lungs, and it even plugged our nostrils. I thought I would suffocate. Charlie Hanson pulled me out, and incredible test of spirit. I myself even doubted I do the same for anyone, I could hardly see anything. Out of 3000 men, a couple dozen made it out alive. We were awarded the silver star. There were no awards for the dead, the brave souls that stayed behind to ensure the rest of us left. Orwell, Mobius, Johnston, and many others died the last moments before we crossed the border out of there.
We finally reached home, the bombers must've reached there destinations by now, but still they launched a bombardment of any possible tactical resistance. The town of York behind us went up in storm of explosions. It shook the ground beneath me, the leaves on the trees scattered down, I could see the sky growing grey from the smoke and dust that rose from the town nearby. "George!!" mom cried from the house, she had prepared food and blankets, carrying all she could. I ran over to help her. "George, oh my, what have they done?" said mom. She kneeled down and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Mom," I said as I picked her up to get her into the car,"mom, you have to get Sophy out of here. Head east I'll go get dad's old fuel barrel, that should be enough to get you far away from here. There's gonna be more of them." My mom started to walk on her own towards the car. She got in and I ran back inside to pick up the heavy barrel and walked back out to plop it into the trunk. "There," I said, "did you get all the food out of the house?" Mom wiped the tears off,"Yes Dear, and I know you can't come with us, you have to stand for your father don't you." I hugged mom, "Mom, I love you and Sophy so much," I said, "I'll see the both of you again some day I promise." I ran over to the other side of the car. The bombings had stopped, there were so many planes in the sky, they took everything out quickly. "Sophy, my sweet beautiful sister," these might be my last words, I didn't quite know how to continue so I just said,"I love you, and I'll miss you." I hugged her tightly," I love you too Georgy, and I'll miss you," she was crying again now," Go get'em soldier boy!" She slugged me in the shoulder. I laughed and closed the door. Mom drove off. As they left, I looked up in the sky, and the transport planes were flying through near the town, and they began dropping the paratroopers. I ran inside, undressed and got on my uniform. I took out my service rifle, it felt a little weird using one at home. Dad never took me hunting. I loaded it. Here it is my scoped M1903 Springfield. Cocked it, and I was ready for war. The homefront war. I switched on the radio, "This is Mayor Jonathan Savran, we are under attack, I repeat under attack, evacuate your homes and head west await further instructions, this message will repeat." I switched the channel to another frequency,"This is Dr. Shepard, for those who seek medical attention-" I switched the channel once more,"Attention all military personnel, this is General Dangerfield, Boston has suffered heavy casualties. We've lost the city. The Germans have landed on our soil, they are attacking us. I repeat the United States of America is under attack. We are retreating and will regroup at Portsmouth air base. All able personnel who wish to fight may join us there. This message will repeat." So the war is on our doorstep now. Whatever happens next won't be pretty. I stood in the doorway and stared into the grey afternoon sky. They entered without being detected. They caught us by surprise. They rewrote history. It was up to me to set it right. The sky filled with planes, paratroopers, and anti-air fire like streaks of shooting stars going upwards. The day had changed to hell. I held my rifle tightly and walked out the door.
By lunch time I took Sophy to the hospital, and got her cast done. It was about noon when we left the hospital. People greeted me everywhere. It's true what Dr. Shepard has said, everyone did see me as the town hero. As we left the hospital, Sophy just laughed and roughed up my hair with her bony hands. "Hey soldier boy," she said as we got in the car to leave the hospital, I drove,"When are you gonna get yourself a hot wife? You could have any woman in this town if you wanted." I pondered a bit, then sad,"I don't know Sophy, I haven't found the right one yet I guess." Sophy sat down and slammed the door real hard, she always did that just to annoy me. Things seemed back to normal between us. I started the car and drove off. On our way back, I noticed that she kept staring at her cast. Probably wondering if the boys would still be hitting on her even though she was in crutches now. Silly self conscious Sophy I thought to my self. "George please don't stay for me," she said,"I'll be alright. You should go on your mission, that's what father would've wanted. For you to continue his legacy." I looked at Sophy and rubbed her shoulder, "Thanks sis," I said,"but don't get married till I come back." We laughed together for a bit. Then I heard a familiar faint sound, the propellers of a German bomber. A swarm of them in the sky, escorted by smaller fighters. It wasn't long before the entire was filled with the black silhouettes of enemy crafts. "My god," said Sophy,"Georgy..... are we under attack?" I was speechless for a moment, leaning over the steering wheel looking up into the sky. "We have to get home, and get mom and you to somewhere safe!" I said to her,"Listen to me carefully Sophy, you and mom take the car, and head west. Don't stop for anything, we've got enough gasoline barrels that dad collected to last you a thousand miles." Sophy was glued to her side of the window."George,"she said in a beckoning tone," please come with us, we can't make it with out you." I wanted to go, but I couldn't leave my duties behind, I couldn't leave for what my father stood for. I had to make my stand. I had to fight the Germans off my homeland. My time had come. It was now. "Look, they're headed South, they must be after the Boston Harbor," I speculated. It was the least I could think off, I was shaking, the memories from war, my unit wiped out. We took a bad hit out in Denmark, we couldn't hold the line. We had only taken it back from the Germans for a couple weeks, they fought back hard. General Adams ordered the retreat, it was devastating. The shells exploded all around behind our backs, 3rd degree burns, dust and dirt in our eyes, ears, lungs, and it even plugged our nostrils. I thought I would suffocate. Charlie Hanson pulled me out, and incredible test of spirit. I myself even doubted I do the same for anyone, I could hardly see anything. Out of 3000 men, a couple dozen made it out alive. We were awarded the silver star. There were no awards for the dead, the brave souls that stayed behind to ensure the rest of us left. Orwell, Mobius, Johnston, and many others died the last moments before we crossed the border out of there.
We finally reached home, the bombers must've reached there destinations by now, but still they launched a bombardment of any possible tactical resistance. The town of York behind us went up in storm of explosions. It shook the ground beneath me, the leaves on the trees scattered down, I could see the sky growing grey from the smoke and dust that rose from the town nearby. "George!!" mom cried from the house, she had prepared food and blankets, carrying all she could. I ran over to help her. "George, oh my, what have they done?" said mom. She kneeled down and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Mom," I said as I picked her up to get her into the car,"mom, you have to get Sophy out of here. Head east I'll go get dad's old fuel barrel, that should be enough to get you far away from here. There's gonna be more of them." My mom started to walk on her own towards the car. She got in and I ran back inside to pick up the heavy barrel and walked back out to plop it into the trunk. "There," I said, "did you get all the food out of the house?" Mom wiped the tears off,"Yes Dear, and I know you can't come with us, you have to stand for your father don't you." I hugged mom, "Mom, I love you and Sophy so much," I said, "I'll see the both of you again some day I promise." I ran over to the other side of the car. The bombings had stopped, there were so many planes in the sky, they took everything out quickly. "Sophy, my sweet beautiful sister," these might be my last words, I didn't quite know how to continue so I just said,"I love you, and I'll miss you." I hugged her tightly," I love you too Georgy, and I'll miss you," she was crying again now," Go get'em soldier boy!" She slugged me in the shoulder. I laughed and closed the door. Mom drove off. As they left, I looked up in the sky, and the transport planes were flying through near the town, and they began dropping the paratroopers. I ran inside, undressed and got on my uniform. I took out my service rifle, it felt a little weird using one at home. Dad never took me hunting. I loaded it. Here it is my scoped M1903 Springfield. Cocked it, and I was ready for war. The homefront war. I switched on the radio, "This is Mayor Jonathan Savran, we are under attack, I repeat under attack, evacuate your homes and head west await further instructions, this message will repeat." I switched the channel to another frequency,"This is Dr. Shepard, for those who seek medical attention-" I switched the channel once more,"Attention all military personnel, this is General Dangerfield, Boston has suffered heavy casualties. We've lost the city. The Germans have landed on our soil, they are attacking us. I repeat the United States of America is under attack. We are retreating and will regroup at Portsmouth air base. All able personnel who wish to fight may join us there. This message will repeat." So the war is on our doorstep now. Whatever happens next won't be pretty. I stood in the doorway and stared into the grey afternoon sky. They entered without being detected. They caught us by surprise. They rewrote history. It was up to me to set it right. The sky filled with planes, paratroopers, and anti-air fire like streaks of shooting stars going upwards. The day had changed to hell. I held my rifle tightly and walked out the door.
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