by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2023
(Nov. 17, 2023) — Margie Tucker pressed her face against the cold window pane, straining to see as far as she could along the sidewalk. Her blonde curls bumped into the Blue Star Flag that hung above her as she turned her head this way and that. Margie’s mother, Eleanor, sighed watching her daughter from the dining room as she set the table with her sister. “Poor child. She hasn’t left that window all day. She’s convinced she’ll see – She’s been praying for a week that he’ll come home for Thanksgiving.”
Eleanor’s sister, Vera, asked, hesitantly, “Then, you haven’t told her?”
The army wife slid her hand into her apron pocket and fondled the telegram she had stuffed away and not removed since its arrival. “No. I couldn’t. I can’t. Not yet. Besides, ‘missing’ means just that. Nothing more,” then, with a breathless laugh, “I guess we can see where Margie gets her wishful thinking.”
Gasping back a sob, Eleanor turned to the console radio, using an excuse of turning up the volume on the Glen Miller song that was playing to privately wipe away tears that refused to be restrained.
Suddenly, Margie’s joyful cry of, “He’s home,” followed by the sound of her racing out of the house and slamming the screen door behind her, caused Eleanor’s heart to skip a beat. She spun around and chased after her daughter, calling out her name.
Once outside, Eleanor stood in frozen shock as her daughter leapt into the arms of a young man dressed in an army uniform. Looking back at her mother, Margie joyfully exclaimed, “See, Mama, I told you Daddy would be home in time to carve the turkey!”
Not till the unique smile spread across the handsome face of the soldier and the familiar voice whisper, “Hello, Ellie,” did the bride burst out of her trance with tears and laughter as she raced into the embrace of her groom.
I was a usaf casualty notification officer and this is uplifting
Those visits to homes mostly were not. Jim
Thank you Sir, for your service. No way can I imagine how torn you must have felt going to the homes of Fallen Heroes to tell their families “I regret to inform you…”
Thank you for your service! And thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad it blessed you!
Reminds me of when my Daddy came home from WWII (I was 2 years old) and Korea (I was 7 years old)..
Also reminds me of all the Thanksgivings, Christmas’s, Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries, Valentines Days, Mothers Days and Fathers Days that my Daddy didn’t come home because he was away training to fight to or actually fighting to protect my freedom. During those times my Mommy was like The Rock of Gibraltar in front of us, but there’s no doubt in my mind that when she went to bed she cried her heart out and prayed to God to keep Daddy safe.
Please, PLEASE, take a moment this, and every, Thanksgiving to give thanks to the selfless men and women who won’t be home because they are away training to fight or actually fighting to protect your freedom.
So honored to have been able to bring you some sweet memories, even though, perhaps, mixed with bitter. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!