Oh sit there, oh count those raindrops
Oh, feel 'em falling down, oh honey all around you.
Honey don't you know it's time,
I feel it's time – Janis Joplin
Honey don't you know it's time,
I feel it's time – Janis Joplin
The rain had just started to fall as
she left the house. Sadie only had to walk four blocks to the dancehall and she
really hated to carry an umbrella. So she walked as quickly as she could,
hoping the weather would hold out until she got inside.
She could see Piper outside having a
cigarette as she neared the hall. Hopefully, Piper would have one for her too.
“Crap weather. I hope it doesn’t stop the men from coming,” Piper shouted as
she saw Sadie walk towards her.
“Got another Snipe for me?” she asked as she watched Piper
take another drag. “No, but you can finish this one,” Piper
offered the remainder of the cigarette. Sadie shook her head, “No, you finish
it, I’ll get one soon enough.” Piper took a final drag, crushed the cigarette
under her shoe, linked her arm in Sadie’s and they headed inside. “Any word
from Harold?” Sadie asked wondering about Piper’s older brother.
Piper shook her head no, took a deep
breath and said, “no, hopefully soon though. Vernon’s outfit will be leaving in
two weeks, and I was hoping to tell him where Harold was, perhaps they will see
each other. I just wish this war would end already. Vernon was Piper’s younger
brother, who had recently enlisted, but was at a lower rank and assigned to a
different outfit.
Harold had asked Sadie to marry him
before he left. A part of her wanted to because he was a good man but the other
parts of her wanted her freedom. Harold was a doctor and could offer her a
secure life. But right now, London offered her fun and excitement, even with a
war going on. She needed more time to enjoy it. She had moved to London one
year ago to help her father now that he was called upon to teach.
He was a doctor and served in World
War I and when he returned home and married his sweetheart. He had a chance to
move to Canada with her relatives and start and new life and career. Sadie was
the oldest of three children. After her mother died five years ago, her father
returned to England because he couldn’t stand to be in the place his wife loved
so much.
It was still early so of course the
hall looked empty. There were a few couples dancing, a few sitting closely at
tables, and some even kissing. Even though the country was at war, people still
had lives to live, and going to the dance hall helped to remind everyone that.
She ordered a drink at the bar and
went to sit with the other girls. Piper pointed at a few hopefuls and whispered
in her ear, “now that’s a first,” as she pointed to the bar. It was an officer.
The higher ranking officers didn’t usually come to the dance halls. Or at
least, she has never seen an officer at this dance hall or the two others she
had been to.
As she watched him, Piper was handed
a ticket and left to dance with the handsome uniformed man. Two O’clock Jump
by Harry James was playing and Sadie was offered a ticket, but turned it down saying she
wanted to wait a few songs first. Sadie and Piper worked here Thursday, Friday
and Saturday nights and Piper never turned down tickets. Piper loved dancing.
The officer at the bar turned around
and saw her looking at him. With a slight nod of his head and a tilt of his
glass, he acknowledged her, then turned back to face the bar. She looked around
the dance floor to see who else was here. She didn’t notice him walk towards
her with two drinks in his hands.
He offered her a drink and asked if
he could sit. “Thank you, and yes, please do,” she said. Not knowing what to
say next, she took a sip of her drink. “The bartender told me this is what
you usually drink,” he said with a smile and noticed a relieved look on her
face. Her usual drink was a Shirley temple, something she taught the bartender,
a stylish non alcoholic North American drink.
“I noticed you were looking at me
earlier. I am curious to know why,” he asked, while looking directly at her and
reaching for his glass. That Old Black Magic
by Glenn Miller started to play and he kept
looking at her. He just couldn’t take his eyes off her beautiful smile.
She was embarrassed about being
caught staring, but she admitted they don’t see many officers in the dance
halls, or at least the one’s she has been to. She spoke, “I guess I was curious
too. Because I know they have officer’s clubs and such, so why would you come
in here?”
He explained that the places for
officers were filled with married officers and their wives. “All they do is
talk bullshit and I want to dance and not talk about bullshit. I know a few of
the men that come here and they say it’s a place with great music and I quote,
great dames.” He smiled at her, “of course, had to check it out for myself, you
know, to see if they were right.” She chuckled and said, “And are they?
Right, I mean?”
He looked at her, smiled and said, “The
music is ok and most the ladies are ok.” she didn’t know what to say. She
thought it was a great place. Maybe, thinking to herself, it’s because he is
older and just doesn’t see it the same way.
“I mean, I should say, the music
would be better if it was live. And there is only one lady in here that I am
interested in,” he said hoping to ease the tension he just created. “I hear an
accent. Are you from America?”
“Canada. My parents
left England the year they were married to live with my mother’s relatives in a
new modern city, Toronto,” she answered. Boogie WoogieBugle Boy by The Andrews Sisters started to play
and the place was jumping now.
“There’s no fighting going on over
there, so why would you come here?” he asked as he took another drink, looking
around at more and more people getting up to dance. He hoped a slower song
would play so he could ask her to dance.
She told him how she came to be here,
in a country that could be attacked at any moment by the Germans and her
brother had joined the Canadian army three months ago so there really was no
point staying there, when the two men she loved the most were in Europe.
Now that they had both finished their
drinks, and the music slowed down, he asked her to dance. He was very handsome,
although older, still, why not, he’s an officer. So he stood up, offered his
hand to her before she stood, then allowed her to lead them to the dance floor,
still holding hands.
Twilight Time
by Les Brown was playing and she
enjoyed that song. He was much taller than her, but that’s ok, so were most
people she knew, and most of the men she had danced with. He smelled of vanilla
and fresh lime. A nice combination, and more appealing than what most guys
smelled like.
He placed one hand on
her lower back and held the other for her to take in the traditional stance.
They continued to dance to the song, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
by Dinah Shore and then Moonlight Serenade
by Glen Miller started and she looked up into his eyes. They
were a grey green, but so hypnotic. With the slower music, he held her closer
to him, whispering nice things in her ear. Before the third song had finished,
he kissed her.
It was so passionate, so deep and
meaningful, she felt butterflies in her stomach, weak in the legs and had to
push away from him and run outside for fresh air. He followed her, wanting to
know why and make sure she was alright.
The rain was coming down steadily but
there was a small pavilion out behind the building and she was there, with her
back to him as he stepped a few feet behind her then spoke. “I am so sorry,
Sadie. I don’t usually do that, I was…”
She turned and
interrupted him, “No, I’m the one who is sorry. I shouldn’t have run off like
that.” They could hear Jimmy Dorsey and Tangerine playing
inside.
“No, I behaved inappropriately and I
deserved more than you just running off. Perhaps I should get a firing squad?”
he joked, trying to get her to smile. It worked, because she not only smiled,
she laughed. “Sadie, tell me though, why did you leave?”
As she looked at him, she stepped
closer to him and said, “I am not a floosy, but I have kissed a few boys, but
never an older man. And never kissed like that.”
“What do you mean, with your
tongues?” he asked, trying to understand so he would not make the same mistake.
He really liked her and wanted to be with her. It might be the last time he is
ever with a woman, so he wants it to be something to carry in his mind on the
battle field.
“Well, I have done that a few times,
but I have never liked it. The guys were not very good at it. But you, you gave
me butterflies and your breath on my cheek while we danced and the way you
smell, is heavenly. Well, you see, it was just so overwhelming for me. But, I
wasn’t offended nor did I find your behaviour inappropriate.
He took a step closer, looked into
her eyes and with both his hands placed on her hips; he pulled her even closer
to kiss her again. This time she didn’t resist, but instead welcomed him and
wrapped her arms around him.
Suddenly the air-raid sirens went
off. He didn’t stop kissing her. And she could sense he wasn’t about to let her
go anywhere, not just yet.
“Sadie, I’m leaving. We are going to
the tube station, for shelter. Are you coming?” Piper asked as she ran out to
Sadie.
Without taking her eyes of her
handsome officer, she said, “I think I will be fine. I will see you tomorrow,
at home. Be careful,” she said before he kissed her again.
He knew they had a few minutes before
any attacks happened so they would need to seek shelter soon. He grabbed her
hand and led her to an already bombed out building that was vacant. They found
the cellar and went down there for safety.
As the bombs came and exploded, the
build shook and he held her tight, knowing that she was very frightened. She
had tears leaking from her eyes as she thought of her father and brother. As
the bombs were getting closer, she let out a frightened cry and he held her
tight.
She grabbed his coat and buried her
face in it and in him. Kissing the top of her head and speaking kind words,
wanting her to feel his affection for her. She looked up at him and then the
bomb hit, thinking it was the building they were in; he kissed her hard as if
it were their last. She didn't resist, but instead started
to reach for his buttons on his coat and started undoing them. He then started
helping her while still kissing her passionately. Quickly, they removed
clothing and he moved some of the debris and gently lay her down.
His hand moved up skirt along her leg
to her panties. He could feel her wetness and he was getting harder by the
second. She felt for his cock, trying to undo the zipper on his pants. He
opened his pants, pulled them down and pulled her panties down. Then he looked
deep into her eyes, and kissed her while his hand felt how wet she really was.
He pushed two fingers inside her, and she gasped with excitement and fear.
She whispered, “Make love to me.” He
wanted to do more to her, for her, but right now, he did as she said. They made
love right there. He was gentle with her, kissing her face, neck, her breasts,
caressing every area of flesh he could find with his hand.
Another bomb fell close by, the roof
started to fall around them, but they kept on. She tightened her legs around
him, held him firm with her arms and hid her face in the crease of his neck and
shoulder.
It had been so long since either of
them had done this, but it felt so natural and so right at this moment. What would he think of her when they were
done, she thought. What will she think of him? She didn’t even know his
name, this handsome stranger with his big hard cock inside her. But for now,
she just wanted to be loved, even if by a total stranger. But she loved
everything about that moment, and she momentarily felt she loved him, too.
And just like that, it was over, both
the lovemaking and the bombing. They lay there under his coat, her head on his
arm, for a few minutes. He kissed her and then stood up, doing up his pants and
shirt as he looked around to see what it was like outside. She knew he did this
so she could get dressed with a bit of privacy.
He was looking out a hole that used
to be a window. There were a few small fires, people running in different
directions, but most importantly, the air-raid sirens had stopped whining. She
went to see where he was, and standing behind him she asked, “Is it over, for
now at least?” He turned to face her, “yes, for now.
I really should go. But I don’t want to. Can I take you home first?” He walked
closer to her and held her against his entire body. “If I take you home now, I
will know where you live, and I will come see you first thing tomorrow. Would
that be alright with you?”
She agreed, but neither of them moved
right away. They stood there, holding each other, both wondering to themselves
what will happen next. She wanted him to speak first, but he didn’t. He stepped
back, looked at her and said they should go. He left her at the door of her
house, kissed her passionately, deep and tender, then promising to see her
sometime tomorrow, he headed off to help and do what he does best, commanding
others.
The next day she was
talking in the sitting room to Piper about what had happened to each of them
last night. The radio was on, music playing, And the Band Played On by Guy Lombardo and of course the announcers
updating the public about what to do now.
Her father was about to
leave when the door bell rang. He answered it, and thinking it was bad news
about his son, was prepared to deal with it. Laughter was coming from inside
and this handsome stranger asked about his daughter. Glad that it wasn’t bad
news, he showed the officer into the sitting room where Sadie and Piper were
laughing.
“Sadie, Brigadier….sorry, I don’t….” her father started to say but was
interrupted, “Page, Brigadier James Page,” he smiled as
he looked at Sadie. She smiled back, glad that he had returned as he promised.
Then he turned to ask her father, “Doctor, I would like to escort your daughter
for the day, perhaps take her to lunch, with your permission, of course. And
perhaps you will allow her to assist me further for the next three days, before
I leave for active service. I want to thank her for helping me last night
during the attack.”
Sadie bit
her lower lip as she looked at Piper, who knew the only thing she helped him
with was his incredible cock inside her. But, her father of course would never
know that, and so he agreed and wished them safe travel as it was to rain most
of the day.
Just over
an hour later, they were somewhere near Oxford, but she didn’t know where
exactly. During the drive they talked about his life, the past, his career,
travels, what he did now and it was all very interesting for her. Her life was
still young, she still had so much to learn and do and see.
They pulled
up to a small cottage, hidden by huge trees, there wasn’t much else around. The
rain had started falling again, and they could hear thunder coming their way.
Inside was warm and dry, and smelled of him. He removed his heavy wool coat and
hung it in the closet, placed his hat on the shelf above, then took her coat
and hung that too.
He said he
was going put the kettle on to make tea, he showed her to the living room and
suggested she make herself comfortable, perhaps even remove her shoes if she
wanted. He returned with some sandwiches, saying his housekeeper prepared them,
thinking (he was hoping) that he might have company.
He sat in a
large wingback chair, making him seem more distinguished, she thought, and he
removed his shoes and put on a pair of slippers. They sat in silence for a
moment, and then he spoke. “I told your father I wanted to thank you. I would
like to show you my thanks, if you will allow me.”
“Thank me
for what? I should be thanking you. You protected me, took care of me, and even
brought me home. And now, today, you bring me to this beautiful place, and feed
me. Thank you very much,” she said with a smile.
He smiled
back, “yes, I suppose that’s right, but what I wanted to thank you for dancing
with me last night and of course, the love making. It’s been a while since I
have…and well... I really enjoyed the company. If I can’t show you any thanks,
then let me offer pleasure.”
With a
curious look on her face, he could see he had piqued her interest. The kettle
whistled and he excused himself to see to the tea, letting her think about his
words. What could he mean? This is
pleasure, away from the destruction if only for a short time, being here was
like heaven, in this beautiful cottage, hidden away from the world with a sexy
older man, in uniform. What does he mean? she thought to herself.
He returned
carrying a tray with tea and all the needed items and set it on the coffee
table in front of her, then sat beside her on the sofa. He poured the steaming
liquid into cups and asked if she wanted sugar and milk.
“No milk, I
hate the taste,” she said while watching him prepare her tea. “I have to ask,
what did you mean to offer pleasure?”
He took a
sip of his tea and sat back on the sofa, crossed one leg and turned to look at
her. “Sadie, you are a remarkable girl. I find you smart, funny, a great
dancer, and very, very pretty. I would like to spend some time with you before
I leave in two days. I would also like to see you when I return. I feel we
could enjoy each other, appreciate each other, and most importantly, learn from
each other.” He took another sip of his tea, waiting for her reply.
“What could
I possibly teach you? You have done so much, been to so many places, lived
longer than I have. Enjoy and appreciate each other, I can understand, and yes,
I would like that too. I also am attracted to you. And I must say, last night,
being with you out on the pavilion, that,” she paused and smiled, “that was
wonderful.”
He leaned
forward to set his tea on the table, then took the saucer and cup from her hand
and placed that on the table. He moved closer to her, put one hand behind her
head and pulled her closer to kiss her lips.
This kiss
was filled with passion and desire. More than she felt last night, more than
she ever imagined was possible. Caressing and kissing each other, he led her
upstairs to the bedroom. Slowly, he undressed her, undoing a button then
kissing her. And then another button, another kiss until her blouse was off.
He then
proceeded to do the same with her skirt, this time kissing her shoulders, neck
and back. He then got down on one knee, kissed her hips and undid the clasps on
the suspenders of her garter belt, one leg at a time, kissing and caressing her
legs as he removed her stockings.
He removed
her panties slowly while kissing her belly and hips and legs over and over. She
placed her hands on his head, feeling how soft his hair was, and then she ran
her fingers through it.
With every
touch, she became wetter and his hand, slowly moving up her thigh, barely
touching her skin, to her slightly aching cunt. With his long fingers it was
easy for him to insert his middle finger inside while using his thumb to push
gently against her clit.
She moaned
with anticipating pleasure. He removed his hand and stood up. He took her hand
and led her to the bed. He removed his clothes and sat in the centre of the
bed. He placed a cushion between his legs and told her to sit on the cushion,
facing him.
Her legs
wrapped around behind him, her arms resting on his shoulders, his hands on her
waist, he kissed her. As they kissed, he pulled her closer and closer to him.
He whispered to her, “The word Tantra means
to manifest, to expand, to show and to weave. There is no goal, only the
present moment of exquisite union.”
Between
every kiss and him speaking, he would look into her eyes. “Although mastering
Tantra is something that takes a bit of practice, I don’t have much time. So, I
will teach you everything I know and perhaps we can reach ecstasy together,
today,” he said.
He taught
her how to breathe, and keep her eyes opened and focused on his. He caressed
her all over, sometimes sending shivers down her spine. She then did the same
for him. After about an hour, he pulled her even closer to him.
He felt her
cunt and knew she was ready for him. He slowly entered her welcoming hole. She
thought they would start rocking and moving, but they didn’t. With his hard
cock inside her, he gently kissed her mouth, and said to keep her eyes open,
keep looking at his face.
She was so
turned on, she didn’t know if she could just sit and stare with his cock inside
her, but she did. And as they stared into each other’s eyes, she fell. She fell
so far in love with this handsome older man, tears came.
She tried
hard to stop them, but she couldn’t and he wiped them away and said, “Sadie, I
love you. I have to leave in two days. Stay with me until then. And I promise I
will return to you as soon as I can.”
Her lower
lip trembled; she kissed him hard and held him tight. They stayed that way for
a few more minutes, and then slowly, he started moving his body, and she
eventually followed, moving with perfect rhythm.
They made
love several times over the next two days. And each time, it was more
incredible than the last. On the morning he was to leave, they made love one
more time before he drove her back home. He parked the car on the street and
walked her inside the house. No one was home.
She took
him by the hand and led him upstairs to her room. There, she lovingly attacked
him. She pushed him down on her bed, bent down between his legs and undid his coat
with his help, and his pants and pulled out his hard cock.
She kissed
and licked and sucked it until he came. She let him come in her mouth, and to
prove how much she loved him, she swallowed. They spent the next half hour
laying side by side, holding each other. She cried.
She
couldn’t see him to the door when he had to leave, and he understood. He
promised to write and as soon as he could, he would return to her. “I love you
Sadie, don’t ever forget that. You have given me so much these last few days,
there is no way I will ever forget that, or you. I will be back for you. And I
will marry you, Sadie, if you will have me.”
He kissed
her one last time, tears running down her cheeks, she said, “I love you, I will
marry you. Just come back home to me, safe.”
Then he
left. She cried for the next few days. But as time went on she cried less and
less and focused on the helping her father, helping out neighbours after bombs
were dropped and trying not to think of the danger he might be facing. She
tried to dream only happy dreams, but she couldn’t remember any of her dreams
when she woke up.
Almost
three months had passed and she still hadn’t heard from him. It was a week
before Christmas and Christmas music and decorations were everywhere. She tried
to be cheerful when her father was around. Piper had received word that her
brother Harold was fine and was actually under the command of her very own
brigadier. This helped to ease some of her worry.
Now, it was
Christmas Eve, it was cold and she and her father had just finished dinner. She
was in the kitchen washing up the dishes, the radio on low, playing traditional
Christmas music. Her father came in, “do
you need any help, pet?” he asked as he reached for the dish towel.
“It’s ok
dad, I’ve got this. You should be getting ready. How long do you think you will
be at the hospital tonight?” she asked as she continued washing.
“Oh, I
shouldn’t be too long. Just want to wish everyone a happy Christmas, give the
nurses Christmas cards and check on one patient of mine. I should be home in
about two hours,” he said as he kissed her cheek.
Her hands
still in the water, she said, “do hurry home. Piper said she and Harold would
be coming by. Their mum is busy at church tonight, helping, so if you did stop
there on the way home, be sure to look for her and tell her to come back home
with you.”
He left the
kitchen and prepared to head out in the cold night. A few minutes later he
called out, “I’m off pet. See you soon.” As he opened the door, he was startled
by a hand about to knock. “Happy Christmas. It’s good to see you again. She is
in the kitchen. She will be very happy to see you. I told her I would be back
in about two hours. But, I might be a bit longer. I must be off now.” he
winked, and heading down the steps to the street.
She heard
the door shut and some shuffling in the hall. Assuming it was Piper and Harold,
she called out, “I’m in the kitchen, about to put the kettle on,” expecting an
answer. But she got none. She knew she heard someone out there.
She turned
on the stove and heading into the sitting room. He was removing his heavy coat
when she realised it was him. Tears of joy flowed and she ran into his waiting
arms. He held her tight and kissed her.
“I told you
I would come back for you,” he said with a smile. He kissed her again. She led
him by the hand upstairs to the bedroom.
“More than
anything, I just want you to hold me, lie with me. I have missed you so much,”
she said as she sat on the bed, waiting for him to sit beside her. He reached
into his breast pocket and got down on one knee and said, “Sadie, I love you. I
have missed you terribly. I thought about you every day and night. I wanted to
write, but when I found out that Harold had asked you before he left and he
spoke of his feelings for you, I wasn't too sure. So I apologize for not
writing you. But I love you so much. And, I want to ask you properly, Sadie,
will you marry me?”
Taking her
left hand, he slipped a beautiful pink sapphire ring onto her finger, then
kissed her hand and looked into her eyes, as they filled with tears. They
kissed and made love.
He told her
he was here for a while. He put in for a position here at home, perhaps
training or educating or anything to be here in England with her. If she
wanted, he would marry her as soon as the Register Office reopened in a few days or she could
plan the wedding of her dreams, but whatever she wanted he would give her.
He stayed
with her over the holidays, sleeping in the guest room when her father was
there. He even asked her father for permission to marry her, just to do the
honourable and traditional bit. They talked of the cottage he had taken her to,
about having children, about love and life.
A few weeks
had passed, she decided she didn’t want to be married at the Register Office, and instead would plan something for
the late spring or early summer maybe even have the wedding at the cottage. He
liked that idea and so he let her and Piper make all the arrangements.
He received word that he would be posted in
London but not until March at the earliest and October at the latest. For now,
he had to return to his brigade. They spent every available minute together.
Her father was doing more overnight shifts at the hospital so they were alone
most nights.
Every time he made love to her it was tender,
special and so incredible. He was an amazing lover. He told her a few fantasies
he had, wondering how she might react. She was interested and would ask
questions.
He promised that once they got married, all his
fantasies and all her fantasies would be fulfilled. But first, she would have
to tell him her fantasies. She was embarrassed that he might think she would
have thoughts like that. She didn’t even tell Piper those secrets.
He asked her to write them all down. What she
was thinking, what she would like to do, to try, to have done to her, anything
and everything. He promised he would not read anything until he was gone. So
for the next few days, before he was to leave again, she sat and wrote while he
was out of the house.
She wrote everything in a leather bound journal
that he had purchased for her. As the day of his departure drew near, they made
love more often and in different rooms of the house, out in the park hidden
from view, and even once, he dressed in civilian clothing and took her to the
movie theatre, where he fingered her, until she came, in the darkness of the
back row, one of his fantasies.
That’s when he knew he had found the woman of
his desires. He told her what he was going to do to her in the theatre before
they left the house, so she didn’t wear any panties. He also said because it
was a public place, she could not make any noise and she could not move a lot
or it might bring attention to them.
She did just as he told her and the orgasm she
had was truly intense. A few days later he would be gone. But again he promised
to write and promised to return to her safely. Again she cried the first week,
but then it got easier.
She did receive letters from him. Long, detailed
letters. Nothing to sexual or dirty in case the post was ambushed by the enemy.
She reread each one every night before bed. But his last letter had upset her.
His request of transfer was put off until a later date. That meant he would not
be home anytime soon.
The months seemed to drag on forever. Summer
came and went, and the cool fall weather was being to settle in. It was just
over a year since they had first met at the dance hall. She wrote about their
first meeting, the music, the dance, the kiss, love making and even the drink.
She also asked if he might be home for Christmas this year, and of course, he
would stay with her and her father.
He didn’t know, he wrote back. They were moving
again and the cold where they were now, was taking its toll on the men. He had
heard about a Canadian regiment that was close by. He would find out if he
could about her brother, Joseph, or as she called him affectionately, goober.
More months had passed with fewer letters from
James. But she never gave up hope. She still wrote, hoping he would receive her
letters. Christmas was upon her again, and still no word about James, Harold,
Vernon or Joseph.
Then Christmas past and so did spring. Her love
for James never faltered, nor did his love for her. He hated where he was, here
in Luckenwalde, Germany, in a prisoner of war camp. The
conditions were terrible. It was cold, wet, and you had no idea whether you
might be killed tomorrow or live to see another day.
His thoughts of Sadie kept him going, reminding him
that he will return home to her. The journal she had written for him, he kept
hidden and would read it any chance he could, memorizing the words so that if
it was taken away, he would remember every word, every detail, so that he could
return and fulfill those desires.
She wrote, at first, innocently not saying the
words, even though her father was a doctor, she knew every part of both male
and female anatomy. But he loved her innocence. But less than half way through,
she would use words like penis, vagina and orgasm. Again, all very innocent.
But by the end, she was using the words he had said to her several times, like
cunt, cock, ass, come.
Her fantasies become more detailed, more erotic,
sometimes a bit rough, but always filled with love. In the last letter he
received, there was a photo of her almost naked and posing very sultry. She had
it professionally done, so it was very discrete and tasteful. This he kept in
his breast pocket.
It was now the summer of 1944, she was losing
hope that she might never see him again. She tried to keep her mind on other
things, but the newspapers and the patients at the hospital were constant
reminders.
She continued to go to the dance halls with Piper,
dancing with a few guys every now and then, but that was as far as it went.
Several men, military and civilians, had asked her out but she always declined.
She helped out at the hospital. Although not a nurse, she learned everything
from her father and carried out more duties than some of the other nurses.
As fall grew into winter, her father received
word that Joseph was wounded and was being sent home. There was no one for him
at home, so he requested and was given permission to go to London and heal
under the care of his father.
Sadie would take care of him every day at the
hospital until he was ready to come home. They would talk for hours about
nothing and everything, but mostly life before the war. One day he told her
about his plans when he finally did return to Canada and she told him of her
love, Brigadier James Page.
“Don’t give up hope Sadie. He could be in a POW camp. He could be alive.
And if it’s true love, true love will follow
you forever. And it’s enough to keep a man going even when
he hasn’t any food, hardly any water, and can’t see any hope around the
corner,” Joseph said.
He was several years younger but still very
wise, just like their father. “First,” she said in her maternal tone, “how
would you, Joseph William Donald, know about true love? And second, do you
really think he could still be alive? Is there any way to find out?”
He told her he knew about true love, he had
started a relationship with a girl back home. They wrote letters to each other
and fell in love. They wrote about having a family and how wonderful life would
be when he returned. He was going to marry her as soon as he could. And he knew
about the POW camps. He might be able to find out something, but it was
doubtful, but he would try as soon as he was out of the hospital.
He would not be returning to Canada until
January, so he would be here for Christmas. At least that was good news, and
gave her something to look forward to. Sadie, Piper, Harold and Joe went out
together for New Years Eve.
1944 was a very rough year for Sadie. Her
brother would be returning to Canada. He had asked her to come home with him.
She was torn. There was safety at home, but her father would be here alone. The
men returning from war, still needing help in the hospital, she could do more
good here. But her thoughts were always about James returning home any day and
she wanted to be here for him.
Most days she was robotic, doing the same thing
over and over. Wake up, make breakfast, walk to the hospital, listen to the men
about what was happening, write for the injured, read the afternoon paper to
some of them, go home, make dinner for herself and either breakfast or lunch
for her father, depending on what shift he was doing, and then sleep.
Once a month she would join Piper and go to the
dance halls. But she didn’t do much of anything else. She just couldn’t see any
point of planning ahead anymore. She really didn’t see the joy of living
without James.
It was now October and the leaves were changing
colours and starting to fall from the trees. She was at home one evening,
reading the paper when the phone rang. “Hello?” she answered.
“Sadie, come as quick as you can, pet. He’s
here. He was repatriated, sent home because of illness. Hurry, pet,” her father
told her. She quickly dressed for the cold and ran almost all the way to the
hospital.
She went to the floor where her father usually
was. “Daddy? Is it really him?” she asked. As they walked down the hall to
infirmary, her father explained that sometimes, men are sent home because of
serious illness. Some men, especially those in POW camps were worse off than
those fighting on the battle field. But, whether they really were sick or not,
most times would return home.
Her father warned her before they entered the
large open room filled with wounded men, most of them now sleeping, that he
looks a bit different. Much thinner, due to starvation, and more weathered,
older, than when she last saw him.
He told her which bed he was in, and suggested
she take a screen with her, for privacy. She took a screen with her to the far
end of the room. He was in the last bed and sleeping. She quietly placed the
screen between the beds, read his chart, and brought a chair closer.
She sat down and looked at him. It was him. Yes,
he looked just as her father described, but she still loved him. She gently
took his hand and kissed it. Then bowing her head against him, she cried quietly,
and vowed she would take care of him, make him healthy again.
She felt a hand on her head, and slowly looked
to his face. Tears streaming down her face, she smiled at him because he smiled
at her and said her name. She hugged and kissed him, he told her to lie beside
him and he held her, all night.
They talked in whispers about what happened and
all that he went through. No, he didn’t fake mental illness, as a lot of POWs had
been, but because he was older, “the Germans, for the most part,” he explained,
“are like you and me. Forced into this stupid war. We don’t always have choices
in life, unfortunately, but, the decisions we make can have positive effects.”
“But I am home now and home for good. And you
and I can start our life together, if you will still have me?”He reached for
her left hand, seeing that she still wore his ring, kissed it and said, “The
love you showed me and wrote about in that journal, that’s what got me through
all this. That’s what kept me going.”
She sat up and kissed him, then smiled, “James,
of course I want to marry you. I had almost given up hope, but my brother told
me that true love will follow
you forever.”
They married in the summer of 1945, at the
cottage, which was now their home. It took him a few months to be strong enough
to make love to her, but until he could, she would please him anyway he wanted.
He still had the journal, and every now and then he would read it, and ask her
to follow through. She did just as he asked.
This little girl was no long blue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AUTHOR’S
NOTE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oflag (Offizierlager), a
camp for officers only
Luckenwalde is the county town of
the district Teltow-flaming , Land Brandenburg , Germany .
In the Second World War the city was largely spared. Es kam nur zu wenigen Schusswechseln, als die am Morgen des 22. There were only a few exchanges of fire, as the Red Army
on the morning of 22 April 1945 Luckenwalde
einnahm. April 1945 Luckenwalde occupied. In
der Umgebung aber wurde in Wald- und Luchgebieten zwischen dem 25. In
the surrounding forest but in-between the 25th and Luchgebieten April und dem 1. April and 1 Mai 1945 heftig gekämpft. May 1945 heavy fighting.
Von 1939 an bis zum Ende des Krieges 1945
existierte das Kriegsgefangenenlager . Hier waren aus zehn Ländern inhaftiert. From 1939 until the end of the war in 1945 there was the
POW camp base camp IIIA . Here were prisoners of war detained in ten countries.
Mehr als 5.000 Gefangene - besonders aus der
Sowjetunion - starben insbesondere an Hunger und Krankheiten. More than
5,000 prisoners - particularly from the Soviet Union - in particular, have died
of starvation and disease. Der und eine Ausstellung im Heimatmuseum
erinnern an diese Zeit. The camp
cemetery and an exhibition at the museum to remember this time. The main camp III A (Stalag III A) was a base camp for prisoners of war, the Wehrmacht in Brandenburg Luckenwalde . Es wurde vom III ( ) verwaltet. It was from the Military District III ( Berlin ) administered.
No comments:
Post a Comment