Notifications Part 1

 


Good morning and welcome to Monday Blogs. This month, our theme is military novels. We’re talking about service to our country and the ultimate price some pay today. All of the stories are fictional but in some ways they will seem very real to some readers. As a military veteran married to another veteran, I know the pain and anguish suffered by those left behind. My heart goes out to every family experiencing this pain.
He sits in front of their computer. A call is due soon. His wife answered a call in her heart, to serve their country. This man, with their three small children, live in base housing, awaiting her return from a deployment. Once a month, they have the joyous moments to speak with her, for the kids to reconnect with their mother and for him to spend several precious moments with his wife, their hands pressing screens that somehow seem to overcome all odds until he can feel the warmth radiating from her skin.
“Is it time yet, Daddy?” their oldest asks—a sturdy lad of seven. “Is it time for Mommy?”
“Soon.” Daddy’s gaze moves to the clock and he notices it’s past time.
He’s not worried though. Not too much. She’s been later before, sometimes due to the duty she volunteered for and other times because of connection problems. They’ll wait, like they always do, so they can talk about normal things… second grade for their boy, Tom, kindergarten for their daughter, Lily, and precious moments recorded on a cell phone in pictures of their baby, Irwin, as he races toward his second birthday.
The sound of a car door closing outside has the dad glancing through a window. It’s an official vehicle from the base commander’s office. With dread in his heart, he leaves Tom in charge of his siblings and walks with a heavy heart to the door. Part of him already knows, the sense of panic that awoke him at two this morning makes sense now. Yet, he must still remain strong and hope for the best.
The knock, when it comes, causes him to shake. He turns the knob. Two men stand there.
“Mr. James?” one of them asks. “Husband of Ella James?”
He nods. “How bad?”
Their sympathetic expressions don’t make his fear abate. Everyone on the base knows these men have had to make this call many times in the past few years. The War on Terrorism just goes on and on.
“We’re sorry to inform you that your wife, Sgt. Ella James, was killed late last night by an IED.”
The official notification pierces through the hope he’d held onto so hard. A single tear runs down his face. Behind him, he can hear the children running toward him.
“Daddy.” Irwin pulls at his hand. “Where Mommy?”
Dropping to a knee, he gathers his children to his chest. Their little hearts will break soon enough. For this moment, until he can be alone and explain in a way that will cause them the least hurt possible, he’ll let them believe for just a little longer that their mother is still alive.
“She can’t call us today,” he says, sticking to the truth as much as he can. “We’ll have to wait for another time.”
“Sir.” One of the officer’s crouches down. “If you need some time, we can be with the children for you.”
“Thank you,” he says, “but I can handle this.”
He remains in that position, watching them returning to their car and driving off. All around their housing unit, others come outside. The men and women stare at him—with some relief and a great deal of anguish. It’s his turn today, but tomorrow it might be one of them. He knows this, because he’s experienced the same moments in the past, when other husbands or wives had these same visitors.
With one hand, he closes the door and takes his children to the sofa. The baby on his lap, his daughter cuddled on one side and his oldest boy on the other, this little family learns the tragic news that Mommy is never coming home.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

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