FALLING STARS
Chapter Fifteen
June 26, 1917
The week before Jack had to leave came and
went all too quickly. Jack arranged for someone else to take his place at the
gallery while he gone, and then took the rest of the week off, preferring to
spend time with Rose and the children. The children were delighted to have
their father around so much, but frightened, too, by the undercurrent of worry
and tension.
Jack and Rose spent as much time together as
possible, going places with the children, watching them play; and sometimes
just spending time alone together. Neither spoke of it, but they both knew that
it might be a long time before the whole family would be together again, if
ever. Though it was never said, they both acknowledged that many people who
went off to war never came back.
All too soon, the day came that Jack had to
leave. Rose and the children accompanied him to the train station, the young
ones looking around in fascination at the noisy, crowded waiting area. Only
Gregory had ever been on a train, and he had been too young to remember it. The
crowds of people, some getting on the train, some getting off, were fascinating
to the two small children.
They found the spot where the other draftees
were waiting for the train, some of them also accompanied by friends and
family. As the train approached, Rose threw her arms around Jack, hugging him
as though she would never let go.
Gregory and Libby stared, never having seen
their mother cry before, or their father look so close to it. Libby, knowing
that something was wrong, but not sure what, began to cry herself, and Rose let
go of Jack long enough to pick the child up.
Rose wiped her eyes, while Libby continued to
wail. Gregory stared at all of them, and then wrapped his arms around his
father’s legs, suddenly afraid that he would disappear. Jack picked him up.
"You watch out for your Mommy and Libby
now, all right, Gregory?" he asked him.
"I will, Daddy," the boy answered,
still frightened but trying to be brave. "When are you coming back?"
Jack hesitated. "I’m not sure, Gregory.
I hope it won’t be too long."
"Don’t worry, Daddy. I’m sure you’ll be
a great hero," the boy told him earnestly.
"I’ll try, Gregory."
"Bing pwesents," Libby suddenly
interrupted, having stopped crying.
Jack and Rose laughed, their mood suddenly
lightened by the little girl’s demand. Jack had gone on short trips a few times
before, searching out artwork for the gallery, and he had always brought back
something for the children. Libby remembered that, and expected the same thing
this time.
"I will, Libby. Whenever I get
back."
The train’s whistle blew in warning, and Jack
and Rose hugged one last time before Jack quickly hugged the children, telling
them good-bye, and picked up the bag containing the few things he would take
with him. He waved to them one more time before stepping onto the train, while
Rose clung to the children, trying not to cry. She watched as the train pulled
out of the station, and continued to stare long after it had disappeared from
sight.
As Rose turned to leave, carrying Libby and
holding Gregory’s hand, she noticed that she was not the only wife who watched
after the train miserably, and she cursed the war, and the draft. How many
wives would be widows before it was over? How many children would have no
fathers? She looked at the faces around her, some proud, some sad, and some
frightened, and finally walked out of the train station, Gregory holding her
hand as though she was the one who needed watching over, trying to fulfill his
promise to his father.