The Write Place

Under The Fruiting Tree: Chapter 22 – The Write Place
Under the Fruiting Tree: Novella Table of Contents – The Write Place

Winter had come again coating, the valley in a thin layer of frost.  The hills glistened slightly among the tall naked trees, save the occasional evergreen.  The sun poked through the gray skies making the tree cast a shadow on William and Ruth as they stood under it.  The tree was beginning to bud but that couldn’t undo the malaise produced by the downcast weather. William’s breath was visible as it forced its way between his chapped lips.  He stood with a thick coat over his dress uniform, its brownish colors visible near his collar.  Ruth wore a gray winter coat, which she pulled in as tightly as she could.  Their son, Billy, was attempting to play soccer with the other young boys.  They scurried along in the field just down the hill where they could be seen.  Ruth held a little girl in her arms, wrapped in a thick coat, the skirt of her blue dress poking out from underneath it.

“Home.  It’s surreal.  Feels like home, but it feels like another world, too,” William began as he walked to the bench.  He stood a moment, staring at the place that held so much of their life together.  William walked back to the tree where Ruth was standing holding their little girl.  “Every time I come home on leave. I feel much the same way.”  

Ruth bounced the squealing girl in her gloved hands.  ”There’s something different about you.  Somehow. . .  You’re the same, but you’re different,” Ruth said.   Putting the little girl on the ground and holding her by the hands so the toddling child could walk.  “It’s always good to have you home.  I can just tell, part of you will always be there.  Part of you never comes home.”

“Yeah.  I hate that you can see it, but I can’t deny it.  That’s true.  Always will be.  It changes you.  I still feel like me but a different me.  Like my old self died yet I still live.  The things I’ve seen.  How can man do that to man?  To Robert?” William asked the cold, empty air.  He looked at his little girl then back to his wife in thought.  “Well, he passed right in my arms.  An awful sight.  I never felt closer to him than at war.  Took going halfway round the world to become friends.  Brothers really; it’s how we all felt.”  William looked at the children playing.  “I shot the man who did it.  Took one look at him.  He was younger by the looks of him. . .  Much younger.  Sounded like he was crying for his mother at the end.”  William looked to his wife who was walking their daughter to the bench and back.  “I don’t mean to be so depressing.  We don’t have much time together.  How’s home been since the last letter?” William said eagerly changing the subject to something he thought more hopeful.

“It’s all right William.  It’s not the first time we talked about it.  War is not a place God intended man to be in,” Ruth said sadly as she and the little girl reached William.  

“Up!” said the little girl with her piercing blue eyes as her black hair poked out the sides of the blue knit winter cap the wrapped the top of her head.  She reached with her little mitten bound hands up to her mother.

 “All right!  Up you go Emma,” Ruth said, picking up the little girl with outstretched arms. “Daniel’s been good on the farm.  A natural really.  Didn’t miss a step from the times he worked on it growing up.  Your father, of course, is doing less on the farm like we agreed to, but that’s also under our influence, so to speak,” she said, “Even after the stroke.  Stubborn old man that he is.”

“Oh, he’s quite the coot but it’s quite the hoot,” William replied, his eyes welling up with tears filled with the memories.

“That he is,” Ruth said, bouncing Emma gently in both arms.  ”Also, this is pretty important.  We think Marie is expecting again.”

“New life in the middle of a war time.  That’s welcome news,” William said and smiled.  “Little Lilly is adorable, no surprise.  She’ll make a good older sister.  Has dad forgiven Daniel yet?” William inquired standing up straighter with a raised eyebrow.  He looked intently at Ruth. “Or us?”

“Hasn’t said it but I think he has,” said Ruth, her sullen body language showing she was deep in thought. “He likes Daniel, he’s productive, responsible now so that all helps.  It’s still hard for him though.” Emma began reaching with both her little hands towards her father.

“Daddy,” Emma said in her high pitched voice.  Ruth held Emma out and William took her.  A smile forming on his face with teary eyes.

“That’s my name,” he said in playful agreement, taking her into his arms.  Ruth smiled so broadly all her teeth were visible. 

“First time she’s said it,” Ruth reported recognizing it with a glowing smile.

“That it is.  First of many I hope,” William added, bouncing the little girl happily.

 Billy ran up the hill with several other boys in their thick winter clothing.  “Mind if I climb the tree mom?” he asked with polite eyes.

“One time, really quickly.  Then we have to leave,” Ruth replied, adding.  “And not too high.”  Billy ran up and began to climb the tree as Ruth moved closer.  William stood beneath the tree, guarding his young son as he climbed.  Ruth looked on with a faint smile.  The dim light that was there lighting the valley began to fade as the sun began to set.